Finding solutions to diverse issues in agriculture & food production
The Agricultural Research Station (ARS) is the unit of the College of Agriculture responsible for carrying out the Land Grant Research Mission of Virginia State University. In keeping with this mission, ARS generates scientific and technical information designed to expand knowledge that will help small, part-time, and limited-resource farmers be profitable. ARS researchers use cutting-edge scientific techniques and state-of-the-art facilities to find solutions to diverse issues in agriculture and food production.
Plant & Soil Sciences
Plant science at ARS is responsive to new and upcoming markets, using traditional plant breeding methods and running field trials to create or determine the most suitable cultivars for the region’s small farmers.
Food Sciences
The food science program at VSU-ARS serves farmers, processors, and consumers through researching, developing, and disseminating science-based information.
Small Ruminants
The Small Ruminant Program was initiated at VSU in 1992 as a meat goat research site; the program later expanded to include hair sheep in response to producers’ needs for information about goat and sheep breeds suitable to the region and about management practices that would help them access a growing ethnic market.