Letter from the Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs
Department of human sciences Delta Obesity • Secured a grant through Delta Obesity Prevention Research Unit (OPRU), Adaptation and Adoption of the Dietary Guidelines by African-American Children in Southwest Mississippi, at Alcorn State. The project promotes investigation of the impact of nutrition education (alone or combined with physical fitness) on the adoption of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DG) among rural, limited-resource African-American middle school children. Milestones associated with the project include:
•Development of a nutrition education and physical activity program for middle school children using the “Exercise Your Option” curriculum and a physical activity curriculum created by ASU researchers
• Completion of year-one feasibility study in a Jefferson County middle school with participation of 227 students
• Completion of focus group data collection (162 children)
• A second component of Delta OPRU is ongoing. It includes the promotion of an increased consumption of fruit and vegetable intake among limited-resource African-American mothers, “Mothers Helping Others” Program. Milestones for the expanded project include:
• Completion of three focus groups of mothers
• Development of a data collection manual
• Selection of a curriculum for the project (“Sisters in Health” with Permission), modified for the targeted audience
• Development of a 21-day cycle menu for project participants based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Child Development Cohort Program • The Child Development Cohort project was developed to provide opportunity for Head Start (HS) teachers to earn a Bachelor of Science degree with specialization in education relating to early childhood. The Department of Human Sciences developed the Child Development Cohort project under a grant from The Department of Health and Human Services in 2008. The Child Development Cohort Program began on the Natchez campus and expanded to the Vicksburg campus Fall 2010. • Submitted one grant proposal in 2008 for funding (4 LIFE Project). The 4 LIFE Project, a holistic approach to obesity prevention, addresses the priority areas of extension and research, while utilizing the educational benefits of having a growing agricultural department. 4 LIFE is an afterschool-based program utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to obesity prevention at the primary level of care. It is anticipated that the interaction and the central role in researching, planning, organizing and delivery of 4 LIFE messages will establish behaviors that will promote healthy lifestyles. The project will require the cooperative efforts from the schools, students, parents and teachers, and community partnerships with ASUEP (lead), ASU Department of Human Sciences, Brighter Futures of America, Mississippi State Department of Health and Human Services, community health professionals/agencies and family members. • Provided leadership for EFNEP educators, providing curriculum, nutrition education, and nutrition education materials/tools.
Agriculture at Alcorn State University is very broad and comprehensive, yet we are focused in our programs and research projects. We work with and support a largely underserved region of the state of Mississippi including small-and-limited-resource farmers, and we do so very effectively, and efficiently. It is our intent to leverage every appropriated dollar, to maximize our economic and personal impact on Mississippians. Alcorn State is a driving force in Mississippi higher education, and a leader in developing the bright minds that exist throughout Mississippi, the nation, and the world. We are on the verge of tremendous growth in academics, service, and research capabilities. It is evident that the State of Mississippi has made a tremendous investment in Alcorn State, and as a result the State has reaped both tangible and intangible rewards….rewards that far exceed the funds that have been invested.
Barry L. Bequette, PhD Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs
The Alcorn State University Ag Unit is conducting research totaling nearly $30 million dollars. Our increase in research activity continually exceeds the amount of funding provided by the state of Mississippi for our programs. Based on the state funds allocated to the Agricultural Experiment Station, every seven pennies invested in the Experiment Station by the state of Mississippi, returns one dollar to the state economy. Beyond this direct impact, the Alcorn Ag Unit creates further economic development through research projects that support our small-and-limited-resource farmers, and creates economic stimulus through business development and enhancement. We are an integral collaborator with the USDA through our efforts as a land-grant university, and we continue to significantly impact national farm policy. This fiscal year we began a $300,000 USDA planning grant to develop an independent Small Farm Policy Institute, to advise and provide input to the USDA concerning small farm and ranch policy. Our Small Farm Development Center has made over $3.2 million in small, but extremely important loans, averaging $10 thousand each to small scale farmers…returning an estimated economic impact of $13 million dollars. Funds provided to agricultural research and Extension at Alcorn State, stimulate economic and personal development in areas that are largely not serviced. Alcorn State University’s School of Agriculture impacts every county in the state, but greatly impacts the Delta and Southwest Mississippi…and we do that well. We work with a segment of farmers, ranchers and agricultural industries that drive an important part of Mississippi’s economy. Figure 1: Eleven-Year Trend of the ASU Budget Appropriations Series 1
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• Revised and re-submitted the EFNEP Five-Year Plan to USDA/NIFA for release of funding. (601) 877-6137 • 1000 ASU Drive #690 • Alcorn State, MS 39096 • www.alcorn.edu/AREAS
Alcorn State University School of Agriculture, Research, Extension and Applied Sciences Teaching, Research and Community Outreach
Highlights From 2010 - 2011 OUR MISSION: Through vibrant teaching, research and outreach activities, the School of AREAS empowers students and citizens educationally and socioeconomically to enrich the quality of life for themselves and their communities in Mississippi, the United States and the world. For a more complete picture, visit us at: www.alcorn.edu/AREAS.
Department of Agriculture • Department faculty members are currently implementing teaching enhancement projects funded by USDA 1890 Capacity Building (e.g., “Enhancing Global Perspectives Using Video conferencing and Experiential Learning” and “Enhancing Experiential Education across the Animal Science Curriculum at Alcorn State University”). • Students and faculty participated in numerous national and regional conferences throughout the year and are publishing their research results in professional journals and conference proceedings. • Faculty researchers work in close collaboration with The Alcorn State University Extension Program (ASUEP) to deliver the latest research-based information to farmers to improve their farming operations. • Students from the Department of Agriculture participated in internships with various United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies, and with private sector companies (e.g., USDA Forest Service, Rural Development, NRCS, Tyson Foods, Sanderson Farms, and many others). • A student from the Department of Agriculture won first place in the Undergraduate students’ Poster Competition (Rural Development Section) at the 2011 ARD (Association of Research Directors) Research Symposium held in Atlanta, Georgia. • Two students from the Department of Agriculture were selected in a nationwide search to participate in the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum held in Washington D.C. based on their essays entitled, “Agriculture as a Career.”
Office of Agricultural research Experiment Station • Evaluated the effects of progesterone supplementation on the survival of transferred embryos. • Improved business performance and socioeconomic well-being of the citizens of Mississippi through human resource development. Through intervention by our scientists and economists, 74% of local farmers have indicated that the resource materials we disseminated have helped enhance their knowledge of budgeting, marketing, business management, as well as helped them improve their overall human capital, their skills level, and capacity to increase their income. • Continue to investigate new biological insecticides or biopesticides to control insect pests. • Expanded the market for sweetpotato through increased industrial utilization and human consumption. Technology has been developed to process sweetpotato into high quality chips, and is now being prepared for patent and transfer to industry. • Scientists continue to enhance farmers’ knowledge of sustainable vegetable production techniques and health benefits of shiitake mushrooms through indoor evaluations on logs and substrate blocks, at field days, and workshops on campus and throughout the state of Mississippi.
Swine Development Center • Over one-hundred participants attended the annual Pork Producers Field Day. Attendees were provided with improved swine genetics from Alcorn swine for farm stock improvement. • Research with underutilized vegetable purslane was shown recently in a paper published to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in humans. • The use of pasture for swine production being developed at ASU Swine Center was demonstrated and viewed by producers during the swine field day.
Extension Program
• Swine Artificial Insemination (A.I.) Internship Training class was conducted during the summer, demonstrating A.I. technology to participating students.
• The ASUEP Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Project (2501 Project) helped socially-disadvantaged farmers/ranchers receive $731,000 in farm loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and $75,000 from the Mississippi Small Farm Development Center. The farmers used the loan proceeds to purchase equipment and additional land, and diversify their farming operation.
• A new teaching grant to enhance student’s experiential education with commercial swine breeds was received from USDA-Capacity Building Grant Program.
• The ASUEP received a $249,860 capacity grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to educate limited-resource farmers on the need for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) development and adoption, and create public awareness and understanding of IPM, as well as health, environmental, and economic impacts through educational programs. • The ASUEP partnered with Southern and Purdue Universities and received a $95,000 grant from the Department of Defense (DOD). The ASUEP used the grant to sponsor Camp SWAGGSustaining Willing Achievers Guiding Generations for military youth. Twenty youth participated in the following activities: team building, character building, and “Kids in the Kitchen.” • The ASUEP 4-H and Youth Development program received a Washington Focus Grant for $10,150 to support five youth and one adult to attend the Citizenship Washington Focus Program (CWF). CWF provides 4-H youth with opportunities to explore, develop, and refine their community and civic engagement skills to be outstanding leaders in their communities.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreement was executed between Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and Alcorn State to collaborate with Nigeria in mutually beneficial research/developmental projects.
Mississippi Small Farm Development Center • The Center provided comprehensive technical assistance to approximately 5,000 farmers and farm families that included farm planning, risk management, access to resources, production technology, value-added product development, food safety, and marketing. • The Center approved an additional 10 loans totaling $200,000 last year and serviced approximately 200 existing loans for small-scale farmers and ranchers. Since 1996, the Center has approved loans totaling $3,200,000 that have had economic impact exceeding $13,000,000. • The Center obtained grants and contracts totaling $400,000 and provided technical assistance and related support to farmer cooperatives, non-profit agricultural CBO’s and for-profit agriculture entities that culminated in their receiving approximately $1,300,000 in grants. • The Mississippi Natural Products Association, a producer cooperative based in New Hebron, Mississippi and launched by the Center, has reported mushroom sales of approximately $200,000 in 2010 and approximately $700,000 over the last 5 years.
Mississippi River Research Center • Identified Best Management Practices to improve crop production and maximize economic values while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. • Conducted innovative outreach education through hands-on workshops and field trips to the Mississippi River to learn about the environment and how everyone is a part of it. • Developed workshops to explain drinking water quality, the differences of water resources (tap versus bottled), and how drinking water can effect human health.
Conservation Research Center • The Center for Conservation Research has sent C-factor (cover and management) data on seven horticultural crops of Brassica species to the USDA/ARS of North Central Region for multivariate analysis and publication in international journals. • Dr. Girish Panicker, director of conservation research, presented a research paper on “Rotation of Horticultural Crops on No-till Plots and Buildup of Carbon and Plant Nutrients” at the annual international conference of the American Society of Agronomy, October 10 - November 3, 2010, in Long Beach, California. • Invited by the USDA, Dr. Panicker, conducted a webinar on organic muscadine production at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. The podcast is broadcasted globally (http://www.extension.org/article/33545).