CEFS Co-Director Dr. Liang and Seasonal Technician Salina Brown at the Small Farm Unit harvested and donated produce during the pandemic. Have you tried bitter melon, fuzzy melon, or water spinach? These and many other specialty crops can be grown well in North Carolina and bring farmers a great price per pound. [...]
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.
Water continues to be at record high levels and access to the livestock units (swine, dairy, and beef) is limited. We do have power and water pressure at those units which is a blessing. Currently, we are ferrying people in to milk and feed by boat. Milk is being dumped. Calving season has started (5 hit the ground today), with an expected 75-80 over the next two weeks. Water is now in the shop, service building, and possibly the office.
Dr. Alan Franzluebbers didn’t go looking for silvopasture; the practice was waiting for him. The research ecologist relocated four years ago to a position with North Carolina State University’s Department of Soil Science. Having researched pasture systems for more than a decade in Georgia, Franzluebbers inherited a silvopasture study already underway at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro.
