We sit down with Adam Caldwell to unpack why Johnston County leads the nation in projected farmland loss, what a UDO really changes on the ground, and how citizen input can shape a better balance between growth, jobs, and agriculture. We cover buffers, bona fide farm status, easements, tax impacts, and the push to bring high-paying jobs closer to home.

• why farmland loss in North Carolina accelerates and why Johnston County tops the list
• what a unified development ordinance is and how it affects farms and neighborhoods
• why early engagement matters
• conservation easements and local resources that keep land in production
• the cost of residential growth versus the fiscal benefits of ag and commercial uses
• strategies to attract high-paying jobs and reduce commuter outflow
• balancing property rights with the need to preserve prime soils
• farmland preservation as local resilience and national security

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Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Brandon Batten, a farmer in Johnston County, NC to talk farming, faith, farmland loss/preservation, and the importance of getting involved in our communities.

Johnston County is is among the top 5 fastest growing counties in the state and one of the top counties nationally for farmland loss.

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Chad, Marisa, and Marlowe gather round the mic to talk AI...artificial intelligence that is. Does it have a place in agriculture? How are we seeing it being used? What concerns and benefits do we see? It's all on episode 34, the first of 2026.

If you’ve got a question or a topic you want us to dig into, let us know—we want to hear from you. Join the conversation!

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Tori Rumenik, a native of Florida, but now, an excited North Carolinian. Tori is the new Executive Director for the NC Ag Partnership. We learn her story, talk NC agriculture, and hear a whole lot of passion for the industry.

NC Ag Partnership

@NCAgPartnership

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Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Marisa sits down with Dr. David Monks, Director, NC State Extension and Associate Dean, CALS. They talk about Extension services, North Carolina agriculture, and how these two entities help each other.

Be sure to connect with Extension. It's not just for farmers. Find them at:

• Extension Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• YouTube

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Chad and Marisa sit down with Dr. Blake Brown, an Ag Economist. We talk about how North Carolina is a diverse agriculture state, policy, and of course economics. We promise this conversation is anything but dull.

NC Farmers Appreciation day is a date set aside to celebrate the state's farmers from mountains to sea. Learn more about NC Farmers Appreciation Day and the Young Farmer of the Year Award at https://www.ncfarmerappreciation.com/

You can also follow NC Farmers Appreciation Day on Instagram and Facebook

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Marisa sits down with Curtis Smith of T.C. Smith Produce. Mr. Curtis was awarded the 2024 NC Farmer of the Year Award at the inaugural NC Farmers Appreciation Day.

NC Farmers Appreciation day is a date set aside to celebrate the state's farmers from mountains to sea. Learn more about NC Farmers Appreciation Day and the Young Farmer of the Year Award at https://www.ncfarmerappreciation.com/

You can also follow NC Farmers Appreciation Day on Instagram and Facebook

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Marisa sits down with John and Kristen Norwood of Norwood Meador Farm. John was awarded the 2024 NC Young Farmer of the Year Award at the inaugural NC Farmers Appreciation Day.

NC Farmers Appreciation day is a date set aside to celebrate the state's farmers from mountains to sea. Learn more about NC Farmers Appreciation Day and the Young Farmer of the Year Award at https://www.ncfarmerappreciation.com/

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com