The University of Georgia will begin taking bids next month to sell a 865-acre cattle farm just east of Athens, one of the final steps in a plan to reorganize the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences’ properties near the main campus.

In 2012, Dean J. Scott Angle began a strategic realignment of the college’s Athens-area farm properties. 

“These decisions were driven by difficult economic conditions, reduced budgets for maintenance expenses, and an opportunity to sell a valuable 522-acre farm,” Angle said. “The college had a prime opportunity to consolidate and streamline our property holdings and farm operations to become leaner and more efficient in our research facilities.”

The research operation within the college maintains two basic types of farms – farms for crop and plant research and farms for animal and dairy science research.

“The sale of the 522-acre Plant Sciences Farm in Oconee County necessitated the purchase of a 660-acre farm, primarily located in Greene County for relocating crop research,” Angle said. “The remaining funds have been directed toward maintenance and operations of our other farms and agricultural research facilities as well as providing some funding to increase the college's endowment.” 

In 2013, the USDA gifted a 1,055-acre farm in Oconee County that will serve several needs, especially as a Beef Cattle research farm.

“Acquisition of the J. Phil Campbell Farm near Watkinsville made it possible for us to offer for sale our beef cattle farm in Oglethorpe County, which is almost an hour’s drive from the UGA main campus,” Angle said.

The University of Georgia will begin accepting bids for the almost 900-acre beef cattle farm on March 13, 2015. Details are available online at:  http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PublicBidNotice?bid_op=1551800SALE-WILKINS-FARM  Interested bidders may tour the property Feb. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and Feb. 23 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“The sale of this farm will allow us to continue our streamlining and efficiency efforts to make the college more productive and our properties more cost effective as we strive to serve Georgia’s growing agriculture industry and the people of Georgia,” Angle said.

(Faith Peppers is Director of Public Affairs for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)