acebook
witter 
in this section: Take action - Contact the administration at NCSU'S CALS today; Read CFSA's letter to CALS Dean, Johnny Wynne.
Can you imagine a leading agricultural state with thousands of pastured livestock producers and growing demand for pastured livestock products that doesn’t have a single forage research specialist on staff at its largest land-grant university? How would the university meet the needs of producers without those research resources?
Unfortunately, North Carolina faces this scenario. The only forage agronomist at NC State will be leaving this July. And due to budget cuts, the NCSU administration may decide not to refill the position. This would be devastating for our state. Grass-fed beef and dairy, and outdoor swine and pastured poultry systems require knowledge and support from forage agronomists.
The NCSU administration needs to hear from producers that they want the University to commit to continued support of forage agronomy with at least one extension position and one research position.
You can read below the text of CFSA’s letter to NCSU College of Ag and Life Sciences (CALS) administration on this issue. Farmers should write to CALS leaders, too, to tell the stories of your farms and why you need more research support for forage production, not less. Contact info for NCSU administrators is at the bottom of this page.
Thanks for helping us to build a stronger research and education system for sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Johnny C. Wynne
Dean of CALS & Executive Director for Agricultural Programs
112 Patterson Hall, Box 7601
NCSU Campus Raleigh, NC 27695-7601
Dear Dean Wynne:
I am writing you today on behalf of the 1,400 members of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) to express the sustainable agriculture community’s strong concern for preserving forage agronomy research and teaching faculty at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
As North Carolina’s small and mid-sized farms continue the adjustment away from the tobacco economy, pasture-based livestock management systems have emerged as a key opportunity for those farms to diversify their income; move into high value markets for local and natural/organic foods; and improve soil quality. From cow-calf operations to grass-fed and -finished beef; from free range poultry to pastured swine; from organic dairies to hay production, thousands of our state’s farms are in desperate need of forage extension expertise that addresses the economic and climate conditions of our region.
Our farmers rely heavily upon the expertise at NC State University to provide current research and practical information to enable them to make the best possible decisions for their farming operations. Forage agronomy is no exception, and at the very least requires one dedicated NC State University faculty position. To lose this capacity will be devastating to this growing sector.
With over 1.5 million NC acres in pastureland, annual hay production worth $70 million, and an organic livestock industry worth over $39 million annually, the expense of maintaining a forage agronomy position is far less than the loss of economic activity that would result with the elimination of such a position. CFSA and other agencies in the state, including the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Cooperative Extension, and the Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council, are working to increase opportunities for pasture-based livestock producers to thrive. Success in driving this growth to date is due in no small part to the expertise that is available with a forage agronomist on the CALS staff. In particular, knowledge and expertise regarding forages is one of the main reasons North Carolina has lead the Southeast in the establishment of organic dairying, providing a lifeline to smaller dairy operations. Without a forage agronomist on staff, anywhere at NC State, our competitiveness and success in revitalizing the North Carolina dairy and livestock industries will be dramatically diminished.
Cooperative Extension Agents, USDA and NCDA agency workers and private consultants rely heavily on the forage extension specialist for in-service training, farmers’ meetings, field days, newsletters, demonstrations, on-farm research, etc. A position in forage agronomy is also needed for faculty working in complementary areas to compete for grant support for research and extension programs that require multi disciplinary systems approaches. Because of the importance of forage agronomy in organic, low- input and sustainable farming systems, such positions can have significant impact on the success of faculty in departments of Animal Science, Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Soil Science, as well as other collaborators internal and external to CALS.
Because of these vital needs, CFSA strongly encourages you to commit to continued support of forage agronomy with at least one extension position and one research position. Forages are the future of cost-effective livestock production in our state, and it is essential for CALS to be on the leading edge of this paradigm shift.
Thank you for your attention in this important issue. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you and other members of the CALS management team in person about this issue or to answer any questions you may have about the importance of forage agronomy to the local food market.
Sincerely,
Roland McReynolds, Esq.
Executive Director, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Please contact the head administrators at CALS and let them know that you support continued funding for forage agronomy research and staff in North Carolina.
Dr. Johnny C Wynne
|
Phone: 919-515-2668 |
Dr. Joe Zublena
|
Phone: 919-515-2813
|
Dr. Kenneth L Esbenshade
|
Phone: 919-515-2614 |
Dr. W. David Smith
|
Phone: 919-515-2717 |
Dr. Edwin J Jones
|
Phone: 919-515-3252 |
Dr. Thomas A Melton III
|
Phone: 919-515-2647 |
Dr. Randy Wells |
|