2013 was a challenging year for MARA with the abrupt resignation of Ravinder Pannu, the former Research Coordinator at the height of the planting season for RVTs and other varietal research plots. Regardless, MARA’s board members stepped forward to oversee the planting season, developing the research plantings and plots successfully by mid-June. The summer months provided generally good growing conditions and the plots matured nicely by mid- September. 950 small plots were harvested successfully in 2013 research trial programs for three government agencies and five private clients under the leadership of the Assistant Manager/Coordinator, Jacob Marfo Ph. D., hired on August 15, followed by James P. Ludwig Ph.D., Coordinator/Manager on September 9. Limited water quality research on the nutritional and bacterial status of farm dugouts was completed in the spring and fall…
