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| Wagons and Buses transport tour groups across the station for Field Day |
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The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Research and Education Center in Princeton is the headquarters for more than 65 faculty and staff members representing 10 different departments in the college.
The UK College of Agriculture, through the programs of the Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, is dedicated to serving people throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Established in 1925 as the Western Kentucky Substation, this facility has functioned as a center of agricultural activities in western Kentucky.
Great advancements have been made in Kentucky’s leading industry, agriculture, with considerable progress being made in improving utilization and conservation of resources, increasing yields of crops and livestock, better management of capital and labor, expanding markets, and finding solutions for problems facing rural people and communities. Increased returns to Kentucky farmers total millions of dollars annually just from the use of new production technologies resulting from research findings and educational programs of the College of Agriculture.
The modern facility in the Hopkinsville Road-Sandlick Road area is used to conduct research, provide plant diagnostic testing services and develop educational programs on topics of concern to Kentucky farmers, agribusinesses, and families.
The Experiment Station Farm consists of 1,300 acres, including soils of both sandstone and limestone origin, characteristic of soil types throughout the state. Researchers conduct approximately 100 different research/demonstration projects each year at the Experiment Station Farm or on private farms in western Kentucky.
Information derived from these projects or research conducted elsewhere is delivered to farmers and the general public through county offices of the Cooperative Extension Service. Extension specialists located at the Center have expertise in a broad spectrum of food and agriculture topics.
Service laboratories located at the Center provide information needed to make management decisions in the following areas:
• Soil testing enables farmers to develop nutrient management plans for growing crops.
• The plant disease diagnostic laboratory helps identify plant health problems and provides recommendations for disease prevention and control. Once insect and plant pests are identified, specialists can give advice on integrated pest management strategies to control them.
The Rottgering-Kuegel Agricultural Research and Extension Building, which opened in 1980, is available to large and small groups for classes and meetings in agriculture, home economics and 4-H. It is also used for a wide variety of meetings by government agencies, industry, and the general public.
Each year there are approximately 450 different meetings held in this building, attended by about 14,000 people. Many of these visitors come from other states and foreign countries.
Corn, wheat, soybeans, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and new crop opportunities are studied for ways to increase yields and income, improve handling and storage, protect the environment and address other problems farmers may have.
Research and education programs are also conducted in beef cattle production. A beef herd consisting of 300 animals is involved in many different experiments and demonstrations.
Agricultural engineering specialists conduct research and educational programs related to both crop and livestock production.
An aquaculture program is conducted in cooperation with Kentucky State University.
A biennial field day that attracts more than 2,000 people showcases the work of the Research and Education Center. Visitors observe research, educational displays and demonstrations representing work conducted at the Center and throughout the state.
The 2007 Field Day event will be held Thursday, July 23. There will be tours of agricultural plots, livestock, ornamental plands and orchards. Demonstrations on family and consumer science topics will be offered. Youth activities are scheduled. For more information, call 365-7541.
Individuals and small groups are welcome to visit throughout the year to observe specific projects and talk with specialists.
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