- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
IREC is a 140-acre research facility located at 4,000 feet elevation near the Oregon border. The center specializes in crops grown in Northeast California including potato, small grain, onion, peppermint, forage grasses and alfalfa; however, most cool season field and vegetable crops can be accommodated and grown at the center.
Research topics of interest include variety development, integrated pest management, irrigation management, plant nutrition and agriculture-wildlife interactions. Available facilities and equipment at the center include a greenhouse, controlled postharvest facility, drying ovens, an automated potato grading line, a mini-still for essential oil extraction, clean and dirty laboratory space, specialized small plot pressurized irrigation equipment, research-adapted small plot planters and harvesters, and a full line of commercial farm equipment for field and vegetable crop production.
IREC also has a multi-purpose conference and laboratory building for extension events with high-speed internet connection, wifi, and audio-visual equipment for video conferencing. Technical assistance is available for all farming practices, field instrumentation and equipment operation, data collection, and data entry and analysis.
The center's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate proposed research for scientific merit and regional need. Approved projects will be eligible for center-provided support, which includes land, labor, technical assistance, equipment and facilities.
Questions about the research proposal process or about research opportunities here at IREC should be directed to Rob Wilson, IREC director, or Darrin Culp, center superintendent, at 530/667-5117.
Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via http://irec.ucanr.edu at IREC Proposal Submission beginning Jan. 1, 2019, and are due no later than March 1, 2019.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
- Author: Jeannette Warnert
Intermountain Research and Extension Center (IREC) celebrated the grand opening of a multipurpose conference and laboratory building on July 26. The facility will be available for use by private and public groups for business meetings, job fairs, trainings and conferences.
"The facility is the first in the Tulelake area to offer modern audio-visual infrastructure and high-speed internet connectivity capable of supporting remote presentations to stay in touch with groups from around the world," said Rob Wilson, IREC director. "We hope this facility will greatly increase the visibility and accessibility of local events and help draw more regional attention to the area."
The conference room was dedicated in honor of the late John Staunton, a local research collaborator with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources who passed away in 2015. Staunton Farms and the Staunton family donated $25,000 to support the building project and recognize the Tulelake farmer and his long-standing support of agriculture and research.
Winema Elevators/Western Milling, Sensient Natural Ingredients, Macy's Flying Service, and Basin Fertilizer also contributed support.
UC awarded approximately $2 million for this capital improvement project with funds from UC lease revenue bonds to pay for most of the building's design and construction costs, but additional support is needed to complete the project. Intermountain REC has set a fundraising goal of $100,000 to pay for tables, chairs, furnishing and lab equipment for the building.
A special UC fund has been created to collect tax-deductible contributions to be used solely for this building project. Donations over $50 will receive recognition in print and on the IREC website. Donations over $1,000 will receive recognition on the donor wall in the building entryway. Name plate recognition on the donor wall will be based on the gift amount: Gold ($2,500+), Silver ($1,750 to $2,499), and Bronze ($1,000 to $1,749). Donations can be made via check using the enclosed envelope or by credit card by visiting the IREC website at http://irec.ucanr.edu and clicking the “Make a gift” link.
The ribbon cutting followed the 2018 IREC field day, an annual event that showcases the research underway at the 140-acre facility. Charlie Pickett of USDA, UC Davis Plant Breeding Center director Charlie Brummer, UCCE farm advisors David Lile and Rachael Long and UCCE specialist Dan Putnam joined Wilson in giving research updates on the tour.
Research presentations included work on biological control of cereal leaf beetle, influence of fall harvest management of irrigated grass hays, onion white rot, managing alfalfa weevil and clover rootcucurlio, pulse crop options for theKlamath Basin, cover crops and amendments, cutting schedule effects on lowlignin alfalfa andgermplasm evaluation of alfalfa and tallfescue.
In the news article, Jester also wrote, “The information gleaned through research at the IREC can be invaluable to farmers and other researchers. Through its years of experimentation, the center has helped growers develop more effective practices in a wide range of areas, from determining the crops that will grow best in the local climate, to selecting the most economically viable crops for the region, to understanding the most effective ways to manage pests and disease.”
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The Intermountain REC is a 140-acre research facility located at 4,000 feet elevation near the Oregon border. IREC specializes in potato, small grain, onion, peppermint, forage grasses and alfalfa; however, most cool season field and vegetable crops can be accommodated and grown on the center. Research topics of interest include variety development, integrated pest management, irrigation management, plant nutrition, and agriculture-wildlife interactions.
Available IREC facilities and equipment include a greenhouse, controlled post-harvest facility, drying ovens, an automated potato grading line, a mini-still for essential oil extraction, specialized small plot irrigation equipment, research-adapted small plot planters and harvesters and a full line of commercial farm equipment for field and vegetable crop production. Technical assistance is available for all farming practices, field instrumentation and data collection.
IREC's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate proposed research for scientific merit and regional need. Approved projects will be eligible for center-provided support including land, labor, technical assistance, equipment and facilities.
Questions about the research proposal process or about research opportunities at IREC should be directed to Director Rob Wilson at rgwilson@ucanr.edu or the center superintendent Darrin Culp at daculp@ucanr.edu or by phone at (530) 667-5117.
Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the IREC Website and are due no later than Feb. 12, 2018.
The Intermountain Research and Extension Center is a 140-acre research facility located at 4,000 feet elevation near the Oregon border. IREC specializes in the following crops: potato, small grain, onion, peppermint, forage grasses and alfalfa. However, most cool season field and vegetable crops can be accommodated and grown on the center. Research topics of interest include variety development, integrated pest management, irrigation management, plant nutrition and agriculture-wildlife interactions.
Available IREC facilities and equipment include a greenhouse, controlled postharvest facility, drying ovens, an automated potato grading line, a mini-still for essential oil extraction, specialized small plot irrigation equipment, research-adapted small plot planters and harvesters, and a full line of commercial farm equipment for field and vegetable crop production. Technical assistance is available for all farming practices, field instrumentation and data collection.
IREC's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate proposed research for scientific merit and regional need. Approved projects will be eligible for center-provided support—land, labor, technical assistance, equipment and facilities.
Questions about the research proposal process or about research opportunities at IREC should be directed to director Rob Wilson at rgwilson@ucanr.edu or center superintendent Darrin Culp at daculp@ucanr.edu or by phone at (530) 667-5117.
Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the IREC website beginning Dec. 20, 2016, and are due no later than Feb. 10, 2017.
The Intermountain Research and Extension Center is a 140-acre research facility located at 4,000 feet elevation near the Oregon border. IREC specializes in potato, small grain, onion, peppermint, forage grasses and alfalfa, however, most cool season field and vegetable crops can be accommodated and grown on the center. Research interests include variety development, integrated pest management, irrigation management, plant nutrition and agriculture-wildlife interactions.
Center facilities and equipment include a greenhouse, controlled postharvest facility, drying ovens, an automated potato grading line, a mini-still for essential oil extraction, specialized small-plot irrigation equipment, research-adapted small-plot planters and harvesters, and a full line of commercial farm equipment for field and vegetable crop production. Technical assistance is available for all farming practices, field instrumentation and data collection.
The center's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate proposed research for scientific merit and regional need. Approved projects will be eligible for center-provided support — land, labor, technical assistance, equipment and facilities.
Questions about the research proposal process or about research opportunities at IREC should be directed to the center director Rob Wilson at rgwilson@ucanr.edu or the center superintendent Darrin Culp at daculp@ucanr.edu or by phone at (530) 667-5117.
Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the IREC Website and are due Feb. 5, 2016.
