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House of Raeford Farms School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences

Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center

Established at the University of Mount Olive in 2002 as a regional center for outreach and development, the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center supports the region's agricultural community and the University's agricultural academic programs. The Center has been awarded more than $3 million in grants to advocate and support agricultural and rural communities to ensure economic viability and farmland preservation. Impactful outreach currently administered by the Agribusiness Center offers cost-share funding opportunities to farm families in 33 counties across central and eastern North Carolina to enhance the expansion and diversification of agribusinesses and agricultural production operations. The Agribusiness Center exposes agriculture students to an extensive network of agriculturists across multiple disciplines, providing them the unique opportunity to grow as advocates and to engage with industry professionals. Development through the Center also provides support for facility and program expansion and growth to enhance the overall student experience.

Agribusiness Agribusiness is the business of agriculture, including farming of food and natural fiber. It also includes manufacturing, and wholesale and retail sales in North Carolina, the U.S.A. and worldwide. Agribusiness is the world's largest industry responsible for feeding and clothing over 6 billion people worldwide.
$3M+ In grants awarded to support agricultural & rural communities
33 Counties served by AgPrime cost-share funding opportunities
25 County farmland preservation plans developed statewide
Mission "Foster synergism within the agricultural business community, through environmental stewardship and Christian ethics by providing educational opportunities, outreach initiatives, and sustainable partnerships."
Areas of Focus
Outreach Programming
  • Economic development
  • Farmland preservation
  • Farm transition
  • Forest management
  • Production options
  • Student learning support
Facility & Resource Development
  • Private and public funding
  • Resource development
  • Grant partnerships
Outreach Education
  • Conferences
  • Workshops
  • Field days
Business Support
  • AgPrime cost-share grant opportunities
Agricultural Degree Programs
Agribusiness Agricultural Education Animal Science Plant Science Environmental & Natural Resources Agriculture Production Systems Veterinary BioSciences
Leadership
Dean — House of Raeford Farms School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences Dr. Steve Matthis Dr. Matthis joined the University in 2023 after previously serving as Training Director with Prestage Farms, Inc. and Dean of Occupational Programs at Sampson Community College. His hands-on knowledge of the livestock industry comes from having owned and operated his own 300-sow farrow-to-finish swine operation and 100 cow-calf operation.
Director — Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center Mr. Edward Olive Named Director in August 2019, Mr. Olive returned to his alma mater in 2012 as Project Development Specialist. He was appointed Assistant Director in July 2014, promoted to Associate Director in November 2017, and named Director in August 2019.
Programs & Outreach

The UMO AgPrime Mini-Grant Cost-Share program provides funding opportunities to farm families to enhance the expansion and diversification of agribusinesses and agricultural production operations. Application periods are announced each fall. AgPrime grants are available to farm families in the following 33 counties across central and eastern North Carolina:

BeaufortBertieBladenBrunswickCamdenCarteretChowanColumbusCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDuplinGatesHertfordHokeHydeJonesLeeLenoirMooreMontgomeryNew HanoverOnslowPamlicoPasquotankPenderPerquimansRichmondRobesonScotlandTyrrellWashington

For funding opportunities in other counties, visit AgVentures (NC State Extension) or WNC AG Options.

The University of Mount Olive's Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center, located in eastern North Carolina, recognizes and supports the agriculture industry so vital to North Carolina. The Agribusiness Center has been actively involved in efforts to encourage and support agriculture and agribusinesses through the development of Farmland Preservation plans in 25 of 61 counties statewide. Plans are developed with funding received from The North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFP) administered through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Family farms and forests are the backbone of agriculture in North Carolina. Agriculture is the number one industry in the state and forestry and forest products are recognized as the largest manufacturing industry. Numerous factors are challenging both industries. An aging farm population, growth and development pressure on limited natural resources, and limited land assets to support the expansion of farming and forestry operations force producers and landowners to work diligently to survive the changing climate of agriculture.

The University of Mount Olive's Agribusiness Center recognizes the need to help farms and forests remain viable and conducts trainings, workshops and conferences to address the needs of the agricultural community. Through the development of farmland preservation plans, the Center assesses the current state of agriculture and identifies challenges and opportunities that exist for agriculture in each county. The preservation plans additionally set forth recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges and opportunities. Each plan is unique to each county and reflects this uniqueness through the recommendations and action steps proposed.

Each plan is developed with input from multiple audiences including farmers, foresters, agribusinesses, and non-farm residents of the county. Data from these target audiences help to identify strategies for local agencies, landowners and local governments to encourage and support farm families.

After plan development, each plan is reviewed and endorsed by the county's Board of Commissioners and certified by NC Department of Agriculture. Upon certification, the county receives a higher status for funding consideration for farmland preservation and agricultural development grants. The county also realizes a reduction in grant match requirement based on county tier designation. Currently, there are 61 counties with farm preservation plans in place statewide. The Agribusiness Center has been involved in the creation of 25 of those 61 plans.

Links to the endorsed and certified plans are below. Please feel free to contact the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center with any questions or comments. For more information, contact Dr. Sandy Maddox at smaddox@umo.edu or call 919-658-7682.

BRAC Regional Farmland Preservation Initiative — Working Lands Protection Plans
Wayne County Farmland Protection Plan
North Carolina's Eastern Region Farmland Preservation Initiative
ADFP 2015–2017 Farmland Preservation Plans
Cost of Community Services Studies — ADFP

North Carolina farm families and landowners face many challenges. The average age of farmers continues to rise and North Carolina continues to show record losses in farm and forestland. These trends and others threaten the generational transfer of family farms unless landowners begin to plan for the future.

Farm transition is a comprehensive approach to keeping farms in production as they pass from one generation to the next. There are numerous multi-generational farms in operation in North Carolina today. However, few of these farm families have planned for what happens to the farm when the person who currently makes the major decisions decides to retire or passes away. Transitional planning can help to alleviate the obstacles that successors will face, while ensuring the continued financial health of the farm family and business.

University of Mount Olive's Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center has worked with multiple counties in central and eastern North Carolina to create farm and forest protection plans which identified challenges facing farm families. These plans, almost universally, identified a critical need for farm transition planning and education for farmers and landowners as a first step to ensure financial stability.

The United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency in 2012 awarded University of Mount Olive funding to provide educational events and workshops for landowners and farm families. These events and workshops feature experts who provide information and resources to jump-start the planning process.

University of Mount Olive's Agribusiness Center partners with multiple organizations to provide day-long regional events titled "Planning for the Future of Your Farm." Additional workshops are conducted throughout the region, engaging commodity groups, co-ops, forestry associations and other organizations. Workshops can range in length from a 45-minute to a half-day presentation based on the needs of the requesting audience. For more information or to schedule a workshop in your area, contact University of Mount Olive's Agribusiness Center at 919-658-7510.

Workshop Topics

The Tools of Farm Transfer
Starting the Transfer Conversation
Basic Estate Planning Documents: Wills, Trusts, Gifting
Federal and State Tax Updates
Letting Go — Generational Transfer
Creating a Team of Advisors
Useful Links
Farm Credit Offices
UMO Professor of Agriculture Ted Feitshans' Estate Planning Articles

In October 2011, the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission provided funding support to Mount Olive College to provide educational opportunities to forest landowners, with the ultimate goal to establish forestry associations in Greene, Lenoir, Duplin, and Wayne Counties. In each county's Farmland Protection Plan, landowner education and promotion of forest products or markets were identified as needs of landowners. The initiation of a county forestry association was noted as one way to provide education for forest landowners. Existing forestry associations across the state are recognized to be important for landowner networking and training.

The grant required three meetings to be held in each county over 18 months to address topics relevant and important to forest landowners in each county. Workshop topics may cover taxes, land use options, estate planning, forestry management plans and other topics that workshop participants deem relevant to land management. The goals of the workshops are to provide needed information to landowners and encourage key leaders in each county to recognize the importance of county forestry associations that will continue networking and educational opportunities for landowners in each county.

Gold Sponsors NC Tree Farm Program · NC Farm Bureau Federation
Silver Sponsors Carolina Loggers Association · Crop Production Services · NC Sustainable Forestry Initiative – Implementation Committee · The Roanoke Center
Bronze Sponsors Bodenhamer Farms · Domtar · Enviva · The Farmer's Connection · NC Forestry Association · NC Pine Needle Producers Association · Tugwell Consulting Forestry
Partners Association of Consulting Foresters · Conservation Trust for North Carolina · Forest Guild · Forest Landowners Association · National Wild Turkey Federation · National Woodland Owners Association · NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund · NC Coastal Land Trust · NC Department of Agriculture · NC Wildlife Resources Commission · Society of American Foresters
About the Center

The Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center was founded at University of Mount Olive in 2002 to provide a center for agribusiness development and agricultural education in eastern North Carolina. Agriculture is North Carolina's number one industry, adding over $78 billion annually to the state's economy. University of Mount Olive is located in the heart of eastern agriculture and the creation of the Center offers a unique opportunity for both students interested in agriculture and for outreach efforts that impact agricultural producers in the region.

Dr. Don Scott served as the establishing director for the Agribusiness Center. Dr. Scott worked with agricultural professionals in eastern North Carolina and leaders at University of Mount Olive to launch the Agribusiness Center. Dr. Scott was also instrumental in working with leaders at University of Mount Olive including President emeritus J. William Byrd to establish the agribusiness curriculum in 2002. Traditional students were then able to study Agribusiness at University of Mount Olive.

In 2007, the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center was dedicated and moved to the newly constructed W. Burkette and Rose M. Raper Hall. Britt served agriculture in various capacities for over 30 years. Ms. Britt worked with Cooperative Extension in Duplin County as an extension agent and ultimately county extension director. Lois G. Britt also worked as Vice President of Murphy Family Farms and as Special Assistant to the President of Murphy-Brown, LLC. Lois G. Britt was a distinguished friend and supporter of University of Mount Olive.

The Agribusiness Center is currently housed within the House of Raeford Farms School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences, which was created in July of 2019 and officially named in 2026. Dr. Steve Matthis currently serves as Dean of the School. Dr. Matthis joined the University in 2023 after previously serving as the Training Director with Prestage Farms, Inc. and Dean of Occupational Programs at Sampson Community College. His hands-on knowledge of the livestock industry comes from having owned and operated his own 300-sow farrow-to-finish swine operation and 100 cow-calf operation.

Mr. Edward Olive currently serves as Director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center. He was named Director in August 2019. After returning to his alma mater as an employee in 2012, Mr. Olive initially served as the Project Development Specialist for the Agribusiness Center. He was later appointed to the position of Assistant Director in July 2014, followed by his promotion to Associate Director in November 2017.

Who We Serve

The mission of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center is expressed through outreach efforts, partnerships, and academic programs to benefit agricultural and rural communities across North Carolina. The Center focuses on serving three main groups: the students of the agriculture programs, agriculturists, and the Original Free Will Baptist Church — the founding church of University of Mount Olive — and the rural communities in which they are located. The Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center is actively involved in numerous educational and outreach efforts to serve each group.

University of Mount Olive now offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree through seven agricultural degree programs: Agribusiness, Agricultural Education, Animal Science, Plant Science, Environmental and Natural Resources, Agriculture Production Systems, and Veterinary BioSciences. Agribusiness programs began in 2002, Agricultural Education was established in 2007, followed by Agriculture Production Systems in 2015. The Animal Science, Plant Science, Environmental and Natural Resources, and Veterinary BioSciences degrees were added in 2019. New degree programs and formats are being considered for addition to the House of Raeford Farms School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences.