Bees appear to be social creatures, as they frequently congregate on...
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Articles
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Auburn University Water Resources Center receives national grant award
The Auburn University Water Resources Center (AUWRC) and Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) were recently awarded an Environmental Literacy for Community Resilience grant from the National Academy of Science’s Gulf Research Program. The...
Troop tidings we bring: the gift of Auburn Christmas trees to our military
The holiday season means a time for not only giving gifts but giving back to our communities with a joyful spirit. Jeremy Pickens, assistant extension professor at Auburn University, spread holiday cheer by donating 200 Christmas trees through the Trees for Troops...
Auburn-USDA partnership tackles fish disease through coinfection research
Much like humans during the holidays, fish seldom catch just one cold at a time. Yet much of what scientists know about fish health has been learned by studying...
Auburn advancing cattle science through collaboration
The Animal Science and Forages team at Auburn University is making an impact not only in Alabama but increasingly on a global scale through their research...
A new approach to transgenic catfish
Fish scientists at Auburn University have recently refined a gene replacement method for transferring a advantageous gene from alligators into catfish to increase...
Acres of Auburn Premiere Features Ph.D. Student’s Research
As she steps into the field at Wiregrass, Caitlyn Lawton (Auburn Ph.D. student) sees more than crops—she’s scouting for pest damage as part of her Integrated Pest Management research. Through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, students like Caitlyn gain hands-on skills and practical knowledge to improve agricultural production. Learn more in the premiere episode of Acres of Auburn.
The buck stops here: Auburn University finding solutions to deer damage in crops
From seed selection to pesticide application, farmers work diligently to manage every factor that influences yield—but wildlife damage in row crops remains one of the most troublesome aspects to control. To help find solutions, assistant professor and Alabama...
More than a farmhand
There are few professions that embody a humble spirit more than being a farmhand. Whether it’s tilling the land or helping a cow deliver her first calf, the humble farmhand knows the value of manual labor but is rarely recognized for their toil and devotion. In...
Cotton jassid confirmed in Alabama
In an already stressful and trying growing season, researchers at Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension professionals have confirmed an invasive insect, the two-spot cotton leafhopper, in cotton fields in Alabama. The insect is also commonly known as the...
Your Pond, Your Bug, Your Vaccine
AU researchers work toward getting orally-delivered vaccines to catfish farmers
Hare named summer 2025 Dean’s Award recipient
The College of Agriculture Scholarship Committee selected Alexandra “Lexie” Hare as the summer 2025 Dean’s Award recipient, recognizing her for academic excellence and service to the College of Agriculture. Hare graduated Saturday with a Bachelor of Science in...
Repurposing poultry processing water for hydroponic use
Researchers at Auburn University recently developed new methods for safely using poultry processing wastewater for food-grade hydroponic crop production. By eliminating pathogens, like salmonella, the research team was able to use wastewater from a poultry processing...
Auburn research focuses on more uniform, high-quality cotton fibers
A fierce battle is being waged between cotton and polyester, with polyester edging ahead as the most widely used fiber in the world, for now. In fact, synthetic materials account for more than half of today’s overall market share.
Double Up Food Bucks Alabama: Making healthy eating a SNAP
Double Up Food Bucks Alabama is enhancing communities by making fresh local produce more affordable and accessible at select grocery stores and farmers markets. The program is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with matching funds from state...
Understudied cotton is the focus of Auburn University research on seedling diseases
Cotton is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable plants in the world, with its heart-shaped leaves and branches that explode into powder-white fruit. But it’s also one of the more understudied field crops. “Previously, it was unclear where and which specific...
Flourishing forages: Alabama cattlemen’s secret weapon to diversified production
From the Coastal Plain to the Black Belt, Alabama cattle producers are utilizing forage systems to their advantage to meet the challenges of modern agriculture. Alabama ranks 17th nationally in beef cattle, according to the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. Alabama...
Planting shifts into high gear at Alabama agricultural research units
As spring planting shifts into high gear in farmers’ fields throughout the Southeast, few agricultural operations come close to matching the diversity of crops and locations as the outlying units of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University....
Batchelor named Water Resources Center Director
William Batchelor has been tapped as the new director of the Auburn University Water Resources Center, effective immediately. As director, he will lead a team of scientists working with communities, farmers, governments and agencies across Alabama to improve water...
Organic Opportunity: consumer trends in Alabama organic produce
A recent study conducted by agricultural economists through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station examined consumers’ willingness to pay a premium for organic produce. In recent years, interest in organic produce has grown significantly; however, many...
Developing high-performing genetic lines and hybrids for the catfish industry
Better breeding ability would make catfish farming more efficient and profitable The $437 million U.S. catfish industry is in need of better genetic and breeding technologies to be competitive with foreign imports. Recently, Auburn scientists have made advances in...
Agricultural grants address problems on Alabama farms
Is growing a cover crop on Alabama farms a solution or a problem for growers in the state who are trying to prevent soil and water erosion losses? A grant funded through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station research program for the current fiscal year will...
Better than he found it: Patterson steps down as agriculture dean, experiment station director
As 2024 draws to a close, Paul Patterson is stepping away from his roles as dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Jan. 1. He led both to record numbers in the areas of teaching, research and outreach since he assume the positions in March 2016…
Researchers study potential savings from reducing time on feed for weaned pigs
Research made possible by $300,000 USDA-NIFA grant The scale of pork production in the U. S. is such that reducing the average pig’s time on feed by just one day can put $76 million back into pork producers’ pockets. Animal scientists at Auburn University are...
Water Resources Conference attracts record crowd, hosts student research awards
The Auburn University Water Resources Center welcomed a record 370 attendees to its annual Alabama Water Resources Conference in Orange Beach Sept. 4-6. The conference has been held since 1987. This year’s conference included eighty undergraduate and graduate students...
New short corn not ‘as high as an elephant’s eye’
The line from the classic musical “Oklahoma” that refers to corn being “as high as an elephant’s eye” would not apply to some of the new hybrids becoming available to producers. Reduced-stature corn, also referred to as “short” corn, is a concept that has gained...
Water Resources Center engages community in Moore’s Mill Creek Planning
As a project manager with Auburn’s Water Resource Center, Cooley manages watershed restoration projects and educates communities on how to care for rivers, streams and creeks.
Acres of Auburn Premiere Features Ph.D. Student’s Research
As she steps into the field at Wiregrass, Caitlyn Lawton (Auburn Ph.D. student) sees more than crops—she’s scouting for pest damage as part of her Integrated Pest Management research. Through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, students like Caitlyn gain hands-on skills and practical knowledge to improve agricultural production. Learn more in the premiere episode of Acres of Auburn.
The buck stops here: Auburn University finding solutions to deer damage in crops
From seed selection to pesticide application, farmers work diligently to manage every factor that influences yield—but wildlife damage in row crops remains one of the most troublesome aspects to control. To help find solutions, assistant professor and Alabama...
More than a farmhand
There are few professions that embody a humble spirit more than being a farmhand. Whether it’s tilling the land or helping a cow deliver her first calf, the humble farmhand knows the value of manual labor but is rarely recognized for their toil and devotion. In...
Cotton jassid confirmed in Alabama
In an already stressful and trying growing season, researchers at Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension professionals have confirmed an invasive insect, the two-spot cotton leafhopper, in cotton fields in Alabama. The insect is also commonly known as the...
Your Pond, Your Bug, Your Vaccine
AU researchers work toward getting orally-delivered vaccines to catfish farmers
Hare named summer 2025 Dean’s Award recipient
The College of Agriculture Scholarship Committee selected Alexandra “Lexie” Hare as the summer 2025 Dean’s Award recipient, recognizing her for academic excellence and service to the College of Agriculture. Hare graduated Saturday with a Bachelor of Science in...
Repurposing poultry processing water for hydroponic use
Researchers at Auburn University recently developed new methods for safely using poultry processing wastewater for food-grade hydroponic crop production. By eliminating pathogens, like salmonella, the research team was able to use wastewater from a poultry processing...
Auburn research focuses on more uniform, high-quality cotton fibers
A fierce battle is being waged between cotton and polyester, with polyester edging ahead as the most widely used fiber in the world, for now. In fact, synthetic materials account for more than half of today’s overall market share.
Double Up Food Bucks Alabama: Making healthy eating a SNAP
Double Up Food Bucks Alabama is enhancing communities by making fresh local produce more affordable and accessible at select grocery stores and farmers markets. The program is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with matching funds from state...
Understudied cotton is the focus of Auburn University research on seedling diseases
Cotton is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable plants in the world, with its heart-shaped leaves and branches that explode into powder-white fruit. But it’s also one of the more understudied field crops. “Previously, it was unclear where and which specific...
Flourishing forages: Alabama cattlemen’s secret weapon to diversified production
From the Coastal Plain to the Black Belt, Alabama cattle producers are utilizing forage systems to their advantage to meet the challenges of modern agriculture. Alabama ranks 17th nationally in beef cattle, according to the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. Alabama...
Planting shifts into high gear at Alabama agricultural research units
As spring planting shifts into high gear in farmers’ fields throughout the Southeast, few agricultural operations come close to matching the diversity of crops and locations as the outlying units of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University....
Batchelor named Water Resources Center Director
William Batchelor has been tapped as the new director of the Auburn University Water Resources Center, effective immediately. As director, he will lead a team of scientists working with communities, farmers, governments and agencies across Alabama to improve water...
Organic Opportunity: consumer trends in Alabama organic produce
A recent study conducted by agricultural economists through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station examined consumers’ willingness to pay a premium for organic produce. In recent years, interest in organic produce has grown significantly; however, many...
Developing high-performing genetic lines and hybrids for the catfish industry
Better breeding ability would make catfish farming more efficient and profitable The $437 million U.S. catfish industry is in need of better genetic and breeding technologies to be competitive with foreign imports. Recently, Auburn scientists have made advances in...
Agricultural grants address problems on Alabama farms
Is growing a cover crop on Alabama farms a solution or a problem for growers in the state who are trying to prevent soil and water erosion losses? A grant funded through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station research program for the current fiscal year will...
Better than he found it: Patterson steps down as agriculture dean, experiment station director
As 2024 draws to a close, Paul Patterson is stepping away from his roles as dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Jan. 1. He led both to record numbers in the areas of teaching, research and outreach since he assume the positions in March 2016…
Researchers study potential savings from reducing time on feed for weaned pigs
Research made possible by $300,000 USDA-NIFA grant The scale of pork production in the U. S. is such that reducing the average pig’s time on feed by just one day can put $76 million back into pork producers’ pockets. Animal scientists at Auburn University are...
Water Resources Conference attracts record crowd, hosts student research awards
The Auburn University Water Resources Center welcomed a record 370 attendees to its annual Alabama Water Resources Conference in Orange Beach Sept. 4-6. The conference has been held since 1987. This year’s conference included eighty undergraduate and graduate students...
New short corn not ‘as high as an elephant’s eye’
The line from the classic musical “Oklahoma” that refers to corn being “as high as an elephant’s eye” would not apply to some of the new hybrids becoming available to producers. Reduced-stature corn, also referred to as “short” corn, is a concept that has gained...
Water Resources Center engages community in Moore’s Mill Creek Planning
As a project manager with Auburn’s Water Resource Center, Cooley manages watershed restoration projects and educates communities on how to care for rivers, streams and creeks.