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Piedmont Research and Education Center

close up of scientist hands holding a clear lab dish with a plant specimen
Piedmont Research and Education Center outlined south carolina map with pickens county filled black

Piedmont Research and Education Center
135 West Cherry Road
101 Ag Service Center
P: (864) 656-2530
resfarm@clemson.edu

The Piedmont Research and Education Center (REC) works to address the educational and operational needs of South Carolina’s diverse agricultural enterprises. Spread across Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties in the South Carolina upstate, Piedmont REC encompasses a diverse landscape - from cultivated bottomland and rolling pastures to forest lands. Faculty from Clemson’s main campus utilize the Piedmont REC farms to conduct innovative research, teach classes and hold Cooperative Extension activities.

Our facilities include multiple farms located in and around Clemson’s main campus: LaMaster Dairy Cattle Center, Morgan Poultry Center, Musser Fruit Research Center, Simpson Beef Cattle Farm, Simpson Station Agronomic Unit, Sheep Research Unit, Aquaculture Center, Organic Research Center and the Cherry Farm Service Unit. Many of our facilities are recognized for their achievements. The Musser Research Center is one of the premier fruit research centers in the United States. The Simpson Beef Cattle Farm houses an 88 head capacity GrowSafe feed efficiency system, one of just a few available nationally to the public through a Land-Grant University. The LaMaster Dairy Cattle Center houses a free stall barn and three state-of-the-art robotic milking systems. In 2020, the combined Simpson Agronomic Unit and Cherry Farm Unit were recognized for 100 years of agricultural farm support.

Facilities

sign and gate entrance to lamaster dairy farm at clemsons piedmont research and education center
  • 4,700 acres of land
  • 10 Research, Educational, & Outreach Learning Facilities
  • 8 Educational and Outreach Learning Labs
  • 4 Individual animal feeding facilities

Piedmont REC Highlights

Research Focus

  • Specialty Crop Production & Animal Science
  • Plant Disease Management
  • Fungicide Resistance
  • Poultry Nutrition and Well-being
  • Meat Science
  • Soil Health
  • Heat and Drought Tolerance
  • Cover Crops

Community Outreach

  • Simpson Beef Cattle and Sheep Field Day
  • Agronomic Crop and Forage Field Day
  • Farm-Urban Interface
  • Group Tours

Grantors

  • USDA-NIFA
  • Egg Industry Center
  • Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
  • National Clean Plant Network
  • South Carolina Peach Council

State-Wide Research Collaborations

Six Research and Education Centers are a network of centers located strategically throughout the state according to the state’s soil and climate regions that support and encourage associations between Clemson Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson Cooperative Extension, and various industries. Researchers work to find solutions to the world’s challenges in how to feed a growing global population, conserve natural resources, enhance the vibrancy of the state’s agricultural and natural resources economies, and assist not only South Carolinians but also globally to improve the quality of life.

Map of Research and Education Centers

Upcoming Area Events

    Piedmont Research and Education Center
    Piedmont Research and Education Center | 135 West Cherry Road, 101 Ag Service Center, Clemson, SC 29634-0385