5-13 IAN Parma Center Saved

 Spring work is proceeding at the University of Idaho's Parma Research and Extension Center as field hands wrap up planting potatoes and sugarbeets and preparing fields for later plantings of corn and other crops. The center is in its first year of implementing a new five-year research agreement announced in December with the J.R. Simplot Co. Last May, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences was preparing to shut down field operations at the center in response to legislative budget reductions unless other support could be found to offset the losses. Political and community support for the center's continued operations helped generate financial support that has the center on firmer footing as this year's growing season advances.

 Rich Garber, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences explains the sources of funding: “Partners with other entities outside the university or state funding mechanisms, we’ve been very fortunate to have significant response from both industry in terms of the Simplot partnership as well as the local farmer community and industry groups in the Treasure Valley area that have stepped up to provide some financial support for the station.”

 The J.R. Simplot Co. will conduct research on about 13 acres of the 100 acres of cropland this spring in cooperation with university researchers.