Expanding our Impact in Western North Carolina
CEFS is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Dogwood Health Trust and expand our impact in Western North Carolina.
CEFS-Affiliated Faculty Receive National Recognition for Forages and Grasslands Work
In January 2026, Dr. Matt Poore & Johnny Rogers, leaders of Amazing Grazing, received the Medallion Award at the American Forage & Grassland Council (AFGC) Conference in Asheville, NC!
2025 CEFS Apprentices
Congratulations to the Recent Graduates of Our Registered Agriculture Apprenticeships! We're celebrating the hard work and dedication of recent graduates from CEFS’ Registered Agricultural Apprenticeships and we are also welcoming new applicants for the 2026 growing season! CEFS apprenticeship graduates worked on farms for two seasons, helping sustainably grow food for their communities. [...]
WNC Strong Youth Service Corps Celebration
On November 8, 2025, we celebrated the amazing work and growth of our WNCStrong Youth Service Corps participants! We launched the WNCStrong Youth Service Corps to help western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene while preparing the next generation of leaders. High school students from Buncombe, Mitchell, and Yancey counties gained hands-on experience in [...]
New North Carolina Local Farms and Food Profiles
To provide a snapshot of the importance of agriculture on the county level, the N.C. Cooperative Extension Local Food Program Team, NC State FarmLink, and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) created an infographic for each county and each Council of Government region based on a comparison of 2017 and 2022 USDA Agriculture Census data.
CEFS Shines at the 2025 N.C. Cooperative Extension Conference
Many faculty and staff affiliated with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) participated in the 2025 North Carolina Cooperative Extension Conference, held January 6-8 in Greensboro, NC.
International Farming’s Generous $50K Donation Secures Expansion of ‘Boots on the Ground’ Agricultural Apprenticeship for Military Veterans in North Carolina
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is grateful to announce a $50,000 donation from International Farming (I.F.) to support CEFS’ Boots on the Ground: NC Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship.
CEFS EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Program Expanding Impact in Western NC with $2M from State, Federal, and Western NC Regional Funders
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is thrilled to announce the continuation of its groundbreaking project, EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS), with a generous grant of $1.1M from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) as well as additional matching support from Dogwood Health Trust, WNC Bridge Foundation, NC State Cooperative Extension, and other regional community partners, for a total of $2 million.
USDA Grant Will Support Career Opportunities in Agricultural Sciences for N.C. Women and Minorities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded North Carolina State University a $200,000 grant to increase leadership and career opportunities in agricultural sciences for women and minority students enrolled in community colleges statewide.
CEFS EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Program Expanding Impact in Western NC with New $1,186,409 ARC Grant
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is thrilled to announce the continuation of its groundbreaking project, EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS), with a generous grant of $1,186,409 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and significant match from Dogwood Health Trust and WNC Bridge Foundation community partners as well as NC State Cooperative Extension.