Tifton Campus

The Tifton Campus (Coastal Plain Experiment Station and Rural Development Center) is located at the heart of the row crop farming region in the southern part of the state. The Coastal Plain Experiment Station was established by Act of the General Assembly of Georgia, approved on August 18, 1918. All of the tobacco and 99% of the peanut production is in the Coastal Plain. A major portion of the corn, cotton, soybean, hog, cattle, and vegetable production and fruit and nut sales is in the Coastal Plain of Georgia. The department faculty at this campus has enjoyed a close association with highly trained State and USDA scientists. This association on cooperative projects provides research information applicable to agriculture far beyond the Southeast, and even beyond the Continental Unite states.

Research programs in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences ranges from traditional crop breeding and management to food and environmental safety. The breeding and genetics programs include peanuts, turf, forages, cotton, an pearl millet. The scientists develop environmentally sound cultural practices to obtain ideal production from these crops. Although headquartered at the Griffin Campus, approximately one-half of the state's variety testing program is conducted at this campus. The program evaluates most commercial varieties of crops that may be grown in the area to help producers choose the proper variety for their conditions. Extensive research has been conducted on chemigation (application of chemicals via irrigation systems). Additionally, the scientists determine the soil characteristics and cultural practices required for optimum crop production and minimal environmental impact. They investigate various aspects of pesticide residues and food safety to assure that the products produced in Georgia are wholesome and safe for consumers.

The majority of the department extension specialists are located at the Rural Development Center on this campus. The center is a faculty-housing facility that encourages the building of teams of extension specialists and researchers for quick responses to crises situations that commonly occur in agricultural crop production. The extension components of the nationally recognized cotton, peanut, and tobacco teams are centralized in the RDC.

Follow these links to learn more about the Tifton Campus and its programs:

• CAES - Tifton Campus
• Tifton Weather
• NESPAL: National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory
• USDA Agricultural Research Service