CASNR Facilities
Learn Through Hands-On Experience
Prepare for leadership roles in the agricultural industry through our partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Cereal Crops Research Inc (CCRI).
Animal Science Facilities and Livestock Farm
Through this mutually beneficial partnership, you will have the opportunity to provide product information to local crop producers and develop quality publications to provide recognition to participating scientists. The new Northeast Texas Agricultural Research Facility and 163-acre Blackland farm is a dynamic hub for agricultural research, teaching, economic development and knowledge transfer initiatives in the fields of agronomy and horticulture. CCRI will be strengthened with continued collaboration among all entities by providing a connection between teaching, extension and research.
Beef Cattle
One of the highlights of the livestock farm is our 100+ head commercial cattle herd. This herd supplies our farm with cattle for education and research. Students are able to interact with the herd through courses like ANS 317: Livestock Management Techniques and even participate in spring and fall calving through “Calf Watch”, a class activity that assigns students an observation period to monitor the herd during calving season. In addition to course education, our farm management team keeps close records on all livestock to identify areas of improvement. Just one example of improvement- over the last five years, our farm team has been able to increase calf weaning weight by 80 lbs through innovative management practices.
Small Ruminants
The Sheep and Goat Center is equipped with a complete working system and separate paddocks for grazing, education and research. Students have the ability to gain sheep and goat handling experience through ANS 411: Sheep and Goat Management, where they can work in a controlled environment that allows them to apply techniques taught in the classroom and are encouraged to relate this to their critical thinking abilities. The Sheep and Goat Center allows students to gain practical experience in management and husbandry, which can span from lambing and kidding to breeding and fitting.
Swine
Our swine program allows students an up-close look at swine management through the various phases of production from breeding and gestation all the way through finishing. Through a collaboration with an industry partner, our students have the opportunity to market and show university-raised pigs in courses such as:
ANS 2319: Livestock Handling and Presentation, ANS 2321: Livestock Evaluation & Selection, ANS 317: Livestock Management Techniques, ANS 397: Livestock Sales and Marketing, and ANS 413: Swine Management.
Equine
By studying or working at the University's Equine Center under supervision of faculty and staff, students improve their skills and understanding of horses. Also, students learn how the University Farm acreage is managed, e.g., production of horse-quality hay and the responsible use of natural resources.
Agronomic Research
The Row-Crop Research Farm is located approximately five miles north of campus in the small community of Fairlie, TX. The Farm is leased by Cereal Crops Research, Inc. for use by the School of Agriculture as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The farm's major uses are education and research.
Education is provided through one of the department's courses, PLS 420 – Crop Production Practicum. This course provides the student the unique opportunity to plant, manage and harvest a 10-acre wheat or cotton crop. The student learns how to operate farm equipment and machinery and all the steps involved in managing a crop. This experience is invaluable because many of the students who enroll in the course are from a non-farm background. Students completing this course are often sought after by agricultural industry employers. Cereal Crops Research, Inc. funds the student's input and absorbs any financial loss.
Through research, the farm serves the interests of regional farmers and the agricultural industry. Data collected from trials on fertilizers, pesticides, and varieties are passed on to the farmers. The results guide farmers as to which products will perform best in this part of the state. This program saves farmers in Northeast Texas time, money, and effort since they can rely on student research and results rather than testing individual products on their own farms.
Researchers and Faculty
Vegetable Research Center
At our Vegetable Research Center, we conduct research of various types, including variety trials, fertilization techniques, minimum-input trials, and evaluation of various methods of disease and pest control. Harvested vegetables are available either as fresh produce or canned vegetables and salsas, when available, through the university blueberry farm.
