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.
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Articles
Latest
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...
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...
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...
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…
Auburn researchers showcase their work at Wiregrass
By Paul Hollis From a new, high-yielding peanut variety to advanced weapons against a menacing weed species, Auburn University researchers showcased a broad range of their work during Alabama 2nd District Congresswoman Martha Roby’s recent tour of the Wiregrass...
College of Agriculture taps Bratcher, Adhikari to lead AAES centers
Two faculty members in Auburn University’s College of Agriculture have assumed leadership roles at separate multidisciplinary Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station research, education and development centers on the Auburn campus. Animal sciences associate professor...
2017's Ag Discovery Adventure set Sept. 23 at E.V. Smith
Folks of all ages can experience 21st century agriculture firsthand when they head to Auburn University’s E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter Saturday, Sept. 23, for the sixth annual Ag Discovery Adventure. The free, family-oriented event will run from 9 a.m. to 2...
New AAES grant program addresses critical agricultural needs
By Paul Hollis Long-term research is vital to the future of U.S. production agriculture, but farmers can’t always afford to wait for solutions to their most pressing problems. That’s why a new Auburn University funding program is providing shorter-term grants that...
Crops tour celebrates 40 years of informing farmers
By Paul Hollis The Central Alabama Crops Tour has been an annual happening on the region’s farm scene for just shy of 40 years now, with Auburn University researchers and extension specialists and county and regional agents updating producers on the latest in...
New teaching garden to strengthen ag's on-campus presence
By Jamie Creamer The College of Agriculture has launched a project to establish a highly productive, on-campus teaching garden that will give greater visibility to active agricultural fieldwork at Auburn and enhance the legacy of the historic Old Rotation. Faculty...
Hagan wins organization's distinguished service honor
Auburn University plant pathology professor Austin Hagan is the 2017 recipient of the American Peanut Research and Education Society’s Coyt T. Wilson Distinguished Service Award. He was presented the award in July during the society’s annual meeting in Albuquerque,...
Liu named a Fellow of the World Aquaculture Society
Zhanjiang “John” Liu—Auburn University’s associate provost and associate vice president for research, and a professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences—was named a Fellow of the World Aquaculture Society at its annual meeting, held June...
Auburn scientists work to mitigate drought in peanuts
By Paul Hollis A research team led by Auburn University is working to help peanut farmers maintain and improve their production in a changing environment that’s certain to include increasingly limited water resources. “Adequate water availability for all crops is an...
Federal research funding pays hefty dividends
By Paul Hollis By most any standard, a $1.85 return on an initial investment of $1 is a good deal. According to a recent study, that’s what federal investments into agricultural research pay back through additional investments from state, local and private-sector...
$5 million grant addresses Southeastern water issues
By Paul Hollis Auburn is joining with three other Southeastern universities in a $5 million research effort to help ensure water for agricultural production while maintaining healthy rivers and springs. The project—funded by a five-year grant from the United States...
Cover crops evaluated for herbicide tolerance
By Steve Li Cover crops can provide many benefits to peanut and cotton rotations in terms of suppressing weeds, conserving soil moisture for planting, increasing soil organic matter, reducing soil erosion and more. In fields where residual herbicides are used during...
Meeting consumers’ demand for quality poultry meat
By Paul Hollis Have you ever bitten into your favorite fast-food chicken sandwich only to find the meat is tough and chewy? This could become a rarity, thanks to a process an Auburn University researcher is developing to rapidly detect poor meat quality in chicken...
Alabama Water Watch celebrates 25th anniversary
By Ravali Bheemanathini Alabama has enough miles of rivers and streams to circle the earth five times, and for the past 25 years, a devoted group of citizen volunteers has worked to protect these bountiful water resources. The group is Alabama Water Watch, and as it...
2017 cow-calf producer conference set Aug. 12 in Auburn
AUBURN, Ala.—Cow-calf producers across the state will gain valuable insight on how to rebuild their herds successfully during the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences’ 2017 Beef Cattle Conference Saturday, Aug. 12, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Ham Wilson Livestock...
A healthy impact: fruits and vegetables boost Alabama’s economy
By Paul Hollis While fruits and vegetables are undeniably good for the body, they’re also a major boost for Alabama’s economy, Auburn University and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station economists found in a recently completed analysis of the industry. “Specialty...
Study points to flexibility in peanut seeding rates
By Austin Hagan Seed accounts for up to 20 percent of the total variable production cost for peanut producers, especially for larger-seeded cultivars such as Georgia-06. One option for saving money is to reduce seeding rates, but can this be done without negatively...
New training and research facility debuts at NPTC
With the summer months approaching, the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn University hosted about 80 poultry managers and technicians April 19 for a hands-on training seminar on hot-weather housing, ventilation and equipment issues. The event was the first...
Market at Ag Heritage Park opens 2017 season May 11
The Market at Ag Heritage Park kicks off its 2017 season Thursday, May 11, from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Auburn University campus and will be open every Thursday, same time and place, through Aug. 24. The weekly farmers market is held on the grounds of Ag Heritage Park’s...
Guertal president-elect of Crop Science Society of America
Beth Guertal, a professor in Auburn University’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, has been voted president-elect of the Crop Science Society of America, or CSSA, and will advance to the role of president at the organization’s 2018 meetings in...
Online tool offers guidance on thrips management in cotton
By JAMIE CREAMER April 1 marked the launch of a free, online crop management tool designed to help cotton producers in Alabama and the Southeast get the upper hand on thrips, the region’s most consistent pests of seedling cotton. Developed at North Carolina State...
Auburn researchers showcase their work at Wiregrass
By Paul Hollis From a new, high-yielding peanut variety to advanced weapons against a menacing weed species, Auburn University researchers showcased a broad range of their work during Alabama 2nd District Congresswoman Martha Roby’s recent tour of the Wiregrass...
College of Agriculture taps Bratcher, Adhikari to lead AAES centers
Two faculty members in Auburn University’s College of Agriculture have assumed leadership roles at separate multidisciplinary Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station research, education and development centers on the Auburn campus. Animal sciences associate professor...
2017's Ag Discovery Adventure set Sept. 23 at E.V. Smith
Folks of all ages can experience 21st century agriculture firsthand when they head to Auburn University’s E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter Saturday, Sept. 23, for the sixth annual Ag Discovery Adventure. The free, family-oriented event will run from 9 a.m. to 2...
New AAES grant program addresses critical agricultural needs
By Paul Hollis Long-term research is vital to the future of U.S. production agriculture, but farmers can’t always afford to wait for solutions to their most pressing problems. That’s why a new Auburn University funding program is providing shorter-term grants that...
Crops tour celebrates 40 years of informing farmers
By Paul Hollis The Central Alabama Crops Tour has been an annual happening on the region’s farm scene for just shy of 40 years now, with Auburn University researchers and extension specialists and county and regional agents updating producers on the latest in...
New teaching garden to strengthen ag's on-campus presence
By Jamie Creamer The College of Agriculture has launched a project to establish a highly productive, on-campus teaching garden that will give greater visibility to active agricultural fieldwork at Auburn and enhance the legacy of the historic Old Rotation. Faculty...
Hagan wins organization's distinguished service honor
Auburn University plant pathology professor Austin Hagan is the 2017 recipient of the American Peanut Research and Education Society’s Coyt T. Wilson Distinguished Service Award. He was presented the award in July during the society’s annual meeting in Albuquerque,...
Liu named a Fellow of the World Aquaculture Society
Zhanjiang “John” Liu—Auburn University’s associate provost and associate vice president for research, and a professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences—was named a Fellow of the World Aquaculture Society at its annual meeting, held June...
Auburn scientists work to mitigate drought in peanuts
By Paul Hollis A research team led by Auburn University is working to help peanut farmers maintain and improve their production in a changing environment that’s certain to include increasingly limited water resources. “Adequate water availability for all crops is an...
Federal research funding pays hefty dividends
By Paul Hollis By most any standard, a $1.85 return on an initial investment of $1 is a good deal. According to a recent study, that’s what federal investments into agricultural research pay back through additional investments from state, local and private-sector...
$5 million grant addresses Southeastern water issues
By Paul Hollis Auburn is joining with three other Southeastern universities in a $5 million research effort to help ensure water for agricultural production while maintaining healthy rivers and springs. The project—funded by a five-year grant from the United States...
Cover crops evaluated for herbicide tolerance
By Steve Li Cover crops can provide many benefits to peanut and cotton rotations in terms of suppressing weeds, conserving soil moisture for planting, increasing soil organic matter, reducing soil erosion and more. In fields where residual herbicides are used during...
Meeting consumers’ demand for quality poultry meat
By Paul Hollis Have you ever bitten into your favorite fast-food chicken sandwich only to find the meat is tough and chewy? This could become a rarity, thanks to a process an Auburn University researcher is developing to rapidly detect poor meat quality in chicken...
Alabama Water Watch celebrates 25th anniversary
By Ravali Bheemanathini Alabama has enough miles of rivers and streams to circle the earth five times, and for the past 25 years, a devoted group of citizen volunteers has worked to protect these bountiful water resources. The group is Alabama Water Watch, and as it...
2017 cow-calf producer conference set Aug. 12 in Auburn
AUBURN, Ala.—Cow-calf producers across the state will gain valuable insight on how to rebuild their herds successfully during the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences’ 2017 Beef Cattle Conference Saturday, Aug. 12, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Ham Wilson Livestock...
A healthy impact: fruits and vegetables boost Alabama’s economy
By Paul Hollis While fruits and vegetables are undeniably good for the body, they’re also a major boost for Alabama’s economy, Auburn University and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station economists found in a recently completed analysis of the industry. “Specialty...
Study points to flexibility in peanut seeding rates
By Austin Hagan Seed accounts for up to 20 percent of the total variable production cost for peanut producers, especially for larger-seeded cultivars such as Georgia-06. One option for saving money is to reduce seeding rates, but can this be done without negatively...
New training and research facility debuts at NPTC
With the summer months approaching, the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn University hosted about 80 poultry managers and technicians April 19 for a hands-on training seminar on hot-weather housing, ventilation and equipment issues. The event was the first...
Market at Ag Heritage Park opens 2017 season May 11
The Market at Ag Heritage Park kicks off its 2017 season Thursday, May 11, from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Auburn University campus and will be open every Thursday, same time and place, through Aug. 24. The weekly farmers market is held on the grounds of Ag Heritage Park’s...
Guertal president-elect of Crop Science Society of America
Beth Guertal, a professor in Auburn University’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, has been voted president-elect of the Crop Science Society of America, or CSSA, and will advance to the role of president at the organization’s 2018 meetings in...
Online tool offers guidance on thrips management in cotton
By JAMIE CREAMER April 1 marked the launch of a free, online crop management tool designed to help cotton producers in Alabama and the Southeast get the upper hand on thrips, the region’s most consistent pests of seedling cotton. Developed at North Carolina State...