Located next to the town of Tulelake in far Northern California, the Intermountain Research and Extension Center (IREC) supports University of California research in field and vegetable crops. IREC is situated on the boundary of Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, just 4 miles south of the Oregon state line. The elevation at Tulelake is 4,040 feet above sea level.
The area is characterized by a short growing season with warm days and cool nights. Frost is possible any day of the season. Daily weather records have been kept at the center since 1960, and an automated CIMIS weather station became fully operational in 1989. The center sits on 140 acres of rich reclaimed lake-bottom soil with 10% organic-matter content.
Potatoes are the principal cash crop in the region and a major subject of research at IREC. Other crops of importance to the area and on the center include barley, wheat, onions, forage grasses, peppermint and alfalfa. Many other field and vegetable crops are adapted to the area. The center was instrumental in the introduction of horseradish to the basin, and the Tulelake area now accounts for over 30% of the nation's production of this zesty root crop. Main topics of research interest at the center include variety development; weed, insect, and disease control; water management; and plant nutrition.
The Intermountain Research and Extension Center is well staffed and equipped to conduct small-plot research in field and row crops. The center's staff includes a resident farm advisor, experienced field and research technicians, administrative assistants, and mechanics, as well as seasonal help when needed. Each year approximately 14,000 hours of labor are allocated for direct support of field research.
Field equipment includes small tractors with row-crop implements, a small-plot cereal combine and grain drill, and all equipment needed for single-row potato planting and harvest. A small-plot forage harvester is also available. The center has larger farm equipment for field-scale research in field and vegetable crops.
The center's office building has a small, 20-person meeting room. Other facilities include a 700-square-foot greenhouse and headhouse area, seed cleaning and handling room, seed storage room, potato-storage research facility, an electronic potato grading line, covered equipment storage, mechanic's shop, and pesticide storage building.
Directions to the Center
I-5 north to Weed, then north on Highway 97. Just after Dorris, turn right on Highway 161 (Stateline Road). Go east to Highway 139 and turn right. Go south 4 miles to Tulelake. At flashing light turn left then immediately right.
From Klamath Falls airport: north of the airport turn right on Southside Bypass. At the stop sign turn right onto Highway 39 south, which becomes 139 in California. Proceed as above.
