Spring is in full swing, and so is preparation for the 2026 planting season at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. The Darrell Williams Research Farm has been busy at work preparing the ground for this year’s crops. Corn was planted at the end of March, and the team will be planting cotton, peanuts, and hay in May. Fertilizer will soon be applied to the cotton and peanut acres.
Along with the Sunbelt Ag Expo exhibit site, the adjoining 530-acre research farm makes for a unique experience for visitors. Crops representative of popular Southeast production crops are planted. Throughout the summer, research is conducted by the farm on all four crops. Trial plots are planted, and a variety of companies, including seed, chemical, and irrigation companies, propose research ideas. The farm then conducts the research throughout the season and provides the companies with the yield data.
Each day during the show in October, attendees have the opportunity to witness the harvest of peanuts and the full process of hay with different brands of equipment. Be on the lookout for the official show program in late summer, so as you plan your trip, you can be sure to make time for demonstrations at the Darrell Williams Research Farm!
