2025 -2026 University of the Virgin Islands Model State Program - A Professional Development Project

Commodities

Practices

This project proposal focuses on three priority areas of current training needs based on input received from the members of the SARE Advisory Council. The proposed professional development activities for 2025 - 2026 will complement the accomplishments of previous years by providing outreach and training for all stakeholders.
The first training objectives will bring awareness regarding the practice of Silvopasture for livestock farmers. Topics to be presented and discussed will be tree selection for integrated livestock production; benefits of proper tree selection to prevent soil erosion; and tree selection for humic soil layer development and water infiltration. This will be done in partnership with SARE partners at Alcorn State University, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), who have Silvopasture experience (2025-2026).
The second training objective will continue to focus on livestock producers. Continuing the 2023 goals to increase farmers' limited knowledge regarding animal nutrition, feed supplements, and appropriate feed formulations for diverse livestock types at various growth and development stages.
The third objective will continue the previous years' endeavors to work with poultry producers who need increased training regarding general production practices such as proper sanitation and precaution measures, food safety, alternative feeds, and best practices for healthy flocks. Poultry production in the territory has steadily increased over the past few years. The local professional development program has not adequately addressed the training needs in this sector. Poultry producers are not fully aware of some of the pertinent federal and state guidelines and regulations.

The target audience for the USVI Professional Development Program for the 2025 - 2026 implementation period will be mentor farmers and agricultural outreach staff from state and federal agencies as well as members of pertinent non-government organizations. The training objectives will be as follows:
Objective 1. To bring awareness regarding the practice of Silvopasture for livestock farmers. Topics to be presented and discussed will be tree selection for integrated livestock production. Benefits of proper tree selection to prevent soil erosion, for humic soil layer development and water infiltration. This will be done in partnership with SARE partners at Alcorn State University, and NCAT who have Silvopasture experience (2025-2026).
Objective 2. To continue to focus on livestock producers. Continuing the 2023 goals to increase farmers' knowledge regarding animal nutrition, feed supplements, and appropriate feed formulations for diverse livestock types at various growth and development stages.
Objective 3. To work with poultry producers who need increased training regarding general management and production practices such as proper sanitation and precaution measures, food safety, alternative feeds, and best practices for healthy flocks. Poultry production in the territory has steadily increased over the past few years. The local professional development program has not addressed the training needs in this sector. Poultry producers need to be made more aware of the pertinent federal and state guidelines and regulations.