is now the San Juan Basin Research Center (SJBRC)
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The 6,300 acre research center has an elevation of 7600 feet and receives
18.5 inches of precipitation annually. Crop varieties adapted to the 100-day frost free
growing season are limited to small grains, forage and hay crops Photo courtesy of Dave Schafer |
| Research dates back to the early days of the school when several types of
trees were planted from 1918 to 1921 for high altitude adaptability studies. Field crop research began in 1922 and was discontinued in
1975. Range research became a part of the research program in 1962. Photo courtesy of Fort Lewis College Center of SouthWest Studies |
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Beef cattle breeding research was conducted in the early 1940's in cooperation with Fort Lewis College. Many of the foundation lines of the present cow herd were established in 1946.
Ranchers from the Four Corners area have been testing bulls at Hesperus station since early 1950. This test offers commercial cattlemen the opportunity to purchase bulls with good genetics that will perform on mountain ranches.