DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire scientists will discuss their innovative agricultural and forestry research at a twilight meeting/research field day Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, from 4-6 p.m. at Kingman Farm in Madbury. The event is free and open to the public; guests should expect to walk about a mile during the tour.

Attendees will learn about a host of NH Agricultural Experiment Station-funded research projects at the 360-acre farm, including those on squash and pumpkin breeding, melon grafting, forage crops, oyster farming, and invasive plants. A reception will follow to celebrate UNH’s 150^th anniversary and the history of agricultural research conducted at the university since shortly after it was founded in 1866. 

“Agricultural research tailored to New Hampshire needs and growing conditions is a cornerstone of UNH—our state’s land-grant university,” said Lorraine Merrill, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. “The twilight meeting will demonstrate how today’s faculty and staff are taking that tradition in new directions.”

“Over the years the NH Agricultural Experiment Station has hosted ground-breaking research in dairy cattle nutrition, composting methods, season-extending, high-tunnel growing systems, and more. From developing new vegetable varieties and growing techniques adapted to northern New England, to research into native pollinators and invasive plant species, researchers continue to conduct unbiased research geared to the needs of the people and environment of our region,” Merrill said.   

The event is sponsored by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and Celebrate 150 Series. Light refreshments will be served after the farm tour.

The first academic agricultural experiments took place shortly after the college was established in 1866. Jeremiah Wilson Sanborn conducted field and feeding experiments at the New Hampshire Agricultural and Mechanical College in Hanover, which was the first home of the state’s agricultural experiment station. The first research included studies on feeding dairy cows, steers, and pigs; fertilizer experiments with corn, potatoes, and oats; the size of pieces of seed potatoes; time of cutting hay; and tests of sugar beets and sorghum.

The NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture was created in 1887 and is UNH’s original research center. The station stewards federal and state funding, including support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to conduct a broad array of agricultural scientific research at the local, state, and national level.

“Our many ongoing accomplishments contribute to maintaining efficient, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable food, forest, aquaculture, and farming systems for New Hampshire and beyond,” said Jon Wraith, director of the station, and dean of the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. 

The NH Agricultural Experiment Station is committed to accommodating those with special needs. If you need special services, please call the NHAES Communications Office in advance so that we can accommodate you. The phone number is 603-862-1452. For TTY calls only, 1-800-RELAY-NH.