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NC State Leaders Champion FFA at State Convention

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A group of teachers examine stalks in a cornfield and take notes.

Jul 15, 2026

Planting an Interest in Agricultural Careers Through High School Biology

A new grant-funded project at NC State University will offer fresh ideas that North Carolina high school biology teachers can implement with confidence in the classroom, inspired by field trips to farms, plant nurseries and agricultural labs. 
Several peaches with bacterial spot of peach disease

Jul 13, 2026

The Family Tree of Viruses Just Grew – and It Paves the Way for a New Approach to Agricultural Research

Researchers have discovered that a group of viruses known to infect an agriculturally important plant pathogen has remained genetically stable for an astonishing four decades, a finding that opens the door to new tools for fighting crop disease. 
Mike Walden, CALS ARE Extension

Jul 10, 2026

You Decide: How Important Is Income Inequality?

NC State economist Mike Walden explores the factors that cause income inequality, ways to address it and what's on the horizon for wage gaps as the use of AI grows. 
a pokeweed growing green, unripe and poisonous berries

Jul 9, 2026

Mining Rare Earth Elements with Plants

The United States is looking to boost domestic mining of rare earth elements to secure greater control over pricing and manufacturing of essential technologies we rely on. To that end, the U.S. Department of Energy is backing NC State University’s interdisciplinary research for optimizing phytomining — the process of extracting valuable minerals using plants. 
Walking through a wheat field, NC State student Julie Simons is measuring field length and calculating the acreage that needs to be harvested.

Jul 8, 2026

Summer in the Blacklands of Bearolina: A Q&A with CALS Student Julie Simons

As a summer intern with NC State Extension, CALS student Julie Simons is exploring all the different Extension programs in Washington County and how they serve the community. 
a man inside a industrial shed looking at baskets of duckweed

Jul 8, 2026

Could Duckweed Solve One of Hog Farming’s Biggest Challenges?

CALS professor Ryan Sartor has an idea that could turn waste into worth by using domesticated duckweed grown in hog lagoons to prevent overflows and capture excess nutrients. 
a woman wearing a crown and a sash that says NC Watermelon Queen hold a slice of watermelon

Jul 1, 2026

NC Watermelon Queen Shares Five Fun Facts About the Summertime Staple

Find out how many servings of watermelon North Carolina farmers provide, the number of common watermelon varieties, the pollination process for seedless watermelons and more with these facts from CALS student and North Carolina Watermelon Queen Lilah Byrum. 
a man in a field with cows

Jun 30, 2026

NC State Extension Helps Farmers Navigate Historic Drought

NC State Extension experts are helping livestock producers navigate prolonged drought conditions across the state, which have stunted the growth of pastures and created feed losses within the food animal industry. 
Man standing in a farm field holds up red plastic pails full of fresh strawberries

Jun 30, 2026

NC State Fights an Emerging Strawberry Threat

N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative affiliates, NC State Extension specialists and other researchers are working on multiple fronts in the fight against a new disease taking a big bite out of North Carolina’s strawberry producers’ livelihoods. 
a man wearing a blue suit and red tie stands at a podium that says North Carolina with the FFA emblem in the center

Jun 29, 2026

NC State Leaders Champion FFA at State Convention

NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell and CALS Dean Garey Fox helped celebrate the state's FFA members and their future impact as agricultural leaders during the organization's annual convention.