Report suggests closing Reidsville research station

By Steve Lawson

Published: April 25, 2008

A draft report from a group of legislative staffers in Raleigh recommends closing seven state agriculture research stations – including one in Rockingham County, The Associated Press said.
N.C. Sen. Phil Berger, at home in Eden between legislative sessions, said Thursday he had received calls about the report.
“I haven’t seen it myself, but I’ve gotten a couple calls about a report making suggestions for oversight of the stations,” Berger said.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services operates 18 research stations spread across the state, but it owns only 12 of them. N.C. State University owns the remaining six stations, including the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville.
The station, which includes almost 670 acres, surrounds the Chinqua-Penn plantation off Wentworth Street.
Each of the stations offers unique climate and soil conditions, giving researchers a living laboratory to investigate a variety of area-specific crops, forestry or livestock. The research helps make it possible for farmers to meet growing consumer needs as populations rise and available farmland declines.
Berger said legislators took up the issue of consolidating the stations under a single oversight agency during the last round of budget discussions. An effort was made at that time to turn all 18 stations over to the university.
“That was not done at that time, but a committee was formed to look into the issue and come back with a recommendation,” Berger said.
According to the AP, the draft report recommends turning over ownership of all stations to N.C. State. It also suggests closing the research stations in Reidsville, Whiteville, Castle Hayne, Waynesville, Oxford, Butner and Laurel Springs. The changes are predicted to save the state as much as $55 million.
Berger remains against transferring oversight to N.C. State and feels the Department of Agriculture is the correct governance agency for the stations.
“I would oppose moving oversight of the stations to the university and the closing of the station in Reidsville,” he said. “I definitely think our universities have enough to do with educating our young people without adding new responsibilities. That’s just something they do not need.
“These are agriculture research stations and they should rightfully stay with the Department of Agriculture.”
According to Berger’s office in Raleigh, the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee compiled the report, and it would not be released until May 8. The General Assembly’s next legislative session begins at noon May 13.

News Editor Steve Lawson can be reached at or at 548-6047.