North Carolina

NC AgrAbility Partnership received training from AgrAbility PA in May. Shelby Kennerly and Rae Bachus, NC assistive technology program consultants, and Betty Rodriguez, NC AgrAbility manager, traveled to State College, PA, to meet with Abbie Spackman, AgrAbility PA case coordinator. NC AgrAbility Partnership had the opportunity to have more hands-on training on farm assessments utilizing the HAAT model. They also learned how the involvement of DVRS on farm visits may serve a dual purpose of educating DVRS consultants in AgrAbility while making the delivery process more efficient. The way AgrAbility PA has been able to gather the client referrals is easy to handle and distribute with collaborators. NC AgrAbility thanks Abbie and Dr. Baggett for helping with the growth and advancement of the NC AgrAbility Project.

North Carolina A & T State University is holding the Small Farm Field Day on June 15, 2017, at A&T University farm from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will feature demonstrations of: insect screening and trellising for high-tunnel organics; high tunnel ginger production; small-scale organic pecan production; converting agricultural and food wastes into energy; artificial insemination of beef cattle: the basics; and pasture pork production and management. Posters and display presentations will include: "Industrial Hemp in North Carolina"; "Using Multifunctional Operations to Improve Long-term Profits"; "Nutrition Matters: Farmers, Families, and Communities"; "Preventing Injuries and Staying Productive After Sustaining a Disability"; "Improving Broiler Growth: Applying Probiotic Bacteria to Reduce Ammonia in Poultry Litter"; "Soil Health: Testing Soil Biological Activity"; "Pollinator Protection Update: FieldWatch, DriftWatch and BeeCheck Programs", and "Food Safety and Healthy Food".

Submitted by Beatriz (Betty) Rodriguez