Preparing. Finding. Implementing solutions.
@Cooperative Extension at A&T @NCATExtension #NCATSFW #NCATEXTENSION
on the move North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical State University
College of Agriculture and
Environmental Sciences Newsletter
www.ag.ncat.edu
February 2018 • Vol. XVII, No. 1
Week Celebrates the Big Impact of Small Farms
Want up to the minute updates during Cooperative Extension at A&T’s Small Farms Week? Join the Conversation
on social media by following these hashtags: #NCATSFW #NCATEXTENSION
North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical State University’s Small
Farms Week will recognize the
important role small farms play in the state’s
$84 billion agriculture industry. With the
theme “Small Farms, Big Impact,” this 32nd
annual tribute to small-scale agriculture will
feature workshops, tours, farming demonstra-tions
and more during the last
week of March.
The celebration will kick
off with a discussion and farm
tours March 26 in Robeson
County, home of 2017 N.C.
Small Farmer of the Year Lucius
Epps, and continue March 27-28
at N.C. A&T, with educational
workshops, demonstrations and
a March 28 luncheon where the
2018 Small Farmer of the Year
will be announced.
“This year’s theme, ‘Small Farms, Big
Impact,’ speaks to how important small
farmers are to North Carolina’s agricultural
industry,” said Rosalind Dale, administrator
of Cooperative Extension at A&T. “Because
of population shifting to urban and suburban
areas over the past century, it’s easy for people
to forget that farmers are still hard at work
producing our food.
“Agriculture is an $84 billion industry in
our state, and the vast majority of our farmers
are small farmers who earn less than $50,000
annually. Small farms really do make a big
impact in North Carolina.”
Cooperative Extension at A&T supports
small-scale farmers with educational programs
designed to promote sustainability and profit-ability.
Last year alone, it made almost 50,000
contacts with farmers.
During Small Farms Week, one of the
program highlights in Robeson County will
be a Monday, March 26, panel of all-star farm-ers,
which will include two North Carolina
Small Farmers of the Year. Organizers hope
young, beginning and even experienced farm-ers
will be inspired by the lessons shared by
these master growers.
The panel will include Lucius Epps, who
owns Epps Produce Farm with his wife Vera
and is the state’s reigning Small Farmer of the
Year. He began his career in 1976 and in recent
years he has grown 130 acres of soybeans
and more than 30 acres of other fruits and
vegetables, including cantaloupe, watermelon,
strawberries, tomatoes and squash. Using
techniques to extend his growing season, Epps
cultivates 6.5 acres of produce using black
plastic and drip irrigation, which has increased
the profitability of his farm by $10,000 in
recent years.
He also increased his income by 30 per-cent
in 2016 by planting soybeans during a
period when prices for soybeans increased,
and he plants half of the crop using a no-till
method to maintain soil health. Although
farming is innate to the life-long grower, Epps
credits Cooperative Extension in Robeson
County and the outreach from A&T’s
Extension program for helping him learn new
techniques to remain successful.
Epps will be joined on the panel by
Ellery Locklear of Robeson County who
— along with his sister Amy Locklear-
Cummings — was the 2003 winner. Locklear
Produce grows strawberries, other fruits and
vegetables, and potted plants
with a range from spring to fall.
A second panel discussion,
on Tuesday, March 27, will
provide more insight from suc-cessful
farmers. Albert and Ada
Beatty, 2012 Small Farmers of
the Year, and Stanley Hughes,
2004 Small Farmer of the Year,
will participate in a discus-sion
facilitated by Dr. Michelle
Eley, community and eco-nomic
development specialist for Cooperative
Extension at A&T.
Albert Beatty, a third-generation farmer,
and his wife, Ada, have farmed in Harrells for
more than four decades. On AA&S Farms,
which occupies about 500 acres, they grow
corn, soybeans, okra and timber and raise
cattle, swine and goats.
Stanley Hughes, also a third-generation
farmer, grows organic tobacco, collards, kale,
broccoli, beans, cabbage and mustard greens
at Pine Knot Farms in Hurdle Mills. Hughes
and his wife, Linda, received the 2013 Farmer
of the Year Award from the Carolina Farm
Stewardship Association.
In addition to learning from award-winning
farmers, Small Farms Week attendees
will have the opportunity to learn from A&T
faculty and Extension specialists. See pages 2-3
for the full program of events.
*A $30 fee is required for Tuesday and Wednesday activities. Small farmers who
have registered in advance are exempt. Registration deadline is March 15.
Monday, March 26
Small Farms Week Kickoff
Southeastern Agricultural Events Center
1027 Highway 74 East, Lumberton, N.C.
Presiding
Christy Strickland, director
North Carolina Cooperative Extension,
Robeson County
9 a.m. — Registration and Refreshments
9:45 a.m. — Welcome and Opening Comments
~ Nelson Brownlee, Extension area agent,
farm management
~ Ricky Harris, Robeson County Manager
~ N.C. Sen. Danny Britt Jr.
~ Keith Walters, southeast district Extension
director, N.C. State University
~ Dr. Rosalind Dale, associate dean/adminis-trator,
Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T
10:15 a.m. — Profile and Significance of Robeson
County Agriculture
Everett Davis, retired director
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Robeson
County
10:30 a.m. — Panel Discussion: Small Farmers
Paving the Future for Robeson County
Agriculture
Moderator: Debbie Hamrick, director
Specialty Crops, North Carolina Farm
Bureau
~ Lucius Epps, Epps Farm Produce, 2017
Small Farmer of the Year
~ Roderick McMillian, MG3 Farms, family-owned
hydroponic lettuce operation
~ Ellery Locklear, Locklear Produce, 2003
Small Farmer of the Year
~ Millard Locklear, New Ground Farm, LLC
11:30 a.m. — Tips for Securing Financial
Resources
Kevin Kinlaw, branch manager, Cape Fear
Farm Credit
USDA Programs to Assist Small Farmers
Giles Floyd, Robeson County executive
director, Farm Service Agency
Noon-1:15 p.m. — Lunch
Presiding: Christy Strickland
2017 Small Farmer-of-the-Year video and
special presentation to the 2017 Small Farmer
of the Year
Dr. Barbara A. Board, eastern regional
Extension director, N.C. A&T
1:45 p.m. — Depart for Farm Tours
2-4:30 p.m. — Farm Tours:
~ Lucius Epps, Epps Farm Produce, 2017
Small Farmer of the Year
~ Roderick McMillian, MG3 Farms, family-owned
hydroponic lettuce operation
~ Ellery Locklear, Locklear Produce, 2003
Small Farmer of the Year
4 p.m. — SFW Campus Kickoff
Student Engagement Event
Front of Webb Hall, N.C. A&T
Student organizations of the College of
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences will
host events, which will include animals from
the A&T University Farm, the “Got to be
NC” Big Cart and refreshments.
5:30 p.m. — “The Future of Ag” student forum
Webb Hall Auditorium
Current and former CAES students discuss
their agricultural engagement and futures.
Q&A to follow.
Tuesday, March 27*
Educational Forum
Alumni-Foundation Event Center
200 N. Benbow Road
Greensboro, N.C. 27411
10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Interactive Exhibitions
Exhibits:
Health Aspects and Safety Issues of
Grape Derived Products
Poster presentation to address safety issues
of grape derived products such as grape juice,
wine, raisins and grape pomace. Dr. Jianmei
Yu and Ivy Smith
Agricultural Heritage at N.C. A&T
Photos, brochures, posters, scrapbooks, letters
and artifacts on the history of farming,
vocational education, and agricultural
Extension programs in North Carolina.
Archives and Special Collections, F.D. Bluford
Library. James Stewart and Netta Cox
NC AgrAbility
Information, demonstration and hands-on
activities for adaptive equipment, and ergo-nomic
tools for farm safety, especially for
those with disabilities. Beatriz Rodriguez
Center for Environmental Farming
Systems showcase
Lisa Forehand
N.C. Cooperative Extension — Local
Food Program
Publications and other informational resourc-es
will be distributed and staff will be avail-able
for questions. Joanna Lelekacs
NC Choices
This program of the Center for Environmental
Farming Systems (CEFS) provides network-ing
opportunities, educational programming
and technical assistance for producers, meat
processors, buyers and food professionals.
Sarah Blacklin
Farmer Feud!
Participants test their knowledge of the
USDA Farm Service Agency in this interac-tive
exhibition. Rodney B. Young, director,
N.C. Cooperative Extension for Caswell
County. Acting N.C. Public Affairs/Outreach
Coordinator for Farm Service Agency
N.C. Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services
Structural Pest Control and Pesticides
Division
N.C. Forest Service
on the move
Small Farms Week Schedule of Events — March 25-31, 2018
11:30 a.m. — Celebration of Local Foods
Luncheon
Sponsored by the Center for Environmental
Farming Systems and Kellogg Endowment
in collaboration with A&T campus dining
service.
Wisdom from our Farmers Panel
Discussion
Facilitated by Dr. Michelle Eley
Albert and Ada Beatty, 2012 Small Farmers
of the Year, and Stanley Hughes, 2004 Small
Farmer of the Year, share the successes and
challenges of farming.
1-1:50 p.m. — Concurrent sessions with hands-on
activities
Session 1. How to Design and Develop a
Dynamic Farm Marketing Strategy
Devine Farms uses an integrated marketing
plan to maximize local impact. Direct market-ing
techniques, agritourism and how commu-nity
involvement strengthens the brand. Dr. S.
Janine Parker and Devine Farms
Session 2. Factors Influencing
Productivity and Income in Beef Cattle &
Meat Goats
Best growth and performance of cattle and
goats. Components of herd health including
proper balance between biosecurity, nutri-tion,
vaccine/deworming protocols, pasture
management and an active veterinary-client
relationship. Dr. Ralph Noble and Andrea
Gentry, DVM
1:50-2 p.m. — Break
2-2:50 p.m. — Concurrent sessions with hands-on
activities
Above sessions repeat.
2:50-3 p.m. — Break
3-5 p.m. — High Tunnel Demonstration
University Farm
3136 McConnell Road
Dr. Sanjun Gu and Leon Moses.
Transportation provided. Departures from the
Alumni-Foundation Event Center scheduled
for:
~ First group 3:05 p.m.
~ Second group 3:15 p.m.
~ Third group 3:25 p.m.
Wednesday, March 28*
Small Farmers’ Appreciation Day
8:30-11:30 a.m. — Educational Forum
N.C. A&T
Coltrane Hall
8:30-9:20 a.m. — Session 1. Pest Management
Room 129
Presentation A: The “Produce Paradox”
Navigating the “Produce Paradox” — Using a
Mustard Trap to Manage the Cabbage Bug on
Collard. How Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) not dependent on insecticides can
make food safer using mustard as a trap crop
for the cabbage bug that attacks collard and
other cold crops in the Piedmont. Dr. Louis
Jackai, Dr. Beatrice Dingha, Marsha Dwyer
and Sudan Gyawaly
Presentation B: Brown Marmorated
Stink Bug
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Look-alikes
in N.C. and the Real Deal! Know and
Recognize the New Enemy of Your Crop.
Learn to identify and management BMSB
(eggs, five nymphal and adult stages). Drs.
Beatrice Dingha and Louis Jackai
Session 2. Diversified operation for profit
Diversified enterprise strategies
Godfrey Room
The economics of farming, and enterprise
strategies for diversified farming, including
agritourism and value-added operations, and
policies/regulations regarding tax, insurance,
safety and funding. Hands-on activities with
specialty crops: identification, opportunities
and challenges. Dr. Kathleen Liang and John
Ivey
9:20-9:30 a.m. — Break
9:30-10:20 a.m. — Sessions repeat
10:20-10:30 a.m. — Break
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Session 1. Urban agriculture
A unique program at A&T to demonstrate
small-scale, high-efficiency operations
involving CAES students. Samples will be
shared with participants, including planting
and management advice.
Session 2. Screening
Dr. Sanjun Gu begins this session with
a discussion about organic strawberry
production at A&T, followed by a showing
of the 45-minute documentary, “The Favored
Strawberry.” Filmed in eight states, including
North Carolina, the film features farms
where strawberries are picked by hand, often
by hard working immigrants chasing the
American dream.
Noon-2 p.m. — Small Farmers’ Appreciation
Luncheon
Alumni-Foundation Event Center
200 N. Benbow Road
Greensboro, N.C. 27411
Presiding
Dr. Rosalind Dale, associate dean and
administrator
Cooperative Extension at A&T
Welcome
Dr. Shirley Hymon-Parker, interim dean
College of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences
Steve Troxler, North Carolina Commissioner
of Agriculture
N.C. Department of Agriculture
Lunch
Introduction of Speaker
Dr. Dale
Speaker
TBD
Presentation of 2018 Small-Farmer-of-the-
Year Award and Video
Adjourn
5 p.m. — Small Farms Week Student Cooking
Competition
Williams Cafeteria
CAES student teams compete against
students from other colleges at A&T in a
cook-off using local foods. Sodexo chefs will
assist the teams. Cost: $8.81 plus tax payable
at the cafeteria. University meal plans also
accepted.
Preparing. Finding. Implementing solutions.
Use this link to register for Small Farms Week: http://bit.ly/sfw2018
________________
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__U_S_ _P_o_s_ta_g_e_ _P_a_id__
___P_e_rm__it_ N__o_. _2_02_ __
__G_r_e_e_n_s_b_o_r_o_, N__C__
on the move
North Carolina A&T State University College of
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Newsletter —
Produced by Agricultural Communications
Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr., Chancellor
Dr. Shirley Hymon-Parker, Interim Dean, College of
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Antoine J. Alston, Associate Dean, Academic Studies
Dr. Rosalind Dale, Administrator and Associate Dean,
Cooperative Extension
Dr. Valerie Giddings, Interim Associate Dean,
Agricultural Research
North Carolina A&T State University is a land-grant
doctoral/research institution and AA/EEO employer.
N.C. A&T does not discriminate against employees,
students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability,
gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin,
political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic
information, veteran status, or any other basis protected
by law.
Send change of address and correspondence to:
on the move Newsletter Editor
Agricultural Research Program
CH Moore Agricultural Research Station
Greensboro, NC 27411
or online:
http://bit.ly/caessub
7,000 copies of this public document
were printed on recycled paper at
a cost of $1,459.60 or $0.21 per copy.
Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8
and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities
are open to all people regardless of race, color, national
origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina A&T State
University, North Carolina State University, US Department
of Agriculture and local governments cooperating.
on the move/flip side
SNOW DAY
Horses at the A&T University
Farm took advantage of a
recent snow day to frolic in
the flakes before heading
back into their cozy stable.
@ncatcaes #ncatcaes #aggiesdo www.ag.ncat.edu