Here’s the message via the N.C. Cooperative Extension email newsletter:
Your Chance to Demand Cooperative Extension Support for Local and Organic Food!
For 100 years, the N.C. Cooperative Extension has been the link between North Carolina residents and the research at North Carolina’s land grant universities. In recent years, the General Assembly has dramatically reduced the Extension budget, and now the agency is planning potentially drastic cuts to staff, research, and services.
In November and December, Extension will hold listening sessions across NC to explain its current strategic planning situation, and seek input from those who rely on the Extension about how to allocate its resources to meet their needs. The local, organic food community needs to weigh in on this planning effort. Extension has improved its support for local foods in recent years, and we need that trend to continue. If we don’t speak out in support, then we risk that local, organic agriculture will be put on the chopping block.Take Action
Attend a listening session in your region. A list of sessions in your region appears below. For a list of all the listening sessions, see http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/vision-initiative/listening-sessions/.Before you attend the listening session . . .
CFSA will conduct a conference call on November 18, 2013 at 6 p.m. to prepare those who will attend a listening session by providing talking points and strategy ideas to help increase your impact on the future of the Extension in NC. If you are interested in participating in this brief call, sign up by emailing Rochelle Sparko at rochelle@carolinafarmstewards.org or calling 919-542-2402 x111.
Schedule
DATE TIME LOCATION
November 19, 2013 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Burke County Extension Center
130 Ammons Drive
Morganton, NC 28655November 19, 2013 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Watauga County Extension Conference Center
252 Poplar Grove RoadBoone, NC 28607
November 21, 2013 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research DriveMills River, NC 28759
November 21, 2013 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Swain County Technology & Training Center
45 East Ridge RoadBryson City, NC 28713
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.