Photo Gallery: Photo gallery: Ag research yesterday and today at beautiful Spooner, Wisconsin

Mike Krivit

Jul. 3, 2012

1912 No. 8 corn, Spooner Branch Station, with a typical yield of 73 bu. of corn per acre

They used to be called “experiment farms” but that term no longer conveys the breadth of activities at the Agricultural Research Stations. They are outdoor laboratories, classrooms, and education centers, used by scientists and students studying the biological and social sciences, natural resources, and the agricultural sciences.
Spooner Agricultural Research Station, 1912

The Spooner Agricultural Research Station was established in 1909 when the city of Spooner donated 80 acres of sandy loam soil to the University of Wisconsin. An additional 80 acres adjoining the original was purchased from Mabel Dodge in 1911. In 1931, 243 acres were purchased from J.D. Thomas.
Diversified crop research

The current field crop research at the Spooner Research Station is diversified. Crop research is performed not only on the station's sandy loam soils, but also on off-station silt loam soil. Off-station research is used to provide information to the many growers using similar soils in northwest Wisconsin.
Research topics

Research topics include variety evaluation, planting date and plant population effects on yield and quality, forage seeding rates and mixture, potato disease control, fertilizer rates and products, soil pH effects and weed control methods.
Professor E.J. Delwiche

Professor E.J. Delwiche led efforts to establish stations at Spooner and other locations in the early 20th century. He first worked in lumber camps and taught school before riding his bicycle to Madison to study agronomy in 1903. He was made a professor in 1906 and oversaw the university’s agricultural research in the North for the next 30 years.
Today's superintendent Phil Holman with summer staffer Megan Smith

Phil Holman is the superintendent and agronomy project researcher at the Spooner Ag Research Station. He grew up on a dairy farm near Barronett. He earned his B.S. degree in ag business from UW-River Falls and his M.S. degree in agronomy (soil science) from South Dakota State University. His master's degree work focused on nitrogen leaching to the groundwater under different tillage systems. Megan Smith is from Trego, Wis. She is a Spooner High School graduate and will be a senior at UW-River Falls majoring in biotechnology. This is her second summer working at the station.
Acres of cornfields under PH testing with the sheep buildings in the background

Current corn trials are variety testing that companies submit to the University Variety Trial program. SARS also has a corn pH trail this year. Other years SARS has had nitrogen rate trials and a manure/minimum tillage trial.
This photo of the sheep project on the Spooner station was taken in 1936

In 1995 the station began pioneering research in the dairy sheep industry and remains the definitive source for dairy sheep information in the country. The station has hosted the Spooner State Sheep Day for 51 years and is instrumental in the planning and execution of the Annual Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium.
Dairy sheep research

Currently SARS is the only “dairy” sheep research facility in North America. Most sheep are East Friesian and Lacaune or crosses of the two.
Jack pine forest

The original 80-acre Spooner parcel was mostly jack pine forest. Lines of trees were left at the edges of fields as windbreaks; the rest were removed.
Crop improvement

Crop improvement has been an important task at the station. The station produced Wisconsin #25 open pollinated dent corn and Spooner oats, both good selections at the time. The station was instrumental in the development, release, and maintenance of Wisconsin Early Black, Flambeau, 606 Manchu, and 507 Mandarin soybeans. In 1923, the station undertook the inbreeding of corn and by 1929 made the first early experimental double hybrids. The station supervised the production and processing of foundation seed stocks, reaching a high of 3,602 acres in 1946. The station pioneered the use of irrigation on farm crops.
Brand-new Case IH 225CVT Magnum and LB 333 baler provided to SARS at no cost

A Case IH equipment program provides a short-term use of new Case IH tractors and equipment. This is a Case IH corporate marketing program and is available to the University of Wisconsin, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, and some of the Wisconsin Technical college agriculture programs. They are allowed a limited use of the equipment and need to maintain the machines in good condition for resale. The cooperating dealer then can sell the items as “nearly” new at a discount but still with the full warranty.
Case IH baler

Inside of the LB 333 Case IH baler
Wine grapes

The wine grapes are part of a three-location study (Spooner, Peninsular Ag Research Station and the West Madison Ag Research Station). It was originally funded by a federal research grant. The Wisconsin Grape Growers Association also has worked with the university and is interested in these trials.
Roundup Ready Alfalfa

Roundup Ready alfalfa was originally released for public use starting in 2006. In the winter of 2006/2007 a federal judge in California issued a halt to sales and planting of Roundup Ready Alfalfa and required the USDA to further study the impact of RR alfalfa on the environment. Suitors in the case included the organic industry as well as one of the alfalfa seed growers who was worried about genetic purity. Last summer, the additional studies were completed and USDA allowed the release of Roundup Ready Alfalfa again. This study compares Roundup application to Raptor applications both at the 1- to 3-in. size and the 6- to 8-in. size. The plots pictured show the 1- to 3-in. applications and the weedy plots show the plots that actually were sprayed the day before but that show the 6- to 8-in. weed growth. This is a trial funded by the Midwest Forage Association, and several UW-Extension County Agriculture Agents have strip trials on cooperating farms.
Spring wheat

The spring wheat field has a nitrogen trial in it. The lighter areas received no nitrogen and the darker area received nitrogen. There are four different nitrogen products (Urea, ESN, SU, and Agrotain) at 40 lbs./acre of nitrogen.
Switch grass

Switch grass is studied for use in biofuel.

The Spooner Agricultural Research Station was established in 1909 when the city of Spooner donated 80 acres of sandy loam soil to the University of Wisconsin. Farm Industry News photographer Mike Krivit traveled to the university to explore the variety of current research projects throughout the station, in addition to learning about the history of each program.

Discuss this Gallery 1

Sherri Roman (not verified)

on Jul 6, 2012

I always love to see how things have changed over time. These photos are neat.

Photo gallery: Ag research yesterday and today at beautiful Spooner, Wisconsin

1912 No. 8 corn, Spooner Branch Station, with a typical yield of 73 bu. of corn per acre

Spooner Agricultural Research Station, 1912

Diversified crop research

Research topics

Professor E.J. Delwiche

Today's superintendent Phil Holman with summer staffer Megan Smith

Acres of cornfields under PH testing with the sheep buildings in the background

This photo of the sheep project on the Spooner station was taken in 1936

Dairy sheep research

Jack pine forest

Crop improvement

Brand-new Case IH 225CVT Magnum and LB 333 baler provided to SARS at no cost

Case IH baler

Wine grapes

Roundup Ready Alfalfa

Spring wheat

Switch grass

Discuss this Gallery 1

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Photo gallery: Ag research yesterday and today at beautiful Spooner, Wisconsin

1912 No. 8 corn, Spooner Branch Station, with a typical yield of 73 bu. of corn per acre

Spooner Agricultural Research Station, 1912

Diversified crop research

Research topics

Professor E.J. Delwiche

Today's superintendent Phil Holman with summer staffer Megan Smith

Acres of cornfields under PH testing with the sheep buildings in the background

This photo of the sheep project on the Spooner station was taken in 1936

Dairy sheep research

Jack pine forest

Crop improvement

Brand-new Case IH 225CVT Magnum and LB 333 baler provided to SARS at no cost

Case IH baler

Wine grapes

Roundup Ready Alfalfa

Spring wheat

Switch grass

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Discuss this Gallery 1

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