January 31, 2024 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4- The Elk City News News/CBA January 31, 2024 Planning phase begins for much-needed updates at OSU’s Agronomy Research Station By Gail Ellis ‘The facility's heating system failed, and the OSU wheat breeding team lost 70% of its potential new plant lines for the year. After STILLWATER- The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of surveying the damage, Brett Carver, regents professor and OSU Regents has approved a request to draft construction plans for wheat genetics chair in agriculture, determined the plant loss new facilities at the OSU Agronomy Research Station in Stillwa- would delay important wheat variety development for several ter, home to the university's renowned wheat improvement pro- years, and some of the losses were never recovered. gram. ‘The weather's effect on deteriorating greenhouse conditions ‘The project's first phase will involve selecting architectural and highlighted OSU's need to update or replace dilapidated research construction management firms to assist with the design and facilities within its division of agriculture; one teaching lab still construction of new greenhouses and a headhouse at the site. The used today was built in 1957. Other structures in operation on cost for this initial phase is expected to be $10 million. the premises date back to the 1930s. ‘The current OSU agronomy farm, located on the west side of cam- “If we had new facilities, we could stretch out our season to nine pus along Highway 51, is a historic facility that houses one of the months out of the year and respond more quickly to wheat breed- top wheat breeding programs in the world. OSU has commercial- ing developments that are happening elsewhere in the world,” ized 34 wheat varieties since 2000 and has the largest footprint Carver said. for variety development in the Great Plains region. A 2020 study released by the Association of Public and Land- “When we talk about our efforts at OSU to feed and nourish the Grant Universities reported $11.5 billion in repairs and reno- world, it starts at the agronomy farm and is led by the wheat im- vations are needed at schools authorized to receive U.S. Depart- provement team,” said Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “Economically, wheat is the most important ment of Agriculture research funding. The data indicates that crop in Oklahoma, and the state's harvest feeds people all over 69% of the buildings at 97 land-grant universities are more than the United States and the world.” 25 years old and require urgent upgrades to remain safe and ef- ‘The OSU Agronomy Research Station supports all three of OSU fective, including experimental farms, greenhouses and support Agriculture’s mission areas: research, Extension and teaching. It facilities. A continued lack of funding to address university re- includes 28 buildings, totaling 134,826 square feet, that are used search infrastructure will negatively affect agriculture, food and for classroom instruction, greenhouse trials, research and sup- related industries that annually contribute $1.1 trillion to Amer- port services. A master plan study performed in 2018 to identify ica’s economy. potential improvements and expansion of the research station Lusk said these initial steps for the OSU agronomy farm are yielded several stand-alone projects or phases to be activated promising. based on funding availability and need. Many of its structures “We look forward to seeing improvements in motion at the were built 60 years ago and have been deemed in need of at least Agronomy Research Station and how those upgrades will trans- minor repairs. Several others require major repairs or have been late to our land-grant mission areas, and ultimately, the agricul- classified in a state of “end of life.” tural industry,” he said. ‘These aging structures threaten to compromise the advancement OSU Agriculture is dedicated to improving the quality of life of of OSU's wheat breeding trials. Oklahomans through science-based information and education. During a deep freeze in February 2021, pipes froze in the pro- It is comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two gram’s main greenhouse, a building constructed in the 1960s. state agencies: OSU Ag Research and OSU Extension. Service Oklahoma’s First Anniversary Data Shows Major Achievements for Oklahomans OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. - zle transitioning staff to a new 6.3/7. marks one year since Service agency, address unanswered In-person service capacity Launching a new check-in sys- Oklahoma became the state’s citizen calls and improving the improvements including an tem that works like a restau- provider of driver license and in-person service experience. increase in staffing and ex- rant’s waitlist - no appoint- motor vehicle services to Okla Every day created the chance panded offerings resulted in ments required eliminating the homans and continues to put for us to improve as the year a 64% reduction in wait times need for Oklahomans to show one thing above all: customer went on.” compared to December 2022 up early. satisfaction. 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