07/10/1997

McDaniel Named to Head Auburn Research Station in Fairhope

FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Ronnie McDaniel, a native of Robertsdale, has been named superintendent of the Gulf Coast Substation here, according to an announcement by Jim Marion, director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) headquartered at Auburn University.

"We are fortunate to have a person with Ronnie McDaniel's capabilities to lead our research program at the Gulf Coast Substation," Marion said. "Many of the projects there are long term, and Ronnie will provide the continuity critical to keeping them productive. His knowledge of the research needs of Gulf Coast area agriculture and his excellent working relationship with producers in the area and with scientists from Auburn are big advantages for the total agricultural research program at Auburn."

McDaniel, who has served as assistant and associate superintendent of the 800-acre research facility since 1969, earned a bachelors degree in agriculture and a masters in agricultural economics from AU. He succeeds Emmett Carden, who retired in 1997, after serving 19 years as superintendent.

The Gulf Coast Substation has long been recognized as a center for pecan research. Much of the early work on varieties and commercial production practices for pecans in the Gulf Coast area was conducted at the station. During the history of research at the substation, technical information on alternate bearing; insect, disease and pest management and irrigation and harvesting practices has played a key role in the development of the state's pecan industry. Though pecan research continues to play a major role in the research program at the substation, that role continually changes.

"I've seen significant changes since I came to the substation in 1969," McDaniel noted. "I grew up on a dairy farm in Baldwin County, and a primary reason I was hired was to work with the dairy at the substation. Now, the dairy is gone here and only four or five remain in the county."

The substation also has a long history of row crop research. Corn, cotton, wheat and soybeans remain as staple research crops at the station. To help develop management techniques for soybean nematode problems, the station also leases land in south Baldwin County, since there is no significant nematode population on any of the substation soil. This research areas near Elberta has proven to be a tough testing ground for soybeans and has played a key role in development by the AAES of soybean varieties specifically suited for growing conditions in the state.

While the dairy at the substation is long gone, livestock research continues. Recent work with ryegrass has drawn national attention and may provide area cattlemen with a cost-effective management tool, if Marshall variety continues to outproduce the standard varieties.

Probably the most frequently visited research area at the substation is the citrus plots. Using freeze control measures, researchers at the station have lost only one crop of satsumas since the oranges were first planted in 1990. McDaniel, who has worked extensively with the citrus project noted, "we have demonstrated that we can save the trees under severe cold conditions and protect the crop under most winter and spring conditions." While citrus is making a comeback of sorts in the Gulf Coast area, other crops have come and gone.

"We once had a number of Irish potato projects here," McDaniel said. "We worked directly with Frito-Lay on some research projects, but when the company moved away, production dropped in the area."

Some crops not commonly seen in the area also pop up from time to time. "We had a fairly large tea planting at one time," McDaniel said. Tea grew well at the station, but interest quickly died when political climates in tea-producing countries returned to more normal condition. Kiwi and feijoa, crops from New Zealand, also came and went in the 1980s and 90s. Canola, peanuts and long-leaf cotton are still grown on the station from time to time, he added.

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Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
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Auburn, AL 36849
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Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

07/10/97