Farm Progress

University of Arkansas to expand facility over several years

David Bennett, Associate Editor

August 16, 2018

4 Min Read

Desiring to maintain a top-notch rice research capability into the future, the University of Arkansas and far-sighted members of the rice sector in the state are looking at a new facility just south of Jonesboro. In the northeast part of the state, the new center will see limited capacity in 2019 and will expand from there.

Recently, the university’s Jean-Francois Meullenet spoke to Delta Farm Press about the new venture. Among his comments:

On the genesis of the project…

“We are still in the planning stages so we’re not 100 percent sure who will be located there. The purpose of the new farm will primarily be rice research.

“Right now, there’s a 600-acre piece of land without infrastructure. So we’re looking at what we need to do to bring the infrastructure to where we can farm it. Over time, we’ll then build a research structure.”

Time frame?

“We’re hoping to initiate some research in the spring of (2019). It obviously won’t be full-scale and we’re unsure about what acreage we’ll do research on.

“The land was purchased through a gift received by the (University of Arkansas System) Division of Agriculture from the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. It’s off Highway 1 south of Jonesboro in the community of Greenfield. It has a Harrisburg address and is adjacent to the Ricetec research facility.”

Reasons for opening a new facility in northeast Arkansas?

“We’re already doing rice research in Keiser although the soils are quite different from what you’ll find in Greenfield. There are also differences in climate and soils between rice grown north of I-40 and south of I-40.

“Much of the state’s rice production is now in the northeast. We feel to fully address the needs of the rice industry we need a research facility in that area.

“We hope within three to five years we’ll be fully operational. Our current plans for doing research in 2019 include constructing a shop and equipment storage facility on the site. That will start within the next two or three months so we have something available by the spring of 2019 to house equipment and have it be secure.

“Obviously, we won’t have a lot of office facilities. But we hope to have personnel on the farm next year to keep an eye on the operation. Long-term, though, we’ll need to build a research building with offices and labs. We’re still considering our options as far as funding the building before thinking about what program and faculty might be houses there. That’s a bit on the horizon, though. It’ll probably take a couple of years to build a research building and find a way to fund that – having a building within the next three years is probably the earliest timeline.

“Dr. Chuck Wilson is heading this. He came from Stuttgart where he was the center director to take the same role at Keiser. He’s now helping us with this project, on the ground helping with the planning…

“I’d imagine there will be collaboration with (Arkansas State University). We’re already partnering with researchers there. I imagine our ability to have (a new rice) facility nearby will only strengthen those relationships.”

On goals for the new facility…

“For 2019, assuming we can build the shop and get the equipment in place, we will conduct some of the rice performance trials. All the relevant cultivars and hybrids available in the state will be looked at. We’ll likely look at nitrogen trials and planting date trials, as well.

“Longer-term, there are a lot of ideas floating around. We’re talking about irrigation studies where we compare surface- versus ground-water, alternative irrigation strategies, and do long-term soil fertility studies. Breeding, obviously, will be part of the research.

“We’re not planning to move our rice breeders from Stuttgart. But in the early selection trials they conduct, certainly the new farm will be another site that will reflect new significant climates that will be helpful to them.

“We anticipate weed science will be represented with herbicide trials. Entomology (research) will also be a part.”

On maintaining Arkansas’ position as number one in U.S. rice…

“We’re very proud of Arkansas being the largest producer of rice in the country by a wide margin. The investment we make in rice research is probably unparalleled in the country. We need to further enhance what we’re doing and make sure the rice industry remains strong.

“We’re very excited about the project. A new (research) location hasn’t been opened in a long time. So, these are exciting times for us and the partnership with the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board has proven to be very strong and we appreciate their help in making this a reality.”

About the Author(s)

David Bennett

Associate Editor, Delta Farm Press

David Bennett, associate editor for Delta Farm Press, is an Arkansan. He worked with a daily newspaper before joining Farm Press in 1994. Bennett writes about legislative and crop related issues in the Mid-South states.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like