Kearney Agricultural Center
The University of California's Kearney Agricultural Center is the
largest off-campus agricultural research facility operated by the
University. Located in the heart of California's Central Valley, just
southeast of Fresno, the Center provides a site for hundreds of ongoing
research projects by UC scientists.
Field studies are conducted by the resident staff, campus-based
researchers, county-based UC farm advisors, and cooperators from the US
Department of Agriculture.
Studies are primarily centered on pest management, irrigation,
nutrition, plant science, rootstock improvement in stonefruit, nuts and
grapes. Studies are also conducted on some cereal and forage crops and
vegetable crops.
The Research Process
Research at Kearney Agricultural Center is administered by a research
advisory committee. This committee of peers reviews each proposal made
at KAC.
The committee's function is to review each project for its scientific
integrity, appropriateness for conduct at this location and to minimize
the potential duplication of efforts. In addition, the committee has the
responsibility of overseeing the equitable allocation of Kearney
resources for the benefit of all the researchers using this facility.
There is a specific procedure to follow in initiating a proposal to
conduct research at KAC. To simplify this process and to become
aquainted with all available resources and services, interested
principal investigators should contact Kearney's superintendent, who
facilitates action regarding research proposals.
KAC personnel have a well-recognized and proven history of working
closely with project personnel to assure the very best possible research
environment. If you have any questions, you can contact Kearney
Agricultural Center at (209) 646-6500.
Facility Data
- A dormitory with overnight space for eight
occupants is available by advance registration. It provides a clothes
washer/dryer, living area with TV, desks and complete kitchen
facilities.
- There are 45 offices and 34 laboratories, including
an analytical chemistry lab and teaching lab. Office and laboratory
space is made available on an as-needed basis for temporary and
visiting staff.
- The Kearney Agricultural Center recently completed a new $5 million
expansion, and provides researchers with modern laboratory space and
the latest laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
- One of only four USDA and CDFA certified insect quarantine
facilities in California is located at Kearney. The other
three are on the Berkeley, Davis, and Riverside UC campuses.
- Our new 250-seat auditorium facility is a welcome
addition to our other meeting rooms, and is available for conferences,
workshops, seminars and other presentations.
- Other available resources include: a greenhouse, a lathhouse,
dryers, freezers, cold storage, multipurpose labs, underground
lysimeters, weather monitoring equipment, facimile machines, mainframe
and PC computer equipment and support staff.
- The Kearney Agricultural Center is located on a 330-acre parcel, of
which 275 acres are available for research projects.
The balance of 55 acres is occupied by administrative and laboratory
buildings, roads and services. The Center has approximately 25
full-time academic staff members representing the Agricultural
Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension from the three
agricultural campuses of UC Berkeley, UC Davis,
and UC Riverside, as well as specialized UC
programs.
Soil and Weather Data
Soils of the Kearney Agricultural Center are typical of the region,
and are predominantly of the Hanford classification with a surface layer
that is sandy loam or fine sandy loam. These soils are gently sloping on
young alluvial fans washed mostly from the granitic rock of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains. The soil is well drained and generally pH neutral.
Some Hesperia soil is present, which has a surface layer that is
slightly to moderately calcareous. The Exeter Series occupies a very
small amount of the Center's area. This soil has a surface layer over a
strongly cemented silica-iron hardpan at moderate depth.
Kearney Agricultural Center
9240 South Riverbend Ave.
Parlier, CA 93548
(209) 646-6500
You can also visit the Kearney Agricultural Center's own website: http://www.uckac.edu
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