Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts first session of new seminar series
Virginia Tech has 11 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers (ARECs) across Virginia which play a pivotal role in connecting the university to local communities around the state.
But have you ever wondered what research and outreach is happening at the ARECs?
The AREC Seminar Series is the place to find out more about the research and Extension programs happening across Virginia. The series kicked off on July 26, with a first session facilitated by the Arash Rashed, director of the Southern Piedmont AREC.
Rashed highlighted the 50th anniversary of the Southern Piedmont AREC, which opened in 1974 and serves the agricultural needs of 23 counties through research focused on tobacco, soybeans, wheat, livestock, forages, and vegetables. With a total area encompassing 1,180 acres, the Southern Piedmont AREC is the sole AREC supporting tobacco producers in the commonwealth.
T. David Reed, a tobacco agronomist, delivered a research update and overview of Southern Piedmont’s tobacco agronomy program, which is focused on the profitable cultivation of high-quality, marketable tobacco. It starts with greenhouse transplant production and extends throughout the season to ensure efficient tobacco curing. Ongoing research projects help identify tobacco yield loss factors and production practices to achieve maximum crop yield potential. Tobacco Extension education shares research results with agents, tobacco producers, and the overall tobacco industry.
The second Agricultural Research and Extension Center seminar will be on Friday, Aug. 30, and will feature the Southwest Virginia AREC located in Glade Spring, Virginia. Lee Wright, the superintendent of the Southwest AREC, will lead the seminar and provide an overview of its research and Extension programming.
Of note, the Southwest Virginia AREC also oversees the only Katahdin hair sheep flock for Virginia Tech. These sheep are sought after for their shedding coats, resistance to parasites, and low maintenance requirements, making them increasingly popular in the eastern United States.
In collaboration with West Virginia University, North Carolina State University, and the USDA, research using the Southwest Virginia AREC flock has contributed to the identification of sheep with enhanced parasite resistance, Genomic Enhanced Estimated Breeding Values, and a deeper comprehension of the overall immune function of these animals.
The series aims to promote collaborations between the ARECs, with each seminar being recorded and shared. Future seminars will be held on Oct. 25, hosted by the Virginia Seafood AREC, and on Nov. 22, hosted by the Hampton Roads AREC. Additional dates for 2025 sessions will be forthcoming. More information and recordings can be found by visiting the Virginia Agricultural and Experiment Station website.
