Tetonia Research and Extension Center
Tetonia Research and Extension Center
The Tetonia Research and Extension Center conducts research and Extension projects related to small grains and potatoes.
At 6,200 feet in elevation and in relative isolation, Tetonia’s location is ideal for producing potato and small-grain seed crops protected from the insects and diseases that threaten crops in other parts of the state. Tetonia produces all of the seed potatoes and 80% of the oat, wheat and barley seed available to northwest growers through the Idaho Foundation Seed Program.
The USDA Agricultural Research Service-University of Idaho potato breeding program relies on Tetonia for testing new potato lines and for growing potato seed used in tri-state and western regional potato trials. The majority of the university’s production of new potato variety minitubers takes place at Tetonia.
Tetonia is also the primary location in Idaho for breeding new varieties of spring barley, oats, hard red spring and winter wheats, and dryland and irrigated varieties of white wheat.
Our people
For more information, please contact Todd Carter at tcarter@uidaho.edu or Teri Hill at thill@uidaho.edu.
Research programs
Explore the different research programs housed at the Tetonia Research and Extension Center, including small grains and potatoes.
Tetonia Research Programs
Faculty and staff at the Tetonia Research and Extension Center conduct research and Extension projects related to small grains and potatoes.
Potatoes
The Tetonia Research and Extension Center produces all of the seed potatoes made available to Northwest growers through the Idaho Foundation Seed Program. The USDA ARS-UI potato breeding program also relies on Tetonia for testing new potato lines and for growing potato seed used in Tri-State and Western regional potato trials.
Potato Breeding
Between 3,000 and 7,000 promising new potato lines from the USDA ARS-UI potato breeding program at the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center are tested at Tetonia each year. Between 3,000 and 4,000 single hill breeding potato clones (first field generation) and 100 to 575 second field year breeding clones are tested at Tetonia each year in search of clones suitable for Tri-State and Western regional trials.
Tuber Breeding
As the potato industry takes an interest in particular new potato lines, the need arises for the production of minitubers that can then produce certified seed potatoes for use in commercial evaluations. University of Idaho produces a large majority of these minitubers, and about 66% of the university’s production is at Tetonia. Tetonia also produces seed for trials that produce storage and management recommendations for new varieties.
Visit the U of I Potato website to learn more about potato research and education.
Small Grains
The Tetonia Research and Extension Center is the primary breeding location for new varieties of spring barley, oat, hard red winter and spring wheats and dryland and irrigated white wheats.
Visit the UI Extension Cereals Program for more information.
Idaho Foundation Seed Program
In 1949, University of Idaho directed Tetonia toward the production of foundation seed for the entire state. From foundation seed, which is just one generation away from the crop breeder’s original section, Idaho growers can produce seed that is certified to be free of diseases or other problems likely to reduce crop yields. Potato and small-grain farmers who invest in certified seed are more likely to produce healthy, high-yielding crops. Crop varieties grown here annually for foundation seed include:
- Wheat 5-8 varieties
- Barley 5-6 varieties
- Oats 4-5 varieties
- Potatoes 20-30 varieties
Learn more about the Idaho Foundation Seed Program.