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| Home | About YAC | Introduction | Early History | Land Acquisition | Early Facilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Early Research Staff History | Early Land Use | Building & Improvements | YAC Departments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In 1984, there was a name change for the Yuma Branch Station to the above Yuma Agricultural Center (YAC). |
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Plant Science Department |
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This is the oldest of the
departments. All of the early research perhaps up to 1945, was largely
in this area. Other than the superintendents, C.W. Van Horn arriving in
1935 would seem to be the earliest of the department research personnel.
Eventually, the Plant Science Department became involved in all phases
of field crop production, including varieties, plant populations, chemical
effects, breeding economics, and many miscellaneous projects including
the introduction of new crops for Yuma County. Important faculty members
includes: Dr. Ernest Jackson, Dr. Ross Rodney, and more recently,
Dr. Glenn Wright and Dr. David Still. |
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Currently,
the two faculty members from the Department Of Plant Sciences stationed
at the Yuma Agricultural Centers are Dr. Glenn Wright, Citrus Specialist,
and Dr. David Still, Vegetable Specialist. Dr Wright focuses his research
on citrus rootstocks and cultivators, citrus irrigation, fruitwood management
and orchard floor management. Dr. Still works on vegetable physiology,
especially in regards to stand establishment and seed physiology. |
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Entomology
Department |
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The research program has
been concerned with both economics and basic research. Dr. Don Tuttle
joined the research staff in Feb. 1952 and was the first Research Entomologist
for the state of Arizona. In addition to insect research, he made major
contributions in acarology while systemic working with Dr. E.W. Baker
(U.S.D.A., Beltsville, MD) on the systematics of the superfamily of tetranychidae
(spider mites) and tenuipalpidae (false spider mites). Beginning in 19??,
Dr. Theo Watson, although stationed on campus, conducted much of
his research on cotton insects on the Yuma Experimental Farms. Currently
the entomology research programs are under the direction by both, Dr.
John Palumbo and Dr. David Kerns.
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Dr. John Palumbo is a Research/Extension
Entomologist. He conducts research on the biology and management of insects,
pests of vegetables, including sweet potato whitefly, leafminer, the green
peach aphid, and the beet army worm. Research interests include: impact
of insect feeding on plant physiology. relationships between insect density
and crop yield, statistical ecology of insect populations, and development
of application techniques for new insecticides.
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Dr.
David Kerns came to the Yuma Agricultural Center in 1994. He is an IPM
Specialist, with responsibilities primarily in vegetables and citrus.
In vegetables, he has concentrated his research on insecticide resistance
and resistance monitoring of green peach aphid, beet armyworm and cabbage
looper. He has also been involved in characterizing the activity of insecticides
and finding alternative insect pest management techniques. In citrus he
has worked on sampling techniques, action thresholds and control strategies
for citrus thrips, citrus peel miner, citrus mealybug and woolly whitefly.
Beginning in 1996, he began conducting limited research in cotton where
he has concentrated on insecticide efficacy and investigating the sublethal
effects on insecticides and insect growth regulators on cotton aphid. |
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Animal
Science Department |
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In
1954-1956, there was interest in sheep and cattle, research but the sheep
projects lasted only a short time. As researchers, Mark McKinney started
in 1954 and was followed by Les Rosenblant in 1956. From 1958-1978, John
Kuhn conducted valuable research on beef cattle for nutrition and production
efficiency. John was followed by Don Mitchell and then Steve Elrod. There
were no projects after 1987 and the cattle pens were removed at the Yuma
Valley Farm in 1994. |
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Plant
Pathology Department |
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A research program has
been in progress since 1955 when Dr. Robert Marlatt set up the laboratory
at the Yuma Valley Farm. Dr. Ross Allen joined the staff at Yuma
in 1955 and then Dr. Merritt Nelson in 1957. Both were very capable and
both moved on to become head of the Department in Tucson. Dr. Joseph Troutman
arrived in 1968 and was involved primarily with citrus diseases for the
most part. Dr. Ed Nigh came in 19?? specializing in nematologist. Most
recently Dr. Mike Matheron (1984-) is involved with fungal diseases of
vegetables and tree crops in Arizona. |
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Dr
Mike Matheron is involved with new and improved methods for control of
fungal diseases of vegetables and tree crops in Arizona. His extension
duties are concerned with the identification, biology and control of plant
diseases. He also teaches Plant Pathology 305, an introductory course
for The University of Arizona through our Community College (AWC). |
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Soil
and Water Department |
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This
department is involved with basic and applied research of the nutrient
requirements of plants, soil fertility, crop rotation, soil management,
soil texture and structure, and the application of nutrients. Dr. Bryant
Gardner (1963-1990) was concerned with soils. Dr. Robert Roth (1971-1989)
was involved with water requirements and management. Dr. Charles Sanchez
(1991-) a Water and Soil Specialist is currently conducting soil fertility
research. His main research focus is in the area of soil fertility
with interest in soil salinity as well. He is currently conducting
soil fertility research on vegetables crops and citrus. In May of
1996, Dr. Sanchez was named Resident Director of the Yuma Agricultural
Centers having a double appointment serving as both a Researcher and a
Farm Director. |
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Arizona Crop
Improvements Association |
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The Arizona Crop Improvement staff at Yuma includes members like Herbert McDonald on the Citrus Budwood Certification Program which was started by Dr. Ross Allen. Stanley Athorp (1971-1978) who was in charge of field crop seeds and was followed by Johannsen (1978-1980), and John Loghry (1994-) who is currently in charge of the Citrus Budwood Certification Program. |
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Acknowledgements |
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Occasionally, some information is repetitious in this report but has been retained for the overall sake of clarity. |
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Special thanks is extended
to Dr. Don Tuttle for the time spent in the gathering of this historical
information in this report. |
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