The College Farm Operation is composed of six tracts of land totaling 3,200 acres, all located in the Blacksburg area. The operation includes historic Kentland Farm which fronts the New River near the Whitethorne community in the northwestern part of Montgomery County, Virginia.
The operation provides resources and assistance to research, teaching and extension programs which focus on many of the major agricultural crop and livestock species in Virginia. In addition, the facility supports programs related to environmental concerns, sustainable agriculture, management of natural renewable resources, alternative crops, and improved agricultural economic efficiencies.
The College Farm employs one faculty member, 17 full-time salaried staff, and an additional eight part-time wage personnel periodically during the year. The operation conducts a crop production program of 1,937 acres which includes corn silage and grain, alfalfa silage and hay, barley grain, and grass/legume hay and pasture. The crops are used to support livestock in research and teaching programs. The operation also consists of 400 acres of field plot and livestock grazing research, with an additional 660 acres devoted to wildlife, forestry, and conservation management, demonstrations, and other educational activities.
