Salter Farm, Robertson County

Salter Research Farm is located on the Brazos River in Robertson County northwest of Calvert, Texas. Robert P. Salter, a confederate officer in the Civil War, established Salter Farm as a cotton plantation.  The cotton was used in exchange for guns to aid in the war effort in 1863. The cotton plantation was highly successful due to convenient river access and fertile soils. Salter continued his leadership in other community affairs such as a contractor to construct the Houston and Texas Central Railroad from Bryan to Calvert. The land houses several historical artifacts of the original sharecropper homes and a farm store containing supplies such as medicine and food. Located just 35 miles north of Bryan, Salter Farm is one of the most unique plantations in relation to the Brazos River and a well-preserved historical landmark. Today, the land is being used for scientific research, outdoor education and historic preservation.  Dr. Marlan Scully, a professor at Texas A&M University, is highly interested in using the farm as a “testbed” for affordable, sustainable farming.