Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) provides research-backed educational programs and technical assistance to farmers, commodity groups and agribusinesses. It also offers horticultural and pest management assistance, focusing on alternative agriculture, sustainability, urban forestry, cold storage/post-harvest technology and community, youth and adaptive gardening.
ANR conducts hands-on workshops throughout central and southern WV, catering to gardeners of all ages and experience levels. They offer workshops on various topics such as composting, container gardening, reuse, cold-frame construction, irrigation, rain barrels and mushroom production. ANR also works with low-income housing developments and community and professional organizations to design and implement community and adaptive gardens in central and southern WV.
ANR has developed an educational mini-series covering small fruit production, including blueberries, blackberries, fruit trees, grapes, raspberries and strawberries. The focus is on understanding small-scale production basics, disease and insect management and hands-on training in pruning techniques. ANR also establishes urban orchards within Huntington and central and southern WV neighborhoods.
The SARE program has helped advance sustainable farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and reasonable for communities. At WVSU, SARE funding has been utilized to study sustainable agriculture and provide training opportunities for local agriculture producers.
ANR also offers a free hybrid online and in-person tree care certification program, West Virginia Tree Minders, in partnership with the WV Division of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry program and WVU Extension. Participants can access online courses through their Canvas learning portal and inquire about in-person workshops hosted by WVSU Extension or their partners. ANR also has an on-campus educational arboretum open to the public for tours and workshops and a virtual tree tour.
In addition, their Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Program introduces veterans, active military members and socially disadvantaged populations throughout the state to agricultural topics that could lead to future employment. ANR also aims to provide farmers with post-harvest education, from pre-cooling methods to storing and moving fresh market produce, through their cold storage/post-harvest technology initiative. By meeting educational and infrastructural needs, farmers can reach additional markets with high-quality produce and adapt to the growing demand for fresh local food.
For more information on these programs, email anr@wvstateu.edu.
