The Farm Bureau Building in Raleigh was the site as representatives of several College departments presented an extensive program about the latest science and technology advances for alternative agricultural enterprises.

Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. and Commissioner of Agriculture James A. Graham joined the group in learning about value-added and customized crops, alternative crops development for specialty and niche markets and the potential for turning certain niche-market crops into viable commodities.

Dr. Tom Losordo, professor of zoology, discussed the growing potential of aquaculture for diversification of the family farm.

Presentations by six Horticultural Sciences Department representatives then followed, including Opportunities for Ornamentals, Dr. Ted Bilderback; Opportunities for Floriculture, Dr. Brian Whipker; Herbs and Nutra-ceuticals, Dr. Jeanine Davis; Organic Crop Production, Dr. Nancy Creamer; Small Fruit Production, Dr. Jim Ballington; and Specialty Crops and Niche Markets, Dr. Jeanine Davis.

Dr. Jean-Marie Luginbuhl of Crop Science delivered his assessment of the opportunities for expansion of meat goat production. He was joined by Crop Science Department Head Dr. Tom Stalker, who spoke about value-added and customized crops, and Dr. Arthur Weissinger, who discussed alternative uses of tobacco.

Presenters then fielded questions from commodity growers about production costs, market distribution and other feasibiltity factors of going into alternative crop businesses.