Coker Experimental Farms, Agricultural research center in Hartsville, South Carolina.
Coker Experimental Farms is a research center on about 145 acres dedicated to developing new seed varieties and innovative farming methods. The grounds include historic buildings, including a barn-style museum that documents the work of plant breeders.
The facility was founded in 1902 and housed the first cotton-breeding program in the United States, revolutionizing crop yields. This work laid the foundation for modern agricultural science in the South.
The farms demonstrate how scientific methods transformed Southern agriculture and continue to influence farming practices today. Visitors can observe how innovation shaped the daily work of farmers across generations.
The site is located in Hartsville and features a museum offering self-guided tours to visitors. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the grounds invite exploration.
By the 1960s, more than half of all cotton varieties grown in the Southern United States originated from seeds developed here. This statistic demonstrates the enormous impact of the research on the regional economy.
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