Publication Date

1972

Document Type

Report

Description

Research Manager’s Report: The 1972 year found the Experiment Farm and Research and Extension Center with the usual variety of programs and activities. Several personnel changes were made with Jake Fredrikson, Superintendent moving to Brookings to take a position in the Veterinary Science Department. Burton Lawrensen was made Agronomist and continues to work with crops research. Vacancies filled in classified personnel staff have added new talents to the farm work crew. A number of research studies were initiated this year. New projects in Plant Science included the following titles: Potash on Grain Sorghum, Chisel Plow Experiment, No-till Planting of Corn and Soybeans, Soil Testing Experiment, Variety and Date of Planting Soybeans and Adjuvants to Herbicides for Corn. A study conducted by personnel of the Horticulture-Forestry Department dealt with varieties of pea beans for production in this area, Studies involving chemical application of insecticides by air for corn borer control were conducted by researchers in the Entomology-Zoology Department. These new studies and continuing research projects search for newer, better ways and answers to current problems of Southeastern South Dakota. Field day visitors heard a variety of subjects discussed on September 14. Approximately 350 were in attendance for the event which started at 10 a.m. with five wagon tours about the Farm. A noon luncheon served by the Centerville Rotary Club provided adequate nourishment for the afternoon tours. The United States Weather Bureau volunteer weather observers station was moved to the new site south of the Office-Laboratory building. This site was equipped with additional weather instruments during the summer and will be in full operation for the 1973 crop season. Weather records from the Centerville area date back some 20 years. Livestock research was highlighted by beef cattle and swine nutrition studies. The beef cattle project continues to be a growing-fattening program which this year involved the value of "backgrounding” calves for varying growth rates. These cattle were fattened at the Farm and the results will be related to the backgrounding growth rates. Early in the year 30 first-calf heifers were transferred from Brookings to the Farm. These were carried on an experiment to evaluate two kinds of roughage during gestation, Future plans include the fencing of fields in which different types of pastures including corn stalks and corn residues can be available for study with the cow herd. Swine research studies involved a trial with levels of vitamins including a super level and a study with anti-bacterial compounds for growing-finishing swine. During 1972 about twenty meetings with over 375 people (excluding Field Day) attending were held at the Research and Extension Center. A twilight tour held in June found 120 people learning about oat varieties, insect populations and herbicides for corn and soybeans. A beef feeder cattle workshop was held at the Farm in October with over 100 guests in attendance. The event, sponsored by the Clay County Livestock Feeders Association, offered a wide variety of practical subjects and demonstrations. The project leaders. all dedicated staff members in various departments at South Dakota State University, have been most helpful in planning research programs. The staff at the Center execute these plans with continuing enthusiasm. The usual interest and support of the Southeast Experiment Farm Corporation continued this year.

Number of Pages

84

Type

text

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

Agrlcultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State University

Comments

12th Annual Progress Report

Rights

South Dakota State University

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.