NC State - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our NC State CALS community stands united. Many of our friends, families, students, faculty, staff and agricultural communities in Western North Carolina have been impacted by this disaster, and we are here for each and every one of you. Hear CALS Dean Garey Fox's message of support, and an update on the efforts of our Extension offices and research stations who are on the front lines as we recover and rebuild. For real-time resources, information and recovery factsheets, visit the NC State Extension Disaster Information Center: http://ncst.at/uIHZ50TBhOr

From industry insights to breaking berry boundaries, we have everything you need to get up to speed with NC State CALS in our weekly newsletter. 💡🫐 Dive in to this edition of CALS Weekly, and subscribe today. ⬇️

NC State researchers are on the ground in Western North Carolina, working with local Extension agents to assess Hurricane Helene's detrimental impact on soil across the region. The four-member NC State soil Extension strike team are collecting soil and water samples from affected farms to test for contaminants and evaluate agricultural risks. The researchers are adapting soil testing methods to enable cost-effective and rapid in-house screenings. “These adapted methods extend our capacity to support a larger number of farmers, and in the case of the bacterial tests, we hope to get these in the hands of Extension agents who can perform these tests in the field,” said Erin Rivers, assistant professor of water quality. Learn more about the team's work: http://ncst.at/z4oc50U6wVu

NC State will receive more than $18.3 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for research on specialty crops and organic agricultural production. Two of NC State’s largest funded projects — focusing on automation for nursery crops and genetic improvements in Christmas trees — are part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which includes $70.4 million in funding for U.S. fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Learn more: http://ncst.at/zk5K50U4BNX

We're dancing in the moonlight at the JC Raulston Arboretum. 🌙 Moonlight in the Garden is a magical lighting exhibition in NC State's internationally acclaimed arboretum, designed to showcase the garden in all its splendor. Bring your family and friends to stroll through the garden, listen to a live band, grab a bite to eat and more all while supporting the JC Raulston Arboretum. The exhibition will be available in the evenings of Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 14-16. Buy your tickets and learn more: http://ncst.at/qe4C50U3uMR

Equipped with advanced training from her online studies, Ashley Walgren, MS is bringing data-driven solutions to the fields. 📊🌿 Her passion for merging technology and farming led her to earn an agriculture and data science certificate from NC State in 2024. She utilizes the skills she has gained in her work at Gaia Herbs, where she applies spatial analytics and predictive modeling to map risks in supply chains. “I’ve learned how to tackle some of the complexities in agriculture and use data-driven tools like modeling, visualization and machine learning to make more informed decisions so we have sustainable agriculture for the future,” she says. Learn more about her work and the agriculture and the data science certificate program: http://ncst.at/j68V50U3uqF

From future-proofing agriculture to cooking Thanksgiving turkeys safely, we've got everything you need to get up to speed with NC State CALS in this edition of CALS Weekly. 🌾🧬🍗 Dive in to our newsletter, and subscribe today to be notified weekly. ⬇️

NC State CALS is lending a helping hand to WNC farmers in need, one bag of feed at a time. 🌾🐓 People, businesses and offices within CALS coordinated feed and hay donations to farmers affected by Hurricane Helene. And when word reached Raleigh that one particular need wasn't being met for small, non-commercial chicken flocks, CALS' Feed Milling Program produced 11 tons of chicken feed to send to the region. “We were concerned about the folks that might run out of feed before their local feed stores were again operating and accessible,” says Adam Fahrenholz, Associate Professor in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science and Feed Milling Program Coordinator. “So, we wanted to send something out that could be distributed one bag at a time for people who might need it for their animals.” Read more about their incredible efforts: http://ncst.at/AcNi50U0Ter

To accelerate the improvement of plant genome editing, Jude Samulski has contributed $3 million to advance plant sciences research — providing significant benefits to the food supply. This contribution will create the Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing, an endowed position that will serve as director of the Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture. “We are deeply grateful for Jude Samulski’s extraordinary generosity” says CALS Dean Garey Fox. “This transformational gift underscores our continuing commitment to plant research that seeks to address the most pressing needs of our population’s health and food supply.” Read more: http://ncst.at/3Nmb50TZOzZ

New state-of-the-art precision livestock technology will enhance CALS research stations across North Carolina, enabling researchers to improve livestock farming. 🐄 The technology weighs individual grazing animals and measures their feed and water intake from their stalls. “We are now well positioned to establish a statewide system to collect, summarize and compare information on the growth and reproductive performance of beef cattle," said Dan Poole, a researcher in NC State’s Department of Animal Science. Read more about the new technology: http://ncst.at/7Aib50TYrfC