Kimberly A. Cassida

Dr. Kimberly A. Cassida (Research Agronomist) graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Animal Science with Honors (1984) and an M.S. from The Pennsylvania State University  in Nutrition (1987). She earned the Ph.D. from the University of Maine (1992) in Biological Sciences (Sustainable Agriculture).  Her dissertation focused on extension of the grazing season for sheep by use of brassica forages. Her post-doctoral studies included quantifying protein degradability characteristics of forage legumes and brassicas in beef cattle (Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University) and identification of improved forage species to fill productivity gaps for beef production in the Texas Rolling Plains region (Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Vernon).  She then worked as Assistant Professor/Extension Forage Specialist at the Southwest Research and Extension Center of the University of Arkansas, where she studied productivity of mixed forage species pasture systems for stocker cattle, including patterns of forage productivity over the year, alternative forages for the region, animal performance, soil fertility changes under grazing, and economic risk analysis. Dr. Cassida joined USDA, ARS, AFSRC, Beaver, WV in November 2002.  Her research objectives include characterization and management of forages suitable for sustainable, forage-based goat production systems in Appalachia. Specific emphasis is on identification of plant materials (native and promising alternative non-invasive species) which meet nutritional and economic requirements for small ruminant production, identification of forage sequences that extend the grazing season, and integration and synthesis of forage-based small ruminant production systems that buffer small farm production from risks associated with environmental variability.