The Establishment of the Station

The idea for an agricultural research facility in western Kentucky emerged in the early 1920s, driven by the region’s need for improved farming methods and advanced scientific agricultural research. 

1922-1925

The Early Years

From its inception, research at the farm served two fundamental purposes: to discover more effective farming methods in western Kentucky and to demonstrate these methods to farmers throughout the region.

1925-1929

Drought and Depression

Economic struggles and drought marked the 1930s. As the financial depression that started in late 1929 continued seemingly without end, Lowry’s reports to Dean Cooper increasingly referred to tight budgets that precluded improvements in the farm.

The 1930s

The War Years and Serving Veteran Farmers

The 1940s decade opened without much relief for the severely depressed economy. However, America’s entrance into the war in December 1941 would set the tone for research directly throughout the early part of the decade and indirectly throughout the second half.

The 1940s

Technology Leads the Way

With the arrival of new scientists, research programs developed rapidly. The research conducted at Princeton was also becoming increasingly sophisticated. Livestock management and tobacco research were top priorities.

1950-1965

A Period of Tremendous Growth

Under the administration of Dean Barnhart, the number of faculty and staff positions at Princeton increased to 25 during the late 1960s and 1970s, almost exclusively in the Extension area. This action symbolized the importance of western Kentucky agriculture to the state.

1966-1979

Difficult Years for Farmers

Strong commodity prices and substantial demand on the international market for U.S. farm products drove up farmland prices in the 1970s, prompting farmers to seek ways to increase yields. Farmers looked to agricultural scientists to help them improve on-farm efficiency to help them keep their operations out of bankruptcy.

The 1980s

Focus on Conservation and Profitability

Many of the projects that began in the 1970s and 1980s continued, thanks to the dedicated and steadfast staff of UKREC. By the 65th year of the establishment of the station in Princeton, no-tillage agriculture, primarily developed by researchers at the University of Kentucky over the previous two decades, had become a dominant form of growing crops, not just in Kentucky but throughout the world.

The 1990s

A New Millennium and Change in Farming Focus

Kentucky agriculture, which had been dominated by tobacco production for several decades, began to shift its focus following the signing of the Master Settlement Agreement in 1998. UKREC played a significant role in this transition.

The 2000s

The Grain and Forage Center of Excellence

As the UKREC continued to make significant strides in growing the success of Kentucky's farmers, staff and agriculture community leaders began to envision what would come next. The development of a world-class center focused on grain and forage research, located in the heart of Kentucky’s crop production, began in 2015.

2015-2020

The 2021 Tornado

On the evening of Dec. 10, 2021, an EF-4 tornado struck UKREC, leaving behind only remnants of a facility that had been an essential contributor to Kentucky's agricultural research. Decades of infrastructure and millions of dollars in equipment were destroyed overnight, reducing one of the state’s key agricultural assets to rubble.

Loss and Cleanup

A New Beginning

UKREC is transforming into a more advanced research institution that better meets the demands of today’s agricultural climate. This transformation has brought modern facilities that streamline research processes, improve storage and create a more effective environment for agricultural science.

Rebuilding