A&T Expands Soil Conservation Research

For Immediate Release
April 20, 2001

Greensboro, NC:: A soil conservation research and demonstration program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will expand, under funding from USDA's National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The expansion will allow A&T researchers to provide educational opportunities to soil specialists interested in the results of North Carolina A&T State University's ongoing Tillage Runoff, Agricultural Chemicals and Erosion (TRACE) research.

According to Dr. Charles Raczkowski, an associate professor in A&T's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design and a TRACE researcher, the NRCS funding will be used to stage field days and design other educational activities to demonstrate the benefits of soil management practices, such as controlled traffic and reduced tillage.

"TRACE is designed to help farmers improve their growing methods and increase their profits while preserving the environment by minimizing soil erosion," said Raczkowski. "By demonstrating these benefits to soil biologists, so that they can share ideas with others, we will broaden the reach and impact of our research."

The expansion was funded by NRCS's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

EQIP provides technical, educational, and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.

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For more information, please contact Dr. Charles Raczkowski, NC A&T Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, (336) 334-7779.