Work on university's field laboratory under way

SIKESTON -- Dr. Mike Aide, chairman of the Southeast Missouri State's Department of Agriculture, watched Friday as dirt swirled up from the University's newest classroom.

Two land graders from Below Brothers Dirt LLC moved across the field directly behind the Southeast Missouri State University-Sikeston campus sending up plumes of dust. The land will serve as a field laboratory for the 50 students taking classes at the Sikeston campus.

Once the land preparation is completed, plans call for the placement of both a center-pivot irrigation system and furrow irrigation.

According to Aide, the site will permit ag students to design irrigation experiments and projects that simulate real-world agriculture operations. Already students are assessing the soil fertility of the new outdoor facility and soon will participate in developing research plot designs and conduct their implementation.

Aide said the field will be used for multiple classes - from soil fertility to water management and basic plant science to crop physiology. Students will gain experience in planting, irrigating, fertilizing and harvesting crops.

Pointing out that not all students today come from farm backgrounds while others have come from specialized farming operations, Aide said the field will enable the University to provide the students with a "well-rounded learning experience. Agriculture is all about having a variety of set skills - everything from communication skills to technology to the art of practicing agriculture," Aide said.

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