Research Program

Horticultural Crops

Horticultural crops research is an important part of the station’s program. The station maintains an intensive tomato program with emphasis on breeding new varieties for increased production and disease resistance. Many of the most popular varieties grown in western North Carolina and the southeastern United States were developed at the Mountain Research Station. The station also conducts research on a number of specialty crops that include black perigord truffles, hops, raspberries and hemp.

Christmas Trees

The Christmas tree program began at the station in 1972 and has progressed to the areas of studying and developing genetically superior trees and seed sources. Research begins in the seedling stage and follows through all phases of production, harvesting, and marketing. Field research includes fertilization studies, insect populations and control methods; effect of growth regulators; herbicide evaluation; progeny testing of White Pine and Fraser Fir; clonal archive, ground covers and various management systems and cultural practices. The station also houses an extensive hemlock restoration program that is working to find solutions against the hemlock wooly adelgid, which has significantly damaged the hemlock tree population. Researchers are closely looking at breeding studies for resistance and implementing biological controls.

Burley Tobacco

The Mountain Research Station is the center for North Carolina burley tobacco research. Research involves all phases of burley production. The first three burley tobacco varieties released in North Carolina (129, NC2 and NC3) were bred and developed at the Mountain Research Station. Tobacco transplants are started on the station from seed and grown in flotation beds in the greenhouse. Other research includes investigation of no-till, ground covers, minimum till, soil enrichment, utilization of compost materials and alternative curing and harvesting systems for tobacco. Research continues to be performed on disease control through treatment and through the development of disease resistant breeding lines.

Livestock

The Mountain Research Station is home to a 60 head registered black angus herd that joins with others in the NC Beef System program to eliminate certain research variables. The station beef cattle program is designed to accommodate the needs of area beef cattle producers through various feeding and management systems. The station also researches preconditioning systems for cattle and screening animal health products and programs. There is also an annual performance bull test that can accommodate up to 60 bulls from cattle producers within NC and neighboring states. The bulls undergo a series of tests to ensure reproductive and EPDs (expected progeny differences) requirements are met. The sale of the bulls from this program has greatly improved the quality of beef cattle produced in western North Carolina and across the whole state.

NCDA&CS Research Stations Division, Teresa Lambert, Director

Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001

Physical Address:2 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Phone: (919) 707-3236  FAX: (919) 733-1754