re: extension and land grants

Kenneth Barnes (theshepherdsfarm@hotmail.com)
Fri, 22 Oct 1999 14:38:59 EDT

I agree with those that say let's stop bashing these folks. Back in the
late '70's through the mid '80's when I was farming full time, I encountered
several extension agents and land grant researchers who were willing to help
and share ideas on sustainable production. I had just graduated from NCSU
with a degree in Field Crops and was eager to participate in some on-farm
research. I found that the County extension agents (Hoke County, NC) were
more than willing to make contact with whomever necessary to get the project
done.

Now that I'm trying to find a way back into farming, one of the first
contacts I made was with the local extension agent where I now live (Wake
County, NC). Not only did the local agent show interest, but he also
brought to the farm some folks from the university (NCSU) as well. They
have shown a real interest in my ideas of sustainable vegetable production,
even though I am producing on a very small scale. We have already started
discussing ways to possibly do some on-farm research next season.

I feel that I should also mention that NCSU, in cooperation with several
other southern universities, has published a vegetable production guide that
lists not only conventional, but also alternative methods fo controling
vegetable pests and diseases. That in itself speaks highly of all of these
land grant facilities.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is this: Not all extension and land
grant researchers will turn a deaf ear to ideas dealing with sustainable
agriculture. A lot of the negative comments some of you are hearing may be
due in part to the area of the country that you live and work in. For that,
there is little to be done, but please don't categorize them all as the
same. They are not all bad apples!

Kenneth J Barnes
The Shepherd's Farm
Zebulon, NC

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