The Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Vernon is located in Vernon, TX, in an area known as the Texas Rolling Plains. The Vernon Research & Extension Center also includes two satellite centers, Chillicothe and Smith-Walker.
The Vernon Center is home to research and extension education programs in environmental systems management, water quality, food, feed, fiber, and biofuel production, animal nutrition and health, rangeland restoration, agricultural resource economics, and natural resource conservation and protection.
Animal Nutrition & Rangeland
Sustainable production of animal protein from agricultural ecosystems in a soil to sirloin or pasture to plate perspective.
Cropping Systems & Physiology
Research that results in higher crop profitability, reduced environmental impact, and resource security.
Forage & Ornamental Breeding
Known for unique colors in hibiscus breeding, this team produces cool-season perennial forage grasses that are resilient to climate change in the Southern Great Plains.
Agrohydrology
Develop and evaluate climate-resilient, regenerative agricultural strategies to conserve soil and water, enhance crop water productivity, and protect soil and water quality in diverse agroecosystems.
Grazing Ecology & Management
Ranch-scale and multi-county assessments to determine best practices for rangeland management.
Natural Resources Economics
This team studies the economic impact of human decisions on agriculture & natural resource management.
Rangeland Ecophysiology
This team seeks to understand plant processes to better predict their response to changes in climate and land management.
Regenerative Grazing System Ecology
Redefining land management strategies to limit global warming while meeting rising food and energy demands, enhancing the resilience of agricultural land to changes in climate, and optimizing our natural resources.
Soil Environmental Science
Protects water resources while maintaining agricultural production goals.
Specialty & Organic Crops
This team aims to develop specialty crop cultivars that are uniquely suitable to organic cropping systems in Texas and beyond, to lead to the development of better organic crop cultivars.
Wheat Breeding
Designing wheat varieties that can adapt to different regions and management programs in Texas.