Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station

10/06/2026

Mississippi sweet potatoes are more than a seasonal favorite. 🍠 They are an important crop for producers across the state and a focus of research and Mississippi State University Extension Service efforts.

10/01/2026

Help us congratulate our very own Dr. Lorin Harvey as the 2026 MSU Emerging Research Scholar Award Recipient! His dedication, time and support providing for the sweet potato industry and research program do not go unnoticed! We are very fortunate to have him leading the team at the Pontotoc Branch!

Dr. Lorin Harvey is an assistant professor and Extension sweet potato specialist at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center. His research integrates plant breeding, production agronomy, engineering and biosecurity to advance sweet potato production and strengthen national clean seed systems. Since 2021, Harvey has secured $13.8 million in extramural funding, including $5.8 million directly supporting his program. He has published 21 journal articles and delivered more than 90 invited presentations.

08/14/2026

Contact: Vanessa Beeson STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi’s leading sweet potato producers and the state’s leading sweet potato researchers celebrated the official state vegetable Thursday [Aug. 13] with Mississippi State University’s annual Sweet Potato Field Day. MSU Extension Sweet Potato Spe...

08/14/2026

We had an outstanding day at our Sweetpotato Field day yesterday! Thank you to everyone that came out to check out all the exciting things we have happening in the sweetpotato research world at Mississippi State! Thank you to all of our presenters for your interesting research you presented on!
Special thanks to all of our sponsors for helping make this field day possible! Lastly, a BIG thank you to the Pontotoc Branch staff for maintaining and keeping the Pontotoc Station a well organized facility and always in the most pristine condition possible every day of the year!

08/12/2026

Check out Dr. Harvey's tips to help you grow the best sweetpotato crop possible!

08/06/2026

Our 2026 Sweetpotato Field Day is just one week away! We hope you are able to join us on Thursday August 13th for a fun filled day with numerous sweetpotato research updates, demonstrations and lunch!

08/03/2026

Check out this short clip about sweetpotato transplanting that Dr. Harvey (MSU Extension Sweetpotato Specialist) and the MSU TV Center put together this year.

Stay tuned: if we can get the right shots, we will be putting a similar clip together explaining the harvest process.

07/08/2026

Mark your calendars to join us for the 2026 Sweetpotato Field Day on Thursday August 13th, hosted by the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station! Registration begins at 8 a.m. and after a brief welcome and introduction at 8:30 a.m. the wagons will leave out for the field tour. We will be showcasing several research trials throughout the station, along with several informative presentations and advanced technology demonstrations! As always we will wrap up the days activities with a delicious BBQ lunch! For more info please call the office at 662-489-4621.

06/12/2026

Rushing to get our research plots in before the rain!

05/15/2026

It was an honor to have USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs Dudley Hoskins stop by to visit the station this week! We enjoyed giving him a tour of our facilities and showcasing some of our research and resources that allow us to provide the necessary tools and resources to better serve the sweetpotato industry and Mississippi agriculture!