Welcome to the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, a part of the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.  The laboratory, located near Beckley in southern West Virginia, serves the agricultural community of the Appalachian Region.  Our mission is to develop knowledge and technology to increase the profitability of small-farm agricultural enterprises in the Region while enhancing soil and water quality and environmental integrity.  We do this by identifying and targeting products to satisfy niche market demands and by developing practices that help farmers overcome the challenges presented by climate, steep terrain and eroded soil.  We hope you find the web site informative and useful and invite your comments and questions about our research program.

David P. Belesky, PhD, Research Leader

Research Agronomist

Our address: 1224 Airport Road

                         Beaver, WV 25813

Phone:            304-256-2858

FAX:                 304-256-2921