Mission
To support and serve the Texas A&M System with infrastructure, personnel, consultation, and specialized agricultural equipment to conduct world class research relevant to Texas stakeholders, national, and international cooperators.
Goals
To provide leadership and engage students in solving societal issues impacted by our food production systems such as climate change through carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, developing resilient healthy sustainable food production systems, while enhancing water use efficiency, and improving or regenerating soil quality. To provide a place where faculty and students can successfully conduct research, learn, and share information with others through demonstration to our stakeholders, and as an outreach tool for future students and the promotion of agriculture.
Current Research
Current research includes plant breeding, variety trials, crop rotation systems, weed science, soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, and entomology.
Plant breeding research conducted at the farm includes cotton, corn, sorghum, wheat, and oats. Efforts focus on increasing crop yield, nutrition quality, disease resistance, insect tolerance, and fiber quality. Variety trials generate data for breeding and agronomic studies as well as evaluation of commercial varieties through the Variety Testing Program. Crop rotation research seeks to increase weed and disease control while incorporating cover crops to improve soil structure, prevent erosion and sequester carbon.
Weed Science studies weed ecology and management with an emphasis on modeling resistance, and best management practices utilizing data generated from sources such as UAV and ground based collection systems. Soil fertility research includes understanding and improving the fate and cycling of nutrients and carbon in soils and water using economically viable and environmentally responsible practices. Greenhouse gas emission studies seek to understand how current farming practices can be modified, or novel methods adopted, to reduce excess harmful emissions. Entomology research includes pest management and the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.
Total Farm size is 1000 acres comprised of:
- Row crop, small grains, fiber production, and large-scale research: 562 acres.
- Continuous small plot research: 438 acres comprised of:
- Plant breeding: 155 acres
- Entomology: 80 acres
- Weed science: 51 acres
- Pecan breeding: 50 acres
- Horticulture: 38 acres
- Forestry: 19 acres
- Soil science: 19 acres
- Forage grasses: 14 acres
- Organic research: 11 acres
- Hemp: 1 acre
Farm Service manages 1000 acres of farmland located approximately eight miles Southwest of campus along FM60 in Burleson County. The land was purchased from four neighboring farm families in the 1940s with one of the deeds being signed on D-Day June 6, 1944. The current headquarters was built in 1983 and has grown to include a maintenance shop, chemical storage and handling facility, sample processing laboratory, and various equipment storage sheds.
Farm Services provides services and support for Texas A&M University researchers from multiple departments and entities including, but not limited, to Soil and Crop Sciences, Entomology, Animal Science, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences, Horticultural Sciences, Geology and Geophysics, Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries Management, AgriLife Extension, AgriLife Research, USDA Pecan Breeding Program, USDA Cotton Breeding Program, Texas Forestry Service, the Aggie Corn Maze, and the Louis Pearce Pavilion.
Farm Personnel
Stephen Labar
Manager, Farm Research Service
Learn More About Research Areas of Focus in Soil and Crop Sciences
In the realm of soil and crop sciences, research focuses on a myriad of critical areas that drive sustainable agricultural practices and global food security. Soil health and management take center stage, exploring ways to optimize soil fertility, structure, and nutrient cycling to enhance crop productivity. Genetic advancements in crop breeding and biotechnology are pursued to develop resilient varieties that withstand environmental stressors and ensure high yields. Precision agriculture, integrating technology and data analytics, aims to fine-tune farming practices, reducing resource waste and maximizing efficiency. The exploration of sustainable agroecosystems delves into the intricate relationships between crops, soil, and the environment, fostering environmentally friendly approaches. Such research not only informs farming practices but also contributes to vital policy discussions, shaping the future of agriculture in a rapidly changing world.