This Center was established in 1967 to house personnel and programs of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension for the purpose of addressing the needs of East Texas and its citizens. Research and extension education in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, youth and economic development constitute the programs. Research is conducted on agricultural topics pertinent to the East Texas ecosystem.
Cattle Reproductive Physiology
The temperament of beef cattle is heritable and alters animal productivity. Interactions between temperament and immune function are being studied. Evaluation of how temperament influences metabolism, endocrine function, and subsequent productivity is being done.
Forage Legumes

The forage legume breeding program focuses on the development of new cultivars with superior traits, including pest resistance; high yield; improved seed production; high hard-seed percentage and reliable reseeding; reduction of anti-quality compounds; and adaptation to Texas soil and climate conditions.
Horticulture

The Horticulture program provides information on greenhouse and field performance of bedding plant varieties to the local bedding plant industry and consumers of these products. This project coordinates trial results with the Dallas Arboretum in awarding the North Texas Winners Circle awards each year.
Pasture Utilization and Forage Quality
The program’s primary focus is evaluating new and existing forage cultivars and grazing systems for use in the eastern half of Texas and for implementation in the southeastern U.S. Specifically, the program combines assessments of forage nutritive value, production and sustainability; environmentally-compatible nutrient cycling under a variety of stocking and fertility regimens; and life-time performance attributes of beef cattle using component-based research with cows and calves, stockers and feeders.
Soil Science

This research program focuses on understanding biochemical interactions in the rhizosphere environment. Other areas of interest include identifying novel and competent plant beneficial microbes for biofertilization, disease suppression and bioremediation. This research program applies biogeochemical analysis and metagenomic tools to characterize soil biogeochemical properties, soil microbial communities and their functional responses.
Ryegrass and Small Grains

Over 50 annual ryegrass cultivars and small grain cultivars are evaluated each year at Overton, Texas for cold tolerance, disease incidence, and seasonal forage yield. These trials are conducted in replicated, randomized complete block designs using current fertilizer and lime recommendations according to annual soil tests. These forage trials are conducted to help regional producers choose the best cultivars for their management systems and to assist seed companies in evaluation of experimental lines.