Did you know that for more than 100 years plant variety trials at Îçҹ̽»¨ Agricultural Experiment Stations have tested how crop varieties perform in Îçҹ̽»¨?

Glenna Gannon, female researcher, stands next to corn higher than her head
Glenna Gannon, primary researcher for the trials program at the Îçҹ̽»¨ Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, shows off some corn varieties being trialed at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm.

August 1, 2023

Did you know that for more than 100 years plant variety trials at Îçҹ̽»¨ Agricultural Experiment Stations have tested how crop varieties perform in Îçҹ̽»¨? 

The results of the trials are used to update cooperative extension publications, like the recommended variety list for interior Îçҹ̽»¨, and to help local producers and gardeners select the best varieties to grow.

The background: The Fairbanks Experiment Farm, part of the Îçҹ̽»¨ Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, has been a key center for agricultural research in the Tanana Valley since 1906, well before the territory founded a university there. The variety trials program is a continuation of the original mission given to U.S. Special Agent Charles Georgeson in 1898, who was sent to Îçҹ̽»¨ to explore the agricultural potential of the state by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

  • Georgeson established 7 Agricultural Experiment Stations in Îçҹ̽»¨. The first one was in Sitka, the capital at that time. Other stations included Kenai, Rampart, Copper Center, Kodiak, Fairbanks and Matanuska. Fairbanks and Matanuska are the only two remaining experiment farms. 
  • The purpose of setting up these experiment stations was to learn which crops would grow best, to develop techniques for crop production and to share knowledge with residents. 
  • The Fairbanks Experiment Farm was established in 1906 and in 1931 it was incorporated into the Îçҹ̽»¨ Agricultural College and School of Mines (renamed the University of Îçҹ̽»¨ Fairbanks in 1935). The farm includes 260 acres of cropland and 50 acres of forest land for research and demonstration projects.
  • The Troth Yeddha’ campus sits where it is today because Georgeson selected the south-facing, gently sloped land, with its rich loamy soil as being an ideal location for agricultural research.
  • Research is conducted by a diverse group from the experiment station, other UAF research institutes and universities, and agricultural agencies. The results are made available for free to the public.
  • The is also located on the farm.
Crops growing in a high tunnel