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Agricultural Research Service
Civil Rights Self-Assessment
Third Quarter
Fiscal Year 2006
Area: NAA-AFSRC
Reporting Period: Third Quarter
FY 2006: Staff from the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center (AFSRC) serves as advisors for a local high school biology club. Assistance is given to help the students prepare for Envirothon competition in soils, wildlife, aquatics, forestry, and one special topic each year. The team won the West Virginia state competition and will be participating in the North American competition in Manitoba, Canada. The Envirothon team gave a seminar at the center in preparation for the upcoming competition.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center has partnered with the Beckley Federal Correctional Institution in a public works program. This program was designed to provide training and rehabilitation opportunities to Federal inmates, while serving the public good by using the inmate labor to perform public safety or beautification projects.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center hosted a group of local High School students for a tour, demonstrations and hands-on experience to encourage careers in Agriculture or other science related fields. AFSRC enthusiastically interacts with local schools through mentoring, seasonal employment, and school visits.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center is providing an opportunity for a SCEP student from Delaware Valley College, majoring in Biotechnology Conservation-Small Animal Science, to participate in research to evaluate forage resource, grazing management, and chemical dewormer options for controlling GI parasites in meat goats, hair sheep, and wool sheep.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center recently utilized a special appointing authority to fill two critical positions designed to benefit Veterans (Veterans Recruitment Appointments).
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center scientists presented two talks at the Spring 2006 Nutrient Management Planners CEU Training at West Virginia University’s Willow Bend Experiment Farm in Monroe County.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center jointly organized with The Mountain State University Medicinal Botanicals Program and the West Virginia Herb Association the First Spring Conference “Production and Marketing of Vegetables and Herbs.”
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center held a workshop on small ruminant research. In attendance were sheep and goat producers, research experts and extension staff from West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas and the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center hosted a tour stop for about 40 farmers interested in small ruminant (meat goat and lamb) production as an alternative to tobacco production.
The tour was organized by extension staff at Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky (1890 Land Grant Institution) to familiarize small-scale farmers with various production operations and research programs in the region.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center conducts a constructed soils project addressing aspects of the National Turfgrass Initiative, by means of a specific cooperative agreement with West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia (1890 Land Grant Institution). A staff scientist with the University is housed at the Center and aspects of the program involve the local waste water management authority and public sports field development groups.
Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center's collaboration with Mountain State University (MSU), Medicinal Botanicals Program, is intended to facilitate the research, development, and implementation of new and improved techniques for the cultivation and production of herbal crops as medicinal botanicals. In addition to working closely with AFSRC to plan and conduct research, the University's expertise in outreach is utilized to assess potential markets for Appalachian medicinals, and to develop specific educational and training programs that integrate the scientific research findings on the propagation, market development, and market growth of medicinal botanicals.
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center has provided an opportunity for 10 STEP and 4 LA appointments for summer positions. The employees come from various colleges through the region including West Virginia University, University of Kentucky, Wake Forest University and Bluefield State College.
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