{"id":26631,"date":"2024-12-10T20:47:42","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T20:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/divi\/?page_id=26631"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:48:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:48:48","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/divi\/slvrc\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About – San Luis Valley Research Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Squiggle – Aligned Left” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”||||||||” header_font_size=”36px” header_2_font=”Arial|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”22px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” header_line_height=”1.2em” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

About The San Luis Valley Research Center<\/h1>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mission and History<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are committed to supporting San Luis Valley growers and communities with strong, forward looking research and educational programs designed to optimize agricultural productivity in current and future markets.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F1F1F1″ hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion closed_toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_background_color=”#1E4D2B” icon_color=”#F15625″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ db_closeable=”on” db_initial_state=”all_closed” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Our Mission” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

The San Luis Valley Research Center, one of the eight off-campus centers of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station system, has a continuing commitment to the people of the San Luis Valley and the state of Colorado to provide research information, conduct extension education and seed certification programs. Such programs are designed to meet the needs of the San Luis Valley agricultural community and the many affiliated industries that comprise the agricultural production and marketing system in the area.<\/p>\n

Strong, forward looking research and extension programs that will enable producers to be on the cutting edge of new technology are essential if the San Luis Valley is to successfully compete in current and future markets. Research, outreach, and seed certification activities for the industry are conducted principally at the SLVRC, although some complementary research is conducted by on campus faculty and staff.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Center History” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

The first San Luis Valley Research Center was established in 1888 \u2013 the same year the main station at Fort Collins was established \u2013 on 200 acres of state land near the Rio Grande River, seven miles east of Del Norte. In 1891 the SLVRC was moved to a location 4 2 miles north of Monte Vista. In 1896, federal funds were reduced and other financial support was unavailable. As a result, the SLVRC was closed.<\/p>\n

In 1940, the San Luis Valley Potato Improvement Association and the San Luis Valley Potato Board of Control leased 160 acres at the present site of the research center, near the town of Center, Colorado, located nine miles north of Monte Vista and established the San Luis Valley Demonstration Farm. In 1950, the San Luis Valley Potato Improvement Association purchased the farm and subsequently deeded it to Colorado State University in 1953.<\/p>\n

Beginning in 1940, the principal research activity was focused on selecting potato varieties adaptable to the region. In 1979 a potato breeding program was initiated to complement the selection activity. Research on cultural practices including disease and pest studies was also conducted. In the early 1920s, the Colorado Certified Seed Growers Association initiated a seed certification program located on the Colorado State University campus which was co\u2011located at the SLVRC in 1964.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#59595B” background_image=”https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/divi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2024\/12\/slvrc-about-page-1-1.jpg” custom_padding=”13%|6%|13%|6%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”25%||25%||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” background_size=”initial”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/divi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/10\/AES_SLVRC_Greenhouse_1080x700px.jpg” custom_padding=”7%|6%|7%|6%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”25%||25%||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” alt=”Greenhouse” title_text=”AES_SLVRC_Greenhouse_1080x700px” sticky_enabled=”0″ background_position=”top_right”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/divi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/10\/AES_SLVRC_Potatoes_1080x700px.jpg” custom_padding_tablet=”25%||25%||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” alt=”Potato conveyor” title_text=”AES_SLVRC_Potatoes_1080x700px” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|2%|||false|false” border_width_right=”1px” border_color_right=”#414141″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Squiggle – Aligned Left” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”36px” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n

Our Staff<\/h2>\n

We are a small tight-knit group assisting researchers with meeting their program goals.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/directory\/department\/?dept=12″ button_text=”Meet Our Staff” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Squiggle – Aligned Left” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”left” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”36px” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||10px|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n

Additional Information<\/h2>\n