To support and enhance extension programs. This will include continued support to examine new fruit and vegetable crops suited to small farm operations and production practices for yield enhancement

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff $5.704 million on October 1, 2025, under the Extension Services at 1890 Colleges and Tuskegee University, West Virginia State College, and Central State University program (CFDA 10.512).

The award funds comprehensive extension programming addressing agricultural production, food animal management, plant breeding, and youth STEM initiatives. Deliverables include examination of fruit and vegetable crops suited to small farm operations and production practices for yield enhancement; investigation of alternative feeds for goats and swine to lower feed costs and improve livestock performance and health; selection of improved cowpea cultivars and production of virus-indexed sweet potato cultivars; development of value-added sweet potato products including wines; exploration of honeybee population decline and honey product development; and investigation of power and machines in agricultural systems. The program emphasizes agriculture and natural resources economics and marketing focused on livestock management, cropping systems, and farm management. Extension activities address youth as young scholars through in-school and afterschool programs designed to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics proficiency and youth and teen goal setting and decision making. The Small Farms Program delivers farm financial planning and technical assistance to limited-resource producers across the service area, and extension activities address safe and nutritious food access and health issues.

The award covers the five-year period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The recipient is a public historically Black land-grant college and 1890 Institution serving limited-resource and socially disadvantaged producers across Arkansas.

Food animal production and management, plant breeding and biotechnology alternative crop production and value-added product development will also be included. Animal production activities will be directed at lowering feed cost using alternative feeds for goats and swine and improving the performance and health of livestock. Plant breeding and biotechnology work will continue with the selection of improved cowpea cultivars and production of virus indexed sweet potato cultivars. Development of value-added sweet potato products such as wines will also continue to be explored. This effort will assist limited resource producers improve their profit margins. The issue of the declining honeybee population and the development of products from honey will continue to be addressed. Additionally, support for investigations related to power and machines in agricultural systems will continue to be addressed. Agriculture and natural resources economics and marketing will emphasize livestock management, cropping systems and farm management. Increasing opportunities for youth, families and communities activities will c ontinue to address the youth as young scholars with an aim to increase science technology engineering and mathematics proficiency. Students will be engaged through in-school and afterschool programs designed to enhance youth and teen goal setting and decision making. The need for increased financial literacy among small farm producers, families, and rural communities youth and their parents will be addressed. Small farm program will continue to offer farm financial planning and technical assistance to producers, the only farm business training that most of these producers can obtain in the area. Access to safe and nutritious food activities will address health issues such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes and limited physical activities. The aquaculture and fisheries program will continue to work with aquatic organisms, aquatic habitats, stakeholders, and natural resource agencies to preserve ecosystem health and biodiversity, while simultaneously supporting management of recreational and commercial fisheries for the enjoyment and benefit of the public.