Clemson Pee Dee REC Field Day highlights challenges and innovations in South Carolina agriculture

FLORENCE, S.C. — Researchers at Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center (REC) in Florence are investigating sesame as a potential low-input, drought-tolerant crop to help diversify South Carolina farmers’ portfolios.

Wonkeun John Park, senior scientist in cotton genetics and brassica oilseed crops breeding at the Pee Dee REC, is leading research to determine if sesame can be a profitable alternative summer crop in South Carolina. Park discussed his findings during the 2024 Pee Dee REC Field Day.

“Sesame is a crop farmers can grow on marginal lands,” Park said. “It does not require a lot of inputs or maintenance. We are looking at it as a new old crop for South Carolina.”

Sesame is believed to have originated in Africa. It was grown in South Carolina’s Lowcountry during colonial times. Park and his team are working to revive sesame in the state.

Field day participants also learned about the challenging outlook for South Carolina’s 2024 corn and soybean crops. Despite some rainfall, drought conditions have worsened due to high temperatures and winds. While corn fields struggled, soybeans fared slightly better but still needed more rain.

“Figures from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) show record-high yields for corn and soybeans in other parts of the country,” said Nathan Smith, a Clemson Cooperative Extension Service economist. “This is not good for South Carolina farmers, as many of the state’s corn acres are considered disasters. Record yields elsewhere will keep prices down, and with South Carolina’s lower yields, it does not look good for our farmers.”

This year’s corn crop is also producing smaller kernel sizes. Jack Ward, from Lamar, South Carolina, noted the impact on his operations.

“The scoop I use to feed my feeder pigs used to hold just 5 pounds of corn,” Ward said. “Now the kernels are so small it holds 6.5 pounds. That’s too much.”

In another corn-related presentation, Bhupinder Farmaha, a nutrient management specialist, discussed using broiler litter to fertilize corn.

In a showcase of a feed grain crop comparison study, Clemson doctoral student Maggie Thomas shared insights on a project she is coordinating under the direction of Richard Boyles, assistant professor of plant breeding and genetics. The project, titled Empirical Assessment of Grain Sorghum Resiliency, Productivity, and Profitability in the Southeastern USA, involves growing corn, sorghum, and soybeans in the same fields at four locations across Georgia and the Carolinas.

“Our goal is to provide farmers with enterprise budgets based on empirical data to understand the economic and environmental trade-offs of different cropping systems on an operational level,” Thomas said. “We hope the information and resources developed from this project helps farmers make the best decisions to ensure profitability and longevity of their farms.”

Cotton, another major crop in South Carolina, was also a topic of discussion during the field day. Eric Billman, a USDA research agronomist, addressed using perennial cover crops to reduce cotton inputs. Todd Campbell, a USDA research geneticist, discussed the Regional Breeders Testing Network, and Mike Jones, a Clemson Cooperative Extension Service cotton specialist, spoke about testing microbial nitrogen for cotton and a simulated deer-feeding study.

Entomologist Jeremy Greene advised participants on identifying and managing insects in cotton and soybeans. Sachin Rustgi, a molecular breeder, provided updates on reduced regrowth and cluster flowering in Upland cotton and discussed his study on reducing immunogenicity in wheat and peanuts.

Other presentations included Rongzhong Ye, associate professor of soil biogeochemistry and soil health, who spoke about quantifying soil health response to conservation management. Ben Powell, Clemson Extension associate and director of the Apiculture and Pollinator Program, talked about adding pollinator habitats to farm management plans. Liliane Silva, Clemson Extension forages specialist, provided updates on forage-livestock systems research.

For more information about the research conducted at the Pee Dee REC, visit Clemson University’s Pee Dee REC website.

Scenes from the 2024 Pee Dee REC Field Day