Wednesday, November 7, 2007 - 10:30 AM
251-4

Overview of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiemnt Station System.

J. Vaughn Skinner, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas, AAREC PTSC 115, Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201 and Ron W. Cox, CSES, Univ of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) system consists of five research and extension centers and nine branch station throughout the state of Arkansas.  Depending on the location, available facilities and the need, project leaders, staff and students from the departments of Agricultural and Extension Education; Animal Science; Biological and Agricultural Engineering; Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences; Entomology; Food Science; Horticulture; Plant Pathology; and Poultry Science conduct field and laboratory research at these locations.  They conduct scientific research in laboratories, greenhouses, field plots, pastures, watersheds and streams.  In 2003 agriculture accounted for 15.3 billion of the value added to the Arkansas economy and is 10.1 percent of the Gross State Product.  Arkansas is No.1 in the production of Rice, No. 2 in Cotton and Broilers, and No. 3 in Catfish and Turkeys. All the research and extension centers and three branch stations are administered by the AES.  The other six branch stations are managed and operated by departments.