The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

May 2, 2008

Board member Pitt concerned with budget cuts

Sherry Brunson

Edgecombe County farmer Bert Pitt, who is one of 10 members of the state Board of Agriculture, which met Wednesday, voiced his concern over legislation that could affect farmers in North Carolina.

"The hot topic at the meeting was a big push by a legislative evaluation committee, who want to sell seven of the research stations in state to cut state spending," Pitt said. "The Board of Agriculture, the N.C. Farm Bureau and all the farm agencies want things to stay as they are."

North Carolina currently has 18 research stations, 12 are owned by the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and six are owned by N.C. State University. The two agencies work together, in what Pitt said, most farmers consider an ideal dual system.

The scientists at N.C. State University study in their laboratories, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture agents handle the work on each farm, where the latest farming methods are tested.

Pitt said the Upper Coastal Plains Research Station in Edgecombe County is the oldest in the state, and considered a model across the nation. It specializes in cotton, tobacco and peanut research and features a 450-acre farm on which test crops are raised.

"I know tobacco is a politically controversial crop," Pitt said, "but we are proud of the tax dollars it brings to Edgecombe County and the State.

"Right now the evaluation committee, which consists of doctors and psychologists, none of whom have any degree in agriculture, want to sell off seven of the research stations and transfer the ownership of the remaining 11 to N.C. State University," Pitt said. "The Board of Agriculture doesn't want anything that drastic."

Pitt said he feels it is ironic that the State of North Carolina just designated $100 million to preserve farmland, and yet will consider selling what it already owns.

"If they sell their land, and then purchase other land with the $100 million, they will probably pay a higher price that what they would sell for," Pitt observed. "Once the farmland is sold, you will probably never get it back, because often it is sold to developers."

Pitt is also concerned that the sale might cause friction between the two agencies that have worked together so well, for so long.

"The research station is especially important to Edgecombe County farmers," Pitt contended. "They can actually see the different varieties of plants and techniques used, and can actually walk out and see how stuff should work, and the results in the fields. They don't just help Edgecombe County, but they help all of North Carolina and the Southeast United States.

"The N.C. Department of Agriculture also requires farmers to show accountability," Pitt added. "They are more accountable for the dollars spent, which we need."

Pitt said the research stations also do research on forestation for local landowners, and help them to manage and sell their lumber.

"N.C. Sen. Clark Jenkins is on a committee that will meet May 8, which the legislation must go through," he said. "I feel he sees what is going on, and it needs to be stopped, they don't need to keep looking, they need to kill the idea."

Pitt said the board also approved a request from the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association to conduct a referendum among cattle producers for an assessment on cattle marketed in North Carolina.

"The cattlemen will vote as to whether to charge themselves one-half of 1 percent of the sale price of any cattle sold," he said. "The association will use the money to promote the N.C. cattle industry, whether it is in research or a youth program."

Edgecombe County has a long history with the Board of Agriculture.

The first N.C. Board of Agriculture met in 1877," Pitt said. "And one of the first members, I.R. Thigpen, was on that very first Board. So Edgecombe County farmers have involved in the State Board for a long time."

The 10 members of the Board of Agriculture are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.

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