Muck Crops Agricultural Research Station
History
The oldest among the CFAES agricultural research stations, Muck Crops Agricultural Research Station was established in 1948. A group of area producers, called the Golden Rule Association,purchased and donated 15.5 acres of prime muck soil near Celeryville to the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station (now CFAES) for use as an experimental farm. In 2009, new facilities were built, including offices, a workshop, storage areas, a laboratory with digital microscopes, and a new greenhouse. Muck Crops ARS has a close working relationship with local growers, working with area producers to strengthen their reach within the produce industry in all main-chain grocery stores through variety trials at the research station to help determine which crops will do best for them.
Research Focus
The Muck Crops ARS maintains an intensive and relevant research program that addresses the profitability, quality, and safety of fresh vegetable crops grown in both muck and mineral soils in northern Ohio, including lettuce, radishes, parsley, green and bulb onions, squash, sweet corn and other leaf, vine and root crops. Scientists help farmers overcome disease, insect and weed challenges with new cultural practices and management techniques. The knowledge generated at Muck Crops ARS is also invaluable to other muck-crop growers in Ohio, across the United States and around the world.
Diseases are a major challenge to fresh-market vegetable production. CFAES plant pathologists study chemical and biological alternatives to controlling disease organisms- including resistant cultivars, proper field site selection, crop rotation, controlled moisture in the fields and chemically treated seeds. CFAES and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers continually test new fungicides and bactericides for their efficacy against profit-cutting diseases. Emphasis is also placed on integrated pest management (IPM) approaches to lower chemical use and disease-forecasting systems to reduce crop losses.
CFAES entomologists and weed scientists seek to help farmers produce healthy vegetables with fewer agrochemicals. Trials are conducted on insect life cycles and behavior, seed treatments, IPM methods and pest monitoring. CFAES and USDA entomologists also test new insecticides for their efficacy against pests such as thrips, weevils and aphids that can decimate crops. Because weeds are particularly abundant in organic soils and tend to become immune to chemical herbicides, experts continually test new weed-control methods at Muck Crops ARS.
Area growers use transplants to lengthen the growing season and improve stand uniformity over direct seeding. The research station's greenhouse provides vigorous young plants for many of the research trials conducted on and off the farm. This station also evaluates new vegetable varieties for quality, yield and resistance to local pest populations.
Outreach and Ohio State University Extension
The Muck Crops ARS has a very close relationship with local farmers. In collaboration with Ohio State Extension, research generated at the station is constantly shared with growers through field days, monthly breakfast informational sessions and the annual Winter Muck Crop School. The research station is also used by Master Gardners.
Muck Crops ARS
4875 SR 103S
Willard, OH 44890
Phone: 419-935-1201
Tim Strebe, Manager
strebe.3@osu.edu
Carlos Herminio Perez, Agricultural Technician
Lizeth Gonzalez Garcia, Farm Coordinator 2