NFREC-SV Farm Facility

Aerial View of Research Plots at NFREC-SV Farm

The NFREC-SV farm serves as a research facility. Its strategic location (close to Gainesville and I-75) attracts UF faculty members and grad students from campus and other units as well as County Extension Agents as an effective site to perform science based trials. Throughout the years federal and state agencies and other types of organizations, including private companies, have also chosen this facility for their research needs because of its unique location in relation to the agricultural industry, the soil type typical of the region, the close relationship with the industry, and the strong Extension outreach capacity. Several academic departments of UF have faculty who lead research programs at NFREC-SV including: Horticultural Sciences, Agronomy, Soil and Water Science, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Plant Pathology, Entomology & Nematology, and Food Science and Human Nutrition. Examples of the types of research trials being conducted include: nutrient and water management, cultivar development and evaluation, Best Management Practices (BMPs), food safety, protected culture, evaluation of new crops for the region, and managing pests (insects, diseases, weeds and nematodes).