| | Welcome to the Calhoun Research Station |
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| | Decommissioned railroad ties the wood science project leaders will be recycling. |
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| | Image of Master Gardener sign, a project a the Calhoun Research Station |
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The Calhoun Research Station is the oldest station in North Louisiana. LSU accepted a proposal by the Ouachita Parish Police Jury to establish an experiment station in the hill parishes of North Louisiana on April 3, 1888. Originally named the North Louisiana Experiment Station, the name was later changed to the Calhoun Research Station.
The Calhoun Research Station and the Calhoun extension service offices are on the original 333 acres the Ouachita Parish Police Jury provided plus an additional 80 acres that were purchased in 1911. A few acres were lost in the 1950s because of Interstate 20. Numerous resources on the 413 acres in Calhoun include 12 acres of ponds. Resources include water quality, nutrient management and turfgrass plots, a native plant arboretum, various agro-forestry plots and wood engineering and wood chemistry laboratories .
Records are not clear as to the Calhoun Research Station's first superintendents (now called resident directors); however, the ones that are known are Sidney Stewart, followed by Dawson Johns (prior to moving to Hill Farm Research Station), Ralph Woodard, William (Bill) Young, LeRon (Ron) Robbins and currently Allen Nipper.
The Calhoun Research Station also serves as the LSU AgCenter's North Central Region Office, one of seven regional offices in Louisiana that coordinate extension and research offices and programs within the region. The North Central Region at this time includes Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Union and Winn parish offices as well as the Calhoun Research Station, Calhoun Extension Office, and the Hill Farm Research Station.
Agricultural and wood science research is conducted at the Calhoun Research Station. Research projects as of 2007 are in water quality, forest sustainability, recycling decommissioned preservative-treated wood and turfgrass cultivar evaluations. Demonstrations in collaboration with agents from the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service include Master Gardener rose and ornamental grass plots, fruits, termites and agroforestry.
In the past, goals have been to develop improved genotypes, to develop improved production practices for crops, to test performance and to assist growers with variety recommendations and new production methodology of fruit and vegetable crops, including southern pea, peach and okra. From these projects six southern pea, five watermelon and 15 peach varieties were released, and project leaders cooperated in developing other peach varieties and two hybrid Bermuda grasses. Harvester peach received the Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Award from American Society for Horticultural Science in 1998. Blondy and burgundy okra varieties are also All-American Award winners.
Current research project leaders are Dr. Lou Gaston (water quality), Dr. Ron Strahan (turfgrass), Dr. Cheng Piao and Dr. Hui Pan (wood science) and Steven Hotard (forestry). The station also houses two research associates and seven fulltime classified employees in addition to three extension regional agents. Graduate students from several campus departments also have been at the station to conduct thesis or dissertation research.
Location: 321 Hwy 80 East, Calhoun, La. 71225; 1.2 miles southwest of I-20 at exit 103
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Phone: (318) 644-2662 Fax: (318) 644-7244