The Speakers

DSM Practitioner's Discussion

Tiffany Allen is the Soil Survey Office Leader for the MRLA 130B Southern Blue Ridge Soil Survey Office in Waynesville NC. She is also a Co-Chair of the USDA’s New Technology Committee. She was involved in the field mapping of several mountain counties as well as digital map production. She has been practicing soil science for 20 years with a specialty in GIS and soil map interpretation and analysis. She prides herself on the fact that her work helps people help the land.

An Update on the New Permits for Onsite Wastewater

Jim is the founder of Piedmont Environmental Associates and serves as a managing principal and project manager. With a career spanning decades and comprised of experience in soil mapping, wastewater system design and installation, regulatory compliance and lot yield maximization, Jim is equipped to handle any project from start to finish.

Organic amendments and cadmium reduction management for smallholder cacao production

Research interests include understanding basic aspects of soil/plant interactions in agricultural systems that might lead to more efficient fertilizer use. Specific interests include N cycling in agricultural systems, characterizing soil microenvironments, the chemistry and management of organic soils, and developing precision fertilizer management schemes.

A Discussion about Lime and Soil Sampling

Dr. Hardy is an integral part of the NCDA& CS Agronomic Services Division. The mission of this important institution is to provide all North Carolina residents with diagnostic and advisory services that increase agricultural productivity, promote responsible land management and safeguard environmental quality.

Weed Seeds in Compost and Litter

Dr. Kulesza works with various manures and byproducts generated by animal ag industries to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their use in the diverse cropping systems of North Carolina.

Currently, Dr. Kulesza’s research focuses on utilizing manure in various crops and crop rotations, identifying optimum application rates to maximize crop yield and quality while minimizing potential environmental impacts.

Legislative update and discussion of Covid19 related policy changes

Executive Director of the North Carolina Septic Tank Association

Phosphorus movement in soils

Merrin has research interests in the linkages between hydroclimatology, biogeochemical cycling and surface-water chemistry in both natural and impacted systems under variable climatic regimes and following disturbance or land use change. Her work is largely in agricultural watersheds and wetland ecosystems

Soil Compaction Resulting from Manure Application

Areas of Focus include: Collaborate on applied research and demonstration projects on precision agriculture, Best management practices for the implementation of precision agriculture, Co-ordinate applied research projects addressing field crop production or related issues, Project design and analysis, tracking, reporting and communications of research and field trial results, and Chair of Farm Smart and Farm Smart Expo

Fertilization Recommendation Support Tool (FRST)

Postdoctoral Research Scholar at North Carolina State University

Nitrogen and Potassium fertilizer recommendations in cigar wrapping tobacco in NC

Graduate Research Assistant at North Carolina State University

Assessment of chloride application and uptake by flue-cured tobacco

In 2015, Dr. Vann was appointed to the Dr. William K. Collins Tobacco Agronomist Position in Research, Teaching, and Extension Endowment. His responsibilities include teaching tobacco production courses in both the two (CS 116) and four year (CS 216) programs at NC State University, advising M.S. and Ph.D. level graduate students, supporting the efforts of Cooperative Extension Agents with tobacco responsibilities, directing Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) training for North Carolina tobacco farmers, and providing timely Extension information to allied industry.