Piedmont Research Station centennial observed
he Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 27.
Britt Cobb, state agriculture commissioner, and Dr. Johnny Wynne, the College’s interim dean, spoke during the program.
“I know the importance of this and the other research stations first-hand,” Wynne said. “I worked as an undergraduate and graduate student here, with my first trip being in 1963. I have conducted research at several stations for more than 20 years. North Carolina’s stations have served agriculture in North Carolina as well as or better than those in most states.”
Wynne noted the station’s importance in forage, corn, small grain, dairy and poultry research and in numerous other crop studies.
“As we work to develop value-added agriculture and new emerging areas in agriculture, including new bio-based products,” he said, “this station will continue to be important.
“However, things will change,” Wynne said. “The first superintendent from 1904 would not believe the progress made in the past 100 years. If we could come back in 100 years, we would likewise be surprised at the changes.”
Attendees toured facilities and grounds and viewed interactive and educational exhibits highlighting the station’s research programs.
Established west of Statesville in 1904 as the Piedmont Experiment Farm, the station was relocated in 1954 to its present location on 1,044 acres near Salisbury. It has 29 full-time employees, with four employee families living on the grounds.
The station first tested fertilizers, concentrating on crop and livestock issues significant to the area. Since 1954, the station’s staff has completed research on alfalfa, barley, blueberries, brambles, peaches, pumpkins, quail, turkeys, ducks, dairy cattle and more. The station also features the only poultry research program in North America involving both laying chickens and broiler breeders.
Since 1998, the station — with Duke University and the College — has hosted a study to develop a potential cure for ovarian cancer, which could save millions of lives.
The station is one of 18 managed by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in cooperation with the College and N.C. A&T State University.
—Art Latham
he Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 27.Britt Cobb, state agriculture commissioner, and Dr. Johnny Wynne, the College’s interim dean, spoke during the program.
“I know the importance of this and the other research stations first-hand,” Wynne said. “I worked as an undergraduate and graduate student here, with my first trip being in 1963. I have conducted research at several stations for more than 20 years. North Carolina’s stations have served agriculture in North Carolina as well as or better than those in most states.”
Wynne noted the station’s importance in forage, corn, small grain, dairy and poultry research and in numerous other crop studies.
“As we work to develop value-added agriculture and new emerging areas in agriculture, including new bio-based products,” he said, “this station will continue to be important.
“However, things will change,” Wynne said. “The first superintendent from 1904 would not believe the progress made in the past 100 years. If we could come back in 100 years, we would likewise be surprised at the changes.”
Attendees toured facilities and grounds and viewed interactive and educational exhibits highlighting the station’s research programs.
Established west of Statesville in 1904 as the Piedmont Experiment Farm, the station was relocated in 1954 to its present location on 1,044 acres near Salisbury. It has 29 full-time employees, with four employee families living on the grounds.
The station first tested fertilizers, concentrating on crop and livestock issues significant to the area. Since 1954, the station’s staff has completed research on alfalfa, barley, blueberries, brambles, peaches, pumpkins, quail, turkeys, ducks, dairy cattle and more. The station also features the only poultry research program in North America involving both laying chickens and broiler breeders.
Since 1998, the station — with Duke University and the College — has hosted a study to develop a potential cure for ovarian cancer, which could save millions of lives.
The station is one of 18 managed by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in cooperation with the College and N.C. A&T State University.
—Art Latham