The Virginia Cooperative Extension’s (VCE) emergency preparedness webpages are designed to help Virginia residents prepare for all types of disasters. The pages, part of the ext.vsu.edu website, were created in 2018, as hurricane Michael took aim at Virginia and was expected to make a direct hit.

At VSU, the Dietetic Internship Program integrates teaching, research and Cooperative Extension to give students a well-rounded understanding of the food production process, as well as nutrition education and how to address food insecurity in low-income communities.

Chris Mullins educates local farmers about hydroponics and aquaponics, and he’s fishing for new ways to help them decide what systems will be cost effective for their operations and what crop and fish combinations grow best together.

Dr. Jewel Hairston Bronaugh is making history again as the first African-American Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Dr. Reza Rafie, horticulture Cooperative Extension specialist at Virginia State University (VSU), first realized in 2012 the potential technology held for delivering Extension programming when he and a videographer created a 12-minute video on growing ginger. It’s been viewed more than 86,000 times since.

VSU’s Small Ruminant Mobile Processing Unit has been in the making for five years, but is scheduled to finally be unveiled and fully operational this spring. It couldn’t come soon enough for O’Brien and many small ruminant producers.

At the 78th Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) Memorial Luncheon on December 8, 2020, two members of Virginia State University were honored.

There is something growing year round at the Harding Street Urban Ag Center in Petersburg, Virginia. But it’s what you can’t see growing that makes the center a success and a unique model for sustainable urban agriculture.

With almost one in three low income families in Petersburg receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Virginia State University’s Family and Consumer Sciences Program in partnership with Petersburg Healthy Options Partnerships, Petersburg Healthy Community Action Team, River Street Market and the Harding Street Urban Agriculture Center have teamed up to establish a new market concept called POP! (Petersburg Offers Produce) Market.

One way of ensuring that youth grow to become curious, confident and capable leaders is by exposing them early to key life skills, educational opportunities and career exploration through 4-H programs like i-Congress.

.Dr. Chantel Wilson, 4-H STEAM Extension Specialist at VSU, Dr. Erika Bonnett, 4-H Programming Specialist at Virginia Tech, and their Virginia Team won a competitive grant from the National 4-H Council to design the 2020 4-H STEM Challenge Mars Base Camp kit.

Downy mildews caused by different water molds are thriving at this time and damaging crops. If you see cucumber or butternut squash leaves quickly turning into a yellow, angular shape from the top, you may suspect a downy mildew caused by one of these pathogens belonging to water molds.

Dr. Chantel Wilson lives where science and nature intersect, and she loves introducing youth to her world. Wilson is an Extension specialist and 4-H STEAM educator with the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU).

In Virginia, 10,862 Virginia farmers earned less than $1,000 from their farm operation (USDA, 2017). Conversely, USDA (2018) reported that Virginia producers sold nearly $1.3 million in value added products, which were sold directly to customers through farm stands, farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture and online sales.

With more people sheltering in place at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are turning to or considering growing gardens, whether it’s to provide food or just peace of mind during these troubled times.

Weather forecasters are calling for a cold night on Saturday, May 9, with temperatures expected to dip to 35 °F in Central Virginia and 30°F in the Shenandoah area.

On April 9, small ruminant experts, Dr. Dahlia O’Brien, extension specialist at Virginia State University (VSU) and Dr. Niki Whitley, extension specialist at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), hosted a live Small Ruminant FAMACHA© Certification and Parasite Management online training. There were 130 participants from all over the United States, as well as other countries around the world, including Pakistan.

March is National Nutrition Month, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds us that eating healthy begins one step at a time. This means that small changes can help you attain your healthy eating goals this year and beyond. These small changes can build healthy habits we carry for a lifetime.

It’s an understatement to say that Dr. Reza Rafie is passionate about growing berries in Virginia. Rafie, a horticulture Extension specialist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU), has devoted nearly 15 years to researching and promoting berry production.