Research Stations
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200 Cunningham Road
Kinston, NC 28501-1700
PHONE: (252) 527-3579
FAX: (252) 527-2036 |
Station Facts
There are two sites in close proximity in the north Kinston area that comprise the Lower Coastal Plain Tobacco Research Station and the Cunningham Research Station.
The Lower Coastal Plain Tobacco Research Station (LCPTRS) was originally established in 1948 on rented land near Greenville (Pitt County). The station was moved to its present site in Lenoir County in 1965. This site is 101.5 acres and located 6.5 miles north of Kinston.
In 1985, the estate of the late Raymond P. Cunningham left 414 acres to North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) for agricultural research and education purposes. A large portion of this land is located within the northern city limits of Kinston. The LCPTRS office was transferred to this site in 1989 and is located in the Raymond P. Cunningham Center on the Cunningham Research Station, serving as a regional research, education, and extension center. Facilities include a modern meeting area, implement storage and shop building, tobacco storage and grading building, bulk curing barn, two compartment-type tobacco curing barns, and a greenhouse.
Specialty crops work conducted at the station is enhanced by the efforts of the NCDA&CS Marketing Department's Eastern Marketing Center in Kinston, headed by Marketing Specialist Nick Augostini. Researchers and marketing specialists work in tandem to help reduce risk factors for farmers seeking to expand their crop production with products in high demand by niche markets. Melons, blackberries, and chile peppers are an example of crops being researched.
The public is always welcome and tours are offered to groups making advance arrangements (please review precautionary measures necessary for your visit to this and other NCDA&CS/NCSU research facilities). The peak growing season — April to September — is usually more informative. Field Days, for farmers and other agricultural professionals, are scheduled according to new research developments.
The Research Program in Action
Maintaining the agricultural economy requires a great deal of information on efficient ways to produce field and horticultural crops. In Eastern North Carolina, this means providing information on efficient ways to produce the primary field crop, flue-cured tobacco, and other commodities. Expanding the agricultural economy requires even more information on new diversified enterprises. Research programs at the Lower Coastal Plain Tobacco Research Station and Cunningham Research Station cover cultural practices, crop and variety, adaptability and the control of weeds, diseases, and insects.
Field Crops
Most major field crops grown in Eastern North Carolina are researched at the Lower Coastal Plain Tobacco Research Station and Cunningham Research Station. These crops include tobacco, small grain, corn, soybeans and cotton.
Tobacco
Tobacco research has traditionally been a major emphasis in the field crops program at the station. The station was originally established in Pitt County to help combat the first outbreak of tobacco Black Shank, a deadly soil-borne disease that threatened flue-cured tobacco production in the large Eastern Belt area. Much tobacco research concerns the development of disease resistant varieties. Two tobacco disease nurseries are maintained at the station and utilized by research scientists to evaluate hundreds of tobacco breeding lines for disease resistance, not only for Black Shank, but for multiple disease resistance. Other tobacco research concerns breeding and genetic studies, variety evaluation, reducing pesticide residue, weed control, fertilization, sucker control, and transplant production.
Small Grains
Research on small grains centers around breeding and variety development. Foliar diseases are studied, and breeding material is evaluated for resistance to these diseases. Other small grain research focuses on disease control and improving production practices.
Corn
Corn research concerns isolation breeding plots, variety testing, weed control and weed competition studies, as well as, other production practice studies. Resource conservation and soil erosion control are a large part of the corn research production studies.
Soybeans
A major research effort also focuses on soybeans. Breeding lines are evaluated for a host of agronomic characteristics, which include disease and insect resistance, protein and oil content, along with adaptability and yield. Variety testing and weed control studies are also a part of the soybean research conducted.
Cotton
Research explores broadleaf weed control and variety evaluation.
Horticultural Crops
In recent years research efforts at the station have expanded and diversified to include horticultural crops. Research efforts address cucumber breeding isolation plots, lettuce production for Eastern North Carolina, sweet potato variety and fertilization studies, peach variety adaptability studies and Christmas tree adaptability studies.
Environmental Studies
Research is also conducted to answer questions on environmental concerns and sustainable agriculture technology. Studies are carried out to monitor fertilizers and pesticides as they move through the soil or leave the field in run-off water. Also, conservation studies are conducted to reduce soil tillage, as well as, pesticide and fertilizer use.
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