Source: NCDA&CS, 2/10/21


A farmer’s work is never done, even in what’s sometimes called the “dead of winter.” The same is true for North Carolina’s agricultural research stations. They operate as working farms with a platform for agricultural research. So even if there’s not as much activity as the summer, the state’s 18 research stations are far from ghost towns this time of year.

Several of the research stations have livestock, which must be cared for year round. Neither winter nor the coronavirus pandemic will change that. The pandemic has certainly cutback on some activity at the stations in all seasons though. Nonetheless, many things continue as normal during the winter – from work in crop fields, to new construction and administrative and educational activity.

The director of the Research Stations Division Teresa Lambert said several stations have been “topdressing” wheat lately, which means they’re spraying the wheat with nitrogen fertilizer. William Murrow, the superintendent of the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, mentioned milk research that’s continuing over the winter. In fact, several stations have ongoing research that continues through the winter months. (See below for more examples.) For many stations, a reprieve from the major growing season provides an opportunity for maintenance, educational sessions and paperwork such as placing fertilizer orders.

Here are just a few examples of what’s going on at some research stations in the winter months:
At the Peanut Belt Research Station in Lewiston-Woodville, superintendent Creig Deal described a variety of activities that sound pretty typical for any farm in the winter. His crew has been cleaning, repairing and improving equipment such as the fertilizer injector on a corn planter. They moved the injector so it would work better in the coming year. He said even on the best days equipment breaks down, but winter maintenance can cut down on future problems.

“We’re getting ready for the new year, just like a farmer would do,” Deal said. “We try to get all the equipment in, get it clean, then we can work on it. If there’s anything worn out, we can work on it. So when the [research] project leaders are here in the spring we’re ready to plant.”

There’s also been repainting of buildings as time and weather allows, plus a little construction. The mechanical shop has recently been expanded by enclosing a shelter that was attached to the existing shop. It still needs additional work to be fully functional, but the new space will allow the crew to work on larger tractors and other equipment indoors.

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