Dale Bumpers USDA

Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in Booneville

The Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center (DBSFRC), part of the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Southeast Area, is dedicated to developing scientific principles and technologies that enhance the profitability and sustainability of small-scale farms. Located on 2,214 acres at 6883 South State Highway 23, Booneville, AR 72927, the center focuses on practical innovations for resource-limited producers in the Ozarks and western Arkansas region. Named in honor of former Arkansas Governor and U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers, it emphasizes reducing inputs, capturing greater post-farm value, and promoting environmentally sound practices.

Established through local advocacy in 1980—following the conversion of former state land (previously the Arkansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium site and correctional farmland)—the center opened to address challenges facing small and medium-sized forage/livestock/agroforestry farms. It operates in cooperation with federal, state, and private organizations, conducting basic and applied research to conserve natural resources, improve economic viability, and enhance environmental quality. The facility includes organically certified pastures (the only ones in ARS) and supports multi-disciplinary studies with a team of four ARS scientists, technicians, farm workers, and collaborators.

Core research focuses include:

• Small Ruminant (Sheep/Goat) Production: Developing alternatives to synthetic anthelmintics (parasite controls), nutritional improvements, genetic selection for parasite-resistant animals, and grass-based systems to reduce parasite loads and enhance animal health.
• Beef Cattle Production: Creating low-input management strategies, foraging approaches, and organic systems that benefit small producers while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
• Agroforestry and Sustainable Practices: Integrating trees with livestock/forage systems, sustainable manure management, and precision agriculture tools to optimize operations on limited land.
• Watershed and Soil Management: Studying forage, soil, and water interactions to promote conservation and long-term sustainability.

The center's work targets small family farms common in the area—where forage, poultry, and timber dominate—by introducing new practices, technologies, and knowledge transfer to help producers thrive amid shallow, erosive soils and rugged terrain. It has contributed to improved conservation plants (e.g., varieties like 'Bumpers' eastern gamagrass) and on-farm precision management for better resource use.

Contact the center at (479) 675-3834 (phone) or (479) 675-2940 (fax). The website (ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/booneville-ar/dale-bumpers-small-farms-research-center/) offers details on research, news, and collaborations. In Booneville—a historic town founded in 1828 near Mount Magazine State Park and the Ouachita Mountains—the DBSFRC anchors agricultural innovation, supporting local farmers, rural economies, and sustainable practices in the River Valley. Through research on livestock health, agroforestry, and precision tools, it empowers small producers to achieve greater profitability, resilience, and environmental stewardship—one breakthrough at a time.