The AFFC, located 150 miles from Auburn University in Greensboro, serves as a conduit for communication between the fish farming industry, Auburn University’s research and extension community and state/federal agencies to support the development of the aquaculture industry.
Our impact
The faculty and staff at the AFFC provide fish disease diagnostic services, expertise in water quality and aquatic vegetation identification, and recommendations on the management of private ponds and lakes for recreational fishing.
The AFFC serves as a launching pad for numerous extension and education programs. Fish disease diagnostics and water quality support are also offered to the West Alabama aquaculture industry. In addition to providing a venue for information exchange, faculty and staff at the Alabama Fish Farming Center are involved in various commercial-level extension demonstrations on catfish and shrimp farms in west Alabama.
The Alabama Fish Farming Center serves as a base of operations for several ongoing research projects aimed at increasing the sustainability of Alabama and U.S. aquaculture.
Our programs
The Alabama Fish Farming Center provides a platform for information exchange between fish farmers, industry, government agencies and Auburn University.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Alabama Fish Farming Center is fully equipped with a large meeting room, kitchen, and necessary facilities to host producer association meetings, educational lectures/presentations, and training workshops. Examples of workshops sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems include pesticide residue training for the catfish industry, pesticide applicator training, water quality, alternative production systems and techniques, and fish health management. Personnel at the Alabama Fish Farming Center also provide support to local elementary and high schools in the classroom and through participation in Agricultural Field Days. In the past, Extension personnel have also provided training to high schools interested in using aquaponic production systems as a classroom tool.
The Alabama Fish Farming Center offers fish health diagnostic services to west Alabama fish, shrimp, and crawfish farmers. The Disease Diagnostic program is offered jointly through the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, and Alabama Cooperative Extension.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Description: Fish health is an important factor to consider when commercially raising an aquatic species. There are a number of parasites and bacteria that can present challenges for commercial producers. The three most common bacterial diseases that affect the Alabama catfish industry include virulent Aeromonas hydrophila, Flavobacterium columnare (Columnaris), and Edwardsiella ictaluri (ESC). The Diagnostics Laboratory at the Alabama Fish Farming Center offers diagnostic services to support the commercial fish farming industry in Alabama. In addition to a fully equipped disease diagnostic laboratory, the Alabama Fish Farming Center has a mobile disease laboratory that can travel to farms to provide on-farm diagnostic services. The Fish Diagnostic Laboratory works closely with Auburn faculty to support disease-related research being conducted on commercial farms in west Alabama.
The AFFC offers water quality testing and aquatic weed identification services to west Alabama fish, shrimp, and crawfish farmers as well as recreational pond owners. The goal of this program is to improve the sustainability of aquaculture producers and the recreational fishing experience of small pond owners.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The AFFC is equipped with a water quality laboratory to support the commercial aquaculture industry in west Alabama. Fluctuations in water quality can occur over the course of a production cycle, and farmers can bring water samples to the lab to check for total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, chlorides, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, and other water quality variables. The AFFC also provides assistance to commercial producers and private pond owners in identifying problematic aquatic weeds and algae. Once a nuisance aquatic weed has been identified, recommendations on treatment can be provided. The water quality laboratory is also used by AFFC personnel to support ongoing research trials conducted either at the AFFC or on commercial farms.
AFFC team
Profiles needed
- Jaky J. Broussard - Accountant II
- Sunni L. Dahl - Research Assistant III
- (DONE)Anita M. Kelly - Extension Professor
- (DONE) Luke Roy - Extension Professor, Assistant School Director of AFFC Operations
- Jesse James - Research Associate I
row7
529 S. Centreville St.
Greensboro, AL 36744
(334) 624-4016
Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00AM – 4:30PM
Except Univ. Holidays
