Enhanced Cooperative Extension
Animal Systems–Goats: LaU led a consortium of universities-FAMU, FVSU, LaU, PVAMU, TSU, TU, VSU and goat associations to develop an authenticated, science-based online presence. The objectives are 1) to provide reliable educational information incorporating a Quality Assurance Program that is suitable for dairy and meat goat producers, county agents and other agriculture professionals and 2) to provide testing methodologies allowing for certification of dairy and meat goat production.
Many goat producers believe that artificial insemination (AI) will increase the rate of genetic progress in their herds but feel that they lack the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to use artificial insemination. An AI workshop was held and 1) small ruminant producers were educated in sustainable internal parasite control, which should reduce the reliance upon anthelmintics, and 2) Practical knowledge, skills and abilities were provided so producers could immediately use artificial insemination in their herds.
Animal Systems–Cattle: A Virtual Cattle Workshop in West Alabama had 94 registrants and 78 attendees. Topics covered all aspects of beef production; 70% reported a gain in knowledge. Beef Cattle Day had 119 registrants and 80 attendees. Topics included, mineral nutrition, supplementary feeding, health, and genetic selection; 72% had increased knowledge regarding nutrition and animal selection. This programming was coordinated by four 1890 LGUs working together–TU (lead), FVSU, ASU, and PVAMU. A “Needs Assessment Survey” by a TU student surveyed ranchers in three states. The respondents, were 28% female and males were 72% male, 5% “Caucasian” and 95% “African American”. Most respondents had 0-10 years of experience (64%) in the livestock industry an average herd size of 10-20 in their cow-calf operation (44%). (ThA2).
PVAMU Beef Cattle Education and Training Series included: Beef Cattle Market Update, Pasture Management for Hay Production, New Technology for Herd Recordkeeping and Animal ID and Blood Based Pregnancy Testing. TU and FVSU Beef Cattle Short Course was jointly hosted on September 30 and October 1 and had 62 participants all of the producers became received Beef Quality Assurance training/certification. Producers received information on marketing, grazing, herd health, and pasture health, and were provided with a post-test/survey to assess their willingness to change their production practices.
PVAMU Beef Cattle Training
PVAMU Beef Cattle Training
2023 BCLL 3
2022 Beef Cattle Lunch & Learn- Low Stress Cattle Handling
2023 BCLL 1 Getting Started in Beef Prod
NCATU designed and delivered 17 workshops for 847 farmers, extension agents, NGOs, and other stakeholders focusing on integrated approaches in supporting and promoting sustainable farming/marketing/financial practices for small farmers, limited-resourced communities, and the under-served population. Survey information was gathered across all 1890 institutions to create a linked database to document types of programs, history of programs, and impacts of programs to support small farmers, ranchers, landowners, and agricultural entrepreneurs. Ten sets of training materials were translated into Spanish. (ThA5)
NC A and T State University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
NC A and T State University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Farm Tour_ NC A&T University Farm Research
Ralph Noble talks about NC A&T resources
NCAT FARM TOUR 2021_Final
Forest Systems (ThA3)
AAMU organized a Field Day for local landowners on 7/17/22 at the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station on managing pine forest for silvopasture, vegetation survey, and identification of invasive species and poisonous plants for goats and sheep. AAMU re-established contact and communication (post-Covid 19) with several minority and underserved landowners in Alabama. Communication channels were also re-established with several community leaders. ASU facilitated small-scale farmer adoption of cultivation technologies to produce shiitake, wine cap and oyster mushrooms. FVSU identified on-site forestry plots identified that are serving as a research and demonstration sites containing healthy and unhealthy (beetle-infested) pine trees for data collection and community-student outreach on drone technology for mapping and forestry evaluati
(CALNS) at Alabama A&M University
(CALNS) at Alabama A&M University
2021 USDA NRCS Overview and Update
Alabama A&M Faculty Studying Plant Genetics _ October 25, 2023 _ News 19 at 6 p.m.
Alabama A&M Small Farms Research Center receives support from USDA
DSU (ThA4) agents and producers utilized the Mobile Meat Processing Lab (MMPL) to increase profits for farms with both poultry and small ruminant production. DSU worked with the GreenFin and converted a mobile meat processing course into an online course; reintroduced the DSU commercial kitchen with a group of farmers; All of the participants were interested in selling meat directly to the consumers. (ThA4)
SCSU led a risk management workshop for first-time small-scale farmers from Upstate, Midlands, Piedmont, Pee Dee, Low Country, Coastal and Santee Wateree regions. The participants learned how to: (i) evaluate farm risks; (ii) determine the wellbeing of the farm business; (iii) identify customers and customer wants/needs; (iv) make basic marketing decisions. Topics included production, marketing, financial, human resources and legal matters. (ThA5)
VSU (ThA5) held 22 workshops on production methods/techniques to improve their farm operation, financial management, current marketing techniques and platforms to market their produce, knowledge of USDA programs/services and other partnering Ag-related, and how to translate drone video outputs. VSU developed a web page to assist small farmers-https://vasmallfarmers.com/. Individuals seeking information register and complete a survey. Program assistants (agents) offer on-boarding and training sessions. New and beginning farmers to start with a planning process. Drone workshops were used to train Ag education professionals and farmers on how the use drone technology, techniques for capturing information on the farm, 3D Mapping/Viewing, 2D Mapping, Panoramic Aerial Photo/Video Planning, Manual Aerial Photography, and Manual Video Recording. Topics covered: Plant health, Soil conditions, Plant counts for replanting or yield estimates, distance plotting, elevation differences and calculations between points. (ThA5)
VSU College of Agriculture
VSU College of Agriculture
VSU_USDA Randolph Farm Field Day Promo
VSU Urban Farmer Curtis Moody Gives Back
VSU College Of Agriculture Field Day 😊😊
WVSU constructed an online education portal designed to deliver free content, training, and agency links to SDFRLs
• Incorporated remote workshop delivery via video conferencing as a standard practice to extend program reach.
• Developed capability to deploy sub-meter GPS and two quadcopter-style unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to generate detailed three-dimensional maps and spatial analysis-based reports for SDRFLs.
WVSU collaborated with the WV Department of Agriculture and several farmers to test the economic viability of high-density apple orchard systems in the southern and central parts of the state to generate income in areas unsuitable for other crops and support agritourism.
Value Added Systems (ThA4)
LiU - Organic Crop Production
Carried out workshops on
1) Food Safety Modernization Act/Produce Safety Rule was conducted to help minority farmers learn and adopt food safety practices, and
2) growing crops organically in high tunnel was conducted to educate and encourage minority farmers to adopt organic and to high tunnel practices.
Integrated Systems (ThA5)
NCAT held
1) Small Farm Week (March 27 to March 31): https://www.ncat.edu/caes/cooperative-extension/small-scale-agriculture-development/sfw/index.php and
2) Winter high tunnel field day in Jan 2023, 35 participants, fruit and vegetable production, Cherry Research Farm, in Goldsboro, NC.