New York State Agricultural Experiment Station - History

History

As the sixth oldest institution of its kind in the country, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station was established by an Act of the New York State Legislature on June 26, 1880 and became operative on March 1, 1882. More than 100 locations were considered for the site of the station, and Geneva was eventually chosen.

Originally, farmers wanted the station to serve as a model farm. However, the first director, E. Lewis Sturtevant, immediately established the policy that the station was to conduct agricultural science research and to establish experimental plots, both of which would have little resemblance to commercial agriculture. Nevertheless, the primary mission of the Station has always been to serve those who produce and consume New York's agricultural products.

In its early days, Station scientists, who were few in number, concentrated their efforts on dairy, horticulture, and evaluation of varieties of vegetables and field crops. In 1887, the program was broadened to include work on beef cattle, swine, and evaluation of fruit varieties. During this period, the station also began playing its continuing active role in the state's agricultural law enforcement program.

Still later, research activities were added in the fields of bacteriology, dairy science, fruit horticulture, chemistry, plant diseases, and insect and mite species.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a fundamental philosophy was developed regarding activities of the station that is still, basically, in effect today. This philosophy stated that research done at the station should be conducted on principles underlying agricultural practices and, further, that agricultural research should be the full-time responsibility of the staff without it having to also play a teaching role. This was a marked departure from the role played by staff at other agricultural experiment stations throughout the country.

Originally an independent unit of the state, the station became part of Cornell University in 1923. Immediately, it expanded its research to include studies on canning crops, nursery plants, and disease and insect pests of rubes. At the end of World War II, all animal research was moved to the Ithaca campus of Cornell University and the Geneva Station became a true horticultural research institute. Since then, it has been the center for research in New York on the production, protection, and utilization of fruit and vegetable crops, an industry that is today valued in excess of $2 billion.

In 2006, two Cornell alumni endowed the Yongkeun Joh Professorship of Food Ingredient and Product Formulation, the first endowed chair to benefit the Station. Amongst its innovations was the breeding of Cortland, Empire, Jonagold, Jonamac and Macoun apples. The station has also developed three new wine grapes: 'Noiret', 'Corot noir' and 'Valvin Muscat'