C A A S
O V E R V I E W
Economic Impact
Land Grant Mission
CAAS Agriculture Challenges
College of Agriculture and Applied
Sciences Units
Impact Highlights from Recent Appropriated Funds
Capacity and Change
Alcorn State University Agriculture
Funding Since 2013
FY 25 Agricultural Land Grant Research and Extension Appropriations
Academic Programs
To better serve our students, particularly in the area of poultry and agricultural sciences
To provide resources to better assist with training the next level of the workforce with careers in poultry science and animal science
To better serve the youth of the state through our Extension programs
To better serve the community including our farmers and ranchers, helping them become more profitable
To attract the best talent
To evolve and meet the needs in research and education to continue meeting the needs of our society
Strengthen poultry research, training and production.
Increase the number of MS Youth reached with 4H programs.
Increase corporate partnerships
Increase the number of youth entering agricultural careers.
Enhancing partnerships with our peer universities.
Increase pea production and marketing in the MS Delta. Enhance shitake mushrooms research and production
Increase profitability and productivity of small and disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Facility improvement.
Projects–Mushrooms,Poultry, Greenhouses,Farms
19USDAScholarsand12Pathway
Over60studentsparticipatedin summerinternships
Projects–Mushrooms,Poultry, Greenhouses,Farms
Domesticandinternationalstudent recruitment
Hired6newfacultywithjoint appointmentsinresearch, extensionandeducation–the tripartitesystem
Hiredover10newsupportstaff, post-docs,andresearchscientist
13ThurgoodMarshallinterns workedinUSDAagenciesacross fourstates
Projects–Mushrooms,Poultry, Greenhouses,Farms
EnhancedcollaborationwithMSUin research,programdevelopment, etc.
Providedprofessionaldevelopment forfacultyandstaff
Agriculturestudentsareatthetop ofthestudentgovernment association
Securedalargervarietyofanimals tothefarmstoenhance educationaltrainingforthe studentsandthecommunity
12recentlygraduateswentstraight toUSDAjobs
Financialeffortshelpedsecured$2 millioninfundstosupportSTEM outreachactivitiesvirtuallytorural MSschools
Purchaseofmuchneeded equipment,upgrades,
FEDERAL AND STATE MATCHING
EXTENSIONAPPROPRIATIONS,$3,100,000
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF ADVANCE
TECHNOLOGIES
Research Area Highlights
R E S E A R C H
O V E R V I E W
Active USDA Funded Projects
Research
Summer of Research 2024 Grant
Applications
Horticulture Research
Watermelon Breeding Project
Poultry Research- Dr Abosede Abolude
Mushroom Research and ProductionDr. Frank Mrema
Greenhouse Renovation- January 2025
Mushroom Research and Production-
Under Construction January 2025
Poultry Research and ExtensionJanuary 2025
Future Facility Needs
Grant Number Agency
2020-3882131088
2020-3882131123
2020-3882131092
2021-3882134582
2021-3882134727
2022-3882137335
2022-3882137359
2023-3882139808
2023-3882139880
2023-3882139922
2024-3882142043
2024-3882142047
2024-3882142093
2024-3882142083
2024-3882142125
NR203A750025C 002
NR204423XXXXC 114
NR204423XXXXC 005
NR233A750023C 006
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
Grant Title
Enhancing Food Security in Rural Mississippi through Family farming Initiatives
Predicting Vineyard Canopy Coverage Using Airborne Images and Neural Network
Evaluation of Under-Utilized Tree Crop, R heudelotii (Tropical oilseed ) as a Functional Feed for Production of Omega-3 Enriched Pork
Engineering Impact-Resistant Hydrophobic Microcrystalline Cellulose Biocomposites Using Switchgrass, Giant Miscanthus, And DDGS
Integrating Sustainable Agricultural Practices to Enhance Quality of Poultry Products and Environment in Southwest Mississippi
Acquisition of Scientific Instrumentation for Agricultural Microbiology Instruction
Developing Sweetpotato Germplasms with Increased Protein Levels and Improved Viral Disease Resistance
USDA-NIFACBG Enhancing Agricultural Education For The 21st Century Global Economy
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NIFACBG
USDA-NRCS
USDA-NRCS
Introducing And Integrating Stevia Into Rural Mississippi Farm Operations To Improve Community Health And Income
Crop Genetic Enhancement Through Genome Editing Technology and Future Agriculture Leadership Cultivation
1890-HSI Partnership To Enhance Graduate Competitiveness And Faculty Knowledge In Tropical Agriculture
Professional Development On Unmaned Aerial Vehicales (UAV)
Strengthening Food Systems in an Era of Extreme Weather
Enhancing Crop Stress Tolerance Through Beneficial Microbes And Future Agriculture Workforce Development
Education And Application Of Portable Crop Disease Detection Technologies To Improve Biosecurity For The Underserved Family Farms In Ms & Ak
Training the Next Generation of USDA-NRCS UAV Pilots in Soil Conservation Applications
Enhance Small-Farm Community and Training of the Next Generation of Agricultural Scientists
USDA-NRCS Using Novel Sensor Tech in MS
USDA-NRCS
Promote multidiscipline collaborations with Alcorn State university (ASU) and inter-institutional collaborations between ASU and USDA NRCS scientists through the study of field soil and climate data
5 projects from USDA-CBG were awarded for a total of 1.8 million dollars.
3 USDA-NRCS awards with a total fund of $ 1.8 million awarded.
USDA climate smart opportunity awarded at 2.8 million dollars.
US Department of Commerce awarded Alcorn as subawardee for 1.5 million dollars on Computer Aided Virtual Environment (CAVE) projects.
$18 million collaboration grant received for NextGen, $1.5 million of the total goes to CAAS, PI’s Wakefield and Zhang
$3 million awarded to CAAS from the USDA-NRCS and Natural Resources and Environment, Terry Cosby, Homer Wilkes
Poultry Facility
Research focus:
Poultry Nutrition
Poultry Production and Management
Food Safety
DR.FRANKMREMA
Beforerenovation
AfterRenovation
Mushroom research and production – front and back view
Rooms under construction.
JANUARY2025
Poultry/Animal Science Academic Research Center Phase II
Total Budget: $3,677,100
Poultry Research Facility
2024 Extension Program Impact
Location and Program Areas
C O N T E N T T A B L E
Agriculture and Natural Resources 2024
Impact
Snapshot of AG Extension Activities
4-H and Youth Development 2024
Impact
Snapshots of 4-H Extension Activities
Family and Consumer Sciences (FSC)
2024 Impact
Snapshot of FSC Extension Activities
Community Resource Development
(CRD) 2024 Impact
Snapshots of CRD Extension Activities
Off-Campus Centers 2024 Impact
Snapshot of Off-Campus Extension
Activities
Product Development Center (PDC)
2024 Extension Funding
ASU Extension Collaborations
Our team engaged in hands-on training activities, workshops, conferences, and field days to help small farmers and ranchers enhance their farm income. In the 2023-2024 period, this program connected with 39,938 individuals both directly and indirectly, resulting in an economic impact exceeding $146.5million.
CommunityandContainerGardening
AnimalScienceEducationProgr
SoilNutrientManagementProgram
LivestockProductionProgram
The youth development program provided valuable resources for young people and volunteers, focusing on Risky Behavior, Career and Workforce Development, Leadership, and STEM. Roughly116,683individuals engaged in educational activities throughout the state. Consequently, ASUEP's 4-H and Youth Development team created an economic impact of$2.2million.
25,700 individuals reached
4,579 participants
RiskyBehaviorEducationalProgram
participants reached
Through numerous hands-on workshops, programs, events, activities, conferences, and health fairs, valuable educational resources were offered to underserved children, youth, and families throughout Mississippi. This information emphasized strategies to improve health and well-being. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, the program successfully engaged 24,242 participants, leading to an economic impact of over $3.6million.
ParentingEducationProgram
81 workshops
15 counties
5,029 individuals reached
FamilyFinancialManagement Program
20 workshops
15 counties
690 participants reached
Through a range of activities, essential educational resources were delivered to underserved communities throughout Mississippi This information emphasized strategies to improve leadership and workforce development skills. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, the program engaged 464 participants, leading to an economic impact of over$36million.
Off-campus centers provide education to resource-limited farmers on varietal selection, cultural practices, and fertilizer application techniques for promising small fruits and vegetables that can serve as income-generating crops They also host workshops, conferences, field days, and outreach activities to enhance public understanding of Farm Bill provisions.
The vegetable processing and packing facility supports small farmers in the North Delta region by enabling them to produce and process commercial vegetables, helping them diversify their farm operations and enhance their marketing opportunities.
These centers have reached a total of 7,000 clients, both directly and indirectly, generating an overall economic impact of $360,000.00.
Mound Bayou
Extension/Research Farm (Bolivar County)
15 workshops/events
3 field days/ demonstration
Reached 5017 individuals
Preston Incubator Farm (Kemper County)
5 workshops/events
1 field day
Reached 2116 individuals
Marks Vegetable Processing Plant (Quitman County)
14,315 lbs. of peas processed 5,000 lbs. of vegetables processed 13 workshops
The Center's mission encompasses Teaching,Research,andOutreach activities:
It serves as a resource for small farmers and entrepreneurs, offering technical assistance in the development and marketing of value-added agricultural products.
It creates a learning environment where Alcorn students and small farmers/entrepreneurs can gain hands-on experience in value-added processing and production.
Throughout the 2023-2024 period, the center functions as a retail store, selling24value-addedproductssuch as hot sauce, spices, wing sauce, and pickled items to the public, generating over$20,000inrevenue.
A total of 502visitors received training on value-added products and their preservation methods.
Dr. Dexter B. Wakefield, I
Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs
Dr. Chunquan (Chris) Zhang
Associate Dean for Research & Director of Experiment Station
Dr. Franklin Chukwuma
Associate Director for Extension