The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment maintains facilities on and off the university’s main campus, expanding hands-on learning opportunities for students and amplifying the college’s ability to serve Kentuckians through research and extension.

Away from main campus, you’ll find faculty, staff and students doing meaningful work at our centers and units, from the Central Kentucky Research Farms to the UK Research and Education Center at Princeton and more. Our state-of-the-art labs and equipment allow our researchers to thrive, producing solutions that impact Kentucky, the nation and the world.

Central Kentucky Research Farms

C. Oran Little Research Center

The C. Oran Little Research Center is a 1,484-acre farm that houses several units.

North Farm

North Farm, north of Lexington, resulted from merging Maine Chance Farm, Spindletop Farm and part of the Coldstream Farm.

Eden Shale Farm

Eden Shale Farm near Owenton is a joint venture between the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Beef Network.

South Farm

The Horticultural Research Farm is used in fruit and vegetable, greenhouse and nursery, biofuels, entomology and plant pathology research.

Our Service Units and Other Facilities

UKREC

The Research and Education Center at Princeton's groundbreaking research includes advancements in no-till and double-crop systems, integrated pest management, and beef cattle, dark-fire tobacco and fruit production.

Grain and Forage Center of Excellence

The Grain and Forage Center of Excellence helps farmers feed the world, protect the environment, expand the economy and pass farms on.

Robinson Center

The Robinson Center in Quicksand aims to increase the sustainability of resources in Eastern Kentucky through the nutrition education program, fruit and vegetable production/marketing, variety testing and more.

Robinson Forest

Covering 14,800 acres in the interior rugged section of the Cumberland Plateau, Robinson Forest provides valuable information about forest hydrology, carbon sequestration, wildlife and ecological relationships.

KY Tobacco Research and Development Center

The KTRDC uses molecular biology, genomics, plant genetic engineering, plant breeding/field research and more to improve agricultural production.

Gluck Equine Research Center

Internationally recognized for its research in improving the health and well-being of the horse, we study diseases, microorganisms, reproductive immunology and more.

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

The VDL uses diagnostic methodology to improve animal health and marketability, protect public health and more.

Regulatory Services

The Division of Regulatory Services administers state laws for the regulation and quality of products consumed by people and animals.

Research Greenhouse

The mission of the Research Greenhouse is to maintain a controlled environment specific to the needs of each research group.

Building the Future

Our infrastructure is always improving. Currently, as part of a collective upgrade of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment campus, we are updating many of our research centers, including:

Agricultural Research Building

The Agricultural Research Building will serve as the college’s central research hub, closely aligned with its teaching and extension missions. Equipped with cutting-edge laboratories, rooftop research greenhouses, classrooms and office spaces for faculty, graduate students and staff, it will facilitate collaborative research endeavors. It will also feature a 250-seat auditorium for both educational lectures and public events.

Robinson Center

The Robinson Center took significant flood damage in 2022 but is back better and stronger than before, focusing on our research and programs for Eastern Kentucky. Facilities are being rebuilt, and the team is not waiting around to serve the people of Appalachia.

Research and Education Center at Princeton

A tornado hit UKREC in 2021, but the team continues to offer help when fellow Kentuckians need it. Work is underway not just to rebuild but to improve our facilities.

Meats and Foods Industry Advancement Center

This “one-stop-shop” facility supports the animal agriculture industry, family farms, value-added production, food safety, promotion and more.

USDA/ARS, UK Forage Animal Production Research Lab

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service is expanding its footprint on campus with a new, joint facility that will house leading research in forage animal production.