Page 32 - North Haven Magazine Issue 23 Spring 2022

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station:
Working for You!

by Sally Brockett
Did you know that Connecticut is the first state in the U.S. to have an agricultural experiment station? Do you know what an agricul-
tural experiment station does and why it is so important? Are you aware of the free services they provide and how you may benefit from
their work even if you are not a gardener or have a farm? This government agency works for you so let’s look at what they have to offer.
The CT Agricultural Experiment Station In 1957, when Connecticut’s trees were
(CAES) started in 1875 when a proposal being devastated by gypsy moth caterpil-
was made to support agricultural research lars, the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
with an experiment station “for the pur- planned to use an aerial spray of DDT to
pose of promoting agriculture by scientific eliminate the caterpillars. Fortunately, the
investigation and experiments”. Analy- researchers at CAES recommended saf-
sis of agricultural feeds and fertilizers for er procedures and the spray project was
consumer protection was the first focus stopped.
of their research. Today, many gardeners,
farmers, and homeowners still use the free CAES initiated research on ticks and tick-
soil testing program to learn what fertiliz- borne diseases in 1975. This critical work Lockwood Farm at the base of Sleeping Giant.
ers are needed to grow healthy crops and led to the first isolation of the Lyme dis-
lawns. ease agent Borrelia burgdorferi. Further
research resulted in the ability to test for CAES 75-acre research fields are located at
the 3 pathogens involved in Lyme disease, Lockwood Farm at the base of the Sleep-
Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichiosis and An- ing Giant. In 1955, the former Vice Pres-
aplasmosis. If you are bitten by a tick and ident of the U.S. gave an address, praising
can bring the tick to the Experiment Sta- CAES and its staff: “No state Agricultural
tion, they can test to determine if the tick Experiment Station has ever accomplished
carries the pathogens. There is no charge so much with so little land, money, and
for this service. salaries..." Lockwood Farm was the site
of field-testing of organic fungicides that
were developed to replace heavy metals
CAES will test your soil. previously used to control plant diseas-
es. The principles of plastic plant shelters,
Biochemistry work on plant proteins start- mulches, and hot caps were also worked
ed in 1888 and by 1913 they made the dis- out in the field in the 1950's.
covery of vitamin A. The 1910 purchase of
Lockwood Farm in Mt. Carmel provided The main mission of the CAES is research.
researchers with fields for experimental Tick research, identification, and testing are Programs also exist to educate the public
trials. Soil could now be analyzed, and soil available at CAES. and to transfer new findings to people try-
fertility tests were developed to help farm- ing to solve agricultural, public health, and
ers and home gardeners. The fields also By 2009, the combination of CAES re- environmental problems. The researchers
facilitated experiments with cross-pollina- search with plants and ticks led to the dis- and scientists at CAES are often available
tion which led to commercial production covery that invasive shrubs, such as Japa- to speak at meetings and provide presenta-
of hybrid corn and revolutionized global nese barberry, provide environments that tions on a wide variety of topics.
agriculture. increase the number of black-legged ticks,
carriers of Lyme disease. This is import- CAES Services may help you! It is located
American Chestnut trees were a domi- ant to homeowners who want to defend at 123 Huntington Street, New Haven. The
nant tree in Connecticut until the chest- against ticks entering their property. following services are available through
nut blight killed them around 1900. CAES CAES in New Haven.
began a program in 1930 to hybridize During the 20th and 21st century, re-
the blight resistant Chinese strains with searchers at CAES continued to discover Insect information
the American chestnut trees to develop a and identify new insects and diseases that Plant diseases
blight resistant variety. After 90 years, the were creating problems for plants, animals, Invasive aquatic plant program
hybrids have over 90% American chestnut and humans. Eastern equine encephalitis, Mosquito Surveillance
genes and with some demonstrating blight West Nile Virus, boxwood blight, emerald Soil Testing
resistance. Trees have been planted at Pe- ash borer, spotted lantern fly, and beech Tick Testing and Information
ter’s Rock Park and have produced nuts leaf disease are just some of the important
that will be planted this spring to increase areas of research undertaken at the exper- Call (203) 974-8500 or visit https://por-
the chestnut population at the park. iment station. tal.ct.gov/caes

North Haven Magazine - Spring Issue 2022
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