Crops Research Program

Field Crops Unit

Traditional crops such as corn, soybeans, small grain, and forages are produced in a continuous no-till cropping system. Breeding work, evaluating new genetics for existing and potential markets, as well as applied production systems research make up the majority of the work at the Field Crop Unit. One additional aspect of the field crops is the production of feed for the dairy cows. Forage is produced both as a byproduct of the research program and as a rotational crop to remove the effect of a research treatment on the plot land. Because of the rolling nature of the soils on the station, forage production is an excellent method of making the land productive.

Horticultural Crops Unit

An increase in the volume and intensity of the small fruit research led to the formation of the horticultural crops unit in 2005. Work is conducted on strawberries, blueberries and brambles. The research program in small fruit production can be divided into two primary areas; the production of fruit in nontraditional seasons and the development of production systems for the Piedmont area. Selections for adaptation to the mineral soils of the area are an important part of the program. To aid in this work a 22,500 square foot high tunnel has been constructed to investigate methods of extending the production cycle of strawberries and brambles.

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