Research Stations - Peanut Belt Fact Sheet

PEANUT BELT RESEARCH STATION (NCDA&CS)

Location

City: Lewiston Woodville
County: Bertie

Map of North Carolina with Bertie County highlighted

Background:

  • Established in 1952
  • All components necessary for the modernization of peanut harvesting including digging, pickup and trashing were researched at the station
  • At least 15 peanut varieties have been released since 1959

Unique Characteristics:

  • Located in the heart of peanut producing region of North Carolina with soils and weather conditions adapted to the production of peanuts. All peanut varieties released by NCSU over the last 30 years have come from the Peanut Belt Station
  • One of three sites in the state for testing Phosphorus requirements and one of two sites in the state for testing Potassium requirements
  • The NCSU Department of Plant Pathology has monitoring equipment in peanut fields to monitor soil temperature moisture and well as moisture on leaves. This data is coupled with data taken from on site weather station to generate an advisory for local farmers on when to best apply fungicides to their crops.

Station Statistics

Staff: 9
Management Units: Field Crops
Buildings: 23

Research Program

Project Leaders (#): 18
Ongoing Projects (#): 120
Focus: Peanuts, Corn, Cotton, Wheat, Soybeans, Sage,

Acres:

Station Total 371.98 ac.

Pie chart showing land use: 74% Research, 20% Infrastructure, 6% Forestry
Station Acreage Details
Category Acres
Field Crops 207.59*
Peanuts 75.00
Corn 54.57
Cotton 58.92
Soybean 2.00
Sage 6.50
Triticale 4.75
Wheat 5.85
Hort Crops 1.82
Cedar Trees [for seed] 1.5
Rotational Crops 64.33*
Irrigation Ponds 7.00
Woodlands 24.00
Infrastructure 75.48

*includes double cropping

Station Improvements:

  • Irrigation pond- new silt basin drainpipes, Irrigation pump replacement
  • Renovations- Dwellings and Maintenance Shop
  • Equipment Purchases – John Deere 6155 Tractor, Service Truck, Fertilizer and Lime Spreader

Station Events:

  • Field Day - Peanut
  • Training - NCSU Extension Service and NCSU graduate course
  • Tours – Agricultural Representatives from Argentina, Chrome Ag Expo. Bayer, Americot, BASF, Corteva and Syngenta Ag. Representatives.
  • Meets - North Carolina Peanut Growers Association
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