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76 <br /> Slide #43 <br /> Cooperative Extension <br /> • On-Farm and Virtual Support For Farmers <br /> o Mart Bumgarner,Extension Agent for Crops&Horticulture <br /> o Alex Kissinger,Area Extension Agent for Livestock,Forage,and General Agriculture <br /> (including pond management) <br /> o Mike Ortosky,Extension Agent for Community&Rural development(agriculture economic <br /> development programs and Breeze Farm programs) <br /> • Manages Breeze Farm in Hurdle Mills <br /> o Provides new farm incubation support and facilities. <br /> o Licenses to other farmers needing additional land for added farming capacity. <br /> o With funding from the W.C. Breeze Endowment housed in the NC Agricultural Foundation, <br /> will begin withdrawing $25000+ interest annually to add new features and programs. <br /> • Provides a soil test drop off location and technical assistance to landowners for testing <br /> interpretation/application of results. - <br /> �N` <br /> Jonathon Smith explained that extension agents share research, practices, etc. out of <br /> the University with farmers in Orange County. <br /> Slide #44 <br /> Cooperative Extension <br /> Contract Administrator for Piedmont Food Processing Center Agreement <br /> o Renewed in 2024 for 5 years. <br /> o New in 2025 <br /> ■ Open House for public (including elected officials)will be held in mid-to-late <br /> October. <br /> ■ Partnering with Extension Farm School to present to new and established <br /> farmers. <br /> ■ Adding a minimum of two value-added workshops for farmers to help them <br /> better navigate the process of value-added production and using PFPC. <br /> ■ New Marketing Materials are being developed to help Extension and other <br /> partners promote PFPC as a resource to farmers. <br /> ■ More youth engagement opportunities(4-H,etc.) <br />