• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
  • Degrees and Programs
    • Undergraduate Degrees
      • B.S. Plant and Environmental Soil Science
        • Crops Emphasis
        • Soil and Water Emphasis
      • B.S. Turfgrass Science
      • Soil and Crop Sciences Undergraduate Minors
      • Undergraduate Honors Program
    • Graduate Degrees
      • Master of Science Programs
      • Ph.D. Programs
      • Soil and Crop Science Distance Education
    • Academic Advising
    • Undergraduate Opportunities
    • Academic Resources
  • Admissions and Aid
    • Scholarships and Financial Aid
    • Student Life
    • Graduate Admissions
  • Research and Extension
    • Research
    • Extension
      • Soil and Crop Sciences Publications
    • Farm Services
    • Outreach Efforts and Flagship Programs
  • Get Connected
    • Giving to Soil and Crop Sciences
  • About
    • Department Directory
    • Department Leadership
    • Department History
    • Strategic Plan
    • News and Media
      • Department Updates
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact Us
Search

Farm Services

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.

Five men stand in front of big farm equipment vehicles

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

  • Labar, Stephen

    Stephen Labar

    Manager, Farm Research Service

    (979) 599-6787

    [email protected]

    Farm Services - College Station

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.

View all areas of Research in Soil and Crop Sciences
A member of
Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service | Texas A&M AgriLife Research | Texas A&M Forest Service | Texas A&M AgriLife Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab | College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

  • About
  • AgriLife Intranet
  • Contact Us
  • Degrees and Programs
  • Department Directory
  • Giving to Soil and Crop Sciences
  • Important Links
6370 Olsen Blvd. TAMU 2474, College Station, TX 77843
(979) 321-5901
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences

© 2025 Texas A&M University. All rights reserved.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information