[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DELTA RESEARCH CENTER

 Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the University of Missouri's Delta Research Center. The 
Portageville, MO, facility was officially dedicated on August 8, 1961, 
and has since become a beacon for the agriculture industry. I am so 
proud of the Delta Center's many accomplishments.
  Over the course of five decades, the success of the Delta Center was 
made possible by a special team of experts from the University of 
Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, a 
dedicated field staff, talented scientists, and the wisdom of top-notch 
agricultural leaders serving on the Delta Research Center's Advisory 
Board. The University of Missouri's Delta Research Center has advised 
farmers about boosting harvests and battling pests, while overseeing 
research with global implications. This includes the development of 
numerous strands of cotton and most notably 16 new soybean varieties, 
some with cyst nematode resistance, which has impact far beyond the 
rich cropland of the Bootheel of Missouri.
  On September 2, 2011, the Delta Research Center will host the 50th 
Annual Field Day which showcases the world class studies they conduct, 
bringing together all sectors of the agriculture industry from those 
who plant the seed to those who market the product. It is always a day 
of learning and gives Missourians the tools needed to stay competitive 
in a global market. I look forward to joining hundreds of farmers, 
agri-businesses and others to learn the results of the special research 
that will be on display.
  For our Nation to remain a leader in the production of food and fiber 
for our citizens and the world, we must continue important agriculture 
research like that conducted at the University of Missouri's Delta 
Research Center. Jake Fisher, superintendent and a dedicated employee 
for 50 years, summed it up best when he said, ``Our team effort is not 
only about the results we bring about today; we must be focused on ten 
to fifteen years down the road, so we remain on the cutting-edge of 
agriculture production and technology.''
  Jake Fisher and his talented team at the University of Missouri's 
Delta Research Center demonstrate every day that hard work, vision, and 
public-private partnerships can be successful in advancing our Nation's 
rich agricultural resources.
  I am very proud of the many accomplishments of the University of 
Missouri's Delta Research Center and ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the center on 50 years of service and monumental 
accomplishments in agriculture research.

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