Small Farm Unit
Goal
CEFS’ Small Farm Unit (SFU) brings together the resources of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), North Carolina State University (NC State), the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other community partners to deliver research-based information and offer on-site training and demonstration of sustainable production practices to diverse audiences.
The Small Farm Unit works in partnership with a network of farmers, researchers, educators, students, and other community members to develop and support a healthy, viable, community-based food system at community, state, and national levels.
Small Farm Unit Structure
The Small Farm Unit covers approximately 30 acres with a wide range of soil types, equipment, buildings, and educational activities. The unit includes a 15-acre certified organic field and 15-acre non-certified organic field, and we adopt overall organic practices in both fields. The function of the unit is to model a systems-based approach within a whole farm context. Embedded within the farm design are ongoing research, teaching, and extension projects rooted in sustainable agriculture concepts and timely applications relevant to small farm stakeholders.
In a typical season, the Small Farm Unit produces up to 50 varieties of specialty fruits and vegetables targeted for niche markets and diverse consumers’ preferences. All farm produce is donated to local community organizations such as soup kitchens and food banks. Fruit and vegetable transplants are grown in a greenhouse based on seasonality. Year-round cover crops enhance the soil fertility and eco-system balance at the farm. Beehives and beekeeping demonstrations are conducted in collaboration with the NC Master Beekeeping Association. Organic fertilizers are applied as needed based on the results of annual soil sampling. Weed and pest controls are managed under Integrated Pest Management, tractor operation, and hand tools.
Research/Teaching/Extension Program Areas
A variety of projects have been designed and implemented at the Small Farm Unit, including a long-term specialty fruit and vegetable operation, whole farm budget studies (field projects studying the economics of production), greenhouse and high tunnel monitoring (testing various season extension techniques), organic transplant production, organic systems work (utilizing cover crops as part of whole season rotation), and entomology projects (studying agricultural pests’ life cycles).
Educational and Community Impacts
Each year, we offer workshops and field days to serve farmers, cooperative extension staff scholars, government agencies, and community-based organizations to share new knowledge based on scientific analyses. Hundreds of people visit the Small Farm Unit to learn about sustainable food production, health benefits, and cooking tips. Ongoing training includes new variety trials, conservation practices, cover crops and rotations, beekeeping, blueberry production, farm equipment selection and use, greenhouse management, alternative enterprises, and more.
Our goal is to provide “hands-on” learning opportunities for farmers, visitors, students, apprentices, and community members to acquire timely information and obtain training to achieve their own goals to become competent and competitive in agricultural operations, which will involve successful market access, feasible financial evaluations, and long-term community health.
Resources
Implementing Conservation Practices on Your Farm
Growing Specialty Crops for Ethnic Markets (English & Español)
Tips to Price Cut Flowers (English & Español)
Programs that Help Farmers Cope with COVID-19 and integrate the Role of Race Equity (2022)
Aspectos Financieros Y El Mercado de Verduras Especializadas (2022)
Financials and the Market for Specialty Vegetables Virtual Workshop (2022)
Amaranth Production in NC (2021) (English and Español)
Small Farm Unit Information Sheet & Cover Crops (English and Español)
Winning Strategies for Farmers to Transition to the “New Normal“ (2021)
Plan on a Page Evaluation (2021) (English and Español)
AgriShop Business Planning (2021) (English and Español)
Open Forum: Strategies to Help Ag Producers Plan During the COVID-19 Crisis (2021)
Tools for Creating Meaningful Financial Analysis for Diversified Operations (2020)
An Introduction to Farm Financial Analysis – Pt.2 (2020) (English and Spanish)
An Introduction to Farm Financial Analysis (2020) (English and Spanish)
Growing Specialty Vegetables for Ethnic Markets in North Carolina (2020)
Budgeting Specialty Crops: the Case of Organic Mixed Vegetables (2020)
Multifunctional Agriculture and its Relationship to Improving Farm Profitability (2020)
Creating Tools and Strategies to Build Entrepreneurial Communities (2020)
Creating a Successful and Effective Mentor-Protege Relationship Based on Empirical Studies (2020)
How to Make Money Farming (2020)
Diversified Operations for Profit (2020)
Weaving the Tapestry of Innovative Dreams to Solve Food Insecurity and Re-Energize Rural Communities (2020)
Applying Entrepreneurship to Support Farm Viability (2020)
Winning Strategies in the Farmer’s Market (2020)
Can Entrepreneurship and Innovation Solve Food Insecurity (2020)
Understanding Food Justice and Agricultural Policies (2020)
Empowering Women in Agriculture (2020)
Examples of Entrepreneurial Strategies for Small Farms (2020)
Exploring Historical Patterns of Regional Prices of Food (2020)
eCommerce and Practices Presentation (2020)
Unit News
High Tunnel Research at CEFS Small Farm Unit
With the popularity of high tunnel farming on the rise, Goldsboro’s surrounding communities can benefit from the Small Farm Unit high tunnel research to learn about equipment inputs and cultural practices.
CEFS Apprenticeship at the Small Farm Unit
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University are seeking a temporary apprentice to serve the needs of [...]
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.
Springtime at the Small Farm Unit
The Small Farm Unit completed the spring season of vegetable direct seeding and transplanting to the certified organic plot, is growing summer vegetable transplants in the greenhouse, and preparing for fall production as well.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program
The Small Farm Unit at the NCDA&CS Cherry Research Farm is collaborating with East Carolina University (ECU) to establish a vegetable-based clinic program in collaboration with Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro, NC.
Specialty Vegetables Spicing Up Local Markets, Restaurants
CEFS Co-Director Dr. Liang and Seasonal Technician Salina Brown at the Small Farm Unit harvested and donated produce during the pandemic. Have you [...]
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Staff Fight Hurricane Florence Floodwaters at CEFS’ Field Research, Education and Outreach Facility
Hurricane Florence is one of the worst storms to hit North Carolina, ever. CEFS' Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility at Cherry Research Farm is located in Goldsboro, one of the hardest-hit areas of the state. NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Research Station Manager Andy Meier and his crew have gone above and beyond -- as they always do in extreme situations -- to protect and care for livestock on the farm and minimize damage to crops and infrastructure.