College of Agriculture News @ FVSU

FVSU and UGA work together for the good of Georgians

miltonc — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:07:03 -0500

There was a meeting of the minds at Fort Valley State University yesterday.

Extension program leaders, specialists and staff who work for the Family and Consumer Sciences Program areas at FVSU and the University of Georgia had a three-hour joint meeting in the Pettigrew Center to share ideas and to collaborate on ways to better serve their Georgia clientele.

Family and Consumer Sciences is a unit within FVSU’s Cooperative Extension Program which provides practical and problem-solving opportunities to help Georgians improve their lives. There are several ongoing programs provided by Family and Consumer Sciences, including housing events, dress for success workshops, etiquette classes and youth development activities. Also, many publications about exercise, eating healthy and dental hygiene are created and disseminated throughout the state.

The two land-grant universities have been meeting for more than 30 years, officials said, and this is the second meeting at FVSU. They are normally held at UGA.

“We help to strengthen one another’s programs. We learn from one another and we share resources,” said Dr. Carol Ann Johnson, the extension program leader at FVSU who coordinated the event. “We also look for ways that we can partner and collaborate through the year.”

Johnson’s counterpart at UGA agrees.

“If we can work together it’s much more effective and efficient that way,” Dr. Sue Chapman, UGA’s family and consumer sciences coordinator.

Dr. Jorge Atiles, UGA’s associate dean for outreach and extension for family and consumer sciences, added, “Together we can cover more than by ourselves.”

Fort Valley State publishes book to help rebuild Afghanistan

clinem — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:48:32 -0400

As U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, Fort Valley State University is doing what it can to ease the hardships in this war-torn country.

The university has recently published a book and created a CD entitled “Illustrated Manual of Infectious Disease of Livestock in Afghanistan.” This endeavor is the university’s way of contributing to the United States government’s efforts to rebuild Afghanistan, said Dr. Seyedmehdi Mobini, interim head of FVSU’s department of veterinary science who’s been working on the book since last year when the idea originated.

The book debuted at the Afghanistan Veterinary Association’s annual meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct.13.

This 235-page book is important because it can help save animals Afghan farmers sell and use for food. More than one half of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product is derived from agriculture, and employs 70 to 80 percent of the total population. Early and accurate recognition of livestock diseases by animal health workers and international agencies providing humanitarian assistance is vital for this country’s economy, and the safety and health of its people, Mobini said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) jointly funded the $148,000 project.

“What a wonderful product, thank you very, very much. I am sure FVSU is proud to have its name on such an excellent work and know that it was led by one of its professors. We are certainly proud to have the USDA logo on the book,” stated Dr. Otto Gonzalez of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in a recent e-mail to Mobini. He manages USDA’s technical assistance to Afghanistan.

“The book is so clearly and simply written, content rich and nicely laid out. Congratulations on leading such an exemplary U.S. - Afghanistan collaborative effort,” Gonzalez said.

In March, Mobini spent nearly three weeks working with Dr. Corrie Brown, a professor of pathology at University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and other Afghan veterinarians to begin creating a simple handbook to be used by people working in the field with animals.

Veterinarians, assistant veterinarians, para-veterinarians and animal health workers who provide animal health services to farmers will use the book to diagnose diseases of sheep, cattle, goats, chickens, donkeys, camels and horses. Livestock production provides not only meat and milk for the population, but also tools for crop farming, manure for fertilization, cooking/heating and income from exports of hides and skin.

A total of 1,200 copies have been printed in Dari, Pashto and English. Dari and Pashto are languages spoken in Afghanistan.

The book can be accessed on the FVSU’s Web site at:http://www.ag.fvsu.edu/Publicat/infectious%20diseases.pdf

Board of Regents approves biotechnology master’s program at FVSU

clinem — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:50:18 -0400

The Board of Regents approved the only biotechnology master’s program in the University System of Georgia this week at its monthly meeting. The program is scheduled to begin at Fort Valley State University in January 2009. Applications will be accepted beginning Nov. 15.

“We can’t live without biotechnology,” said Dr. Anand Yadav, an FVSU professor of specialty plants biotechnology who’s been working on getting the program approved. “There are immense possibilities for those who choose a profession in this field.”

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge science that encompasses biology, plant and animal sciences, pharmaceuticals and engineering. The various types of biotechnology serve many purposes including cutting production costs for farmers, increasing crop yield, improving health and nutrition, and providing new tools for removing environmental toxins (bioremediation).

FVSU will offer Master of Science degrees in three disciplines - plant biotechnology, animal biotechnology and applied biotechnology.

Graduates will be prepared for high-paying biotechnology jobs in many areas such as forensics, research, marketing and pharmaceuticals.

“The purpose of the master’s program is to train the graduates so they can go and take up the many biotech jobs available,” Yadav said. “We have more than 1,500 biotechnology companies in the United States alone, and many of them are relocating to Georgia, which will increase the employment potential.”

Yadav said the program will try to accommodate non-traditional students by offering evening classes, possibly at FVSU’s Warner Robins campus if there is a need. Also, for full-time students, he will try to provide as many assistantships as possible to support them financially.

Applicants are required to take the GRE and need a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA for undergraduate studies. Prospective students interested in applying, or requesting more information, can contact FVSU’s College of Graduate Studies and Extended Education at (478) 825-6338 or visit http://www.fvsu.edu/academics/graduate-studies http://www.fvsu.edu/academics/graduate-studies .

Fort Valley State student honored at conference

miltonc — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:35:52 -0400

Safira Sutton, a senior at Fort Valley State University, is already making strides toward becoming a scientist. Aside from earning a biotechnology scholarship and interning for research programs, the 24-year-old has been studying a protein in plants to see how it can benefit humans with certain illnesses.

The Warner Robins native is so impressive that she was nominated, and selected, as a national role model.

“When people actually recognize that you are trying to make a difference, it actually makes you feel well,” Sutton said.

Sutton, a plant science major with a concentration in biotechnology, received honors at the ninth annual National Role Models Conference held from Sept. 26-29 in Arlington, Va. The event is an opportunity to recognize institutions and individuals who have excelled in producing and supporting researchers of color, particularly those in the biomedical sciences and health-related fields.

“We’re very proud of Safira. We believe she has a bright future in the biotechnology industry,” said Dr. Sarwan Dhir, an associate professor at FVSU and director of its Center for Biotechnology. He is also the director of multiple National Science Foundation programs at the university.

The National Role Models Conference is sponsored by the non-profit organization Minority Access, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Health.

“For our students to win top prizes and to be honored as role models after competing against students from larger universities, with greater resources, is quite exceptional,” said Dhir, who is Sutton’s advisor and nominated her for the award. “It’s a testament to the talent, hard work, exceptional leadership and high standards of our students, along with outstanding training and mentoring provided by our faculty at Fort Valley State University.”

Sutton plans to pursue her master’s and doctorate degrees and eventually she would like to have her own lab to do research that can one day ease world hunger and cure diseases.

“The support I have from Dr. Dhir and Seema Dhir, [an assistant professor of biology of FVSU], is unbelievable. They help make me believe that I am a scientist in the making. If I ever have a bump in the road they are there to help me get over it,” Sutton said. “Since I have been a part of the NSF U.S. Department of Agriculture program, I finally understand that education is key, and if you truly put your mind to something it can be accomplished.”

Third-graders learn more than elementary lessons at Plains Farm Day

miltonc — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:25:13 -0400

A poster at Plains Farm Day Tuesday stated that “Agriculture is More Than Farming.”

Nearly 600 third-graders from across Georgia spent the morning learning not only about the many facets of agriculture, but also about other topics. Students spent about 10 minutes at nearly 20 stations setup around the Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center, and learned about many subjects including soil, fish, peanut butter and President Jimmy Carter who grew up in Plains, where this event is held annually.

“I wish I could come back. I had fun because I liked to see the cotton and I had fun eating the boiled peanuts,” said eight-year-old Mallory Brown, who attends Sarah Cobb Elementary in Americus. “I learned about how peanuts grow and how Jimmy Carter made peanuts.”

The students took hay rides, tasted boiled peanuts and watched a sheep get sheared. State Sen. George Hooks and State Rep. Michael Cheokas even stopped by to check out the action.

“Annette Wise, program specialist with the Georgia Department of Education, and I were both thrilled with the turnout of students especially considering the situation the school systems are facing concerning rising energy costs,” said Julia Snipes, the Fort Valley State University extension agent who is one the event coordinators. “The teachers think it’s great to get their students outside. They also go back to their classrooms and use what they’ve learned at the event.”

This event which began in 2001 is sponsored by the Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension Program, the Georgia Department of Education – Education Program of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and the Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center. More than 4,000 students have attended the event since it started, Snipes said.

FVSU extension specialist appointed to national committee

clinem — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:58:05 -0400

On a national level, Fort Valley State University will be representing the 1890 land-grant institutions for an organization more than 700 miles away.

Woodie Hughes Jr., the FVSU Cooperative Extension Program 4-H and youth development specialist, was appointed recently to be a member of the National 4-H Access Committee that works with the Maryland-based National 4-H Council. The council strives to create environments in which youths and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change. The advisory committee works with the council to try to get young people involved with its programs by coming up with strategies to attract them.

National 4-H Council is the national, private sector non-profit partner of 4-H and the Cooperative Extension System. The nationwide 4-H Youth Development Program lies within the 106 land-grant universities across the country that deliver research-driven programs through extension agents.

“I feel that it is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to represent FVSU on a national level and to work with an organization that strives to create environments for all youths so they may develop and reach their full potential,” said Hughes, who has served on the state of Georgia 4-H Advisory Committee since 2003. Hughes is also the 4-H SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) team leader at FVSU.

Being on the National 4-H Access Committee will continue to give FVSU positive recognition which will lead to increased enrollment, Hughes said.

Hughes was a likely candidate because he works with youths and is employed at an 1890 land-grant institution, said Dr. L. Washington Lyons, executive administrator for the Association of Extension Administrators, who recommended Hughes.

“You want someone who has experience working with 4-H to serve in this role,” said Lyons, who works with the 1890 institutions.

Hughes was hired in 2003 as the extension youth specialist for FVSU to create a 4-H program for the Cooperative Extension Program. Hughes said he had his work cut out for him. The only youth activities that existed then were an entrepreneurship camp and a 4-H sprouts camp. Since then, Hughes has created a 4-H sprouts graduate program for children between 11 and 14 years old. He also created a 4-H sprouts post-graduate program for teenagers between 15 and 18 years old. These programs, along with their 4-H sprouts counterpart, have created a foundation of 4-H programming for children between 6 and 18 years old who meet throughout the year on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

For more information about the Fort Valley State University Extension 4-H Program, visit http://www.fvsu.edu/about/external-affairs/cooperative-extension/4h.

FVSU and UGA collaborate for sustainable ag tour

clinem — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:55:55 -0400

Field trips aren’t just educational experiences for students; grown-ups can learn a thing or two also by getting away from their familiar environments.

Nearly 40 farmers, community leaders and agricultural professionals spent Wednesday traversing Jefferson and Screven counties, stopping several places to get firsthand information about how to improve agricultural productions.

During the free Georgia SARE Educational Farm Tour, participants visited a wildlife and hunting preserve and an organic farm. They learned firsthand about direct marketing through the farm-to-school project which sells fresh produce to local school systems through the Coastal Georgia Small Farmers Cooperative. They also learned about agri-tourism and listened to business owners talk about how to maximize their land and increase profits by using an intensified grazing system on a dairy farm. In addition, they received tips on how to grow vegetables organically.

“This gives traditional and organic farmers an idea of how successful organic farming can be,” said Stefan Price, a Fort Valley State University extension agent who works with clients in Bulloch and surrounding counties.

Mimi Smith of Savannah is thinking about using inheritance money to start an agricultural enterprise, and since last spring she’s been gathering information. She said she loved the tour and has learned a lot from the lessons taught by farmers who own farms and could speak about their experiences.

“I want to be in a position to, if I want, to jump [into a business], and if I do I need to know how,” Smith said.

Julia Gaskin, the sustainable agriculture coordinator for University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who co-coordinated the event with FVSU said, “What we’re trying to do is have people take a look at alternative productions to make their farms more profitable and good for the community.”

The tour focused on sustainable agriculture which promotes prosperity and stability for rural communities, and is profitable for small farmers and good for the environment.

“On this tour, participants got to learn from farmers who are implementing sustainable agriculture practices and are able to address some possible challenges,” said Marc Thomas, the marketing specialist for FVSU’s College of Agriculture, Home Economics and Allied Programs who co-coordinated the tour.

For 20 years, FVSU and UGA have been organizing several initiatives including farm tours, workshops and summits to address sustainable agriculture. Their professional development program is sponsored by the southern region of SARE – the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agricultural research paper from FVSU most downloaded article

clinem — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:22:26 -0400

An agricultural research paper from Fort Valley State University has been recognized recently as the most downloaded article in the world by ScienceDirect, a digital library that provides scientific, technical and medical information.

Dr. Young Park’s research article “Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Goat and Sheep Milk,” that was printed in Elsevier Publishers’ Small Ruminant Research journal has been the number one downloaded paper in the field during the years 2000 – 2008. On ScienceDirect, Park’s article was published under the category of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Medicine and Small Ruminant Research. Another article authored by Park entitled “Rheological Characteristics of Goat and Sheep Milk” is the fifth most downloaded article.

“These two articles are mainly review articles containing significant amounts of my own research results from my laboratory. I believe this is not only a great recognition for Fort Valley State University, but also a significant personal achievement in my scientific research career,” Park said.

Dr. Govind Kannan, interim assistant dean for research at the FVSU’s College of Agriculture, Home Economics and Allied Programs added, “To know that our small ruminant research is well recognized by peers and scientists throughout the world makes us very happy. Dr. Park’s body of work over the years has made him one of the leading researchers in his field. He is one example of several accomplished scientists we have at the Agricultural Research Station and we are proud of our group.”

FVSU’s ag scientists make mark at international scientific conference in Mexico

lewiss — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:08:33 -0400

Submitted by the Agricultural Communications Department

Fort Valley State University’s animal scientists Drs. Young Park, Brou Kouakou, Govind Kannan and Tom Terrill attended the International Conference on Goats in Queretaro, Mexico, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, and presented a total of six research papers on various topics.

Park, a world renowned dairy technologist, presented two papers on the quality characteristics of goat milk products. He also chaired a session on goat products and food safety.

Kouakou, a ruminant nutritionist and interim coordinator of FVSU’s Georgia Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center, presented a paper on producing healthier milk using dietary manipulation in goats. This paper stimulated some very interesting discussions among the scientists.

Terrill, a forage scientist and the coordinator of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control, presented a paper on the effects of sericea lespedeza (high tannin-containing forage) on nematode infections in goats.

“It was a great opportunity for us to interact with scientists from other countries who work in the field and establish collaborative relationships,” said Kannan, interim assistant dean for research at FVSU.

Kannan, who presented two papers on food safety at this meeting, was also invited to write chapters in a book that will be published by one of his international collaborators.

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Protecting our food supply: FVSU professor attends poultry conference

lewiss — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:06:45 -0400

Submitted by the Agricultural Communications Department

Dr. Kashmiri Arora, a professor of veterinary science at Fort Valley State University, is on a mission to spread the word about salmonella and bird flu.

“No longer can we take safety of our food supply for granted,” said Arora, who recently attended a poultry conference in Niagara Falls, Canada, from July 20-23. Arora said he returned with the latest information on bird flu, the safety of poultry products such as meat and eggs, and bacterial contaminants such as salmonella, listeria and campylobacter. Hundreds of educators and scientists from the Unites States and Canada attended the event.

Salmonella poisoning is quite common, the professor said, more than 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis-related food poisoning and deaths occur annually in the United States. Salmonella infection causes severe diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain, nausea and sometimes vomiting. The symptoms can last for several days, but most people make a full recovery within a week, Arora said.

More recently, salmonella poisoning has been traced to spinach, onions, peppers and peanut butter prompting immediate medical attention, particularly in children, elderly and those with impaired immune systems, he added. Another very important concern discussed at 97th Annual Conference of the Poultry Science Association was the possible spread of the bird flu virus, a highly contagious and lethal disease, with the potential to devastate our poultry industry. Furthermore, there is fear that the bird flu virus could mutate into a form that could spread easily from person to person, becoming a pandemic of astronomical proportions, Arora said.

Pandemic essentially is defined as an epidemic disease with much broader geographical distribution to which people have little or no immunity. Earlier pandemic outbreaks such as the Spanish flu, the Hong Kong flu, and the Asian flu have claimed millions of lives and have been traced to viruses originating in birds.

It has been discovered that avian flu is not only a threat to the U.S. and the global poultry industry, but a potential threat to mankind as well. The bird flu is geographically widespread in Asia and has killed more than 140 people worldwide, mostly among the Asian rural population who live in close contact with birds. There have been no confirmed cases of spread of virus from human to human. The U.S. birds are, thus far, free from the lethal H5N1 virus strain; however, they are extremely vulnerable to accidental or intentional spread of infection through bioterroristic acts. The U.S. is a net supplier of chicken (broiler meat), accounting for one-third of global trade and is the second largest supplier in the world next to Brazil, Arora said. Georgia contributes a significant share to the export of broiler meat. Protecting our food supply requires a team effort to fight this highly contagious disease. Efforts must include educating and training of public and private sectors, law enforcement officials, veterinarians, human health professionals, the scientific community and stake-holders in poultry production, Arora said. Proper cooking of poultry meat and eggs, and overall hygienic handling may reduce the incidence of infections. Attempts are being made to produce vaccines against pathogenic organisms for preventive measures.

Arora and fellow researcher Dr. Bipul Biswas made three presentations on the growth and development of Japanese quails at the conference.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Kashmiri Arora at (478) 825-6898 or (478) 825-6424.

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FVSU Head Start focuses on preventing childhood diabetes

clinem — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:36:40 -0400

A case of undetected diabetes can send a child into a coma. Wanike Shakespeare knows about the consequences of diabetes firsthand which is why, as a health and nutrition/mental health manager for Head Start, she encourages all parents to take preventative measures to fight this sometimes deadly disease.

“If you go look up the statistical data of how many young kids have diabetes you would be totally shocked,” said Shakespeare, who works at the Fort Valley State University-based Head Start. “We have to educate the parents as well as our students.”

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases among children in the United States. About 150,000 young people less than 18 years old — or about one in every 400 to 500 — have diabetes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

In an effort to catch the disease early in children, Head Start at FVSU is adding a glucose test to their health screenings this year. The federally-funded organization is spending a week in September screening its 373 children ranging from 3 to 5 years old. In addition to diabetes, the children will be tested for obesity, sickle cell, anemia and other health issues.

DTI Laboratories, based in Thomasville, will be doing finger-prick tests beginning Sept. 5 and returning for several days. They will also revisit every 90 days thereafter to see if there are any changes in the results. There will also be random testing throughout the school year.

“Our goal will be to prevent any type of onset of any type of health problems,” Shakespeare said.

The long-term goal for the organization is to collect data that can be submitted to health publications and used for grant proposal submissions.

Most children look forward to getting the tests, Shakespeare said.

“We bring the lab into the classroom and children beg to get their fingers pricked because they’re going to get a sticker and a chance to talk to a health professional,” she said.

Head Start at FVSU was established in 1996 to deliver quality comprehensive services to low-income children and their families, including childcare and health services.

FVSU scientist attends Southeast bioenergy conference

clinem — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:35:23 -0400

Hundreds of policymakers, administrators, bioenergy experts and university researchers from the Southeast gathered in Tifton for the 2008 Southeast Bioenergy Conference from Aug. 12-14.

Dr. Surinder Gulia, a research professional at Fort Valley State University, attended this conference which included a daylong bioenergy industry tour.

“It was a good opportunity to attend this conference and learn about the research developments and status of bioenergy and bioethanol production in Georgia and the Southeast,” Gulia said.

Researchers discussed technology developments used to produce bioethanol, biodiesel and bioenergy from various biomass feedstocks ranging from starch fermentation, which comes from grain, to cellulosic biomass.

“It looks like Georgia is going to be the leader in bioenergy production research and development not only among Southeastern states but in the country,” Gulia said.

“I am very excited and enthused after attending this conference and industry tour. This is a vital research issue that coincides with our current research thrust. FVSU is currently engaged in research on ethanol production both from starch and cellulose-based feedstocks,” said Gulia, an expert in molecular biology and breeding for grasses. “Our emphasis is on genomic and molecular research to improve the potential feedstocks for higher yield and ethanol production efficiency.”

FVSU hosts visiting scholar from Turkey

clinem — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:34:29 -0400

Traveling a long way from home, Dr. Zehra Guler of Turkey is spending six months at Fort Valley State University to do research as an international visiting scholar.

Guler, an associate professor at Mustafa Kemal University, is working on goat-milk research that she could have done at other schools, such as Cornell University or the University of Wisconsin which are renowned prestigious institutions in dairy technology research in the world, but she chose Fort Valley State which is a noteworthy decision, said Dr. Young Park, a professor of food science at FVSU who is working with Guler.

“She could have contacted other institutions that specialize in goat milk and goat-milk product research, but she contacted us. That’s significant for FVSU,” he said.

Park said Guler has found many of his research articles in scientific publications, and that is how she discovered Fort Valley State University as the leading institution in goat milk and its products development and their quality evaluation research in the US.

Her visit is also significant because there is no cost to the university, Park noted, and if Guler publishes her research it will bear the FVSU name.

With the financial backing of a scientific organization in Turkey, Guler is able to work with Park to study the production of reduced-fat goat-milk cheese and goat-milk yogurt made from different breeds of dairy goats.

“Usually if you take out fat you take out flavor, so we’re testing cheese with variations in flavor, texture, chemicals and nutritional value,” Park said. “Then we test consumer acceptability which is based on flavor, texture and odor.”

Guler said so far things are going well. She said she looks forward to using technological equipment she has never used and continuing her collaborative research work with Park.

“The exchange program is very important,” said Guler, who works in the city of Atakya and province of Hatay in Turkey. “I have greatly benefitted from Dr. Park’s experience in outstanding dairy goat products research.”

FVSU develops training curriculum to help combat sheep and goat parasites

clinem — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:46:28 -0400

By Ayanna McPhail, publications editor/writer
Agricultural Communications Department

Parasites lurking in a seemingly healthy sheep or goat can wipe out a flock. The harmful internal worms can devastate the financial earnings of those whose livelihoods depend on raising and selling healthy animals.

After years of testing and research, Fort Valley State University has taken a practical approach to detecting low blood levels in animals due to parasites. The method, which originated at a veterinary institute in South Africa, has been altered by FVSU researchers for animal producers here in the Unites States. The idea is to reduce treatment for sheep and goat, and as a result save animal producers money and prevent drug-resistance buildup.

Now, easy-to-understand curriculum about the method is being disseminated throughout the United States to veterinarians, extension specialists and qualified animal producers who can train those in the goat and sheep production industry on how to use what’s known as the Smart Drenching and FAMACHA system.

A laminated card, about the size of a postcard, has a photo of a goat’s inner eyelid. The producer simply compares the pinkish color of their animal’s eyelid to that of the color chart on the card. Since the parasites suck blood from the animal and cause anemia, the color of the eyelid is likely to change, according to Dr. Seyedmehdi Mobini, the FVSU professor of veterinary science/research who led the efforts to develop the curriculum recently published by Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control.

So far, 400 notebooks and electronic CDs have already been mailed out. The training and curriculum goes far beyond the Smart Drenching and FAMACHA system, experts go into depth about managing parasites, Mobini said.

“The concept is to make this information available to more producers in more states,” said Mobini, also an extension veterinarian for FVSU’s Cooperative Extension Program which offers various types of assistance to animal producers.

A $72,955 grant awarded in 2006 to develop and print the materials was given by an organization that focuses on 13 states in the Southeast. Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) also funded research efforts to test out the FAMACHA system that provides instant results, according to researchers.

“Not everybody can take a blood sample and send it to the lab to detect blood level,” Mobini said. “A producer can check the color of the goat’s inner eye in the field to detect the level of anemia.”

The use of drugs to control parasites is very expensive. Also, these internal parasites in sheep and goats are becoming resistant to the medications, according to professors at FVSU.

Fort Valley State is a leading institution when it comes to goat and sheep research. In 1986 the university established the Georgia Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center which is the largest facility of its kind east of the Mississippi River, according to university professors.

The center is designed to respond to the informational, problem-solving and advisory needs of people who raise goats and sheep for milk, meat, show or fiber.

For more information about training materials, visit www.scsrpc.org http://www.scsrpc.org/

One of FVSU’s own receives outstanding service award

lewiss — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:56:21 -0400

By Jennifer Jordan, student writer
Agricultural Communications Department

Vivian Fluellen was awarded for her outstanding service for pioneering efforts toward faculty development in family financial planning for the 1890 Family and Consumer Sciences and Distance Instructional Alliance.

This assistant professor at Fort Valley State University received the award on June 10 at the Association of Extension Administrators and Association of Research Directors Land-Grant conference in Memphis, Tenn.

She collaborated with seven other 1890 land-grant institutions to form a grant worth nearly $185,000. This U.S. Department of Agriculture capacity building grant was used to train faculty members and teach financial planning certification classes offered at eight land-grant schools, including Fort Valley State.

This Family Financial Planning Program that certifies people to become financial planners would not be possible without Fluellen who has been teaching in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences since 1997.

“This program fulfills a need to offer more online courses to increase enrollment at Fort Valley State University,” Fluellen said. “The online program offers many opportunities for our students. The program qualifies students to take the Certified Financial Planner Examination after receiving training and experience.”
Fluellen has a joint appointment as an assistant professor and specialist with FVSU’s Cooperative Extension Program which provides training and educational opportunities for Georgia residents.

For more information about the Family Financial Planning Program, and how to enroll, contact FVSU’s Department of Family Consumer and Sciences at 478-825-6234.##