1890 Aquaculture Extension

The 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, through their respective Cooperative Extension Programs, assist “diverse audiences, with emphasis on those who have limited social and economic resources, to improve their access to positive opportunities through outreach education” (Association of Extension Administrators 2003). Agriculture traditionally has been a core Extension program, and according to the USDA, 92% of all farms have annual sales of less than $250,000. LaDue and Smith (2001) make a convincing case for the importance of conducting research and extension programs for small farms. They conclude “small farms make significant contributions to the economies, natural environments and social fabric of rural communities.” The important role of the 1890 Institutions in serving small farmers was recognized in the report of the National Commission on Small Farms (1998), entitled “A Time to Act.”

Aquaculture has been one of the fastest growing components of U.S. agriculture. The 1998 Census of Aquaculture (NASS 2000) identified 4,028 farms raising a wide variety of aquaculture products. On average, 90% of aquaculture businesses are classified as small farms, including 84% of catfish operations. Almost half of the farms (49%) that were surveyed by NASS sold less than $25,000 of aquaculture products annually. The actual number of small aquaculture producers is thought to be greater than this, but difficulties persist in locating small farms that produce crops other than the traditional staples.

The 1890 Institutions were among the first to recognize the potential of aquaculture to diversify small farms. In Arkansas, for example, Drs. S. J. Parker and O. R. Holiday of Arkansas AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) initiated a Fisheries Program (encompassing aquaculture, farm pond management and natural fisheries) some thirty years ago, in 1974. Active programs supporting aquaculture producers now exist at many 1890 Land-Grants. Individually, programs at the 1890 Institutions have proven records of assisting aquaculture producers in their respective states. While there is no substitute for the local, “personal touch” of one-on-one assistance to small farmers, our efforts can be enhanced through access to shared information, programming and the latest resources. This website is designed to foment collaboration and cooperation among personnel at the various institutions and help us all meet the challenges facing small farmers.

Active Aquaculture Extension Programs at 1890 Land Grant Universities

United States Map wit h 1890 States Highlighted

Virginia State University ● Kentucky State University ● Langston University ● Delaware State University ● University of Maryland - Eastern Shore ● North Carolina A&T State University ● Fort Valley State University ● Lincoln University ● West Virginia State University ● University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

References Cited

Association of Extension Administrators. 2003. http://www.1890aea.org/

LaDue, E. L. and R. D. Smith. 2001. Why conduct research and extension programs for small farms. E. B. 2001-20, Agricultural Finance and Management at Cornell, Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service). 2000. Census of aquaculture (1998). Volume 3, Special Studies, Part 3. AC97-SP-3. National Agricultural Statistics Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

National Commission on Small Farms. 1998. A time to act. Miscellaneous Publication 1545, United States Department of Agriculture, National Commission on Small Farms, Washington, D.C.

Return to Top of Page

Funds for this website were provided from the Association 1890 Extension Administrators and is being hosted by Delaware State University.

Comments, suggestions or problems with the website? Please contact the webmaster.