Through integrated research and extension programs, NC state is solving challenges related to the productivity and profitability of both large- and small-scale farms

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded North Carolina State University $25.061 million under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) on October 1, 2025, with performance concluding September 30, 2030.

NC State will conduct integrated research and extension programs addressing agricultural productivity and profitability across large- and small-scale farming operations, landscaping, and gardening. Research and extension efforts in animal systems will focus on breeding, reproduction, nutrition, genetics and genomics, physiology, environmental stress, product quality, and animal health and well-being. The university will develop and disseminate knowledge and methods for animal waste management, wastewater treatment, nutrient management, septic systems, wetland management, soil properties, and fishery and pond management to address soil, water, and air quality issues.

NC State will enhance food safety, nutrition, and health outcomes through supply-chain protection from production to consumption, developing preventive approaches to foodborne illness rather than reactive measures. The university will develop new food products promoting health and disease prevention, while extension programming will provide nutrition education to individuals, families, and communities. Research will address cross-cutting and emerging issues in animal and plant health and production, including studies on feeding source efficiency to improve animal productivity and gut health, and sustainable plant system approaches.

Work is performed in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is a formula grant, an assistance type conveying non-competitive funding to eligible 1862 Land-Grant Institutions for cooperative extension activities.

Researchers and extension educators are also developing and disseminating knowledge and technology to improve landscaping and gardening. Research and extension programs in animal systems are focused on developing and disseminating knowledge and methods for animal breeding, reproduction, nutrition, genetics and genomics, physiology, environmental stress, product quality, and health and well-being. These integrated research and extension efforts also aim to tackle the critical issues impacting the quality of our soil, water and air by providing scientific solutions for animal waste management, wastewater treatment, nutrient management, septic systems, wetland management, soil properties, and fishery and pond management. NC state's research and extension efforts to enhance food safety, nutrition and health and to keep american's healthy and free from foodborne illness necessitate a focus on preventing food safety problems rather than taking a reactionary approach. NC state's integrated research and extension efforts focus on protecting the safety of foods along the entire supply chain, from production to consumption. To meet the growing need for healthy food, researchers are developing and producing new food products that promote health and prevent disease. At the same time, extension provides nutrition education programming to ensure that individuals, families, and communities have the knowledge they need to make informed choices about food and healthy lifestyles. Improving plant and animal agricultural systems: within this area, we will work to address cross-cutting and emerging issues of animal and plant health and production. In animal systems, researchers will study the efficiency of different feeding sources to improve animal productivity and GUT health. In plant systems, the focus will be in sustainable agriculture, alternative and high value crop production, season extension, weather adaptation, value added agriculture, digital agriculture, soil health, pest control, and agro economics. Extension will continue to expand its work with livestock producers, placing special emphasis on limited resources, small- scale minority farmers. The farm pavilion will focus on sustainable agriculture and local and community food systems, housing its applied research and demonstration programs' staff and providing space for meetings, forums and conferences.