NASHUA - As agriculture experts talked to farmers in the Northeast Iowa Research Farm's maintenance shop on Thursday, contractors were making sure they'll have a more suitable place to dispense advice in three months.

Electricians, plumbers and insulation installers were working to ensure the Borlaug Learning Center will be complete by the farm's next field day, which coincides with its grand opening on June 18. The building, named after famed ag researcher Norman Borlaug, will be the farm's new research and education hub.

Currently only the maintenance shop - filled with tools and chemicals and void of modern technology - is big enough to host large groups. On Thursday, about 100 farmers and students attended the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association's annual meeting. The association owns the 260-acre farm.

Iowa State University Extension experts projected presentations about agricultural law and biofuels on a white cloth that looked like a bed sheet. The $700,000-plus center will have a huge meeting room, which can be made into two separate rooms, with two large overhead projection screens, sans wrenches and grease guns hanging from the wall.

"Now we're in a machine shed. It's going to be a wonderful facility," said Mary Schrant-Proudy, Extension northeast area director.

The center's grand opening was originally scheduled for Thursday, three years after the association's board approved the project and fundraising. However, minor changes and construction delays pushed back the opening.

The building grew slightly in size - originally projected at 5,000 square feet - and nearly doubled in cost. Still, fundraising wasn't an issue. Association members, businesses and students gave nearly $240,000, or about $90,000 higher than the goal. ISU Extension is paying for the majority of the project. Some money still needs to be raised for landscaping, the parking lot and other items.

ISU Extension will have a permanent presence at the center, including the regional office and at least one crop specialist. A laboratory and space for visiting crop researchers also are planned.

Farm superintendent Ken Pecinovski said working side-by-side with Extension officials will benefit farmers. The farm conducts hundreds of experiments each year to increase yields and profitability, ranging from planting dates to how to reduce input costs.

"All our data goes to Extension specialists, so this will help get information out there (faster) and better," Pecinovski said.

Even though the association and Extension will have a modern facility to conduct and disseminate crop research, ISU officials hope state and federal funding cuts won't hamper their efforts.

Mark Honeyman, coordinator of ISU's research farms, called recent and future budget cuts a "crisis."

For example, $200 million in federal funding was cut from crop research last year, he said. That means no more forage research at Nashua.

"Research benefits all of us," said Mark Mueller, a Waverly farmer and association president.

"I can get a sales pitch anywhere, but when I get (unbiased) information here, I can put money on it."

Contact Matthew Wilde

at (319) 291-1579 or

matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.