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WIU School of Ag Greenhouse Opens

TSPR's Emily Boyer

Faculty and students of the School of Agriculture will be able to tend to their crops year around thanks to a new two-bay greenhouse.

Western Illinois UniversityPresident Jack Thomas said the greenhouse will provide greater opportunities for faculty and staff.

“It will fairly enhance this signature academic program and will ensure that our students graduate with the skills and knowledge to success in their professional careers,” Thomas said.

One bay will be used for faculty and student research and the other as a teaching facility.

The two-bay greenhouses are located near Western’s Harry Mussato Golf course. Thefacility costWestern Illinois University nearly $500,000.  It is considered the first phase of a larger project.  The School of Agriculture eventually plans to build on four more bays and a classroom to complete the facility.

School of Ag director Andy Baker said those additions will be funded through private companies.

Credit TSPR's Emily Boyer
The ribbon cutting ceremony for greenhouse was held Friday. It included several Western Illinois University administration including President Jack Thomas and School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker who both cut the ribbon.

“I see that if a company is pleased with the products we are producing such as our students, they want more and in order to do that they are putting investments into an institution,” Baker said.

Archer Daniels Midland has written Western a $100,000 check which covers half the cost of the next greenhouse.   Baker said ADM hires many Western graduates and is also interested in the research the school is doing with the plant known as pennycress. Baker said the seed of that plant has a high oil content and could be used in future biofuels.

“For other companies, it’s about going and presenting proposals and seeing if they would be interested,” Baker said.

Western already has a small greenhouse on campus. It belongs to the Biology Department and is primarily used as a conservatory.  Still, Baker said some members of the biology department have expressed interest in using the greenhouse.

He said he sees renting space in the facility to other university departments outside of the School of Ag a real possibility.

Emily Boyer is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.