Small Grains, Big Reputation

View a slideshow of President Nellis's visit.

ABERDEEN, Idaho-It’s been 18 years since a University of Idaho president visited the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center in Aberdeen, Idaho; but that has now changed. President Duane Nellis made a stop at the center on his way to the State Board of Education meeting in Pocatello on Aug. 12. The impromptu trip was informal, yet informational. First, Nellis met with about 20 faculty and staff, answered their questions and heard their concerns. Many were worried about budget cuts; a lack of funding that has challenged their resources. Nellis told the group that he is working to bring more funding to the University of Idaho, whether it is through the help of the state or through public-private partnerships. He told the group about a $1 million donation made earlier that day by Elanco, an Indiana pharmaceutical company, to help build the Idaho National Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies. Nellis told the group that more partnerships are needed to keep the positive working going.

From the question and answer session, Nellis made his way around the facility. Center Superintendent Stephen Love discussed the importance of the more than 440 acres of land, 360 of which are used for irrigated crop research. That’s apparent from the view outside the center.

Nellis referred to Aberdeen's work as a national treasure. The Research and Extension Center houses the USDA Agricultural Research Service national small grain germplasm facility. Researchers at Aberdeen are studying more than 130,000 small grains samples and 50,000 varieties of wheat.

The University of Idaho Research and Extension Center at Aberdeen is part of a system of centers statewide. The Aberdeen Center’s main focus is potato and small grain research. Established in 1911, the Aberdeen Center has served both irrigated and dry land agriculture in southern and eastern Idaho. For nearly a century, the faculty and staff have studied crop rotation and the effects of pest management, nutrient use efficiency, and crop yield and quality.

The Aberdeen Center is known nationally and internationally and each year the center attracts visitors from around the world. Supporting the efforts and hard work are 80 full time employees, 38 technical support staff, 14 farm crew and maintenance staff, and 8 clerical staff.