From "Book Farmers" to Computer Modelers to Artificial Intelligence

The Evolution of Agricultural Research on Texas' Blackland Prairie and Beyond. In the early 1900s, Texas agriculture and impoverished tenant farm families faced depleted soils, severe soil erosion, and low crop yields. In response, the Texas Legislature in 1909 sanctioned the establishment of up to ten agricultural research stations across the state's primary agricultural regions. This book traces the growth and collaborative research achievements of the Blackland Research and Extension Center and Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory in Temple, Texas. Initiated as Temple Substation No. 5, the station began field research in 1911 and soon was joined by USDA scientists. Over the past 115 years, the station's focus has shifted, first from observational field research to sophisticated field and laboratory research, then to complex simulation models of agricultural systems and components, and most recently to applications of artificial intelligence and robotics in agriculture. Through its field, laboratory, and computer modeling research, the station has made significant contributions, both nationally and internationally, to soil and water conservation and grazing land, crop land, and watershed management. The book also explores five key elements of the station's success: its focus on users and their needs, the integration of fundamental and applied research, the combination of field and laboratory research, the interagency and interdisciplinary collaborations on problem-solving research, and a history of visionary leadership. These elements combine to present a useful model for agricultural research centers worldwide, highlighting the value of collaboration in scientific research.