Partners and Collaborators

Bristleleaf Dogweed, by Forrest SmithThe South Texas Natives project depends upon its relationships with its partner and collaborators. Since the inception of the project , the USDA-NRCS-E. Kika de LaGarza Plant Material Center in Kingsville, Texas has been the primary partner of South Texas Natives. Collaborators of STN include Rio Farms, Bladerunner Farms, TARS, and Rancho Blanco.

Vital to the mission is the initial collection of seed from native plant populations. Since 2001, permission has been granted by over eighty public and private landowners to collect seed from native plants on their lands. It is crucial that seed collections be evaluated in different environmental areas and soil types to obtain an accurate evaluation. The Institute, along with STN collaborators, provide land for evaluation plots and seed increase fields. Current evaluation sites and increase fields are located at USDA-NRCS E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant Materials Center (Kleberg County), Rio Farms (Hidalgo County), Rancho Blanco (Webb County), Texas AgriLife Research Station (TARS) Uvalde (Uvalde County), Bladerunner Farms (Atascosa County), TARS Beeville (Bee County) and the Institute’s South Texas Natives Research Farm (Kleberg County).