Agriculture and Natural Resources
Virginia's agricultural industry generates approximately 11 percent of Gross State Product and contributes to 10 percent of state employment. Timely and pertinent Extension educational programs in agriculture and natural resources are delivered through a network of 107 county and city offices located throughout the Commonwealth. These educational programs are a product of research generated at Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, 12 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers, and from leading research institutions around the world. Extension Agents conduct educational programs that help sustain profitability of agricultural and forestry production while protecting and enhancing land and water resources. Programming efforts address a broad range of problems from traditional agricultural management and production issues in livestock and crops to farm business management, soil and water conservation, land and water quality, the safe use of pesticides, forestry and wildlife, and commercial and consumer horticulture.
Please visit the Greene County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension to
find out more about some of the services listed below:
- Pesticide Safety Training
- Soil Testing and Fertilization Recommendations
- Insect, Disease, and Weed Identification and Control Measures
- Pesticide Residue Testing
- Forage Testing
- Plant and Feed Toxicology Testing
- Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Soil Test for Corn
- Manure Testing
Family and Consumer Sciences & Community Initiatives
Family and Consumer Sciences & Community Initiatives programs provide informal education that increases knowledge, influences attitudes, teaches skills, and inspires aspirations. Through the adoption and application of these practices, the quality of individual, family, and community life is improved. Family and Consumer Sciences & Community Initiatives brings specialist, agent, and volunteer expertise together to address the needs and priority issues facing Virginia's families. Five specific goals are addressed:
- To provide education from numerous disciplines addressing societal issues of concern to individuals and families;
- To assist communities in analyzing the status of families and identifying appropriate community action to meet the needs of families;
- To train volunteers and program assistants to assist the Family and Consumer Sciences & Community Initiatives program;
- To motivate people to become involved in community issues and to develop leadership potential in those people;
- To collaborate with other Extension program areas, and form partnerships with other agencies, community organizations, and educational groups.
The 10 areas of 4-H curriculum focus are: Animal Sciences; Communications and Expressive Arts; Environmental Education and Natural Resources; Jobs, Careers and Economics; Plant and Soil Sciences; Citizenship; Family and Consumer Sciences & Community Initiatives; Health, Nutrition and Wellness; Leadership and Personal Development; and Science and Technology.
Youth also participate in educational experiences at six 4-H educational centers. 4-H has both a school-based and a community-based delivery model, so maximum access to Virginia's youth is provided. The specific learning experiences a 4-H member participates in are shaped locally and supported at the state and national levels. 4-H members learn how to: make decisions, manage resources, work with others, and utilize effective communication skills. 4-H serves as an effective prevention educational program. Involvement in 4-H reduces the potential for dysfunctional involvement in the community by youth. The mission of 4-H is to develop youth and adults working with those youth to realize their full potential--becoming effective, contributing citizens through participation in research-based, informal, hands-on educational experiences.
