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soil health

A herd of beef cattle graze various cover crop test plots

Feb 19, 2024

Organic Accelerator: New Study Investigates Grazing Living Mulches for Soil Health

Organic demand is hot, but organic farms are declining in North Carolina. Ekrem Ozlu and four partner institutions embark on a four-year USDA NIFA project to evaluate cover crop mixes and animals grazing living mulches to jumpstart soil health in organic systems. 

Nov 13, 2023

NC State Extension Adds New Conservation Agronomy Specialist

Austin Menker joins NC State Extension in conservation agronomy as part of a Farmers for Soil Health cover crop initative. 

Close up of a split immature cotton boll

Sep 25, 2023

Could Biostimulants Save Doomed Cotton Seedlings?

Lori Unruh-Snyder discovered that cotton seed damage locations and patterns can accurately predict seedling performance. Now, they are testing ways growers could overcome these deficits. 

Graduate student Matthew Starr walks in a cotton field

May 1, 2023

Agriculture’s Promised Land?

As major companies pledge support for regenerative agriculture, researchers and growers question what role it can play in North Carolina agriculture’s future. 

PBS NC State of Change: Natural Solutions title slide

Apr 17, 2023

Earth Day Special Highlights Soil-Based Solutions

In an Earth Day broadcast special, PBS North Carolina examines natural solutions research on carbon removal and capture by two soil science faculty. 

a green tractor pauses plowing an organic field

Apr 6, 2021

Can Soil Carbon Fast Forward The Transition To Organic Farming?

One of the biggest barriers to organic farming is the transition period lag in soil health metrics. A group of NC State researchers is investigating if soil carbon can fast forward the soil health benefits of organic farming.