| Tonia Moxley

tonia.moxley@roanoke.com, 381-1675

Apple tree lovers alert!

The sole bud grafting workshop to be offered in Montgomery County this year is set for 6: 30 p.m. Tuesday.

But it's notable for another reason: It will be last given by horticulturist Barry Robinson, who will leave his post as a county extension agent Sept. 10.

The class will be held in the county government center at 755 Roanoke St. in Christiansburg. Pre-registration is required, and a $10 class fee covers instruction and two potted trees to take home. To sign up, call 382-5790 or e-mail to betnun@vt.edu.

News of Robinson's departure from the extension office has stunned small farmers from Giles to Floyd counties, who for years have called on him for help.

"Oh, my gosh, he was just at our place on Thursday," said Lauren Cooper, co-owner of Greenstar Farm near Blacksburg. "He helped us with powdery mildew on our winter squash."

"I'm really sorry about that," she said. "He gives good advice."

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a state-funded service administered through Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Extension agents in 106 offices across the commonwealth provide free consulting and other services to homeowners, farmers, livestock producers and other industry stakeholders.

Alan Grant, dean of Tech's agriculture school, said that Robinson's leaving was involuntary and unrelated to recent budget cuts.

Citing confidentiality concerns, Grant declined to discuss details of the separation.

"This was a decision made quite some time ago," Grant said. "And I've supported the decision."

Robinson has worked in extension since 2004, first serving as part-time coordinator of the Master Gardener program before becoming the full-time agricultural and natural resources agent for Montgomery County.

Grant said agents from neighboring counties will assist Montgomery County residents in the short-term.