History of the Aberdeen R&E Center
1911-2000

View a list of Highlights from the last 89 years:

The opening of vast areas of new land in southern Idaho during the early years of the present century marked the beginning of a new agricultural era for the State. As man diverted water from the Snake River and its tributaries to desert land he created an entirely new type of farming. Questions asked by settlers on these new farms could not be answered from the fund of knowledge built up by the University of Idaho's Agricultural Experiment Station at Moscow, in existence since 1892. The establishment of branch stations, strategically located, to provide the special type of research needed for these newly developed farming areas was the next step in sound development.

In mid-May 1911, W.L.Carlyle, then Dean of the College of Agriculture of the University, and F.D. Farrell, Superintendent of the Farmers' Institutes held throughout southern Idaho to help farmers new to irrigated agriculture with their problems, toured the Upper Snake River Valley. They were looking for a site where the University could establish a branch agricultural experiment station to serve that part of the new irrigated empire. This new station would supplement the work of another newly established station--at Caldwell--serving the southwestern part of the state.

At that time the Aberdeen area was the scene of considerable reclamation progress. Nearing completion was the canal system of the Aberdeen Valley Land Development Company, the first privately financed reclamation project to be initiated in Idaho under the Carey Act. In addition, the desert area west of the reclamation project was being homesteaded by farmers who were interested in dry farming, if suitable crops could be found. Therefore, the area seemed ideal for the establishment of an experiment station where both irrigated and dry-farm crops and techniques could be studied.

During their visit at Aberdeen, Dean Carlyle and Mr. Farrell met with a delegation from the Aberdeen Commercial Club. They were taken on a tour to see the area's many points of agricultural interest. This meeting opened a series of negotiations which resulted in the signing of a agreement between the University of Idaho and the Aberdeen Commercial Club. The negotiations culminated in establishment of an experiment station at Aberdeen.

Aberdeen 1919

Aberdeen Experiment Station

The sum to be raised was a considerable undertaking for a community of homesteaders with no crop income yet established. The Aberdeen Valley Land and Development Company contributed $2,000, the Bingham County Board of Commissioners appropriated $500 from county funds and the balance was contributed by individuals in the Aberdeen Community and the nearby communities of Blackfoot and American Falls. Many Aberdeen residents and local farmers donated considerable labor during the construction and land clearing phases in the winter of 1911-1912. Actual construction started during the week of March 23, 1912.

The original 80 acres was cut diagonally by the Oregon Short Line right-of-way, leaving approximately 15 acres of land to the west of the right-of-way and the balance of the farm to the east. This division was used to separate the Station into sections, one side for study of irrigated crops, the other for dry-farm crops.

From the start, the Aberdeen Branch Experiment Station was operated
 jointly by the University of Idaho and the United States Department of Agriculture. However, management and ownership have passed increasingly to the University of Idaho. The first major step in this direction came in 1925 when the Regents of the University of Idaho purchased the land from the original land owners.

Crops in the first experiments, planted in 1912, included potatoes, spring wheat, oats, barley, corn, alfalfa, red clover, peas, vetch and flax. It is significant that experiments with potatoes were considered the most successful during that first year. Winter wheat and barley were first planted on the Station in the fall of 1912. Work with potatoes and the small grains has been continuous since the first plantings.

Aberdeen - 1999

Highlights of the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center

 

1911

Establishment of Aberdeen Branch Experiment Station on 80 acres of dryland Beginning of cooperative cereal research program with the United States Department of Agriculture

1912

Experimentation with cereal crop, potatoes and soils begun under irrigated conditions from water delivered from ditches constructed from Aberdeen-Springfield Canal Company
First potato variety evaluation test consisting of Early Rose, Idaho Rurals (Chas. Downing), and Russets Rurals by L.C. Aicker.

1914

First complete Idaho Bulletin No. 79 "Potato Culture" by F.L. Kennard, J.S. Welch, L.C. Aicher, and C.E. Temple described potato production under dry and irrigated conditions and important diseases and insect pests. Seed stocks shipped in from Colorado.

1921

Release of Idamine oats from Aberdeen selection of the Silvermine variety
Early fertilization research with potatoes concerning use of phosphates and other fertilizer materials in Southeastern Idaho by A.E. McClymonds, H.P. Magnuson and G.R. McDole.

1922

Release of Victory oats to Idaho growers. Introduction obtained from Sweden
Release of Federation wheat introduced from Australia and release grown from field selections made at Aberdeen.
Potato disease plots in southern Idaho to show necessity of potato improvement program to provide disease-free seed potatoes, by J.M. Reeder.

1923

Early sheep feeding experiments using local grown feeds.

1926

Beginning of potato irrigation studies in Idaho by A.,E. McClymonds and M.R. Lewis.

1930

Idaho research by Ella Woods showed that fresh potatoes are an important source of vitamin C.

1932

Beginning extensive potato fertilization testing in Idaho at the Aberdeen Branch Experiment Station. J.L. Toevs.

1936

Establishment of phosphate fertilizer tests which gave proof of need of phosphate for growing alfalfa. These were some of the original tests of its kind in the west.
The first experimentation with anhydrous ammonia in the irrigation water in Idaho as a source of nitrogen in the production of potatoes. Cooperative investigations with the Shell Chemical Company. G.O. Baker and H.W.E. Larson, others.

1938

Release of Bannock oats.

1939

Release of Lemhi wheat.
Establishment of soil conservation service nursery unit in cooperation with the University of Idaho for the study and evaluation of grass and legume seed production and usage.

1941

Start of concentrated potato research program with personnel permanently located in Aberdeen. Much early research dating back to early 1920's developed early facts which are the basis of the potato industry. Early studies consist of soil treatments for germination, date of planting varieties, seed pieces, spacing, plant diseases and seed piece treatment.
Beginning of potato storage research under controlled refrigerated conditions.

1945

Beginning of nematode research in cooperation with Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

1946

Verticillium albo-atrum (Early Dying) First isolated and identified as being the cause of early dying.

1947

Release of Overland oats.
Beginning of important cultural and potato storage research by W.C. Sparks which later provided information for year-around potato storage without major loss.

1949

Beginning of cooperative USDA Regional Potato Breeding Program.
McLean (USDA) came to Aberdeen to begin breeding potatoes.

1953

Release of Early Gem (jointly with North Dakota) potato recommended for the early potato producing area of western Idaho.
Release of Lemhi 53, a stem rust resistant Lemhi type.
Station expanded to 240 acres.

1954

Beginning of forage crop research program cooperatively with US Soil Conservation Service and establishment of Aberdeen Regional Plant Materials Center.
Establishment of Intermountain Winter Wheat Breeding program.

1955

Release of Cody oats.

1957

Release of Park oats a new high yielding short strawed variety to replace Overland in irrigated areas.
Joint release with Montana of Itans, a high quality, high yielding hard red winter wheat.

1960

Establishment of wheat quality laboratory and study of environmental factors influencing hard red winter wheat quality.

1963

Shoshoni potato variety released - Idaho and USDA.

1966

Completion of new potato research facility, Joe Marshall Building, at Aberdeen to further research for the Idaho potato industry.

1973

Nampa and Targhee potato varieties released - Idaho & USDA.

1977

Butte potato variety released - Idaho, Washington, Oregon and USDA.
Brewington farm bought with IPC support to provide more land for potato breeding.
Station now at 360 acres

1978

Western Regional Uniform Potato Variety trial began, coordinated from Aberdeen.

1981

Lemhi Russet potato variety released - Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and USDA.

1982

Sangre potato variety released - Colorado, Idaho, and USDA.

1989

Gemchip potato variety released - Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and USDA.
Youngstrom Farm purchased bring station to current 440 acres.

1990

Frontier Russet potato variety released - Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and USDA.

1991

Ranger Russet potato variety released - Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and USDA.

1993

Chipeta potato variety released - Colorado, Idaho, and USDA.

1995

Century Russet potato variety released - Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, California, Texas and USDA.

1996

CalWhite potato variety - California, Idaho and USDA.

1999

Bannock Russet potato variety released

2000

IdaRose potato variety released
Gem Russet potato released