New On The Farm This Spring
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm has been off limits to the public. But that doesn’t mean that the farm is dormant. In fact, there’s been lots of activity at the farm as the Small Farm Outreach Program puts some finishing touches on several new projects it plans to roll out this spring. The projects include an automated high tech, high tunnel, a cattle demonstration site, a mobile education unit and a mobile processing unit for small ruminants.
The custom-built 100-foot-long automated high tunnel will help extend the growing season for plants during the winter months at the farm, and it will help aid research and learning at the 416-acre research farm.
SFOP is also rolling out a new mobile education unit. Currently, it is in Midland, Michigan being retrofitted with interactive agriculture exhibits. The unit is expected to return to VSU before spring 2021 to make its debut during National Ag Week in March.
Cattle will be returning to Randolph Farm thanks to a collaboration with the Minority and Veteran Farmers of the Piedmont, who will supply cattle for a 30-acre demonstration unit at the farm. The unit is being implemented because many small farmers and ranchers have expressed interest in diversifying their operations by adding cattle.
VSU-VCE’s long-awaited processing unit for goat and sheep farmers who don’t have access to meat processing facilities will also be operational this spring. The unit is now being beta tested and will be available to farmers in early 2021
Connection is published by Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture. Special thanks to everyone who contributed content, photos, ideas and time to this edition.
Executive Editor: Michelle Olgers; Writer/Editor: Lorraine Blackwell; Art Direction, Graphic Design: Brittany R. Hughes
Send address changes and circulation inquiries by email to molgers@vsu.edu. Editorial inquiries and other comments should be sent to Executive Editor, Connection, P.O. Box 9081, Virginia State University, VA 23806 or molgers@vsu.edu.
©2020 Virginia State University College of Agriculture
Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, Dean/1890 Extension Administrator; Dr. Wondi Mersie, Associate Dean/Director of Research; Dr. Janine P. Woods, Associate Administrator VSU Virginia Cooperative Extension; Dr. Michelle Corley, Interim Chair, Associate Professor Department of Agriculture; Dr. Crystal Wynn, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Dr. Berkita Bradford, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Hospitality Management
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