The Utah State University Turkey Research Facility (TRC) located in Ephraim, Utah is part of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and is administered by the Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department in the College of Agriculture. It is the continuation of the original Snow Field Station, established February 1, 1956. In 2000 the “Snow Field Station” was renamed the “Turkey Research Center” to reflect the almost exclusive current role of activities carried on there. Personnel consist of the Extension Poultry Specialist, a Senior Secretary, a Research Technician II, and an Agricultural Assistant IV. The TRC is located on approximately 18 acres and contains five turkey buildings, a feed mill, miscellaneous storage buildings and vehicle sheds, and a house for the farm manager (Agricultural Assistant).
The TRC is centrally located in an area where many agronomic, watershed, turkey, range, and livestock problems exist. The elevation is 5500 ft (1674 meters) with approximately 11 ½ inches (292 cm) of yearly precipitation. The frost-free period varies from 90 to 120 days, although damaging frost may occur in any month of the year. Normally, summer daytime temperatures range from 70o to 90o F (21o to 32o C) and nights, 40o to 65o F (4o to 18o C); however, high/low diurnal temperatures may vary as much as 50o F (27o C).
Sanpete County is the center of the Utah turkey industry. The TRC is located in the heart of this industry in order to perform turkey strain comparisons, nutritional needs, and management research necessary for the current and future growth and prosperity of the industry. The TRC is in operation to help turkey producers improve in production techniques; arrive at optimal diets for turkey raising in Utah; identify and solve problems relating to ventilation, efficient year round live production, and disease prevention; and provide meaningful educational experiences to growers. These goals are carried out through collaborative interaction between Cooperative Extension, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, ADVS Department, and the Utah turkey industry.
The former Snow Field Station, now the Turkey Research Facility, has for over 40 years provided the Utah turkey industry with applicable and pertinent research. The facilities at the TRC are unique even compared to other turkey research stations throughout the country. Because of these facilities, we have the ability to perform large-scale commercial-like trials that cannot be emulated anywhere else. This is an advantage, not only benefiting the local industry, but also in soliciting extramural funding potentially benefiting the industry as a whole. |
Snow Field Station established 1 February 1956.
1961-62. . . . . . . . . . . Feed mill constructed
Combination brooder/growout (Pole Barn) constructed
Circ. 1983. . . . . . . . . . Solar brooder
1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,000 ft2 growout building constructed
2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Range rearing discontinued
Name changed to “Utah State University Turkey Research Center”
2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 ft2 growout completed – cooperative effort between Utah State University, USDA-Rural Development, and Moroni Feed Company
Past Field Station Supervisors
Gordon Van Epps (1956- 1981) – General supervisor, but was involved in range studies
Supervisors of turkey research:
Ross Smart – 1959
Donald Dobson – 1960 to 1976
Robert E. Warnick – 1976 to 1994
Robert E. Buckner – 1994 to 2000
Gary Bradley – 2000 to 2001
David D. Frame (interim) – 2001 to 2002
Lynn G. Bagley – 2002 to 2004
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