Center for Conservation Research to distribute vine cuttings to farmers

Center for Conservation Research to distribute vine cuttings to farmers

The Center for Conservation Research at Alcorn State University will distribute over 10,000 vine cuttings of two highly adapted varieties of muscadine grapes Tuesday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ecology and Natural Resources Building, located near the security gate on the Lorman campus. The muscadine vine cuttings are free of charge.

Interested farmers will also be trained in clonal propagation and nursery establishment.

The Center has been evaluating the performance of these varieties for the last 20 years. The cuttings are 4 to 5 feet long and can be planted immediately on the main field or utilized for establishing nurseries. Both are excellent for consumption as fresh fruit, or for making wine, jellies and juices.

For more information on the distribution of the vine cuttings, contact Dr. Girish Panicker, director for the Conservation Research Center, at (601) 877-6598 and [email protected], or Willie Mims, farm manager, at (601) 786-7669 and [email protected].