PPI Spring Meeting 2001 - Abstract
The New U.S. Vegetable Laboratory Building - Opportunities and
Challenges
Claude E. Thomas
USDA, ARS, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory
The USDA, ARS, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL) is currently
housed in widely separated, mostly 60 year old buildings and trailer
units on both sides of U.S. Highway 17 south of Charleston, SC.
The main complex is located on 3 acres of ARS property on the
south side of Highway 17. Additional USVL buildings and the research
farm are located on 436 acres of ARS property on the north side
of this highway. The Clemson University Coastal Research and Education
Center (CREC) consists of buildings of similar age and condition,
as well as a research farm located on 324 acres of university
property adjacent to the ARS property.
The research program at the USVL addresses established national
problems in vegetable crop production and protection with emphasis
on the southeastern United States. The mission of the Laboratory
is to: a) improve genetic populations of vegetable crops by combining
resistance to established diseases and pests with favored quality
characters and improved yield potentials; and b) develop knowledge
on the biology, ecology, and epidemiology of established diseases
and pests of vegetable crops that can be used as a basis for the
development and implementation of new, reliable, environmentally
sound management programs.
A new federal research complex of 112,600 square feet (Phases
I and II) is planned to replace the existing USVL and CREC laboratory,
office, and greenhouse buildings and will be located on the north
side of Highway 17. The Congress has appropriated $18.4 million
for design and construction of Phase I, consisting of a 53,740
sq. ft. laboratory-office building and physical plant. Construction
began in 1999 and will be completed in the Fall of 2001. This
building will support the present staffs of the USVL (10 SY) and
the CREC (6 SY) and permit a moderate increase of these staffs.
This provides a unique opportunity for the ARS to strengthen the
program at the Charleston location by expanding it to address
a wider range of problems encountered in vegetable crop production
and protection. Funds have not yet been appropriated for Phase
II, which would include the greenhouse and headhouse areas.
The expanded opportunities provided by the new building are accompanied
by the challenges of increased operational costs for the new,
state-of-the-art complex, resulting in a major increase over current
operating costs when Phase I of the new building is completed
in the Fall of 2001. Clemson has agreed to pay their proportionate
share of the estimated operating costs. Even so, ARS' share of
these additional operating costs will severely impact the research
funds available at the location.
For further information, contact:
- Dr. Claude E. Thomas, Research Leader
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory
- 2875 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29414
- Telephone: 843-556-0840; Fax: 843-763-7013
- E-mail: cthomas@awod.com
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