Quad City Times, IA
05-09-06
Research farm now learning center
By Matthew Wilde
NASHUA, Iowa — Pallets of seed, chemicals and muddy equipment in need of
repair often sit in the middle of the Northeast Iowa Research Farm’s
supplemental classroom.
When a large crowd is expected for a field day, equipment is removed and inputs
are shoved to the side in the maintenance shop to make room for folding chairs.
The primary classroom is just too small.
“Before field days I take a compressor to computers and copiers to blow off all
the dirt and dust,” said Ken Pecinovsky, farm superintendent.
For 30 years the farm just southwest of Nashua has conducted research on
behalf of area producers, but conveying information, at times, is a struggle. The
cavernous shop that doubles as a classroom lacks modern technology and the
atmosphere to properly get the job done. It’s not exactly an ideal environment,
farm officials said, to learn about fertilizer tests, plant populations or a new pest
that can be the difference between making or losing thousands of dollars.
The Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association, which owns the farm,
hopes to change that. The group’s board of directors approved construction of
the Borlaug Learning Center during its March meeting. An estimated $150,000 to
$200,000 will have to be raised for construction to begin next spring. Iowa State
University is kicking in a similar amount.
The center will be named after Norman Borlaug of Cresco, a Nobel Peace Prize
winner. As the father of the Green Revolution, Borlaug developed a high-yielding
wheat that kept millions of people from starving in India and Pakistan in the
1960s.
The 5,000-square-foot building will contain two large meeting rooms, office space
for farm officials, ISU Extension agriculture specialists and visiting researchers.
An on-site laboratory also is planned, so soil samples and other tests can be
conducted at the farm instead of transporting them back to Ames.
“Something permanently dedicated to classrooms and education is needed ... to
carry out (the) mission,” said Bruce Clark, an ag lender and member of the
center’s fundraising committee.
The current mainte-nance/office/classroom building was erected when the farm
was purchased. By today’s standards, officials said it’s woefully inadequate. Dust
and dirt from the shop wafts through the air finding its way to other parts of the
building. Office and classroom space is limited, and tornado damage about 10
years ago contributed to water leaks.
“I can’t believe how some of the computers and copiers still work,” said Kay
Connelly, a retired ISU Extension crop specialist and fundraising committee
member.
Due to the recent popularity of horticulture and gardening projects at the farm,
Pecinovsky said those field days easily attract more than 80 people, which is too
many for the current classroom.
Supporters of the center hope it will be easier to raise money since both farmers
and urban residents will be targeted. Fundraising efforts won’t begin until after
harvest. If all goes as planned, the building will be ready by the spring of 2008.
On average, 45 to 50 major research projects are carried out at the farm each
year, of which many are long-term studies. Up to 10,000 individual plots and
variations can exist with projects on the 260-acre farm.
“Hopefully the farm will get utilized even more ... and make farmers more
money,” Pecinovsky said, once the center is built.
The farm has conducted extensive research in phosphorous and potassium
content. Information provided by the farm has saved northeast Iowa farmers
more than $20 million in fertilizer costs per year.
Earlier this year the 92-year-old Borlaug was awarded the National Medal of
Science for his continued efforts. Connelly said using Borlaug’s name will give
the center immediate name recognition and be a tribute to his service.