Source: NCDA&CS, 12/16/21


Dr. William “Bill” Foote, Plant Industry director, joined NCDA&CS in October. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Foote is a farmer by trade, having spent 25 years growing fruits and vegetables, running a greenhouse operation and a retail market. Eventually, however, new opportunities would draw him to North Carolina, where he enrolled at NC State University to pursue his Ph.D.

After four years as a graduate assistant, Foote earned that degree and began serving as executive director of the university’s Crop Improvement Program. In that position, he administered the N.C. Certified Seed Program as directed by the federal and state seed acts, provided financial oversight, developed new industrial hemp standards and provided phytosanitary inspections for N.C. seed producers to support export certificates for international and national sales.

When previous director Phil Wilson retired after 37 years with NCDA&CS, Foote was chosen as the man for the job.

“There is a steep learning curve to this position, because Plant Industry covers so much ground,” Foote said. “I’m impressed by both the depth and breadth of what this division does, and I’m always finding new things to learn about that even I didn’t know the division handled.”

Plant Industry is a division with a wide range of responsibilities, from inspecting nurseries to managing nature preserves and fighting against invasive species and much more.

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