Associate Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Victor Ford, Ph.D.

Associate Director - Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agriculture is a $16 billion dollar industry in Arkansas, responsible for one in every six jobs in the state.  And this industry is very diverse, with our state ranking in top 25 production of 24 different ag commodities, from rice (#1) to hogs (#24).  Arkansas is also one of the most beautiful states, blessed with abundant soil, water, forest and other natural resources that complement agriculture and our overall quality of life.  We are a rural state, as evidenced by the percent of gross domestic product contributed by agriculture and food (10.81%) higher than any surrounding state.

The Associate Director serves as State Program Leader for Extension in the Agriculture and Natural Resources arena, working with Department Heads in the following recognized areas to ensure accurate, timely, and relevant educational and applied research programs are provided statewide:

• Animal Science (ANSC) - Dr. Mike Looper, Department Head
• Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAEG) - Dr. Lalit Verma, Department Head
• Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences (CSES) - Dr. Robert Bacon, Department Head
• Entomology and Plant Pathology (ENTO, PLPA) - Dr. Ken Korth, Interim Department Head
• Food Science (FDSC) - Dr. Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Interim Department Head
• Forest Resources (AFRC) - Dr. Phil Tappe, Dean and Director
• Horticulture (HORT) - Dr. Wayne Mackay, Department Head
• Poultry Science (POSC) - Dr. Dave Caldwell, Department Head and Dr. Dustan Clark, Associate Department Head

In addition, the Associate Director works closely with Experiment Station leadership to liaise with various stakeholder and commodity groups in relation to agriculture and natural resources programs including:

• Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
• Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board
• Arkansas Corn and Sorghum Promotion Board
• Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board
• Arkansas Cotton State Support Group
• Arkansas Farm Bureau
• Arkansas Agriculture Department
• Arkansas State Plant Board

The Associate Department Head also liaises with Extension personnel at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, the 1890 Land Grant campus in Arkansas, including the Aquaculture Extension Program.

The Associate Department Head provides agricultural and natural resources programmatic support to the District Directors and Extension County ANR faculty and staff.

• Delta District
• Ouachita District
• Ozark District

ANR Extension Faculty and Staff are located in State Extension Headquarters in Little Rock (LRSO) or at various Division of Agriculture campuses or centers around the state including:

• Northeast Arkansas Research and Extension Center - Keiser
• Rice Research and Extension Center - Stuttgart
• Southwest Arkansas Research and Extension Center - Hope
• Lon Mann Cotton Research Station - Marianna
• Newport Extension Center - Newport
• Lonoke Extension Center - Lonoke
  
  

Ag and Natural Resources Display

Displays can be checked out for use at events by Extension ANR Dept Heads and Faculty.  Displays are available individually or can be connected as a group (photo).  To reserve, contact Chris Meux.