2 2011 PROGRESS & REVIEW, SUNDAY, MARCH 6,2011
Evolving agriculture part of Albemarle past, future
T hough its rich soil has long
been a productive, econom
ic treasure, the Albemarle
is one of the few regions where
the state’s former chief cash
crop, tobacco, is next to invis
ible. Due to some quirk in the
soil, growers deemed Albe
marle turf unwelcoming to the
golden leaf.
Agriculture, nevertheless,
took root and evolved into
one of the region’s economic
engines during the last century.
In hindsight, the absence of to
bacco stimulated the diversity
of area farming ventures, from
corn and soybeans to cabbage
and cotton to peanuts and pota
toes. These crops dominate lo
cal farming today and continue
to be a transforming influence
on the region’s future.
This year’s Progress &
Review Edition celebrates Al
bemarle agriculture during the
last 25 years, its evolution as an
industry, partner to economic
development and mentor of
lives and lifestyles.
The tentacles, of local
agriculture, as our stories
illustrate, reach deep into the
community’s identity, coloring
the focus of family life, educa
tion and human relations while
strengthening the region’s
business connections.
Despite the whims of
weather and the gyrations of a
fickle global marketplace, farm
ing has proven to be a reliable
and viable source of financial
sustenance.
Of course, farming alone
will not deliver the region to
its ultimate potential, which is
why local leaders seek out new
business and industry.
Today’s economic develop
ment focus is on bricks and
mortar, retail, education, sci
ence and technological initia
tives to rev up the economy.
The advance of technologies,
which can stimulate or even
transform a local community,
are real and must be pursued.
Such an opportunity is just
being realized at the Elizabeth
City-Pasquotank commercial
airpark, where cutting-edge
aviation technology is being
implemented. The benefits are
immediate and long-term for
residents and businesses: Lu
crative high tech investment;
the demand for employees with
advanced skills to fill jobs; a
trigger for stimulating local
educational resources and sup
port businesses.
Together, we see the reliabil
ity of science-driven farming
merging with technical-based
development and other busi
ness to produce a diversi
fied and thriving Albemarle
economy.
—Mike Goodman, Editor
On the Cover
The cover of the
2011 Progress
and Review Edition
includes file and staff
photographs taken by
Justin Falls, Brett A. Clark,
Thomas J. Turney and
Cathy Wilson.
2011 Progress & Review
Index
Cropping Up: Feature graphic 3
Bigger, fewer farms 3
Local farms produce results ,.4
Overhead costs key for growers 4
Advances reduce manpower 5
Farmers keep eye on stocks 5
Eco-movement benefits farms 6
Ag agents’ duties evolve overtime 6
4-H still plays key role in kids’ lives 7
Fighting pests now safer 7
Farming’s long hours passed down 8
Farm financing boosts production 8
Agriculture popularcourse at NHS 9
Family farms see resurgence 9
Community garden growing 10
Markets help farmers, crafters 10
Student plows under stereotypes ....11
Festivals celebrate cash crops 13
Crafts reflect a farming past 13
Barns subjects of art 13
Plenty of room for growth 14
Wind energy, farming compatible 14
Farming is women’s work 15
Genetics arms farmers 15
From farmer to aviation mechanic ..16
Airpark moving fon/vard 16
Efficiency makes forbiggerfarms ....17
Farmer fills time by coaching 17
Techno-farming; More safety helps consumers
:By RITCHIE E. STARNES
‘ Chowan Herald Editor
t
- Agriculture has benefit-
ied as much as any indus-
>try from America’s revo-
^lution of technology.
: Although the techno-
»logical revolution started
'.evolving over the last cen
tury, many of the more
high-tech changes have
occurred over the last 25
years. U.S. Crop and ani
mal production has gone
from labor intensive to
deeper capital invest
ments, primarily due to
farming advances related
to the computerized age
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and biotechnology.
The farming revolution
has gone from a plow to
computerized tractors ca
pable of doing more with
greater efficiency than be
fore. And while mechani
cal advancements have
eliminated the roles of
many farm workers, the
progress of machinery
comes at a higher cost.
“That’s why tractors
have gotten so expensive.
They’ve gone from a four-
row equipment to 12-row
equipment,” said Jeff
Smith, a Chowan County
farmer.
Not only has machinery
gotten larger and more
powerful, but they’ve
become mobile offices
equipped with comput
ers and GPS systems, ca
pable of processing vital
data useful for improved
yields.
“GPS and other technol
ogy improves precision
and much of this has been
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‘Farmers
have access to
tremendous
amounts of
information
from what
. they collect
on their farm,
as well as the
Internet. ”
David Smith
Director, N.C.
N.C. Agricultural
Resource Center
adopted during the past
25 years,” said professor
W. David Smith, associ
ate professor and director
N.C. State Agricultural
Research Service. “Yield
monitors on combines
and GPS technology on
sprayers are fairly routine
today and were just start
ing here 15-20 years ago.
All of this has led to an
explosion in information
technology.
“Farmers have access
to tremendous amounts
of information from
what they collect on their
farm as well as the Inter
net,” David Smith added.
“When I started at N.C.
State 30 years ago no one
had a computer, Internet
connection or a cell phone.
Today, I don’t know a farm
er who doesn’t have a cell
phone or access to the In
ternet.” Twenty-five years
ago farmers were depen
dent on local information.
Today they have access to
global information.”
“There are also many
engineering advances in
planters, sprayers, com
bines, and tractors that
improve efficiency, com
fort, and health,” David
GinsFORMiocmiom
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Smith said. “How many
tractors had cabs 25 years
ago? Today most do and
it goes beyond increased
comfort. Think about the
decreased exposure to the
sun and risk of skin can
cer, dust and lung disease,
as weU as decreased expo
sure to noise and hearing
loss.”
Whereby yields used
to be measured by fields,
technology allows for con
tinuous production mea
surements. Such precise
data enables a farmer to
identify soil deficiencies
and their specific loca
tions among large-acre
tracts. Farmers can then
work to improve nutrients
in those areas, therefore,
improving yields.
Like crop production,
computer technology has
enhanced the way farm
ers collect data. Farmers
can better monitor weight
gain and feed ratio, milk
output of dairy cows, feed-
to-meat ratio, and egg pro
duction.
For what technology has
accomplished for crop and
livestock production, bio
technology has achieved
similar revolutionary ad
vancements, especially
with genetics. There is a
better quality of seed and
fertilizer, contributing to
increased yields and bet
ter food.
“We have seen herbicide
tolerance and BT (a biolog
ical insecticide) built into
corn, cotton and soybean
varieties,” David Smith
said. “All of these factors
have improved yield and
efficiency.”
Welcome to
Historical Belvidere, N.C.
WoGon TT'o/n SG'f'f
O March 18th 3:00
Fun, Food, Kids Games, Hay Rides,
Home Made Items, Vendors, D.J. & Live Music
Belvidere Fire Dept, will have Dinner Plates for purehase
Come see the Wagon TVain parade into
Belvidere to set up an Old Fashioned Campsite
with Camp Fire and Live Music
^*'*^^*^
Country Musie^hpw
;|*30^n the Main stage
Barbara Jean & Company
■(Tanya Saunders & Lacey Jean)
For Information
Contact
Doug Layden
297-2875
Debra Byrum
297-2400