[View a PDF version of this memo.]

I’m excited to share news of an important initiative that will strengthen NC State Extension’s agricultural programming and support for North Carolina farmers for years to come.

NC Ag Leads is a statewide, industry-led effort that brings together agriculture, education, business and government partners to strengthen North Carolina’s agricultural economy. This partnership formed around a shared recognition that North Carolina’s agricultural support systems must become more coordinated, strategic and responsive to today’s realities.

Working alongside industry partners such as the Golden LEAF Foundation, NC Chamber Foundation, NC Farm Bureau, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, NC State helped inform the NC Ag Leads Strategic Plan for North Carolina Agriculture. Announced last spring, the plan identifies the industry’s most pressing needs and recommended strategies, including a more dynamic approach for aligning and deploying Extension’s agricultural expertise in the counties.

I’ve discussed early details for this work with local Extension leadership, and am now sharing broader context, clarity and next steps for all Extension employees.

Importantly, Extension’s focus here is on strengthening and optimizing our local agricultural programming — not reducing capacity or stepping away from current efforts. In fact, plans are underway to create several new positions as part of this initiative.

What this means for Extension

As an industry leader with a rich history of evolving to meet the needs of our agricultural communities, NC State Extension was — and remains — uniquely positioned to help shape the recommended approaches and implement meaningful solutions. To help bring this plan to life, NC State Extension is preparing to implement a new county-level agricultural staffing model across all local centers statewide.

The framework is designed to:

• Better align Extension’s agricultural expertise with local needs, strengthening high-impact, production-focused programming
• Enhance coordination at all levels of Extension to promote more strategic, cohesive and targeted agricultural programming
• Provide flexibility as agricultural conditions and priorities vary across the state, allowing staffing approaches to evolve over time
• Bolster Extension’s ability to demonstrate impact and communicate needs with partners, stakeholders and decision-makers

This effort represents a timely opportunity to better align our local agricultural staffing model with NC Ag Leads Strategic Plan priorities— including adaptability, workforce development, technology adoption and strong county-based delivery — while also directly supporting NC State Extension’s strategic organizational priorities. 

This approach is meant to guide future agricultural position hiring only and does not impact other program areas such as 4-H or Family and Consumer Sciences. Ultimately, we will strengthen Extension’s local agricultural programming by ensuring our agents are more specialized and better equipped to meet the unique needs of their communities.

Agricultural staffing model implementation

The staffing model considers multiple factors, including local agricultural economic data, to help guide how Extension can best staff and support agricultural programming in every county. The model will only apply to new postings and hires, not currently filled positions.

While the framework will apply statewide across all Extension centers, initial implementation efforts will focus on counties with the greatest agricultural scale, variety and economic complexity, where local demand for strategic support is greatest.

Implementation of the staffing model is expected to begin in spring 2026 and will include pilot testing, refinement and hands-on training, with opportunities for open dialogue throughout. The goal is to finalize the framework by the end of 2026, informed by local feedback and lessons learned during the initial rollout.

New agricultural programming leadership role

To further support counties with significant and evolving agricultural needs, NC State Extension is establishing a new agricultural programming leadership role focused on guiding a more coordinated and strategic approach to agricultural programming across those communities. 

We are pleased to share that Bryant Spivey will serve in this leadership role beginning January 20, bringing experience and perspective that will be instrumental in advancing this work. As agricultural programming leader, Bryant will continue in his role as director for the N.C. Cooperative Extension Center in Johnston County, while also:

• Providing strategic leadership and direction for agricultural programming in key counties
• Supporting local and state leadership in applying the new staffing framework
• Strengthening alignment with industry partners, commodity groups and stakeholders
• Helping elevate Extension’s collective impact across North Carolina’s agricultural sector

We are also pursuing new specialized agriculture technology agent positions to strengthen agent capacity and help keep Extension at the forefront of agricultural innovation, pending available resources and support. More details to come as available.

Moving forward

This work will continue to take shape over the coming weeks and months, with additional information, guidance and opportunities for engagement shared as efforts move ahead.

By working together and building on a strong foundation already in place, we can better support farmers, strengthen our partnerships and present a more unified, strategic approach to growing agriculture across the state.

Thank you for your continued commitment to Extension and to North Carolina agriculture. We look forward to staying in close communication as these important efforts progress.

Sincerely,
David

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Additional Background

Watch this overview video to learn more about NC Ag Leads and the shared priorities helping guide Extension’s agricultural work across North Carolina.