[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21946]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM THE TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND 
                      EXTENSION CENTER AT LUBBOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RANDY NEUGEBAUER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of the 100 
years of work and dedication of scientists at the AgriLife Research and 
Extension Center in Lubbock. In 1909, The Lubbock Agriculture 
Experiment Station #8, now known as Texas AgriLife Research and 
Extension Center at Lubbock, was established by the Texas Legislature 
in response to the passage of the Hatch Act by Congress in 1887 to 
create agriculture experiment stations. Since its inception, 
researchers and staff at the Center have worked to address the High 
Plain's most pressing agricultural issues of the day including 
improvement of crops with emphasis on seed development, crop pest and 
disease management, cropping and efficient water systems, and harvest 
methods.
  During its 100 years of service, the Center has provided the region's 
producers and economy with significant contributions that include the 
following: the first hybrid grain sorghum in cooperation with the 
Chillicothe Station, greenbug resistant grain sorghum, improved cotton 
cultivars, improved cotton harvest equipment, improved boll weevil 
control techniques, methods and equipment for increasing irrigation 
efficiency, drought tolerant variety development, conservation tillage 
strategies, farming systems, precision agriculture methodology and risk 
management strategies.
  The Lubbock Extension Center is one of the largest off-campus centers 
in the Texas A&M University System. It serves as headquarters for 
agents in the 20-county South Plains Extension District 2 and includes 
offices for 22 Research Scientists. The Center is composed of a 
research farm at the Lubbock site, two research farms in the northern 
part of the South Plains near Halfway, Texas; one substation at Pecos, 
Texas; a cotton research farm in Dawson County in cooperation with 
Lamesa Cotton Growers and a peanut research farm in Terry County in 
cooperation with Texas Peanut Board.
  The research is used by Extension Specialists and the Extension 
Agents to educate producers on the methodologies of the most recent and 
innovative production techniques. The benefits of this program can be 
seen across the spectrum for agriculture on the South Plains ranging 
from reduced industry impact on the environment to the profitability 
producers enjoy from their trade. This model of cooperative research 
and development is one of the major reasons American agriculture has 
been so productive.
  Agricultural producers of the Texas South Plains contribute 
substantially to the agricultural economy of Texas and the nation. The 
success is supported by a strong foundation of knowledge and technology 
generated by the research and technology transfer of scientists, 
specialists and agents in cooperation with USDA-ARS, Texas Tech 
University and agribusinesses and commodity organization collaborators. 
This cooperative effort to address the many complex issues facing the 
South Plains agricultural industry will no doubt continue to benefit 
producers and enhance the region's agriculture-based economy for the 
next 100 years.

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