Discovery and Advancement for Regenerative and Integrated Soil Systems
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News Press Releases
A North Carolina farmer is composting and using fertilizer while prices are high
Understanding Heirs property at the community level in NC
Farming NC: Exploring Agribusiness: Looking ahead and behind
Extension Specialist Promotes Organic Growing at Farmer-Focused Conference
Biswanath Dari explains that composting and balanced fertilizer use are key strategies for building soil health and maintaining nutrient efficiency. He notes that integrating organic amendments with proper nutrient management can improve soil biological activity and support sustainable crop production. His perspective reinforces the importance of combining science-based practices with practical farm management to achieve both productivity and environmental sustainability.
People attending educational forums at Small Farms Week 2025 at the N.C. A&T State University Farm talk about some of the issues they are facing and their reaction to the sessions.
“Organic agriculture is not widely adopted in the Southeast because the hot weather creates significant insect, pest, weed and disease pressures,” Dari said. “Moving to an organic farming system from a conventional one presents significant challenges that can negatively affect crop yields and income. To advance the organic movement in this region, it’s critical that we educate, support and empower small-scale, minority and underserved farmers who contribute the majority of organic production in the Southeast.”
News Press Releases
N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension partner in USDA’s $2.8B Climate-Smart Commodities projects
Extension Specialist Wins National Career Award
Conservation Resources with Dr. Biswanath Dari
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is contributing to major national efforts under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. Faculty researchers are working with farmers across the U.S. to promote sustainable practices such as cover cropping, no-till systems, and improved soil management. These projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance soil carbon sequestration, and support underserved farming communities through technical and financial assistance.
Biswanath Dari, Ph.D. joined N.C. A&T Extension in 2021, specializing in educational strategies and programs to build and adopt climate-smart, resilient, sustainable farm production practices for small-scale, limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged audiences.
North Carolina A&T soil health specialist Dr. Biswanath Dari discusses his work helping small-scale, limited-resource farmers implement natural resource management practices. Dr. Dari highlights his work with cover crops at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems research farm.
News Press Releases
$1 Million to Grow Organic Fertilizer Study with N.C. State
N.C. A&T to Lead “Ag Tech Corridor” Project with $1M from National Science Foundation
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AT A&T TO LEAD HEIRS PROPERTY SUMMITS FOR LANDOWNERS
“Climate change is happening, as shown by recent extreme flooding and record-high global temperatures,” Dari said. “With this project, we are trying to determine if weathered rock — a nascent, climate-smart fertilizer source — can give farmers an organic alternative to fertilizer, improve crop productivity, protect the environment by sequestering more carbon and reduce agricultural emissions in high-disturbance organic systems in the Southeast.”
The project, called Climate-Responsive Opportunities in Plant Science (CROPS), brings together researchers from Duke University, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University; specialists and county agents from N.C. Cooperative Extension; industry partner N.C. Biotechnology Center; and nonprofit research institute Research Triangle International with the N.C. Community College System. Together, they will create a plan to develop a 42-county Agricultural Tech Innovation Corridor to enable improvements in agriculture to reach underserved areas of the state faster.
“Heirs property is a very critical issue in North Carolina,” said Biswanath Dari, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the university’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and agriculture and natural resource specialist with Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T. “Too many people are not aware they have heirs property issues. They do not know there are legal pathways and useful resources available to secure their property. This project will bring these resources to those who need them.”
Dari is the principal investigator (PI) on the project, “Understanding Heirs’ Property at the Community Level in North Carolina.” In collaboration with North Carolina State University, this project aims to identify and educate heirs property owners across the state.