CAFCS News

In addition to the on-campus research of the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, research activities also are carried out in several facilities and centers located throughout the State of West Virginia. Among these sites are seven farms and three forests. Work at these farms and forests is not limited to research; it also includes significant amounts of instruction and numerous service activities.

The number of annual visitors to the farms and forests is estimated to be 9,500 persons. In addition, there are uncounted numbers of the general public using the forests for hiking, fishing and hunting, and many casual visitors and sight-seers frequent the farms to look at animals and to see farm operations. The value of the green space provided by the rolling fields of the nearby farmlands is readily confirmed by local citizens, although it is difficult to assess. The verdant settings provide a welcome respite from paved roads and housing developments.

Management of these operations is challenging, especially when it is noted that there are some 3,425 acres of farmland (1,289 in the Morgantown area) and some 8,134 acres of forests. Additionally, there is a total of 41½ employees, and the properties range from the eastern panhandle to the southern border of the State. The specific locations, staffing and activities of the properties are presented in summary and detail here (Table 1).

Table 1. Summary of Farms and Forests.

Agronomy Farm. The Agronomy Farm is located about three miles from the Evansdale Campus in Morgantown, Monongalia County, and comprises 187 acres. It is staffed by one manager (who also manages the Horticulture Farm) and two farm workers. Operation of the farm is under the jurisdiction of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Research Activities: Among the funded research projects underway on this property are studies of forage crop genetics and breeding to improve yield and quality, biological control of multiflora rose, mites affecting plants and honey bees in the State, control of non-point source pollution from land application of wastes and field crop variety testing. Additional research focuses on stand longevity, waste products application rates, tillage systems, acid mine drainage, sludge and oil degradation of soil.

Teaching Activities: Because this farm is nearby to campus, faculty from programs throughout the College use it as an outdoor laboratory, working with students enrolled in 20 different courses. Among the programs are Agronomy, Recreation and Parks Management, Agriculture and Environmental Education, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Environmental Protection, Entomology and Landscape Architecture. Faculty from other University programs also use the facility for both teaching and research.

Service Activities: This nearby acreage serves as a site for Field Days and as a showplace for visitors. It also serves as a site for land judging competitions. The University Cross-country and Track teams use the farm for activities related to their programs.

Horticulture Farm. The Horticulture Farm borders Chestnut Ridge Road, Route 705, and the smaller acreage of the Animal Sciences Farm in Morgantown, Monongalia County. One full-time farm worker and the manager of the Agronomy Farm oversee operations at this 60-acre site. Administration of this farm is under the jurisdiction of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Research Activities: Among the eight funded research projects currently being conducted at the Horticulture Farm are studies of the biological control of multiflora rose, mites affecting plant and honey bees in West Virginia, cold hardiness of plants and biological and cultural management of plant parasitic nematodes. Experiments are also underway with wetland plants and rhododendron. Future research will focus on forensic entomology and sustainable organic farming, including changes that occur in soils, fauna and weeds during transition to organic production.

Teaching Activities: The proximity of the Horticulture Farm to the Morgantown campus makes it especially useful for instructional activities. Among the programs using this farm for field study are Recreation and Parks Management, Agronomy, Agricultural and Environmental Education, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Arachnology and Entomology. In total, students enrolled in 21 different courses have field experiences at this farm.

Service Activities: This farm serves as a site for land judging competitions. The employees also build good will throughout the county by welcoming hundreds of young children who come to pick apples and scores of local residents who come to buy seasonal fruit.

Animal Sciences Farm. The Animal Sciences Farm is located on the outskirts of Morgantown and is the largest of the properties at 935 acres; a relatively small acreage is also located adjacent to the Horticulture Farm and bordering Route 119. This farm has several structures including a livestock pavilion, 23,100 square feet of facilities for the dairy operations, 16,250 square feet of buildings supporting the livestock work, 14,100 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities for poultry research, and 11,700 square feet of space in the Food Animal Research Facility. Over the past two decades, the facilities at the Animal Sciences Farm have been updated and operations have been centralized for purposes of efficiency. Example of centralization include moving the operations of the old dairy unit and some operations of the poultry unit to the Animal Sciences Farm. Currently, facilities house the following animals:

Care and management of these animals and several facilities is the responsibility of 16 employees, including a farm operator, three supervisors and 12 farm workers. In addition, two technicians work in the Food Animal Research Facility at the farm. Two carpenters are under supervision of the Animal Sciences Farm operator, but their duties include repair and maintenance at all farms and forests. The budget and operations of this farm are under the jurisdiction of the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Research Activities: Among the funded research projects being conducted at this farm are studies of temporal changes in ovarian functions of domestic ruminants, environmental and economic impacts of nutrient flows in dairy forage systems, muscle growth regulation, processed muscle foods, tissue complications in broiler-breeder chickens and shifting breeding time for ewe flocks to increase farm income. Several additional projects utilize the beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep and swine available at this facility.

Teaching Activities: There is extensive use of the Animal Sciences Farm for educational purposes, with students enrolled in 39 courses having field experiences there. Among the College programs using the site for instruction are Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Recreation and Parks Management, Agronomy, Agricultural and Environmental Education, Environmental Protection, Entomology and Landscape Architecture. In some of these programs, several different professors involve students from several different courses for field experiences at this farm. In addition, professors from Biology have utilized the animals for student instruction, and College faculty have used the farm and its animals as part of the West Virginia Governor's Honors Academy program.

Service Activities: The proximity of the farm and the wide range and ages of the animals housed there lead to educational tours for an extensive variety of groups. Twelve faculty reported service activities at this farm. Among the groups served are some 7,000 elementary students from three states who come annually for "Kiddie Days." Young people come on group tours; high school students come for Career Development Events/Vocational Agriculture competitions, several 4-H judging contests, Science Field Day and the Governor's Honor Academy; and college-age students come for regional and State competitions, including land, animal and soil judging competitions. The College occasionally holds its annual Faculty/Staff Social at this farm, and other local groups have held meetings on the site. Among these groups are the West Run Watershed Committee, the USDA/NRCS, the WVU Parent's Association, the Morgantown Kennel Club, the National Livestock Graders, the Monongalia Cattleman's Association, West Virginia County Agents and the Fruit Growers Association.

Farm Woodlot. The Farm Woodlot is a 107-acre tract located adjacent to the Animal Sciences Farm in Morgantown; access is from the West Run Road. The forest includes a mixture of cove hardwoods of various ages and some plantings of exotic conifer species and hardwoods. No State monies are allocated to this property, and no employees are assigned to maintain the woods. Management of the site is under the jurisdiction of the Division of Forestry.

Research Activities: Past activities have included experimental plantings of non-native tree species, herbicide control of competing vegetation and intermediate silvicultural treatments.

Teaching Activities: Several professors in Forest Management use this property for field experiences for students enrolled in several different courses. They are joined by faculty in Recreation and Parks Management, Agricultural and Environmental Education, Landscape Architecture, Entomology and Arachinology. Students enrolled in 17 different courses have field experiences at this woodlot.

Service Activities: Perhaps the most frequent service activities at this site are the unplanned recreational uses of the land. Hikers, bikers, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers consider the land to be public and use it for unsanctioned recreation.

Reedsville Farm. The Reedsville Farm is 22 miles east of the Morgantown campus, near Arthurdale in Preston County. The 929-acre site is managed by one supervisor, two full-time and one part-time farm workers. Much of the acreage is utilized for forage crop production to support the herds and flocks on the Animal Sciences Farm in Morgantown. Currently, the site is home to 207 head of livestock (five bulls, 95 cows, 20 heifers and 87 calves). Physical facilities include a 576 square foot animal handling building; two cattle shelters, one 4,096 square feet and the other slightly smaller at 3,200 square feet; a 2,913 square foot bull and holding barn; and a 3,536 square foot animal handling shelter. The Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences has administrative responsibilities for this farm.

Research Activities: The principal investigators on some of the current research projects being conducted at the Reedsville Farm are in two different College units, the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Among the projects underway are studies of the ovarian function of domestic animals, forage crop genetics and breeding to improve yield and quality, field crop variety testing and use of poultry waste as a soil amendment.

Teaching Activities: The distance of the Reedsville Farm from campus reduces its routine use for teaching. Nonetheless, students enrolled in five different courses use the farm.

Service Activities: Again, given the distance of this farm from the Morgantown campus, it has limited service functions. It has been used, however, as a demonstration site for precision agriculture.

Reymann Memorial Farm. The Reymann Memorial farm was given to the University in 1917 by the Anton Reymann family of Wheeling, West Virginia, in memory of Mr. Lawrence A. Reymann. The farm is located two miles north of Wardensville in Hardy County. The 996-acre tract is found in two sections separated by a narrow strip of privately owned land. One farm manager, one farm supervisor, one poultry technician and four farm workers care for the animals and crops at this site. Currently, there are 157 cattle (two bulls, 87 cows, 16 heifers and 52 calves), 75 sheep, and 3,700 poultry (1,600 turkeys and 2,100 chickens) on the farm. In addition, 148 bulls were in the Bull Performance Test Program in 1998. Among the structures on this property are a 29,441 square foot cattle performance barn, a 12,356 square foot cattle barn, and an 11,000 square foot broiler/breeder building. Together, a cattle research barn, a bull barn, a bull shed, a sheep barn and a turkey/broiler building account for an additional 25,000 square feet of enclosed space. Administration of the farm is by the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Research Activities: Among the funded research being conducted at this farm are studies of temporal changes in ovarian function of domestic ruminants, increasing farm income by shifting the breeding time for ewe flocks, field crop variety testing and strategies for increasing farm income by shifting the breeding time for ewes. Graduate students also use this facility for their research in conjunction with College faculty.

Teaching Activities: While this property is some distance from the Morgantown campus, it is nonetheless used for instruction. Faculty from the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences use the site as a laboratory for four different courses.

Service Activities: Three College faculty reported using this farm for service activities. Among the activities are tours and field days. The Bull Performance Test Program is highly valued as a critical service to cattlemen throughout the State.

Tygart Valley Forest. This 495-acre tract of upland oaks is located near Dailey in Randolph County. Research in the past has centered on natural regeneration of oak types and on oak wilt disease. Harvesting of mature timber has occurred At the current time, the property has no research, teaching, or service activities underway. In addition, no funds have been appropriated for the site and no revenue is being generated. The Division of Forestry has jurisdiction over this forest.

Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research and Education Center. This 165-acre farm is located near Kearneysville in Jefferson County. It is staffed by seven employees who manage apple and peach trees in conventional and trellis systems. The property has research laboratories, offices, a conference room, a library and support buildings. Administrative responsibilities rest with the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Research Activities: Among the seven funded research projects being conducted at this farm are studies of integrated management of tree fruit insects, multidisciplinary evaluation of new apple cultivars, alternative disease control strategies for the production of apples for processing, biological and cultural management of plant parasitic nematodes, field crop variety testing and assessment of alternative and conventional IPM strategies for the production of apples for processing.

Teaching Activities: The 150 mile distance of this farm from the Morgantown campus precludes the widespread use of this farm as a teaching facility. However, students enrolled in three different courses, namely, Horticulture 107and Plant Pathology 301 and 309, have field experiences at this farm.

Service Activities: Two faculty report recent service activities at this farm. Among these are fruit schools, grower meetings, newsletters, tours, orchard visits, pest identification and demonstration projects. Scientists at the farm have an award-winning web site detailing their ongoing projects and providing valuable information on orchard pests and diseases.

University Forest. This 7,532-acre forest is located 12 miles east of Morgantown, straddling the borders of Monongalia and Preston counties. The forest is composed primarily of oak-hickory, oak-yellow poplar and mixed hardwoods. It is predominately an even-aged forest resulting from heavy logging in the 1930s when the land was in private hands. One forest supervisor and one forest worker oversee these woodlands and manage the Westvaco Natural Resources Center. The recent addition of this 6000 square-foot Center has greatly expanded the teaching, research and service capabilities at the forest. This facility houses a laboratory, small and large meeting spaces, an open-air pavilion, a kitchen for caterers, an office for the forest supervisor and an apartment for visitors. The Division of Forestry has jurisdiction over the forest and the Center.

Research Activities: Among the 11 research projects currently underway at the forest are studies of the effects of diameter-limit cutting on structure and development of Appalachian hardwood stands, nutrient cycling in a West Virginia forest ecosystem, the biological control of multiflora rose, mites affecting plant and honey bees in the State and incorporating landscape patterns into long-term forest management plans. Additional research is focused on white-tailed deer, oak regeneration, forest thinning practices, soil compaction and logging practices.

Teaching Activities: Students enrolled in 27 different courses have enriching learning experiences at this forest. Among the programs using the property as an outdoor teaching and research facility are Forest Management, Wildlife Management, Wood Industries, Recreation and Parks Management, Landscape Architecture, Entomology and Agricultural and Environmental Education.

Service Activities: Numerous meetings, seminars and conferences are held at the Westvaco Natural Resources Center. Among those using the facility are the WVU President and University Officers, the USDA/NRCS group, the Westvaco Research Staff unit, the College Visiting Committee, the CAFCS Dean and other administrators and the CAFCS Alumni Association. The forest also is used for agriculture and forestry judging contests. Because of its location adjacent to Coopers Rock State Forest and Interstate 68, the University Forest receives heavy public traffic and use. Hiking trails are maintained, and the forest is open to hunting and fishing as required by State hunting and fishing regulations. Although camping is not permitted in the forest, such facilities are located on adjacent county and State forest lands.

Willow Bend Demonstration Farm. This farm was deeded to the WVU Foundation in 1970 by Mr. R. W. Johnson. It is located three miles south of Union in Monroe county. The primary mission of this 100-plus acre property is demonstration of beef cattle and sheep husbandry practices, along with pasture management. Administrative responsibilities for this farm rest with the CAFCS Dean's office.

Research Activities: At the current time, one funded research project is being conducted at this farm. The focus of the study is the calibration of soil tests.

Teaching Activities: Given the distance of this property from the Morgantown campus, it is not used for student instruction. It is used, however, as a demonstration farm for interested citizens in the area.

Service Activities: As noted above, this property serves as a demonstration farm. In addition to being a site to showcase precision agriculture, it serves as a loading point for the West Virginia feedlot test.

The administration of the properties within the College is shown in Figure 1.

Agriculture and forestry programs at WVU are well supported by appropriate land bases. We are within the range of support for comparable universities (Table 2). The average total acreage of the 56 land-grant institutions in the study cited in Table 2 was 15,395. Institutions with forestry programs generally report larger total acreage due to the relative size of experimental and research forests.

Table 2. Comparison with farm and forest areas at selected peer institutions.

¹ Source, USDA/CSREES. January 1999.
² Has no forestry programs.
³ SY=Scientist Years. Includes SYs in all disciplines and subject areas.

The significance of outdoor laboratory experiences to student learning in the College's curricula is difficult to assess. In a recent (February 1999) questionnaire done in one of the College's upper division animal sciences classes, students were asked to rate a number of factors, including the value of the farms or forests to their education at the University. Sixty-one students were in the class. One of the questions was, "How valuable to your education are the university farms or forests?". The answers were: Extremely important/useful 49%; Important/useful 38%; Limited value 13%. Eighty-seven percent of the students rated the farms and forests as important or extremely important to their education. More and more of the students in the agriculture and forestry curricula come from non-farm, non-rural, backgrounds. In their careers nonetheless, they will find themselves dealing with issues, and people, from rural areas. The farms and forests fill an important role in adding these experiences and values to the student learning experience.

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