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Support Funding & Incentives for Research
and Development & Pilot Projects
The NC Agribusiness Council supports increasing private, state,
and federal funding and incentives for research and development,
and pilot projects in order to provide continued economic
growth for agribusiness in the state of North Carolina. |
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Support Biotechnology
The NC Agribusiness Council encourages both the scientific research
and the market availability of agricultural products utilizing biotechnology.
The Council believes such products offer new opportunities
for farmers to produce valuable agricultural commodities while helping
to provide for the nutritional and medicinal needs of both people
and livestock. The Council further believes such products can help
feed the world and protect the health of our citizens, livestock, crops,
and environment. The Council supports the research and commercial
production of agricultural biotech products to improve the agricultural
economy and environmental stewardship in the state and to
improve the public health and nutrition of North Carolina citizens. |
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Oppose Tobacco Trust Funds for Non-Ag Uses
The NC Agribusiness Council supports protecting the Tobacco
Trust Funds and opposes funds being used for purposes other
than those stated in the General Statute when the fund was
created. Tobacco Trust Funds have been earmarked for the
development of alternative crops and agribusiness interests and
should not be diverted from their intended use. |
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Support Funding to NCDA&CS
The NC Agribusiness Council supports increasing funding to
NCDA&CS to support the economic viability of the number
one industry in North Carolina through its various programs
and value added services. Agribusiness contributes over 20%
to the state’s economy yet the NCDA&CS receives less than
0.3% of the state’s appropriated budget, which is inadequate to
support sustainable growth for the state’s agricultural interests. |
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Support Funding to Our Universities
The NC Agribusiness Council supports increasing funding to
NC State University and NC A&T State University to ensure the
implementation of research and technology transfer programs
to facilitate continued economic development of agriculture
and agribusiness. Projects should support traditional agribusiness
as well as the development of alternative agricultural
enterprises and investigating the frontiers of basic science for
future applications in agriculture. Agribusiness contributes
$68.3 billion to the state’s economy and has grown by over
$32.5 billion in the last 14 years due in large part to the
research and extension programs at these educational institutions.
Further, the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
Veterinary Medicine, Natural Resources, and Textiles at NC State
University and the School of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences at NC A&T State University are important in the
education of tomorrow’s agribusiness workforce in North
Carolina. Increased funding to these academic programs is also
essential to facilitate continued economic development of
agriculture and agribusiness through investments in education
and human capital. |
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Support Funding to Community College Education
The NC Agribusiness Council supports increasing funding to the
Community College System to help ensure that North Carolina’s
workforce is properly trained to work in the agribusiness industry.
Agribusiness employs 17% of the state’s workforce. |
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Support of Utilization of Matching Funds
The NC Agribusiness Council supports utilizing matching
funds, such as conservation funds, to improve the economic
viability of agribusiness in the state of North Carolina. The
Council supports these grants going to the appropriate technical
assistance group approved by the Board of Agriculture.
The Council further supports that funding be directed to the
Department of Agriculture if agriculture related. |
