Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center

Ray Covington Superintendent

706-745-2655

Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center

195 Georgia Mountain Experiment Station Rd., Blairsville, GA, 30512

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Our Work and Priorities

The Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center lies in the uppermost part of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Established in 1930, the 415-acre station provides research support for agriculture specialists who in turn, provide support to farmers in the mountain region, giving them information applicable to the area with its own distinct soil and climatic conditions. The campus resides in USDA Zone 7A, having a shorter 180-day growing season with an average rainfall of 57 inches.

Current research focuses on commodities including apples, grapes, blueberries, field corn, sweet corn, soybeans, fescue, clover, orchard grass, alfalfa, ryegrass, tomatoes, various ornamentals, and beef cattle. The climate is perfect for evaluating cold hardiness for new cultivars that include Alfalfa, Crape Myrtle, Vitex, Abelia, Bermuda, Centipede, and Zoysia turf grasses. Additionally, UGA graduate students often conduct their research at the center. To learn more, check out the Virtual Field Day where you will hear from scientists and the work they do here at GMREC.

Most of the campus is closed to visitors except during designated tours but there are gardens the public can visit. Visitors can check in at the office and then tour the ethnobotanical gardens.

If you need assistance with landscape and/or farming decisions, contact your local county agent. Here in Union County, it is Jacob Williams, located at the Civic Center. Union County Extension Office.

The July 24th Field Day REGISTRATION is FULL.

About us

We investigate the latest production and technological practices, striving for producer profitability and sustainability.

Research and Education Centers (RECs) are hubs for innovation and discovery that address the most critical issues facing agricultural production throughout the state. Ultimately, our findings are shared with stakeholders through the extension and outreach efforts of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Agricultural Research Centers in Georgia Find your local county Extension Office

CAES News

UGA Extension program helps farmers adopt sustainable irrigation methods 07/25/24

Georgia's leading industry is agriculture, which relies significantly on irrigation — approximately half of the state's cropland is irrigated. For most farmers operating on razor-thin profit margins, irrigation is essential as insurance against drought and extended dry periods. In a concerted effort to address water conservation in agriculture, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Ag Water Team helps farmers adopt water-saving practices that boost yields, lower production costs and conserve water for future generations.

A new grant program focusing on preventing and reducing food loss and waste is designed to help reduce food waste in the U.S. by 50% over the next five years.

CAES News

Southern SARE grant program seeks best practices on preventing food loss and waste 06/06/24

A new national grant program administered by the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program will pump more than $10.2 million into research to address food loss and waste in the region. Supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the SARE Community Foods Project Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants Program is seeking grant proposals from applicants working in the public sector on food loss and waste prevention.

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CAES Events

The Attapulgus Research and Education Center will host its annual field day on Thursday, August 1st, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon followed by lunch. Registration begins at 8 a.m. This event is open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lee Hitson, farm manager, at 229-220-1712.

Aug 01

8:30AM - 1:00PM Attapulgus Field Day Attapulgus Research and Education Center, Attapulgus, GA

Join us at the Southeast Research and Education Center for our annual field day on Wednesday, August 7th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event is open to the public.

Aug 07

9:00AM - 1:30PM Southeast Georgia Field Day Southeast Research and Education Center, Midville, GA

The Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center will hold its annual field day on Thursday, August 15th, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event is open to the public

Aug 15

8:30AM - 1:00PM Southwest Georgia Field Day Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center, Plains, GA

Agricultural innovation in the Appalachian Mountains