Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Welcome to the Southern Piedmont AREC - Rooted in Service Since 1974.

Located in Blackstone, Virginia, the center is dedicated to research and Extension programs for sustainable production of tobacco, forage crops, beef cattle, small fruits, and grains.   

The Southern Piedmont AREC team is comprised of 6 resident faculty, 11 full-time staff, and additional seasonal employees. The resident faculty members conduct research and Extension programs on tobacco, forages, and small fruits crops, and collaborate with other faculty (from Virginia Tech and other institutions) to study alternative crops for Southside Virginia. Crops grown at the center include tobacco, forage species, corn, wheat, barley, soybeans, strawberries, and mung beans. Faculty expertise includes agronomy, plant pathology, forages, and entomology.

DISCIPLINES

• Tobacco agronomy and curing technology
• Plant pathology
• Entomology and pest management
• Forages and livestock
• Small fruit disease management
  
• Specialty crop production

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

• Tobacco curing, monitoring, and automation
• Spore trapping and predictive model development
• Aerial imaging technology to assess crop development and pest detection
• Silvopasture
  

FACILITIES

• 1,180-acre farm with 130 acres of crop research plots, 120 acres of research grazing, and a 40-acre silvopasture area
• Specialized tobacco curing facilities
• Extensive greenhouse facilities and high tunnels
• 150-person auditorium
  
• Multiple fully-equipped laboratory facilities, including the Cox Road Lab

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

• Tobacco industry and growers
• Agrichemical industry
• Forage and livestock industry
• Virginia Farm Bureau, SWCD, NRCS, VDACS

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