Talbott Attends Cuban Conference

October 30, 1998

Greensboro, NC: Dr. Chuck Talbott, an adjunct assistant professor of animal science with North Carolina A&T State University's School of Agriculture, recently presented a paper at The International Swine Conference in Havana, Cuba.

Talbott was the only attendee from the United States at the conference which hosted nearly 200 people from around the world.

Talbott was asked by Food First, a nonprofit organization which addresses issues related to the world's hunger problems, to attend the conference to give an overview of the United States swine industry.

The title of his presentation was "The US Swine Industry: Is There a Place for Small Farms?" Talbott believes that small-scale producers are important to rural communities, and currently need assistance in developing market strategies and alternative production systems to remain viable.

Talbott's research at A&T examines the potential to enhance soils and natural resources by utilizing swine's unique rooting behavior to develop organic soil. Using swine in this way, Talbott believes that waste nutrients may be better utilized to reduce the need for inorganic fertilizer amendments and excessive tillage.

Talbott also recently spent two weeks in Bolivia as part of "Farmer-to Farmer," a project which sends agricultural specialists from North Carolina to Bolivia in an effort to improve Bolivia's agricultural productivity.

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For more information, please contact Dr. Chuck Talbott, NC A&T School of Agriculture, (336) 334-7786.