CEFS End-of-Year Letter 2024
At the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), we are dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture and fostering resilient food systems through cutting-edge research, impactful education, and community engagement. With your support, we are driving progress in sustainable agriculture while addressing the critical challenges of our time. The impact of the devastating hurricanes this fall on agricultural communities underscores the need for our work—from leading climate change research to building resilient local food systems. Your contributions enable us to continue these vital efforts, making a lasting impact on both local and global scales.
Currently, more than 40 research projects at CEFS’ Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility based at the 2,000-acre Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro, NC and other research sites are demonstrating practical, innovative, and climate-friendly agricultural solutions for farmers.
For example, building soil carbon is challenging for organic systems in the Southeast U.S. due to the mild, humid climate, weathered soils, and heavy reliance on tillage. In response, our Farming Systems Research Unit is engaged in a groundbreaking project to study enhanced rockweathering as a promising strategy for carbon sequestration and soil fertility improvement under extreme weather and changing climate. Additionally, our Pasture-Based Dairy Unit continues to lead global research in dairy production while exploring technologies to enhance small farm profitability domestically. Cherry Research Farm provides a unique environment to study and integrate practices across multiple systems, including sustainable corn, cotton, and forages within dairy operations. By measuring environmental outputs such as greenhouse gases and carbon sequestration, our research benefits global dairy practices and offers practical applications for small farms worldwide. We are also conducting a long-term cover crop and soil health field trial. This trial evaluates different cover crop mixes, seeding rates, and their termination methods on biomass yield and comprehensive soil health parameters. Results of our research projects are shared during our many in-person and virtual outreach events, reaching more than 10,000 participants each year. Your support is essential to advancing critical research and learning opportunities.
We continue to reach new audiences through our educational programs. NC Choices’ Carolina Meat Conference was a major educational event this year. More than 600 farmers, processors, buyers, and industry professionals from across the country benefited from hands-on workshops pertaining to the specialty meat industry led by 70+ speakers, including Dr. Temple Grandin. Our internship and apprenticeship programs also continue to make a significant impact, engaging more than 50 participants each year. We added a new program targeted to community college students, in addition to ongoing internship and apprenticeship programs for current or recently-graduated students, military veterans, and other community members. This year, our Small Farm Unit also hosted an experiential learning program for K-14 educators, focusing on those from underserved communities.
These programs are essential for preparing future leaders in agriculture and equipping them with valuable skills and experiences. We appreciate your support.
Our efforts also focus on community engagement and food security. The Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System’s Art as Method project
demonstrates how art can build community connections and benefit the food system. Empowering Mountain Food Systems, in partnership with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and regional funders, distributes FarmSHARE produce boxes and offers cooking education to improve food access for at-risk groups in Western North Carolina. Lastly, our new Farm to Institution supply chain pilot project in Robeson County, NC is set to provide a blueprint for increasing farm to institution initiatives, enhancing market access for marginalized farmers, and boosting community food security.
Your support is vital to the success of each of these initiatives. Please consider making an annual gift in support of CEFS to help advance innovation, educate future leaders, and support our communities. Make your gift online here.
With warm wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season,
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| Dr. Michelle Shroeder-Moreno NC State University Co-Director, CEFS |
Dr. Chyi Lyi (Kathleen) Liang N.C. A&T State University Co-Director, CEFS |
Funds raised in support of the Friends of CEFS Fund are collected and managed by The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID# 56-6049304). You will receive an official receipt for your donation.