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Extension office asks for $2,500 increase; cites $1M FSA payments and $200,000 wool grant
Summary
The Extension Office requested a $2,500 county increase to match a WVU requirement to maintain a second agent, highlighted drought outreach and $1 million in FSA payments to local farmers, and said it secured a $200,000 grant to develop niche wool products for regional markets.
Alex, speaking for the Extension Office, asked the board for a $2,500 increase in this year's budget to meet WVU's required county match and retain a second extension agent in Hardy County.
"We're just asking for an increase of $2,500 that will cover the agent second agent match that WVU is requiring," Alex said, explaining the county was given two years to meet the match. Board members confirmed the county commission previously provided most of the match and that the requested $2,500 would fill the remaining gap.
Alex also summarized Extension programming and supports for producers after a severe drought. He said the Farm Service Agency had provided about $1 million to farmers in Hardy County and that additional state emergency funds remained available elsewhere. He described outreach meetings, online seminars, drought‑planning resources and local research projects on grazing practices and parasite management.
On agribusiness, Alex told the board that a market problem had left local wool growers holding unsold fleeces because bids to ship wool to the one remaining U.S. mill were prohibitively expensive. The Extension Office applied for two grants: a larger pelletizing project that was not funded, and a smaller $200,000 grant that was awarded to develop West Virginia wool products for sale at state parks and other outlets.
Board members thanked Extension staff for the report and asked for a formal budget request packet; the board did not vote on the funding request during the meeting.
