Commonwealth Staffing Initiative - 2006

Situational analyses and listening sessions have been conducted across Virginia. Four priority research and extension areas have been identified to address critical issues important to Virginians. The budget request to complete the Commonwealth Staffing Initiative (CSI) is $2.1 million per year of the biennium. The initiative will support 18 field specialists and 20 county/city agents divided among the six districts across the Commonwealth and targeted to provide maximum program impact.

Sustaining Agriculture and the Environment – Preserving and improving agriculture and our natural resources, including soil and water, best practices in agriculture, recreational and urban land uses, and homeland security. Positions include:

  • Agroforestry (Southern Piedmont AREC, Blackstone)
  • Equine Research and Industrial Relations (DuPont Equine Medical Center, Leesburg)
  • Crop Physiologist (Tidewater AREC)
  • Urban and Community Forestry (Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Beach)
  • 3 Area Specialists. Water and Land Resource Development (Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Beach); Geospatial Land Use (Northern District); Viticulture (Northern District)
  • 3 Agents. Agriculture and Natural Resources

Families and Youth - Strengthening family and community stability through financial counseling, parenting, nutrition and health education, and youth development to improve economic self-sufficiency and sustain a healthier and more productive workforce. Positions include:

  • 2 Area Specialists. Food Quality and Health; Youth Curriculum and Evaluation
  • 10 Agents. Family & Consumer Sciences
  • 7 Agents. Youth Development, 4-H

Developing Our Communities - Expanding economic opportunities in communities through entrepreneurship and science-based innovation, leadership development for local governments and communities, and home-based business enterprises. Positions include:

  • Value-Added Livestock Production (Southern Piedmont AREC, Blackstone)
  • 4 Area Specialists. Rural Development (Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville); Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville); Woody Germplasm Propagation (Reynolds Homestead, Critz); Aquaculture/ Horticulture (Southwest Virginia Aquaculture AREC, Saltville)

Growing the Green Industry, Specialty Crops - Supporting and enhancing the development of high value crops for the turf, greenhouse, nursery, and landscape industries. Positions include:

  • Environmental Horticulture Physiology (Alson Smith AREC, Winchester)
  • Turf and Landscape Entomology (Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Beach)
  • Turf Nutrition Management (Hampton Road AREC, Virginia Beach)
  • 1 Area Specialist. Horticultural Crops Market Analysis (Alson Smith AREC, Winchester)