Founded: 1888
Full Time: 7
Part Time: 0
Budget: 546,973.00
Director: M. LeRon Robbins
P.O. Box 539
Calhoun, LA 71225
Telephone: 318/644-2662 FAX: 318/644-7244 E-Mail: calhoun@agctr.lsu.edu
Research Areas:
The Calhoun Research Station's mission is to develop and disseminate information that is useful for north Louisiana agricultural enterprises. On-going projects involve attempts to find ways to reduce egg loss to shell breakage; attempts to utilize wild germplasm to improve crop plants; attempts to develop okra varieties with improved horticultural qualities and with novel features; to develop southern pea varieties that can be harvested mechanically; and to develop improved varieties of watermelon and peach.
Areas of Expertise:
Research expertise is in plant breeding, plant physiology, crop culture, native plants, and poultry science. Station scientists have been especially productive in developing improved varieties of crop plants, especially peach, okra, watermelon, and southernpeas. The Station also has a history of research in livestock enterprises, including poultry, dairy, swine, and beef.
Special Capabilities and Facilities:
The Calhoun Research Station has one of the few US breeding programs in peach, watermelon, southernpea, and okra. A peach embryo rescue and culture lab is located here. Station scientists have been highly productive in improving crop varieties. The Station has a native plant arboretum and a native plant research program that has the potential of contributing toward the development of crop varieties with resistance to some economically serious disorders. Use of such resistant varieties results in limiting the need for use of pesticides. Turfgrass and landscape research facilities are also in place, and there are forestry research and demonstration plots.
Research Equipment:
("s" indicates shared equipment) Laboratory equipment for plant embryo rescue
(s) Field preparation equipment for agricultural research (s)
Seed planting equipment for agricultural research (s)
Seed processing equipment for agricultural research (s)
Produce grading equipment for agricultural research (s)
Pest control equipment for agricultural research (s)
Keywords:
0201000 Agriculture
0201035 Horticulture
0201048 Poultry Science
0201043 Nursery Stock
0201105 Arboriculture
0201068 Forest Management