In 2024, NC State University’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences proudly marked its 100th anniversary, celebrating a century of groundbreaking achievements in agriculture and environmental sciences.
A Century of Progress
Founded in 1924, the department has been pivotal in advancing crop production, soil management, and sustainable farming practices.
When Charles B. Williams became the first department head, North Carolina’s economy was driven by small farms producing staple crops like cotton and tobacco. Work was done by animal and plow, which yielded unreliable results.
Fields Changed By Research
Today, North Carolina’s agriculture generates $4.3 billion in crop cash receipts. The state leads in U.S. tobacco production and ranks highly in peanuts and cotton.
“A hundred years ago, North Carolina was subsistence farming,” NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler said in a recorded interview, “Today, a farmer feeds 42 people. So, where did that increase in productivity come from? Every bit of it came from agricultural research.”
Enduring Achievements
Crop and Soil Sciences has a distinguished track record in pioneering new techniques, crop varieties and tools that have helped create North Carolina’s $120 billion ag economy.
At a celebratory event held at the N.C. Plant Sciences Building, Department Head Jeff Mullahey listed several prominent contributions.
“Over one hundred years, major advancements originated from our department faculty, including Adolph Mehlic, Ralph Cummings, Roy Blaser and Nyle Brady, Bill Gilbert, Doug Worsham, Bill Fike, Major Goodman, Charles Stuber, Pedro Sanchez, Deanna Osmond, and so many others I could mention.”
Select notable accomplishments include:
- Over 10,000 alumni worldwide
- The widely-used Mehlic 1 soil testing method
- The influential soils textbook The Nature and Properties of Soils
- Leadership of the USAID Mission to Peru and TropSoils program
- Faculty World Food Prize award recipient
- Development of new cultivars in tobacco, peanuts, small grains and turfgrass
- Extensive Extension training for growers and agents
Innovating for the Future
With a focus on sustainability, our department has expanded into environmental work, including soil health, nutrient management, and water quality. And technology research now incorporates precision agriculture, drones, remote sensing, and machine learning to boost crop management and yields.
Efforts to develop climate-resilient crops, like drought-tolerant peanuts and salt-tolerant soybeans, support farmers facing changing climate conditions. And our work also emphasizes sustainable farming practices and explores methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance soil quality, and promote biodiversity.
The Power of People
“Our progress comes from people,” said Department Head Jeff Mullahey. “Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners are the fabric that binds discovery and application.”
Generous funding from donors and partners supports our ongoing research in areas such as:
- Climate adaptation and greenhouse gas emissions
- Cover crop nutrient prediction
- Weed AI imaging
- Carbon sequestration
- Resilient commodity breeding
- Sustainable nutrient management
- Organic and smart-use fertilizers
A cohort of new positions and new hires is reshaping and energizing our department as we enter a new century of research. New and expanded disciplines include plant science AI, weed science, nutrient management and precision agronomy.
Centennial Celebrations
Our department celebrated this golden milestone in a series of events and initiatives:
- CALS Tailgate: An informal gathering of alumni to reconnect and reflect.
- Faculty & Guest Reception: An evening showcase of our department’s historical achievements and future research.
- Historical Timeline Video: A journalistic view of the department’s 100-year historical journey.
- Alumni Video: An interview survey of our impactful alumni and how their studies influenced their careers (both videos are available on our YouTube channel).
- Commemorative Publication: A special CALS Magazine section detailing the department’s history and impact over the last century.
Envisioning Improvement
We recognize that the world’s challenges are not getting simpler. The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences is committed to driving innovation, educating future leaders, and developing sustainable solutions.
Building on a foundation of excellence, we are poised to continue making significant contributions to agriculture, human health and the environment.
Want More The Next Century of Advances?
Crop and Soil Sciences’ renowned faculty impacts students, businesses, and citizens everywhere soil is afoot. Join our weekly newsfeed to follow how our innovations affect agriculture and environmental science.
If you are a student interested in crop or soil science, investigate our undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Then, join us for a guided email tour of our department and university.
Improving NC’s agriculture and environment is how we are growing the future.
