Farms, Food and You
54 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago -Issues in agriculture affect not just farmers. They also influence your life every day. "Farms, Food and You" explores these issues with NC State University experts and others with ties to agriculture and food in North Carolina and beyond. Produced by NC State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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Episodes
Educating Meat Processing’s Next Generation
January 17, 2024 13:00 - 12 minutes - 8.59 MBMeat processing is a booming industry in North Carolina. With that, there are jobs abound for graduates to take on, but do they have the relevant training? NC State's Currey Nobles is working with the Agricultural Institute instituting courses to help train the next wave of workers entering the industry. go.ncsu.edu/food-animal Thank you for listening to Farms, Food and You, produced by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. Over the past three yea...
A Pearl of an Industry
December 20, 2023 21:00 - 13 minutes - 9.03 MBConsidered a delicacy, oysters are wildly popular in culinary communities. But is farming them as exclusive as some might believe. This episode we sit down with Jane Harrison to discuss the North Carolina Oyster Trail, and learn about the burgeoning industry that is North Carolina oysters. Latest issue of CALS Magazine - go.ncsu.edu/calsmag North Carolina Oyster Trail - https://ncoystertrail.org/
The Quest for Net Zero
November 23, 2023 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.43 MBIn this episode of Farms, Food and You, we’ll look at what essentially equates to carbon recycling and the potential it holds for farmers, entrepreneurs and society in general. It’s a topic covered in the latest magazine of North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Our guest is Dr. Joe Sagues, the researcher featured in that article. CALS Magazine - https://magazine.cals.ncsu.edu/roads-to-carbon-removal/
2023 North Carolina State Fair - The Best Day Ever
October 11, 2023 17:00 - 9 minutes - 6.76 MBIt’s that time of year again, the 155th time to be exact. Get ready for “The best day ever” with a trip to the North Carolina State Fair. While you may be thinking about the 87 different rides and more than 150 food vendors, the Animal Science Club at NC State has been thinking about how to help their show cattle put their best hooves and udders forward. You can find them at the Milk Booth, teaching willing visitors how to milk cows while answering questions about the dairy industry, and at ...
Urban Entomology - Part of Our Creepy Crawly World
September 20, 2023 14:00 - 13 minutes - 9.54 MBThis month, we're learning about all the creepy crawlies surrounding us, and how we should expand our view of them as not just pests. We sit down with entomologists Elsa Youngsteadt and Eleanor Spicer-Rice to discuss. Learn more about researchers in this episode Dr. Elsa Youngsteadt is an assistant professor and Extension leader at NC State. Her research in the Youngsteadt Urban Ecology Lab works at the interface of urbanization and climate change to understand how organisms, populations, ...
Get To Know Dean Garey Fox
August 30, 2023 16:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBOn this week's episode we sit down with the new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State Univeristy, Garey Fox. He shares with us his hopes and goals for the years ahead, and the direction he strives to lead the on.
Pollinator Gardens and You
June 28, 2023 21:00 - 13 minutes - 9.38 MBListen this month as we talk about pollinators gardens and your backyard. Learn some tips and tricks for how to make your garden a happening spot for your local pollinators.
Keeping the Bees Buzzing
May 20, 2023 17:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBOn this episode, we hear from Dave Tarpy, head of the NC State University Apiculture Program, and Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, founder and CEO of Bee Downtown. Listen as they share their insights on the state of honeybees, apiculture and the future of the program at NC State University. To learn more about how you can support the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association Faculty Award in Apiculture visit https://units.cals.ncsu.edu/honey-bees/.
Farming with A.I.
April 19, 2023 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.36 MBThe future is now. The rise of artificial intelligence is shifting so many aspects of our daily lives, including agriculture. On this episode we catch up with Jevon Smith from NC State University to learn more about how they are optimizing A.I. to help farms innovate. To learn more about A.I. and research at work, check out the CALS Spring Magazine: go.ncsu.edu/calsmag
Open Sesame Seeds
March 17, 2023 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.93 MBPlanting a new crop carries a lot of risk for farmers. Extension Specialist David Suchoff joins us on this weeks episode highlighting efforts to limit that risk as sesame tries to find footing in the North Carolina agriculture landscape.
Finding Your Niche
February 15, 2023 13:00 - 11 minutes - 8.05 MBDonald and Doris Kidd have been farming in Johnston County for over 20 years. After trying traditional crops, they found a unique crop that spoke them, elephant garlic, and have since specialized their farm for it. On Farms, Food and You we speak with them about how they helped grow this market, and their experiences in selling at the Black Farmers' Market and the State Farmers' Market. Black Farmers Market: https://blackfarmersmkt.com/ State Farmers Market: https://www.facebook.com/StateF...
Building A Community Garden
January 18, 2023 13:00 - 13 minutes - 9.52 MBGreen spaces are hard to come by in urban life. As cities expand, people are searching for areas to explore new skills and experiences. Community gardens can provide both. We speak with Cheralyn Berry, who runs the Briggs Community Garden in Durham, North Carolina, about the opportunities these gardens can offer, and how they can help bring a community together to build something special.
'Tis the Season for Poinsettias
December 14, 2022 19:00 - 13 minutes - 9.13 MBThe quintessential Christmas shrub, the Poinsettia, has deep roots in Central America. But how did this plant get from there to an iconic holiday image? We chat with Brain Jackson, professor of horticultural science, to learn more about the plant's history and its future.
This Truffle's No Trifle
November 16, 2022 14:00 - 7 minutes - 5.3 MBWhat has four legs, curly hair and a nose for fungi? Monza, the Lagotto Romagnolo out in western North Carolina helping the Mountain Research Station dig up truffles. On this episode, we speak with Katie Learn to hear about the work being done in Extension to help bring innovative practices to truffle growers in North Carolina. To learn more about truffles, and other foods sprouting new growth in North Carolina, check out the latest issue of CALS Magazine: go.ncsu.edu/calsmag
North Carolina State Fair, Nothing Finer
October 12, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 6.79 MBThe ferris wheels, games, giant pumpkins and the smell of fried dough. Yes, it's time once again for the North Carolina State Fair. On this episode of Farms, Food and You we'll hear from North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner and NC State alumnus, Steve Troxler, to talk all things State Fair, including Howling Cow's new location.
Be Prepared For Hurricane Season
September 02, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 8.63 MBHurricane season runs in North Carolina from summer into the fall. We sit down with Mike Yoder, coordinator of emergency programs for NC State Extension to learn what you can do to be ready, and what the state is doing to handle any situation. For more info on how you can be prepared please visit: Hurricane preparedness: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/hurricane-preparedness#:~:text=Prepare%20a%203%2Dday%20supply,and%20maps%20in%20the%20car. Preparedness Factsheets: https://ncdisaster.ces....
Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly
August 17, 2022 12:00 - 11 minutes - 7.74 MBThe spotted lanternfly has been on agriculture's collective mind since it arrived in North Carolina. We talk with assistant professor and Extension specialist Kelly Oten to shed some light on this invasive pest and the impact it's been having on our state.
Muscadine So Fine
July 20, 2022 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.73 MBMuscadine grapes have a long history growing the southeast and North Carolina. For everything from whole grapes, health supplements and wine the demand for this thick-skinned product is constantly growing. We chat with Dr. Hoffman to learn more about this special grape, and why everyone is buzzing about it
Plants In Space
June 13, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 6.65 MBOn this episode, we talk with NC State professor Marcela Rojas-Pierce about her recent experiments conducted in space. She walks us through the prep work she and her team had to do to make sure that when their plants left the atmosphere, they could get the valuable information they wanted. For more reading on this topic be sure to check out the latest issue of CALS Magazine: go.ncsu.edu/calsmagazine
Keep Those Bee Hotels Buzzing
May 18, 2022 11:00 - 13 minutes - 9.33 MBWorld Bee Day is celebrated on May 20th this year. In honor of our buzzing pollinators, we sit down with Elsa Youngsteadt, of NC State's Urban Ecology lab, to learn more about the impact that bees have on urban environments, and what can be done in those spaces to help them. To find the handbook referenced in the episode, check here: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469659022/the-bees-of-north-carolina/
The (Turf)grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
March 16, 2022 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.26 MBWhat do sports stadiums, golf courses, roadways and houses across the country have in common? They all benefit from turfgrass expertise. NC State's Turfgrass Management program has been churning out research and workers in the field for years shaping the way many of see and interact with the turf around us. On this episode we talk with NC State Extension Turf Specialist Grady Miller and Durham Bulls Ballpark Head Groundskeeper Grady Miller about all the work that goes into maintaining these ...
The Carolina Gold Rice Rush
February 16, 2022 13:00 - 13 minutes - 8.97 MBCarolina Gold Rice has been making a comeback in recent years. This local, flavorful has roots in North Carolina, but almost disappeared for close to 100 years from the agricultural scene in the State. What's fueling its new rise? Join us as we talk to Angela Post of NC State Extension and Tommy Wheeler of the Tidewater Grain Company to find out!
Turning Over a New Leaf
January 19, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 11 MBOn this week, we chat with Matthew Vann of NC State University's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences about the emerging crop in North Carolina, cigar wrapper tobacco. There's a lot to learn about this specialty crop, and Vann and his team are putting in the work to make sure North Carolina farmers have the best and most relevant info to succeed.
North Carolina Hops to It
December 15, 2021 12:00 - 5 minutes - 3.78 MBBeer making has boomed in recent years in North Carolina with the craft-beer expansion. And with that expansion comes the need for ingredients like the vital hops. Currently, most hops used for brewing in North Carolina are sourced from the West coast. However, agricultural researchers in North Carolina are hard at work to find a way to grow some local hops right here in state. Come learn more about the work they're doing! If you're enjoying the show, please share with your friends or on so...
North Carolina and the Hemp Industry
November 17, 2021 21:00 - 9 minutes - 6.77 MBIn this episode, we take a look at the emerging hemp industry within North Carolina. The 2018 Farm Bill cleared the way legally for the production, and farmers took to the fields. How has the industry been doing, and what have farmers and researchers learned so far? We talk with NC State Extension specialist David Suchoff for more info on this budding North Carolina industry.
Climate Change and North Carolina Agriculture
August 24, 2021 11:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBAgriculture is, of course, affected greatly by storms, droughts, floods, heat and cold, and that makes it vulnerable to climate change. Experts discuss how climate changes affects North Carolina ag, how ag affects climate change, and how the industry can help address it. Our Guests Carl Crozier served for 24 years on the crop and soil sciences faculty at NC State. He is now a professor emeritus. He grew up in south Texas, where he worked on family ranch land. He studied biology at Baylor ...
One-on-One with N.C. Farm Bureau's Shawn Harding
July 19, 2021 12:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBN.C. Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding discusses his farming experience, the Farm Bureau’s priorities and today’s agricultural challenges. About Our Guest Shawn Harding was elected president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau in December 2019. Harding grew up and farmed in Beaufort County. He previously served the Farm Bureau in various roles, including president in Beaufort County, member of the state board of directors and state public policy director. He is a graduate of the Agricultura...
Why N.C. Farmers Need Good Internet
June 21, 2021 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.92 MBWhat challenges do North Carolina farmers face in making the best use of new technology when they lack affordable high-speed internet? And what’s being done about it? In this episode of Farms, Food, and You, two farmers and two broadband professionals talk the need for high-speed internet and what's being done to expand access. Guests Beverly Mooney operates Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur with her husband, Nick. The 80-acre farm was started by her father as a retirement occupation. ...
Growing Food Entrepreneurship in NC
May 21, 2021 14:00 - 11 minutes - 8.18 MBNorth Carolina ranks third among states when it comes to agricultural diversity, but roughly 80% of crops grown here is shipped out of the state to be processed. What’s being done to tap the potential for food entrepreneurs to bring these commodities home? In this episode, two proponents of food entrepreneurship and innovation talk about the momentum that’s been building for the food manufacturing and processing industry in our state. Our Guests Bill Aimutis is executive director of the ...
Adversity Meets Ingenuity for Food Entrepreneur
May 10, 2021 12:00 - 11 minutes - 8.3 MBImagine gearing up to start production in a business you've poured your life savings into. COVID-19 hits, shutting down life as usual and bringing your plans to a halt, with no end in sight. That's food entrepreneur Will Kornegay's story. But thanks to some quick thinking and the support of others, it has a happy ending. About Our Guest Will Kornegay was born, raised and lives in Rocky Mount, where farming of produce and other commodities is key to the economy. He says he always wanted to ...
John Dole: Filling a Growing Need for Ag Grads
April 27, 2021 12:00 - 13 minutes - 9.05 MBIn the United States, there are more than 59,000 job openings for college graduates in agriculture each year. And the need for them is climbing. What is North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences doing to fill that need? Associate Dean John Dole talks about agricultural careers and shares more about how CALS prepares them for the future. About Our Guest John Dole is associate dean and director of academic programs for North Carolina State University’s Coll...
Veterans in NC Agriculture
April 12, 2021 12:00 - 14 minutes - 9.91 MBThere's a rising interest in the role that military veterans play in American agriculture. Four of them discuss their experiences in farming and homesteading. This episode also highlights an NC State program to help those who’ve served our country pursue agricultural careers. About Our Guests Robert Elliott is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who grew up in Louisburg, North Carolina, on a large farm that produced soybeans, tobacco and other crops. After a career as a helicopter mechanic ...
NC Food and Farming: A Look Back, Ahead
March 29, 2021 13:00 - 14 minutes - 9.84 MBOn the eve of his retirement, NC State University economist Mike Walden shares his observations on food and farming in North Carolina over the past four decades and trends that might influence these sectors in the future. About Our Guest Mike Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension specialist with NC State University’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. He teaches and writes on personal finance, economic outlook and public policy. Known for h...
Farmland in a Fast-Growing State
March 15, 2021 12:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBNorth Carolina is losing farm lands at a fast pace. What does this mean for the future of agriculture in our state, and what’s being done about it? About Our Guests Andrew Branan is an Extension assistant professor in North Carolina State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, focusing on extension education on legal matters related to land, farming, forestry, and natural resources. A native of Texas, he holds degrees from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and the Wake Forest ...
Taking Farm Tech to the Next Tier
March 01, 2021 13:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MBWhat will the next wave of agricultural technology hold? Two NC State faculty members with their fingers on the pulse of technological innovation for agriculture talk about their research today and what they think it’ll mean for the farms of the future. About Our Guests Jason Ward leads NC State’s Advanced Ag Lab in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. A native of Kentucky, Ward had no agricultural background before he attended the University of Kentucky as an undergr...
Brandon Batten: Putting Advanced Farm Tech to Work
February 15, 2021 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MBOver the past century, mechanization has helped farmers produce more food more efficiently, but what about today? Can things like robots, drones, sensors and big data analytics help them feed a fast-growing world population? Four Oaks grower Brandon Batten weighs in.
Trey Braswell: Extraordinary Farmer, Extraordinary Eggs
February 01, 2021 13:00 - 10 minutes - 7.16 MBLast fall, Trey Braswell was named a trailblazer by one of North Carolina’s leading business publications. The 35-year-old is forging new paths for Braswell Family Farms and making his mark as president of the North Carolina Egg Association. Braswell discusses how he’s building on long-held family values to lead the fourth-generation agribusiness into the future. About Our Guest Trey Braswell is a native of Nash County, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife and three children and se...
What's New With N.C. Hemp
January 15, 2021 17:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBWith modern hemp production heading into its fifth growing season in North Carolina, what does the future hold for this crop? That’s a question that’s likely on the minds of over 1,500 licensed growers and others in the hemp industry. This episode of Farms, Food and You focuses on the challenges and opportunities facing hemp producers in our state. Please note: This episode was recorded in December 2020. Since then, legal changes may have occurred. For updates on hemp law, please see the Ex...
One-on-One with N.C. Agricultural Research Service Director Steve Lommel
January 04, 2021 18:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBWhen it comes to NC State University’s impact on agriculture, the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service’s discoveries lead the way. Director Steve Lommel provides an update on the service and the groundbreaking research that’s changing farming and food for the better.
Giving Back: Kamal Bell and Sankofa Farms
December 21, 2020 13:00 - 12 minutes - 8.44 MBKamal Bell isn’t your stereotypical North Carolina farmer, and his Orange County farm isn’t your everyday farm. There, he’s not just farming, he’s also teaching — and doing both in ways aimed at raising the quality of life for people in his nearby hometown of Durham.
Initiatives to Make N.C. Agriculture a $100 Billion Powerhouse
December 07, 2020 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBAgriculture and agribusiness are a $92.7 billion a year industry in North Carolina, and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is determined to see that value top $100 billion soon. At North Carolina State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, three major initiatives -- the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, the Food Processing and Manufacturing Initiative, and the Food Animal Initiative -- are designed to help the state meet and exceed that goal. Our guests Steve L...
Waste Solutions: From Farm Waste to Feed, Fertilizer and Energy
November 23, 2020 14:00 - 11 minutes - 6.29 MBWaste management is part of doing business for North Carolina’s 46,000 crop and livestock farms. And at North Carolina State University, researchers and extension specialists are working to cut waste management costs, create income from value-added products, and protect the environment. Two ways that the university is working to deliver waste management solutions: by helping farmers use plant-based agricultural leftovers to feed beef cattle and by finding ways efficient to turn hog manure in...
Waste Solutions: Vermicomposting
November 09, 2020 19:00 - 13 minutes - 9.17 MBWhen it comes to waste management, NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences delivers solutions. Learn how Rhonda Sherman helps others use worms to create valuable soil amendments from agricultural wastes. OUR GUEST Rhonda Sherman is an extension specialist with NC State University’s Department of Horticultural Science. Her work at the university over the past 28 years has focused on solid waste management. She’s written more than 60 publications and is author of the book “The Wo...
Sweet Success With Sweet Potatoes
October 26, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBSweetpotatoes: They're North Carolina's state vegetable, and they're not just for Thanksgiving anymore. Find out how North Carolina farmers have positioned our state as the national leader when it comes to production of this increasingly in-demand crop. Resources The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission’s website is full of information on sweetpotatoes, including recipes, nutrition facts and a new sweetpotato-focused curriculum for K-12 students. Our Guests Daniel Tregeagle, a native o...
Growing Giants
October 05, 2020 16:00 - 14 minutes - 9.99 MBImagine a pumpkin putting on 20, 30, even 40 to 60 pounds per day. It happens! With the North Carolina State Fair cancelled this year, the public won’t get to witness the Great Pumpkin and Watermelon Weigh-Off, but you can listen in to the latest episode of Farms, Food and You podcast as three North Carolinians with a passion for horticulture talk about the art, the science and the fun of growing giants. Our Guests Susie Zuerner of Arden, North Carolina, is so passionate about the art and s...
One-on-One with NC State Extension’s Rich Bonanno
September 21, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBRich Bonanno discusses the challenges North Carolina agriculture faces today and how NC State Extension, the organization he leads, works to keep the industry at the forefront of the state’s economy.
Agritourism: Heading Out to the Farm
September 07, 2020 16:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBFall usually brings corn mazes, hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkins and more ways to experience North Carolina farms, but the pandemic adds uncertainty for 2020. Learn more about how industry leaders and farmers are planning for the fall season and about a new app that will help you better connect with what’s in store. OUR GUESTS Annie Baggett serves as agritourism marketing specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She helps farmers develop and promo...
Community Gardens: To Plant is to Believe
August 23, 2020 22:00 - 14 minutes - 9.9 MBCommunity gardens can give people who don’t have much land the chance to grow food while connecting with others. At a community garden on a former North Carolina plantation, refugees from Myanmar are reconnecting with their agrarian roots, producing the kinds of Asian vegetables that they and their ancestors grew before a long civil war caused them to flee. MORE INFORMATION Dig into NC State Extension’s NC Community Gardens portal to find a community garden near you; to learn how to start ...
Local Foods, Local Opportunities
August 04, 2020 11:00 - 12 minutes - 8.84 MBInterest in locally grown food has grown over the past two decades, and disruptions in the food supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic have brought even more attention to this segment of our nation’s agricultural industry. How has the pandemic affected farmers and others involved producing and selling local foods? And what does the future hold for local foods in our state? Our guests Whitney and Isaiah Allen own and operate the 20-acre Rocky Run Farm in Mebane, North Carolina, produc...
The Future of North Carolina Agriculture
July 20, 2020 14:00 - 13 minutes - 9.21 MBFarmers are the backbone of North Carolina’s $92.7 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry. What opportunities do industry leaders see as keys to a successful future? And how are NC State Extension and research helping position them to make the most of those opportunities?