Keiser, Arkansas
January 23, 2008
The donation of two research plot
combines by Indiana-based
Stewart Seeds, Inc., to the
University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture will
help preserve valuable research data in eastern Arkansas, said
Fred Bourland, director of field research units at Keiser and
Marianna.
The Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser and Lon
Mann Cotton Research Station at Marianna each harvests about
20,000 research plots per year of soybeans, corn, rice, wheat
and grain sorghum, Bourland said. Harvesting with small plot
combines is a slow process because the grain must be carefully
processed to record research data, he said.
"Each location had only one plot combine, and with the number of
research plots increasing we felt we were running the risk of
losing plots and research data if harvest were delayed by
weather or mechanical problems," Bourland said.
"We contacted Stewart Seeds about two plot combines they had for
sale, and after we visited awhile they very generously offered
to give them to us," Bourland said.
New combines of a similar design would cost over $250,000 each.
"These are used, but they are in excellent condition," Bourland
said.
Steve Gunn, Stewart Seeds vice president of production, said,
"We realized we could help the seed industry by donating the
combines for use in research and development. When the
University of Arkansas called, we decided that would be a great
home for them. We are just glad to be in a position to help a
program that is doing so much to help our industry," Gunn added.
U of A Vice President for Agriculture Milo Shult said, "We are
extremely grateful for this very generous gift. Stewart Seeds
and the Stewart family are great examples of the progressive
spirit in American agriculture that values research and
development to provide improved crop varieties and other
technology advances."
The combines were donated in memory of Gilman C. Stewart and in
honor of John A. Stewart, the two sons of Arthur Stewart, who
started producing and selling seed corn in 1918 in Greensburg,
Ind. He was a pioneering producer of hybrid seed corn in the
1930s.
Gilman and John joined the farming and seed business after
military service in World War II. They were joined by the third
generation of Stewarts in the 1970s. Jim and Tom Stewart and
brother-in-law Steve Gunn currently operate the family business.
The company now has about 50 employees who grow and market corn,
soybean and wheat seed and raise purebred Angus cattle
seedstock. They serve producers throughout Indiana and Ohio. |
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