b'Turning Back The ClockA Look Back 25 Years Ago at Excerpts fromThe December 1995 Issue ofThe ValleyPotato Grower MagazinePotato Research Lab Is An makingthepotatoresearchlaba The components of the East GrandARS Worksite worksite of an ARS facility in Fargo, Forks facility have yet to be defined.NorthDakota.Theadministration ARS officialswillbeconductingTheUSDA-AgriculturalResearch and funding for the Potato Research meetings in the next few weeks toService Potato Research Laboratory Lab is being transferred to the Red makethatdecision.Dr.Rickin East Grand Forks, Minnesota has RiverValleyAgriculturalResearch Dunkle, ARS Midwest Area Director,beensaved,butnotinthesame Center. The center is an ARS funded saidthatwhatisnowknown,iscapacity as in the past. The Potato facility. It has three major units, a that the pilot plant, which primari-LabisnowconsideredanARS Biosciences Research unit, Northern lyconductsprocessingtestsofWorksite. CropsResearchInstitute,anda numerous cultivars under study byHardRedSpring&DurumWheat manyuniversitybreedingpro-SomepotatoofficialsintheRed quality lab. grams,willremainintact.TheRiverValleyofMinnesotaand administrationwillbehandledinNorth Dakota are pleased that the Fargo.Butthebigquestionrightfacility has been saved. Others ques- now, reamains whether or not theretion just what this means, as do ARS willbeanypotatoresearchcon-officialsforthemoment.Willthe ducted at this facility.potato industry lose some research?Willthedirectionofresearch Dunkle confirmed that plans werechange? proceedingearlyinNovembertobegintransferofthelabtotheThis lab, though located in the Red FargoARS Center.HewentontoRiverValley,isamajorsourceof explain the philosophy behind ARSpotatoresearcheffortsforthe potato worksites. Over the last sev-national potato industry. The facili- eralyears,USDA-ARShasexper-ty has been put on the USDAs clo- inced budget limitations and cuts.surelistforthesecondyearina Because of this, ARS has consolidat-row, and local and national indus- ed some of its facilities to save ontry officials got involved in a cam- overhead costs.paigntosaveit.Potatoindustryofficials felt the loss of the potato The commodities of which research The Potato Research Worksite nowresearchaswellasthelabspilot has been done at this Fargo facility fallsundertheumbrellaoftheplantwould have a great impact. includesunflowers,sugarbeets, Northern Plains Area of ARS, whoseThis was the only ARS lab dedicated wheat, barley, and oats. With a min- Director is Dr. William Blackburn.100 percent to potato research. imalamountofpotatoresearchbeing done by Dr. Jeff Suttle at this The Director of the Red River ValleyPresidentClintonsignedthe center,potatoesarenowacom- AgriculturalResearchCenterinUSDAsfiscalyear1996 modity that industry officials hope Fargo,whichislocatedontheAppropriations Act, which includes will play more of a major role at this North Dakota State University cam-theARSfunding,October21st, center. pus, is Dr. Don Zimmerman.NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 POTATO GROWER 15'