Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-6342 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

Story contact:

Abdel Mesbah: (307) 754-2223

 

 

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor

Phone: (307) 766-6342

E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm

 

Date: Aug. 7, 2006

 

Field day showcases activities at Powell Research and Extension Center

 

 

            Field day Aug. 1 at the University of Wyoming Powell Research and Extension Center (PREC) provided a first for its interim director.

            “For the first time after a field tour, I heard growers wishing the tour was longer to cover other research topics,” said Abdel Mesbah.

            More than 100 people, including growers, industry representatives and University of Wyoming employees, toured the facilities and research plots at the 215-acre facility on specially made College of Agriculture gooseneck flatbed trailers. The trailers have bench seats and a top for shade or protection from the elements.

            Research at the center is focused on core and alternative crop weed-control strategies, crop variety performance testing, soil fertility research, legume, grass seed and forage production, and adaptability trials.

            “This tour was one of the best field days I can remember attending,” said Bob Parson, Park County Weed and Pest Control District supervisor. “Also, it had the largest turnout I can remember.”

            Participants were able to observe and interact with researchers conducting excellent research activities at the station, said Steve Miller, director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, which administers PREC and research and extension centers near Sheridan and Lingle.

            “Abdel Mesbah and Mike Killen, farm manager, along with the entire farm crew need to be commended for having facilities and plots in tiptop condition,” he said. “In addition, our new travel trailers with the College of Agriculture brand of excellence logo received glowing reviews.”

            Mesbah was also pleased. “We had an excellent field tour. We got a lot of compliments about the station, research topics toured, and the new wagons.”

            Wildflower seed production, sugar beet issues and herbicide applications on various crops were only a part of the field day. The field tour was in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Wyoming Ag-Business Association.

            Richard Rice, who grows grass, alfalfa and sainfoin seed near Heart Mountain, said he would like to see more detail about the research. “I think it’s an awesome research center, and they do an outstanding job,” he said. “I wish producers would take more advantage of it. There was a lot of good to be had out of the tour, but I’d like to see more things addressed with more detail.”

            UW College of Agriculture Dean Frank Galey updated tour participants about research activities of the college. The college received more than $10 million last year that is being used for applied research, the most of any college at UW, he said.

             Miller told tour participants the PREC greenhouse is being updated to be opened. He said the Powell community has stressed making the greenhouse operational.

            He also discussed other efforts at PREC. “There is a lot of good research here directly designed to help you solve problems,” Miller told growers and industry representatives.

             PREC also houses the UW Seed Analysis Laboratory and the Wyoming Seed Certification Service. Miller said samples tested in July by the seed analysis laboratory increased more than 400 percent over July 2005.

            “We will probably see more increase with a planned addition to the lab providing more efficient dry bean seed testing. The addition could be completed this year,” said Mesbah.

            Underground drip irrigation will also be installed soon at the center. The system will be in a two-acre area and will be mostly used for organic and specialty crop production, noted Mesbah.

            Forage, pesticide and biodiesel crop research plots were toured. Yellow blooms of the prairie coneflower, tested and being grown for seed development for Warren Air Force Base, contrasted with the purple flowers of sainfoin, a legume developed by Fred Gray, professor and head of the UW plant sciences department.

            The sainfoin variety is named ‘Shoshone’ in honor of Chief Washakie of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. The variety has proved to be an excellent forage crop for haying or grazing, has good drought tolerance, does not cause bloat in ruminant animals, and provides excellent honey production in seed production fields, according to UW research.

            On the Web: http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/Powell.asp

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