• Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture Workshop Series
• Spring Farm Festival: April 18, 2009
• 2009 CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Research Internship
• Research and Educational Support for Organic Dairy Farming Grant funded by Southern SARE Research and Education
• NC State, NC A&T Officials Announce Historic $3 Million Endowment

2009 Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture Workshop Series

Since 2006, CEFS has held an annual 'Fall Festival', celebrating sustainable agriculture in North Carolina. Activities and events included demonstrations, tours, education booths, workshops, local food vendors, hands-on activities for the kids and much more! While we will continuing having a festival, it will be move it to the spring. This seasonal change will allow us to showcase the farm in full production. In addition to all of the exciting activities that we have offered in the past, we hope to continue to add more education opportunities, giving participants the opportunity to put their newly learned skills to work in their garden or on their farm.

Events begin February 17.
This event will be sure to offer something for everyone!

Spring Farm Festival: April 18, 2009

Since 2006, CEFS has held an annual 'Fall Festival', celebrating sustainable agriculture in North Carolina. Activities and events included demonstrations, tours, education booths, workshops, local food vendors, hands-on activities for the kids and much more! While we will continuing having a festival, it will be move it to the spring. This seasonal change will allow us to showcase the farm in full production. In addition to all of the exciting activities that we have offered in the past, we hope to continue to add more education opportunities, giving participants the opportunity to put their newly learned skills to work in their garden or on their farm.

Mark your calendars now for April 18, 2009.
This event will be sure to offer something for everyone!

Research and Educational Support for Organic Dairy Farming Grant funded by Southern SARE Research and Education

Dr. Steve Washburn, in conjunction with several NCSU professors, the University of Arkansas and several dairy operations was awarded a $250,000 grant for 3 years. The purpose of this project is to provide research and educational support for organic or transitioning dairy farms in the South.

The price of organic milk paid to producers remains stable throughout the year, and the stability of organic pricing also is important in that it allows for greater financial planning compared to conventional milk which has wide fluctuations in prices. Because of the price stability with organic milk, it is expected that many, perhaps most, new dairy producers will enter the organic market. Overall, organic dairy farming has potential to have an economic impact of greater than $1 billion per year in the southern states.

Challenges facing producers during transition from conventional to organic dairying include maintaining cash flow during transition, costs and availability of organic feed, alternative control of parasitic and premise flies, management of forage pests and fertility, control of “weeds”, learning how to treat cows without antibiotics, and getting cows pregnant without use of hormonal treatments.

Specifically, evaluation of herds that have successfully transitioned from conventional dairy production to organic dairying will help define current needs as well as identify factors that allowed those producers to be successful. Controlled studies will also be conducted to determine efficacy of alternative approaches to control external parasites, treat or prevent mastitis, enhance reproductive efficiency, and to evaluate pasture composition and management practices applicable to current and prospective organic dairy farms in the South.

2009 CEFS Sustainable Agriculture
Research Internship

Goals:
The goals of the CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Research Internship Program are to allow student to:
• Understand the scientific process and leave with knowledge and techniques of data collection and analysis as it relates to sustainable agriculture systems
• Improve professional development and collaborative learning-interactions with farmers, extension agents, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the community
• Evaluate and critique sustainable agriculture systems from a broad systems perspective
• Appreciate the challenges, constraints, and benefits of sustainable agriculture

More informatiion on the internship

NC State, NC A&T Officials Announce Historic $3 Million Endowment

University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles, North Carolina State University Chancellor James L. Oblinger and North Carolina A&T State University Chancellor Stanley F. Battle announced a $3.15 million endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in support of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) efforts to a build a sustainable, community-based food economy statewide.

The first of its kind, the W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Community Based Food Systems awards NC State and NC A&T State $1.575 million each. The funds will support CEFS' efforts to increase production, processing, distribution and consumption of local, sustainably raised foods in North Carolina, as well as enable the creation of an endowed chair at each university.

CEFS – recognized today as a national center for excellence in sustainable agriculture – was established in 1994 as a partnership of NC State, NC A&T State and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to serve as a center dedicated to sustainable agriculture research, extension and education.

A sampling of local foods prepared by CEFS board member Andrea Reusing, chef and owner of Lantern restaurant, will follow the announcement. Gourmet magazine lists Lantern as one of the nation's top 50 restaurants.

Media Contacts:
Meg O'Donnell, CEFS, (919) 755-3804
Mick Kulikowski, News Services, (919) 515-8387

Press Release:
N.C. State, N.C. A&T State announce historic endowment

CEFS Sponsorship Opportunities

Calling corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals—Partner with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and show your support for sustainable agriculture and healthy rural economies throughout North Carolina and beyond!

Learn more about CEFS initiatives to promote sustainable, community-based food systems, healthy communities, and healthy economies. All are enriching, fun events and educational programs for our citizens, both youth and adults, where your sponsorship would be invaluable.

• Annual Lecture on Sustainable Agriculture
• Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture Educational Workshop Series
• Spring Farm Festival
• DISCOVER AG for Third and Fifth Graders
• Apprentices in Residence
• Academic/On-site Internships
• Graduate Fellows

Contact CEFS Board Member Jane Rogers at 919.781.4339 or cefs_info@ncsu.edu to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

To learn more about these opportunities, please
visit our Sponsorship Information page.

2009 CEFS Sustainable Agriculture
Summer Research Internship

The applications for the 2008 CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Summer Research Internship have now been posted on our website (http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/internapply.htm). We are still working to identify and finalize all of the internship opportunities that we will have available, but we encourage you to fill out an application and continue checking the website for more developments.

Thanks for your patience!

CEFS Announces New Electronic Newsletter: CEFS E-News

We are proud to unveil the inaugural installment of the CEFS E-News which went on on November 16, 2007. If you would like to be added to this mailing list, please contact cefs_info@ncsu.edu and we will be happy to add your email to our growing list. Thank you all for helping to make CEFS so successful!

View our November 2007 CEFS E-News

2008 Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture Schedule

The 2008 Seasons of Sustainable Event series begins in February. This year's series will include 36 workshops and tons of events for the entire family! Please keep checking the CEFS website as we are constantly adding more and more events.

Click here for the 2008 Schedule of Events