The Southeast Research and Education Center (SEREC) is one of eight off-campus research centers in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
SEREC is located in Burke County situated on the upper coastal plain region between Augusta and Savannah. The SEREC was established in 1951 and initially conducted research in various agricultural enterprises including row crops, beef, poultry, swine, and dairy. Now the primary focus is row crops mainly cotton, peanuts, corn, and soybeans. Most research is produced under center pivot irrigation.
The SEREC is located at latitude 32 52’30” N and longitude 82 13’50” W. Elevation ranges from 240 to 280 feet.
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USDA zone 8b with extreme lows from 15-20 deg F and annual precipitation of 45 inches.
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The predominant soils are the Tifton Series and the Dothan Series. Both are deep well-drained soils with a fine-loamy texture.
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Total acreage: 720
- 380 acres cultivated (250 irrigated, 130 dryland)
Irrigation capabilities:
- 3 deep wells
- 2 retention ponds (Supplied by above wells, no runoff)
- 8 center pivots (2 with limited VRI capability) – area covered is 230 acres
- 1 linear move system – area covered is 20 acres
Production systems:- Conventional/strip-till - row spacing is 36 inches for all crops except small grains
- Cover cropping
- Pecan orchard
- 380 acres cultivated (250 irrigated, 130 dryland)
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- Office with 100-seat auditorium/conference room - 3,345 sq.ft.
- Maintenance shop - 5,469 sq.ft.
- 4 equipment storage buildings – 28,391 sq.ft.
- Pesticide Storage Building - 2,240 sq.ft.
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- Appropriate tractors, field implements, and planters for row crop production
- 4 Row Cotton Picker (No Yield Monitor)
- 4 Row Peanut Combines (No Yield Monitor)
- Grain combine with 4 row corn head and 20 ft Grain Platform (No Yield Monitor)
- 4 Row Single Row Planter
- 4 Row, Twin Row Planter
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- Weather station - UGA Weather Network, RX3000
- 2 Row Cotton Picker with Bagger
- 2 Row Peanut Combine with Bagger
- Grain Weigh Wagon
- Cotton Weigh Wagon
- 4 Trimble Auto-Pilot Systems (3 with VR Capability)
- 5 Ton Variable Rate Fertilizer Spreader
- Variable Rate 4 Row Planter, Single Row
*No Small Plot Combine for Grain, arrangements must be made with other Scientist*
- Weather station - UGA Weather Network, RX3000
History
The Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center lies in the upper Coastal Plain near Midville, Georgia. Just south of the fall line, the approximately 720-acre center was established in 1952, when Burke County deeded the land to the University System Board of Regents.
The original mission of the center was to test enterprises or practices that could be adapted to the local area. All enterprises were applied on a management scale large enough to accurately assess the cost and returns of these enterprises. Whole farm production units included dairy, beef, swine, poultry, pecans, and row crop (predominately cotton) enterprises. Now, research is focused on row crop research including peanuts, soybeans, alfalfa, corn, cotton, sorghum, and potential biofuel crops.
Variety testing, pest management strategies, fertilizer application rates, seeding rates, and disease management research programs are also in place. The center is the only UGA research location where UGA scientists study cylindrocladium black rot, a fungal disease first found in 1965 on peanuts in southwest Georgia. Today, CBR plagues alfalfa, clover, and soybean as well.
Current research focuses primarily on row crops and includes cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and small grains. Research and Extension Scientists and County Extension Agents carry out roughly 40 research projects annually. Research projects include the evaluation of crop varieties, pest management strategies, and conservation tillage practices including cover crop systems. Most experiments are irrigated with center pivot systems. In addition, a 6-acre site is devoted to sub-surface drip irrigation.
SEREC is staffed by 5 full-time positions. The center hosts several outreach functions throughout the year. An annual field day is held every August along with several smaller production meetings, trainings, and workshops. Local school groups conduct field trips and Ag Awareness education at the center as well.