Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Advice You Can Trust

   

Agriculture and natural resources (ANR) programs help sustain the profitability of agricultural and forestry production and enhance and protect the quality of our land and water resources.  Virginia Cooperative Extension strives to improve the well-being of Virginians and increase producers' profitability through programs that help put research-based knowledge to work in people's lives.

Meeting Diverse Needs

   

Extension faculty -- agents and specialists -- work together to meet the ever-changing needs of the agriculture industry.  Follow the links to the right to explore the work we are doing in a particular area.

Extension agents serve as important links to a broad base of research, much of which occurs at 13 agricultural research and Extension centers (ARECs).  Located throughout the commonwealth, these field laboratories allow scientists to tailor projects to Virginia's varied soil, vegetation, climate, and communities.

Drawing on Local Expertise

Extension program involve many partners to assure that our programs are relevant and responsive to the issues of our communities.  Some of those partners include:

• Local government
• State legislators
• State agencies
• Small business owners
• Homeowners
• Agricultural organizations
• Commodity groups
• Environmental groups
• Extension Leadership Councils
• Community groups and schools

Diagnostic and Laboratory Support

   

Extension agents have access to a number of laboratories an special services to help them respond to the needs of the agriculture and natural resources industry while also protecting the environment.  Professional technicians provide recommendations and diagnostic services for: 

• Soil testing
• Feed/forage testing
• Insect identification and control
• Nutrient management manure testing
• Plant disease and plant identification
• Toxicology
• Weed identification
• Water quality program