Winchester, VA—The faculty, staff, and students at Virginia Tech’s Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center and Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Frederick County Office will be hosting a public open house on August 14, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The Center’s scientists will provide an overview of their research projects and outreach efforts through hands-on activities, posters, and guided tours of the research vineyards and orchards. Some of the featured research includes:

  •      Biological management of brown marmorated stinkbug
  •      Smart crop thinning strategies for biennial-bearing apple varieties
  •      Novel disease management strategies for wine grapes
  •      Novel wine grape variety evaluations
  •      Reducing the risk of fungal resistance development to effective fungicides
  •      Reducing the risk of spring frost damage to fruit trees and grapevines

This is an open event—all are welcome! Come meet the scientists and staff who work at the Center. The open house will be held rain or shine. There will be indoor demonstrations and we will have tours of the farm.

Contact: For more information contact Debra Marple at: 540-232-6031 or dmarple@vt.edu.

 

About the Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center: This Virginia Tech laboratory serves Virginia’s commercial fruit and value-added, horticultural food crops industries through research, educational programs, development of sustainable production systems and technologies, and increased public knowledge of horticultural opportunities and benefits. Please visit our website to learn more about our current research and information on tree fruit and grapes https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/alson-h-smith.html

Directions: The facility is located at 595 Laurel Grove Road, Winchester, VA 22602.

From I-81: take the Stephens City exit (Exit 307). Go west into Stephens City on Fairfax Street. Proceed straight through Stephens City onto Rt. 631 (Fairfax Street becomes Marlboro Road). Continue west on Marlboro Road for approximately 3.5 miles. When Marlboro Road dead-ends at a “T”, turn right (north) onto Middle Road (Rt. 628). Proceed on Middle Road for 1.5 miles. Turn left (west) onto Laurel Grove Road (Rt. 629). Travel 0.8 miles to the Center, which will be on your left.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Debra Marple (AHS AREC) at (540-232-6031) during the business hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 p.m. to discuss accommodations at least five days prior to the event.

View of the AHS Laboratory and Team