04/24/1996

Cold Weather, Budget Cuts Hamper Ag Research Program

CROSSVILLE, Ala.- Unusually cold winter weather knocked out oat varieties lupins research, damaged wheat, and reaped havoc with piping in several hog houses used for research at the Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville. In addition, continued cutbacks in State research funding will make it difficult for the 536-acre ag research facility to maintain, much less expand, much needed research programs in the future.

Marvin Ruf, who replaced long-time Station Superintendent John Eason in September, says repeated cold spells, often accompanied by ice and snow took a heavy toll on all their small grain research. "Lupins, which we feel like could be a good alternative crop for this area, were just wiped out. The first cold spell took out some varieties and subsequent cold weather killed some of the varieties we had hoped would be adaptable to this area of the State."

A new research project in which wheat is treated with Gaucho, a seed treatment fungicide, and planted at varying dates for disease control is planned for this year.

A companion study on wheat will evaluate the insecticide Karate for controlling aphids which vector barley yellow dwarf virus, a common virus that reduces wheat yields.

The Sand Mountain Station has a long history of potato research, and studies are planned for both red and white Irish potato varieties for 1996. Potato late blight is major restricting problem for potato production on Sand Mountain and researchers will focus much of their research efforts on the use spray rates, intervals of sprays, and use of spray adjuvants to control the disease, Ruf pointed out.

Ruf's position is a good example of the impact of budget cuts on the research program at the Sand Mountain Station. Though he replaced John Eason, money was not available to replace him, hence the two-person management team is one person short. We try to be as precise as possible in our research work, but when we are using one generation of equipment and growers are using two or three generations newer equipment, it is difficult to know how applicable some of our results are to the grower's production system," Ruf explained.

David Teem, associate director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, who oversees the outlying research program, echoes Ruf's concerns.

"The lack of funding for maintain of facilities and equipment has reached the point of seriously reducing our ability to find answers for producers and the ultimate lesser will be the consumers," Teem explained.

Another casualty of budget restrictions, is cutbacks in field days statewide. The Sand Mountain Substation, for example, will not have a field day this year. However, those who want to come out and see research underway are encouraged to do so. Of special interest to many is a study in which nutrients in runoff from pasture plots fertilized with poultry litter is monitored with electronic monitoring devices. Ruf noted that the first data from this project is expected later this spring.

So, despite complications from Mother Nature and from State funding sources, the ag research program at the Sand Mountain Substation is moving forward, but at a slower pace show is needed by producers and ultimately consumers. The results of research at the Sand Mountain Station and on other Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station sites around the State is directly related to development of the technology that fuels Alabama's agricultural industry--by far the largest money-making enterprise in the State.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

April 24, 1996