By Daniel Fowler, NAICC president
Building on the momentum from a successful 2024 Farm Tour in Wisconsin and in light of the newly released EPA ESA Insecticide Strategy, the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, the Weed Science Society of America and the Foundation for Environmental Agriculture Education are hosting the 2025 VA-NC Farm Tour.
The focus will be on how growers can meet Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements, especially in challenging production systems that cannot be managed with no- till practices and farms that fall within designated Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs). An entire afternoon will be dedicated to demonstrating why Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is critical to agriculture today.
From Sept. 22–24, growers, researchers, crop consultants and conservationists will join officials from the EPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for a hands-on, two-day tour through southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The event will emphasize how sustainable agriculture can be effectively integrated with federal conservation mandates. With approximately 20 government officials on hand, attendees will have open discussions on real-world examples of ESA mitigation practices, as well as learn from these agencies about the practices they have in place to protect species and the environment.
The tour begins Tuesday at Cedar Point Farms in Wakefield, Va., where discussions will focus on cover crops, nutrient recycling and conservation practices aimed at protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Tech and state conservation staff will provide insights into soil health strategies.
Lunch at the Virginia Diner includes research updates on peanut disease management, resistant varieties and field-edge insect issues. Attendees will then travel to Tidewater Agronomics Research Farm in Belvidere, N.C., for hands-on training in IPM, including pest scouting, beneficial insect identification and reduced pesticide strategies.
That evening, attendees will view a peanut harvest and join a grower panel discussion over dinner at Lassiter Brothers Farm, focused on ESA mitigation implementation. Wednesday’s visits to Fisher Family Farms and Mush Island Farms will cover endangered species habitats, pesticide use limitations and targeted spray technology — critical topics for managing sensitive ecosystems in agricultural landscapes.
This tour offers a timely, hands-on opportunity to explore how agricultural productivity and ecological stewardship can go hand in hand. By bringing together growers, researcher, and federal agencies, it fosters meaningful dialogue and practical solutions for navigating ESA compliance and advancing IPM.
The National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC) is the national society of agriculture professionals who provide research and advisory services to clients for a fee. Daniel Fowler is the current NAICC president and has worked as an independent crop consultant for more than 20 years. For more, visit NAICC.org.
