Figure 1 The horn fly is the southern US' most serious cattle pest. This small biting fly takes about 10 to 12 bloodmeals per day; blood loss can be significant because infested cattle may carry several hundred to thousands of flies. Traditionally, cattle producers have relied upon insecticides to control these flies. However, fly [...]
2012 CEFS interns at the Agroecology Education Farm helping to clear brush, weed, and remove trees. We are excited to introduce a new CEFS-supported educational farm at NC State! Led by Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, NCSU's Agroecology Program Director, the Agroecology Education Farm (AEF) will help facilitate hands-on, inquiry-based learning in agroecology and sustainable [...]
NC Choices, a CEFS initiative that promotes the advancement of North Carolina's local, niche and pasture-based meat supply, recently conducted an online survey of the state's small-scale meat producers. The survey, which focused on beef, pork, and chicken production, was sent to agriculture-related public e-mail listservs throughout the state and was completed by 104 participants. [...]
CEFS is happy to welcome Jennifer MacDougall, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation's Healthy Active Communities Program Manager, to its Board of Directors. Jennifer is from Cary NC and received both her B.S. and M.S. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University. Jennifer oversees the Foundation's investments as they [...]
CEFS doctoral students Suzanne O'Connell (Horticultural and Soil Science) and Aaron Fox (Crop Science and Entomology) have recently returned from a month-long exchange program at the University of Zagreb in Croatia. The program is the result of a partnership between the University and NC State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The goal of the [...]
Spring Greetings! We begin this letter by celebrating the wonderful success of our May 3rd CEFS Field Day. The NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' Research Station staff, university faculty and students, the CEFS' programs and projects team, community partners, and farm apprentices worked together to create a truly memorable day for the nearly [...]
This summer, get ready for a new sight in Goldsboro: youth-powered rickshaws delivering farmers' market fruits and vegetables to areas of the community that have limited access to fresh produce. It's all part of the Produce Ped'lers program, a new CEFS initiative designed to address food access disparities in city neighborhoods. The program is funded [...]
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 NC 10% Campaign -- which encourages all North Carolinians to spend 10% of their existing food dollars on locally grown and produced foods -- has taken off in 2012! The Campaign's website is now tracking over $16 million in local foods purchases by more than 4900 individuals and 600 businesses. Partnerships are key to [...]
The NC 10% Campaign and the Park Scholars program at NC State have created a video to promote local foods on college campuses. The video will be seen all summer long at the NC State campus theater -- before every movie shown! Watch the video, "I'm a Local". From the May 2012 [...]
