Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Latest AREC updates

The Stalk

Introducing "The Stalk", an informative newsletter designed to update you on the research, extension, and teaching happenings at the Virginia Tech Eastern Shore AREC. Even though we are masked and social distancing, we are still here to serve you! Please let us know of any content you would like to see in future editions and as always, contact us with any needs to help you further improve your agricultural production. Click here to view the latest issue.

The Station

Located in Painter, Virginia, the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center is committed to supporting commercial vegetable and agronomic crop production. The center grows more than 25 agricultural crops annually for research and Extension studies.

New, state-of-the-art applied research that is relevant to local farming operations is essential to ensure the Eastern Shore remains a leader in commercial agriculture production.

DISCIPLINES

• Soils and Nutrient Management
• Weed Management Technologies
• Integrated Pest Management 
• Horticulture Cropping Systems
• Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention
• Vegetable Disease Epidemiology
   

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for assesing plant health and weed management
• Fertilizer source and application technologies
• Molecular Identification of Plant and Human Pathogens
• Advanced pollinator habitats
   

FACILITIES

• 220-acre farm
• 7,500 sq. ft. Modern Equipment Building
• 2700 sq. ft. Renovated Greenhouse
• 3 Biosafety Level 2 Laboratories
• Onsite Student Housing
   

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

• Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Packers
• Potato, Vegetable, Corn, Small Grains and Soybean Associations
• Agricultural Fertilizer, Technology, and Chemical Companies
• Virginia Master Gardeners
• USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Graduate Studies at the ESAREC

Graduate student research at the Eastern Shore AREC impacts stakeholders, growers, and industry on a local, national, and global level. Currently, students are working on eliminating foodborne human pathogens in packinghouses, conversion of chicken litter ash into comparable phosphorus fertilizer sources, and decreasing weed pressure using innovative modes.