The mission of the Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center (SPARC) is to conduct research that:

• improves the productivity of important southern crops

• enhances the safety to the consumer of meat products derived from livestock and poultry

Specific projects at the Center are diverse and include:

• plant biotechnology

• improved control methodologies for pathogens and nematodes attacking cotton

• improved aerial application of agricultural chemicals

• germplasm enhancement of cotton, sorghum, forage grasses, and pecans

• effective and environmentally-sound approaches for areawide management of the boll weevil, corn earworm, corn rootworm, and other serious insect pests

• enhanced microbiological safety of meat products reaching the consumer

• development of methods to minimize antibiotic resistance in food poisoning pathogens affecting livestock and poultry

Center scientists have a strong commitment to the solution of significant agricultural problems and to the timely and effective transfer to appropriate users of technology developed through their research.