University of Georgia dedicates former USDA research farm (2014)

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences recently opened its newest research and education center, once operated by the USDA.

24663294-bg1.jpg

The University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences recently opened its newest research and education center.

Formerly a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research station, the 1,055 acre-farm and laboratory complex was formally transferred to the university to help expand its research, education, and outreach programs.

In 2011, as the USDA was moving to close similar sites across the nation, Congress approved a provision specifying that 10 land-grant universities could take ownership of such facilities provided they agreed to utilize the property for agricultural research for a minimum of 25 years.

UGA is the first university in the nation to complete the transfer process and take over the management of a former USDA facility.

“Today is important in the sense that it is going to allow the University of Georgia faculty to now to expand and continue their research at this particular facility,” said UGA President Jere Morehead.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black praised the transfer, saying it helps keep the state’s flagship college of agriculture continuing its mission to improve Georgia farming.

Congressman Jack Kingston said the addition reinforces the state’s long heritage of agriculture research.

“So we have to have Ag research that shows us how to get more production per acre than ever before,” said Kingston.

Many UGA College of Agriculture experiments are ongoing in the facility.

This report is from our partners at the Georgia Farm Monitor.

Related Stories
The State of Louisiana is known as a major wintering location for North American waterfowl. However, a new visitor — a species of Whistling Ducks hailing from South America — may pose a problem to native species.
In honor of Veterans Day this weekend, we wanted to take a moment to highlight an incredible program connecting our great nation’s heroes with agriculture!
Agriculture Accounting Expert Paul Neiffer joined us Friday on Market Day Report to take a further look.
Falling feed costs and strong demand for butter could be good news for dairy farmers looking to get their finances back on track.
A story that started with hardship ultimately led to a producer impacting the lives of youth involved in sheep showing. The North Carolina Farm Bureau takes us to Haynes Farm in Dobson, N.C., to hear this inspiring story.
Show producer Donna Sanders shares her perspective on filming the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From at Splenda Stevia Farms, a company growing a sweet specialty crop here in the U.S. that is typically imported from overseas.
Splenda’s new stevia farm in Florida is the first of its kind in the United States. Thousands of plants produce millions of leaves that are then turned into plant-based stevia sweetener products. But how do they get the sweet stuff out?
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke with RFD-TV’s own Susan Alexander this Monday morning on the Market Day Report to explain Arkansas’s recently passed giving lawmakers greater authority to sanction foreign ag-land ownership within the state.
What does Splenda have to do with farming? Sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia are plant-based — so they are just not sugar, but are comprised of those other plants also grown on farms.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

New U.S. fees on Chinese-owned and built ships took effect overnight, marking the latest escalation in maritime trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
President Trump is expected to press Argentina to take a tougher stance on China in exchange for political and economic support.
Tammi Arender takes us to 3 Board Farm to meet some first-generation farmers who took a leap of faith and, in the process, found a new purpose.
Nick Andersen, Nationwide’s VP of Agribusiness Claims, shares tips for managing weather-related risks in agriculture using their new Hail and Wind Alert Program.
Lewie Pugh, EVP of OOIDA, discusses how lowering the age for commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) to 18 could rejuvenate the trucking labor market.
Founder Venessa Wood joins us now for a sneak peek of Ag Women Connect’s upcoming Red, White & Blue Gala.