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Ground broken for poisonous plant lab in Logan By
Matt Stephens LOGAN -- Members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service gathered Friday for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory. Among those in attendance were Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) and Undersecretary of Agriculture Dr. Joseph Jen. "Poisonous plant research is important to the livestock industry," Jen said. "Poisonous plants cause $340 million worth of damage per year to livestock." Teams of scientists, veterinarians, toxicologists and physiologists all have been aiding in providing research to the poisonous plant lab since its arrival in Logan in 1954. The laboratory examines four major areas of research and noxious weeds. At the forefront are the effects of locoweeds, which are the most widespread weed. The weed affects the organ systems of livestock causing reproductive dysfunction and death. "Unfortunately, dead cattle are not an uncommon occurrence. It happens all to often as a result of poisonous plants," said Booth Wallentine, CEO and secretary of the Utah Farm Bureau. "Livestock is a $100 billion industry and a very significant contributor to the economy of this country." "The new building will significantly expand the research possibilities of this lab," said Will Blackburn, Area Director for the USDA-ARS. "We are doing the best we can to see that the Utah State University story is told," said Bennett. "Utah State is at forefront in research for agriculture." Scientists have also derived, from their research on animals, applicable human medicinal possibilities. The narrow niche that this lab was previously thought to occupy has gotten bigger and more important, Bennett said. Now, people are finding out that the research done with animals is being transferred to humans, he said. Dr. Lynn James, research leader for the poisonous plant lab, suggests that the research also lends itself to the study of etiology in cleft palates in humans. The development of in utero surgical repair techniques and further development of techniques that can be used to treat cleft palates are just some of the examples of the human biomedical spin-offs. Brent Miller, vice president for research at USU, recognizes that the facility is only as good at the people who work in it. "There has been a synergy of the ARS researchers and the faculty. They are appreciated by thousands and thousands of people for years to come." "Scientists working closely with USU for years have had tremendous accomplishments in the past," Jen said. "In D.C. we have high hopes to have even better accomplishments."
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