Newton center
The NRE program is currently developing a multi-topic demonstration area on the 1,172-acre Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) Coastal Plains Branch in Newton, MS, called the Natural Resource Enterprise Demonstration Center. The center will provide tangible examples for landowners on how to manage natural resource enterprises. The center will include five demonstration areas: Nature Trail and Lake, Backyard Habitat, Wildlife Management, Agriculture, and Forestry. These areas will cover specific topics including:
- Farm pond management |
- Backyard habitat |
- Supplemental food plot management |
- Wildlife management (game and non-game) |
- Nature trail design and maintenance |
- Native prairie and grassland restoration |
- Traditional and non-traditional forestry practices |
- Wetland management |
- Agritourism |
- Outdoor recreation management |
Once complete, the center will be a major host of the NRE landowner workshops and single topic field days and events. The center is in Phase I of a 3-phase project over 4 years. Currently several new educational programs are being developed for the facilities as they are completed.
A comprehensive environmental educational program, educational kiosks, and materials are being designed and produce not only for landowners interested in natural resource enterprises but for youth and adults from local communities. In addition, the backyard habitat area and the adjacent office will provide meeting areas and an outdoor classroom for local school groups, organizations, and agencies to host workshops and trainings.
2008 Update
Development of three of the five research and demonstration areas began in 2008. The Nature Trail Demonstration area has a new parking lot, trail system, pond, and boardwalk. Management activities in the Nature Trail Demonstration area include prescribed burning, grassland restoration, pine plantation thinning, and pond management. The main office building at Newton was renovated with the addition of a Backyard Habitat Demonstration area. Research sites will be placed in the Forestry Research and Demonstration area and will include new pine variety trials, and agro-forestry and bio-energy studies. The Agriculture and Wildlife Management areas are in the early planning stages. Educational/interpretive signage and associated curricula for professionals, landowners, and school children will be developed for each area.
A new boardwalk has been installed.
