Alcorn holds its annual Ag Field Day
Over 220 participants from all over the state of Mississippi attended Alcorn’s annual Agricultural, Research and Extension Field Day held August 28 on the Lorman campus. Agency personnel participants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and other federal officials were present.
“We were elated to have Delmer Stamps ’77, state resource conservationist, NRCS, and our distinguished alumnus, to serve as the luncheon keynote speaker,” said Dr. Patrick Igbokwe, associate director of the Alcorn State Experiment Station and the Ag Field Day committee chair. “He shared valuable information about technical and financial assistance NRCS provides to small farmers in the state of Mississippi.”
Stamps, who has been serving as state resource conservationist since 2000, gave an overview of NRCS and the Farm Bill Program. He addressed the participants elaborating on NRCS’ mission of “helping people help the land”.
Stamps said, “NRCS is a technical arm of the United States Department of Agriculture agency that also has financial programs and works hand-in-hand with Alcorn to help small farmers enhance their well-being.”
This year’s theme was “Enhancing the Income of the Small Farmer and Rancher Through Sustainable Agriculture,” and the program included demonstrations and exhibits on fruit and vegetable production, livestock management and technology, water quality and conservation, biotechnology for food quality and productivity, marketing and business management, accessing financial resources, integrated pest management, biofuel and bioenergy crops, and agricultural and human sciences education.
