Field Day attendees listen to Dr. Julie Grossman describe no-till organic corn production.
CEFS held an official Field Day on May 3, 2012 to highlight its innovative research projects and community initiatives. More than 300 people gathered under clear skies at the CEFS Research Farm in Goldsboro, home to CEFS’ eight research units. The units – Pasture-Based Dairy, Pasture-Based Beef, Pasture-Based Meat Goat, Alternative Swine, Small Farm, Farming Systems Research, Organic, and Composting – are managed by NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services staff in cooperation with NCSU and NCA&TSU faculty.
Farm tours gave participants a close look at activities in the Farming Systems Research, Organic, and Livestock units. Faculty from NCSU and NCAT&SU explained their various research projects with short talks on Soil and Water Studies, Agroforestry, No-Till Organic Corn Production, Organic Canola Production, Innovative Vacuum Systems for Removing Flies from Dairy Cows, and Outdoor Swine, among other topics.
There were biofuels, composting, and vermicomposting demonstrations, as well as premieres of new videos showcasing the Pasture-Based Dairy and Alternative Swine units. More than 50 posters from CEFS-affiliated faculty and graduate students demonstrated the depth and range of CEFS-based research.
Open Houses were held in the Small Farm Unit, where visitors viewed the Unit’s many innovative production techniques and met the season-long apprentices; and at community sites in Goldsboro, where visitors viewed the entrepreneurial, gardening, and local foods models that CEFS and community partners have created together.
Many distinguished guests were on hand to welcome participants, including Dean William Randle of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at NC A&T State University; Dean Johnny Wynne of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University; Associate Dean Ray McKinnie of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at NC A&T State University and Administrator of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Program; Sandy Stewart, Director of the Research Stations Division for the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and NC State University; David Smith, Associate Dean and Director for NC Agricultural Research Service, NC State University; Rob Hedberg, Director of the National Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE) Program; and Goldsboro Mayor Alfonzo King.
The event concluded with a delicious local foods dinner by Green Planet Catering featuring pulled BBQ pork from Farmhand Foods (a CEFS initiative); vegetarian lasagna made with tomatoes from the Agroecology Education Farm at Lake Wheeler Field Station (canned during peak tomato season); Sweet Potato Hash made with local sweet potatoes; creamed local greens; and Howling Cow ice cream, made with milk and cream from the NCSU Dairy. All organic waste (including plates and utensils) will be composted at the Agroecology Farm.
A set of Proceedings highlighting publications and grants from CEFS-affiliated faculty was also published and distributed to attendees.
Thanks to everyone who made the event such a wonderful success, including Sustaining Sponsors Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (S-SARE) and North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NC-SARE), Guardian Sponsor AgCarolina Financial, and Cultivator Sponsors Southern Bank, Delight Foods and Cape Fear Farm Credit.
From the May 2012 E-Newsletter