Kimberly, Idaho (KMVT-TV) Imagine a typical county fair, only smaller. That's what the University of Idaho's "Twilight Tour" was at their Research and Extension Center east of Kimberly.

Don Morishita, Superintendent of the Kimberly Research Center, says, "This station started in 1950 as a bean research station because beans are so important to the area. There's still lots of dry bean breeding work or genetics work that's done here at Kimberly as well."

This is where scientists have worked to build better beans, potatoes, and cereal crops by improving the varieties of those plants. They've also researched soil nutrition, managing irrigation, and managing pests like diseases, insects, and weeds.

Duane Nellis, President of the University of Idaho, says, "They provide cutting-edge research that supports the agriculture industry in this state, and of course, agriculture's a very important part of this state's economy."

Nellis says sometimes it takes four or five years to develop a new variety of potato. And Morishita says that helps create the best varieties for the whole Gem State. He also says the twilight tour is a chance for people like you and me to see what they've been up to, and that our tax dollars are being well spent here.

Morishita says, 'Right now we're actually looking at chicory as a potential crop for this area. It's one that the Amalgamated Sugar Company has been investigating as a possible alternative sweetener source."

July 18, 2012.