Conservation tillage is becoming much more important in this area. Greater research emphasis is being given to conservation tillage as a potential means to lower producer input costs, control wind erosion, and sustain the yield and profitability of crops. Specific activities on cotton are given in the research and extension sections of this website. Peanut remains economically important for this area with production on 74,000 acres. Research is focused on variety development, quality evaluation, and disease, insect, and weed management.
Soybean ranks second in the state in overall sales value of crops.
This very important agricultural commodity is grown on about 500,000 acres in Virginia. Therefore, the soybean research program has been greatly expanded by our Soybean Specialist. The soybean variety-testing program has undergone significant expansion and the numbers of research tests have increased at the center and throughout the state. Work continues at the center with melons and sweet corn. While the majority of research work with vegetables will remain at the Eastern Shore AREC vegetable work is conducted at this center due to the close proximity to the Farmers Market that opened in Southampton County in 1998.