Clemson celebrates 100 years of service in the Pee Dee

Published: August 2, 2011

Clemson's turfgrass research is a popular attraction at the Pee Dee center's annual field day. image by: Peter Hull

FLORENCE — For a century, Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center has maintained a common theme: economic development across South Carolina. 

While crops have shifted focus during the center’s 100 years, the mission of introducing new crops and agricultural methods in the state remains as strong as ever.

Clemson University celebrated a century of service, science and research in the Pee Dee Tuesday when the research center opened its fields for the annual Pee Dee Farm and Turf Field Day.

Bruce Fortnum, the center’s director, said that since opening in 1911, the center has grown from a sleepy experiment station to a modern research facility.

The 2,300-acre center has become the recognized name for certain fields of research, particularly tobacco, cotton and turfgrass, and regularly welcomes visiting scientists from around the world.

Historically, research programs have focused on crops, such as cotton, corn, soybeans, turf grasses and tobacco. More recently, biofuel has become an important research area.

“The center’s soils are diverse enough that scientists can cover just about all the crops of the Pee Dee,” Fortnum said. “This center is a great place for the work we do in this region.”

The field day, which was open to the public, featured turfgrass research and tours of cotton, soybean, corn, peanuts, tobacco and biofuels research.

This year’s field day also included a presentation on alternate biofuels, such as switchgrass, miscanthus and hybrid tree crops.

George Askew, Clemson University associate vice president for public service and agriculture, said that agriculture is the state’s biggest economic driver and as such the work at Clemson’s Pee Dee center, and at its other research centers across the state, plays a pivotal role shaping the state’s economy.

Whether it is research developed in the field, public awareness programs or educational workshops, the work at the Pee Dee center is at the very core of Clemson’s agricultural heritage, he said.

“By definition, Clemson scientists and researchers are at the forefront of innovation,” Askew said. “Our work reaches all agricultural regions of the state — and brings statewide benefits.”

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