Public Relations and Agricultural Issues Committee Report

Public Relations and Agricultural Issues Committee helps identify agricultural issues that can be addressed by NACAA. One issue that has gained attention in the last couple of years is soybean rust. Because of concerns about this disease, NACAA hosted a First Detector Educator Training at NACAA AM/PIC in Orlando in 2004.

On the national level, this committee is responsible for the Agricultural Ambassador Program and the Sustainable Agriculture and Holistic Management Workshop. Perhaps North Carolina can make an effort to include a Sustainable Agriculture Workshop as part of the 2008 national meeting. The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (Cherry Farms near Goldsboro) would be an ideal location to showcase sustainable agriculture research in North Carolina.

Agents are encouraged to suggest programs and issues that could be included in a "Current Issues Forum" program at the AM/PIC. This may be something North Carolina agents can develop when we host the meeting in 2008.

Committee Members:

Marjorie Rayburn (NE), Chair

Charlie Tyson (NC)

Roger Cobb (NW)

Craven Hudson (SC)

Eileen Coite (SE)

Daniel Shires (SW)

Ross Young (W)

Submitted by: Marjorie Rayburn 6/28/2006.