Weather The Station in Action Umstead Farm Unit maintains a milking herd of 250 Holstein dairy cows in order to conduct intensive genetic research projects in cooperation with the Animal Science Department and College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. This is a long-term genetic experiment that enables comparisons to be made between milk production, type, longevity, and many other traits between the sire groups . Individual cows are measured for depth of udder, teat placement, foot angle, and hardness of hoof. All animals on the farm are used for these teaching purpose. Crops Silage and hay crops are grown to support the dairy animals on the farm.
Corn is grown on the farm.
Corn is grown on 400 acres, some of which belongs to the Corps of Engineers, and managed by the NC Wildlife Commission. No-till and other practices are used for soil conservation. Station Facts Umstead has been in existence since the late 1940s. The dairy herd became a part of North Carolina State University research in 1949. The farm is a part of the World War II Camp Butner Site and has 5,000 acres with 1,000 devoted to cropland and pasture.