Georgia - Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center

In 1936, the Americus Plant Materials Center was established in Americus, Georgia to produce planting material, mainly pine seedlings for use by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and for other Soil Conservation Service (SCS) projects.  In 1995, the center was renamed the Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center after President Carter, who was born and raised near Americus.

Since 1936, the center’s mission has evolved to address a variety of conservation needs including soil health and erosion, forage and biomass production, wildlife habitat, pollinator habitat, and water quality.  Currently, the center’s studies are focused on cover crop species adaptability and seeding rates, pollinator habitat planting and management, and adaptation of native grasses for conservation uses.

The Jimmy Carter PMC serves Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and parts of Tennessee and Florida.  As a result, the center focuses on developing conservation plants and plant-based technologies for land uses such as cropland, grazing land, wildlife areas, restoration areas, coastal dunes, and urban settings.  The center has developed over 18 improved conservation plants, including grasses, forbs, legumes, shrub, and tree germplasm that are well-adapted for use in the region.

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