The Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ Blog
CEFS Announces a New Cohort of Interns for Fall 2022
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is thrilled to announce a new cohort of CEFS interns that will collaborate with food policy councils, local farms, and businesses across North Carolina. Eight Food-Inspired Resilience [...]
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Awards New Grant to Support NC Farm to School Online Training Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded a two year, $219,458 grant to North Carolina Extension/North Carolina State University and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) to expand our online farm to school course into a Farm to School Collaborative Training Initiative (NCF2SCTI).
$30 Million Awarded to Support Grassland Farmers in Climate-Smart Agriculture
The Forage & Grassland Program in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department at NC State University is part of a team that received a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities.
NC Farm to Early Care and Education Initiative Launches Farm to ECE “2.0” Institute with Generous Support from PNC Bank
Thanks to a generous charitable contribution from PNC Bank, the NC Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Initiative will host its first Farm to ECE “2.0” Institute for past Farm to ECE Collaborative participants, farmers and Extension agents. This Institute will take place Sept. 10, 2022, at the NC County Extension office in Guilford County.
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems Announces Recipients of 2022-2023 NC State Graduate Student Fellowships
We are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2021-2022 North Carolina State University Graduate Student Fellowships. Read about the Fellows and their research.
CEFS Supply Chain Interns Support Local Food Hubs
CEFS' Supply Chain Internship supports local food hubs in increasing their capacity to connect farmers with institutional markets. The Farm to Senior Services (F2SS) program is based in three pilot counties across North Carolina and aims to increase local food procurement in county-based senior food services. During summer 2021, three supply chain interns were based at different food hubs where they improved their professional skills while moving the goals of the pilot program forward.
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems Announces Recipients of 2021-2022 NC State Graduate Student Fellowships
We are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2021-2022 North Carolina State University Graduate Student Fellowships. Read about the Fellows and their research.
Increasing Meat Production and Capacity Grant Program
In 2020, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services & NC Choices mobilized to address meat supply chain bottlenecks by providing funding and technical assistance to processors.
Summertime at the Small Farm Unit
The Small Farm Unit completed the summer season of vegetable direct seeding and transplanting to the certified organic plot. Spring crops are still growing strong in the upper field. The summer crops are exceeding the production expectation. There will be two plots for organic flowers and one plot for organic vegetables in the fall.
ASPIRE 2021 Field Trips: Exploring Agricultural Research in the Lab, on the Field, and through the Local Food Supply Chain
Field trips are part of the many educational activities designed for the ASPIRE interns. The students are integrating their research-focused internships with these unique learning opportunities that will provide them with a holistic understanding of what agricultural research means in the lab, on the field, and through the local food supply chain.
Building the Next Generation of Local Food and Agricultural Leaders: Native American Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Apprenticeship
The NCWorks Commission recently featured the Native American Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Apprenticeship as part of their Spotlight on Local Workforce Innovations series showcasing local innovations in collaborative, employer-led workforce development partnerships across the state.
RISE Interns Support NC Producers, Food Hubs, and Fisheries during COVID-19
Developed by the North Carolina Local Food Council (NCLFC), the Remote Internship to Support Enterprises (RISE) for Local Foods was developed to address challenges to food systems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.