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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, For 100 years, scientists at the Blackland Research |
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and Extension Center have worked to ensure a safe and affordable |
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food supply, protect the environment, and invigorate the economy; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Blackland Experiment Station, Substation No. 5, |
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was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1909 to conduct research |
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on cotton root rot and a variety of other soil and crop problems; |
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the Research and Extension Center today occupies a 542-acre site in |
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the south-central part of the Blackland Prairie region, on the |
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southeastern edge of Temple; it is one of 13 off-campus stations |
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affiliated with The Texas A&M University System as part of Texas |
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AgriLife Research, the state's premier research agency in |
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agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1931, the Blackland Research and Extension Center |
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began soil and water research in cooperation with the USDA Soil |
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Conservation Service; its early projects also included hybrid corn |
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breeding and research in cattle grazing and feeding; in recent |
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years, researchers have used weather data collected over many |
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decades to develop important guidelines for conservation and |
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improved crop performance, and studies of mechanization for major |
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crops, especially cotton, have provided information of great value |
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to farmers and agricultural agencies; and |
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WHEREAS, The Blackland Research and Extension Center shares |
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research facilities with the Grassland, Soil, and Water Research |
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Laboratory of the USDA/Agricultural Research Service, and their |
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scientists have cooperated closely for more than 80 years; |
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Blackland Research and Extension Center researchers also |
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collaborate extensively with their counterparts from the Natural |
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Resources Conservation Service and the Environmental Protection |
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Agency; the large national Conservation Effects Assessment Program |
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to quantify the environmental benefits of USDA conservation efforts |
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is among the key projects made possible by these relationships; and |
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WHEREAS, Responding to the needs of Texas residents, the |
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center is currently undertaking research related to healthy rivers |
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and streams, rangeland drought monitoring and management, |
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agriculture and natural resource risk management, and other crucial |
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issues; over the past century, the distinguished scientists and |
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dedicated staff of the Blackland Research and Extension Center have |
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been instrumental in improving land, water, and soil resources in |
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Central Texas, and they continue to enhance our knowledge of |
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agriculture and the environment while developing new technologies |
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that benefit countless people in our region and elsewhere; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate all those associated with the Blackland |
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Research and Extension Center on the occasion of its 100th |
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anniversary and extend to them best wishes for continued success in |
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their noteworthy endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Blackland Research and Extension Center as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and |
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Senate. |