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Physical Location: 11959 hwy 9, Homer, La. 71040
Distance/Context: Approximately 245 miles north of main LSU campus
Contacts: 318-927-2578
Resident Coordinator: William E. Owens, wowens@agcenter.lsu.edu, 318-245-2561
Administrative Assistant : Kathy Moore, 318-927-2578, kmoore@agcenter.lsu.edu
Farm Manager: James Stephen Eubanks, 318-548-6768 jeubanks@agcenter.lsu.edu
The Hill Farm Research Station serves as a major site for cattle, forages, forestry, and poultry research and extension. The station is the only location for poultry research and extension and is a major site for beef cattle research in Louisiana. Extension efforts at the station provide stakeholders with essential information for these commodities and are disseminated via a variety of outlets, including field days, workshops, web pages, extension bulletins. Research scientists at the Hill Farm publish their findings in peer review journal articles, conference proceedings, book chapters, abstracts, as well as other oral and written avenues.
The Hill Farm is a primary site for research and extension in beef cattle, poultry, forestry and forage agronomy. The station continues to be involved in the multistate project on bovine mastitis.
Beef: Focus is on providing education of producers on best management strategies and techniques through hands-on clinics, workshops, and demonstrations emphasizing methods to lower production costs and to maximize cattle productivity and profitability for producers. Clinics, such as the Louisiana Producer Artificial Insemination school and the Cattle Pregnancy Determination Clinic, educate producers on reproductive management methods for beef cattle. Beef cattle are an integral part of the agricultural industry in Louisiana.
Forestry: Forestry is the top agricultural commodity in the state. Forestry research is focused on pine timber and includes studies on other timber species, including sweet gum, cotton wood and timber grazing practices.
The forestry research and extension program of the station encompasses all aspects of forest management, from pre-planting to harvest. Major focus areas are (1) identifying tree genetic lines that are fast-growing with good form and hardiness for Louisiana’s climate, (2) suppressing invasive and native plants that hinder forest establishment and growth, (3) forest management practices that enhance forest product and wildlife value, and (4) grazing animals within pasture and tree mixtures.
Poultry: Poultry is the number one animal commodity in the state. The Hill Farm provides poultry growers with demonstration houses that can compare and evaluate the latest innovations in equipment and management techniques for raising poultry broilers under commercial conditions. Current projects include bird disposal evaluations, composting, heater evaluations and poultry best management practices comparisons.
Forages: Forage production in Louisiana involves pasture and hay production for livestock enterprises with beef cattle being the primary pasture-based livestock enterprise. Both warm-season and cool-season growing species of grasses and legumes, including perennial and annual species, can provide unique components of some forage systems. Even though only a few plant species are represented in most forage systems across the state, many species have potential to contribute within specific production approaches. Forage research at the Hill Farm Research Station has included evaluations of selected species of the different classes of forage plants for use in Louisiana pastures.
Beef: The beef cattle research program includes, but is not limited to:
Forestry: The forestry research program at the Hill Farm Research Station, with a variety of collaborators from across the Southeastern U.S., is invested in:
Poultry: Poultry research areas include:
Forage: Emphasis of forage research has gradually broadened from primarily variety evaluation and management of bermudagrass, bahiagrass, and annual ryegrass to include numerous plant species. Potential of various species to improve forage quality, production efficiency, and sustainability of Louisiana pasture is being evaluated. Contributions to seasonally improved forage quality, reduction in dependence on nitrogen fertilizer, and provision of forage during gaps in forage availability of typical pasture systems are targeted.
Station Infrastructure:
Main Office Building with faculty and staff office space and meeting space. Total square footage 4000 sq ft. Two Wi-Fi-enabled meeting spaces. Auditorium 2300 sq ft. and conference room 250 sq ft.
Laboratory approximately 2600 sq ft. with 4 offices. The recently renovated laboratory facilities include microbiology equipment and incubators, autoclave, washroom, safety hood, analytical balances water baths, drying oven and safety shower. Recently added equipment for beef cattle research includes centrifuges, freezers, ELISA system and plate reader, Beckman-Coulter blood analyzer, and all necessary glass ware and lab equipment.
Farm Maintenance Shop and equipment shed used to maintain station and research equipment. Total Square footage is 6425 sq. ft.
Forage lab: This converted residence houses the agronomy equipment and supplies for forage research. 1200 sq. ft.
Sample Prep Lab: this newly renovated area houses beef forestry and forage equipment used to grind samples for laboratory analysis. It also houses an environmental incubator and serves as an overflow lab space and storage. 720 sq feet.
Drying room: this area is equipped with a drying heater to dry large numbers of samples. 600 sq. feet.
Various equipment storage building and sheds used to store station and research field equipment and supplies.
Commodity barns for feed storage (2), approximately 20,000 sq. ft.
Hay barns (3)
Poultry Demonstration Houses: Two solid wall poultry houses equipped with state-of-the-art computer-controlled equipment. 21,180 sq. ft. each.
Pesticide Building, 384 sq. ft. Use to house herbicides and pesticides, and as an area to mix and fill spray equipment for application.
Plot areas for forage evaluations.
Cattle working facilities: 3 separate cattle working areas with covers. Equipped with new hydraulic squeeze chutes.
Cattle: (as of March 24, 2026)
The Hill Farm Research Station possesses comprehensive resources, experienced personnel, and infrastructure that support high quality research.
Beef: The station maintains both fall and spring calving herds, providing a unique capacity to evaluate management, nutritional and genetic effects across diverse production windows. Extensive warm and cool season forage acreage, along with hay production systems, enables controlled, real world evaluations of grazing management, forage utilization, and cow–calf performance. These integrated resources allow the faculty at Hill Farm to generate scientifically robust findings that address priority challenges in the beef industry. Research conducted entirely at the station has resulted in numerous peer reviewed publications in nationally and internationally recognized journals, reflecting the program’s credibility and scientific relevance. Additional dissemination through extension fact sheets, cattle industry magazines, producer newsletters, and regional presentations ensures that research outcomes reach stakeholders in practical, accessible formats. Recent heat stress mitigation research conducted at Hill Farm has advanced the understanding of how nutritional and management interventions can alleviate thermal load in beef cows and influence long term offspring performance. These findings contribute to emerging strategies that improve resilience and productivity of cow calf systems in the Southeastern U.S. Demonstration studies on summer annual forages—such as pearl millet, sorghum–sudangrass, and browntop millet—have provided producers with clear expectations regarding forage yield, planting management, nutritive value, and animal performance outcomes. Collectively, the station’s capabilities and applied research portfolio continue to deliver measurable impact by informing producer decision making, improving systems profitability, and supporting the long term competitiveness of Louisiana’s beef cattle industry.
Poultry: The poultry facilities at the Hill Farm Research Station have the capabilities to evaluate farm techniques and product tests that demonstrate energy conservation and bird performance. The broiler demonstration houses at the Hill Farm Research Station strive to put real world data into the hands of producers to help them make management decisions to improve the efficiency of their own farms.
Forestry: The Hill Farm Research Station is uniquely positioned to provide multiple forest stand level environments for operational, physiological, genetic, and environmental research. From short-rotation and traditional-rotation woody crops to critical species recovery and climate variability, the Hill Farm is facilitating cross-institutional opportunities in the Southeastern United States. On-going forestry research efforts at Hill Farm are providing the basis for several master’s level student projects, outreach programming and materials for extension forestry, new research projects through NIFA, NFWF, and LDAF, and the materials for publications in Forest Science, Canadian Journal of Forestry, and the Journal of Forestry.
Forages: Forage agronomy research at the Hill Farm is supported using pastures and experimental plot areas. A forage lab area is also available with analytical equipment for research studies. Additional forage studies utilize cattle grazing of test pastures. Results from the research program published in scientific journals have contributed to continuing funding through a series of collaborative USDA grants. Plants identified in the program as potentially useful pasture plants are under evaluation at additional locations including some producer sites.
Beef: The beef cattle research and extension program at the Hill Farm Research Station is dedicated to addressing needs of pasture-based cattle operations in the Southeastern United States. Through our extension component, we offer various programs throughout the year to meet the demands of producers. These include the Louisiana Producer Artificial Insemination School, Beef and Forage Field Days, the Cattle Pregnancy Determination Clinic, and the Geaux Beef Heifer Development Program. We are proud to report that these programs have consistently exceeded expectations, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we receive from producers. Grazing demonstration projects conducted at Hill Farm have also provided producers with real-time information on forage productivity, stocking strategies, supplementation needs, and pasture establishment methods. Within the research component, studies addressing heat stress mitigation, mineral nutrition, heifer development, and pasture management have directly informed management decisions for cow-calf operations. Overall, the integration of applied research, producer education, and hands-on demonstration has resulted in meaningful adoption of science-based management strategies. These efforts continue to enhance productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability for cattle producers in the region.
Poultry: The poultry extension programs at the Hill Farm provide producers with demonstrations and evaluations to identify techniques that can enhance productivity and profitability. Over the years evaluations of heating equipment, dead bird disposal techniques, litter management and water quality studies have been conducted. The poultry research and extension programs at the Hill Farm provide producers with hands‑on demonstrations, on‑farm evaluations, and practical guidance designed to identify management techniques that can enhance both productivity and profitability. The program has conducted extensive evaluations of heating systems, dead‑bird disposal methods, litter management strategies, and water‑quality improvement practices—each chosen because of its direct impact on flock performance and farm efficiency. Research efforts focus on applied, real‑world challenges that growers face today, ensuring that the results are immediately useful rather than purely theoretical. Findings from these studies form the foundation for field days, producer trainings, workshops, and a variety of educational materials that help growers adopt proven practices and stay informed about emerging technologies and management approaches.
Forestry: As a result of forestry research activities at the Hill Farm Research Station and subsequent extension efforts, private non-industrial forest landowners across Louisiana and the Upper Coastal P lain region of the southeastern U.S. have increasingly adopted science-based management practices that improve forest establishment, productivity, and long-term value. Research-driven recommendations on competition control, including selection and timing of herbicide treatments, integrated pest management, and early rotation strategies have been widely adopted to enhance reforestation success. Improved genetic materials evaluated at Hill Farm for superior growth, form, and disease resistance, and alternative planting stock have been incorporated into landowners’ planting decisions and are resulting in more resilient, higher yielding stands. Through field days, workshops, cooperative trials, and direct extension outreach, Hill Farm’s forestry research program brings actionable, accessible recommendations resulting in adoption of improved silvicultural practices, healthier more productive forests, and economic returns for landowners in the region.
Forages: Early forage research at the Hill Farm Research Station contributed to bermudagrass varieties and management approaches that supported the widespread increase in bermudagrass acreage and productivity across northern Louisiana decades ago. The following research efforts contributed to the more extensive use of cool-season forages including annual ryegrass and clovers on adapted sites. On-going research continues to support management decisions as new varieties and input options become available to potentially enhance pasture production from the traditionally grown pasture species. In addition, plant species and management approaches to contribute to the increasing emphasis on sustainability, production efficiency, and ecosystem function are being evaluated.
Beef: The beef cattle research and extension program at the Hill Farm Research Station is dedicated to addressing needs of pasture-based cattle operations in the Southeastern United States. Through our extension component, we offer various programs throughout the year to meet the demands of producers. These include the Louisiana Producer Artificial Insemination School, Beef and Forage Field Days, the Cattle Pregnancy Determination Clinic, and the Geaux Beef Heifer Development Program. We are proud to report that these programs have consistently exceeded expectations, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we receive from producers. Grazing demonstration projects conducted at Hill Farm have also provided producers with real-time information on forage productivity, stocking strategies, supplementation needs, and pasture establishment methods. Within the research component, studies addressing heat stress mitigation, mineral nutrition, heifer development, and pasture management have directly informed management decisions for cow-calf operations. Overall, the integration of applied research, producer education, and hands-on demonstration has resulted in meaningful adoption of science-based management strategies. These efforts continue to enhance productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability for cattle producers in the region.
Poultry: The poultry extension programs at the Hill Farm provide producers with demonstrations and evaluations to identify techniques that can enhance productivity and profitability. Over the years evaluations of heating equipment, dead bird disposal techniques, litter management and water quality studies have been conducted. The poultry research and extension programs at the Hill Farm provide producers with hands‑on demonstrations, on‑farm evaluations, and practical guidance designed to identify management techniques that can enhance both productivity and profitability. The program has conducted extensive evaluations of heating systems, dead‑bird disposal methods, litter management strategies, and water‑quality improvement practices—each chosen because of its direct impact on flock performance and farm efficiency. Research efforts focus on applied, real‑world challenges that growers face today, ensuring that the results are immediately useful rather than purely theoretical. Findings from these studies form the foundation for field days, producer trainings, workshops, and a variety of educational materials that help growers adopt proven practices and stay informed about emerging technologies and management approaches.
Forestry: As a result of forestry research activities at the Hill Farm Research Station and subsequent extension efforts, private non-industrial forest landowners across Louisiana and the Upper Coastal P lain region of the southeastern U.S. have increasingly adopted science-based management practices that improve forest establishment, productivity, and long-term value. Research-driven recommendations on competition control, including selection and timing of herbicide treatments, integrated pest management, and early rotation strategies have been widely adopted to enhance reforestation success. Improved genetic materials evaluated at Hill Farm for superior growth, form, and disease resistance, and alternative planting stock have been incorporated into landowners’ planting decisions and are resulting in more resilient, higher yielding stands. Through field days, workshops, cooperative trials, and direct extension outreach, Hill Farm’s forestry research program brings actionable, accessible recommendations resulting in adoption of improved silvicultural practices, healthier more productive forests, and economic returns for landowners in the region.
Forages: Early forage research at the Hill Farm Research Station contributed to bermudagrass varieties and management approaches that supported the widespread increase in bermudagrass acreage and productivity across northern Louisiana decades ago. The following research efforts contributed to the more extensive use of cool-season forages including annual ryegrass and clovers on adapted sites. On-going research continues to support management decisions as new varieties and input options become available to potentially enhance pasture production from the traditionally grown pasture species. In addition, plant species and management approaches to contribute to the increasing emphasis on sustainability, production efficiency, and ecosystem function are being evaluated.
