Archie Hart of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been named to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee. The appointment is for two years.

The independent committee advises EPA on a wide range of environmental issues of importance to agriculture and rural communities.

Hart directs the NCDA&CS Office for Small Farm Policy, which provides services to small, limited-resource and minority farmers.

“Archie understands the challenges facing our small and limited-resource farmers, and his perspective will be important to the EPA as it develops policies affecting agriculture and rural communities,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “He is an excellent choice for this committee.”

Committee members were selected from a large pool of applicants. New members include representatives from academia, agriculture and allied industries, non-governmental organizations, and state, local and tribal governments.

A Knightdale resident, Hart has worked for the NCDA&CS since 1992. He is a graduate of N.C. A&T State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in plant science. Before joining the NCDA&CS, he worked nine years for N.C. Cooperative Extension in Wake County. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Small Farm Advisory Committee, N.C. Small Farm Commission and the Tobacco Farm Life Museum Board of Directors.