FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2001
Research Center Opens Dialogue about Ag and the Environment
FLORENCE---The USDA's Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center recently held the second annual Customer/Partner Dialogue Workshop in Florence, S.C. The workshop was moderated by Dr. Maurice Cook, who served as agricultural advisor to the former governor of North Carolina and brought together 54 participants from the agricultural and environmental communities in North and South Carolina. Participants included representatives of the NC Pork Producers and the SC Cotton Board; private industry, including Super Soil Systems USA, and Delta and Pineland Company; farmer groups, such as Women Involved in Farm Economics and the Farm Bureau; area farmers, local and state entities, including the Department of Natural Resources; and several other USDA Agencies. The focus of this year's workshop was to communicate ARS accomplishments and to determine changes in research needs.
Participants at this year's workshop were given an opportunity to express their interests and desires for future research, to observe current agriculture and environmental research being conducted at the Florence facility, and to network with others in their areas of interest. The Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center works closely with producers and other research organizations in North and South Carolina on such topics as animal manure and by-product utilization, crop production, soil resource assessment and management, and water quality and management.
The Research Center, founded in 1964, currently employs 29 scientists, engineers, and support staff and is located on Highway 52, adjacent to the Pee Dee State Farmer's Market in Florence County. More information and photos are available upon request by calling Don Watts at 843-669-5203 ex.161.