Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
Wheat and other small grains play a major role in our state’s agriculture industry. Since its establishment in 1986, the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association has worked to encourage, promote and develop more efficient small grain marketing and production practices to further the industry across our state. From research and variety development to educational opportunities and marketing strategies, the associations’ efforts each year go a long way toward helping wheat farmers in our state.
The N.C. Small Grain Growers Association was originally founded by a group of small grain producers and agribusiness representatives from various counties across the state. Today, it continues to operate as a non-profit with a board of directors consisting of 24 members, plus three non-voting advisors to the board. “Our goal is to participate in all matters relative to small grain producers in North Carolina,” said Nikki Johnson, Executive Director of the association. “We cover wheat, barley, rye, oats, sorghum, canola and triticale.” Nikki took the job as Executive Director of the association in 2020, after spending seven years working under their former Executive Director, Dan Weathington. “I grew up surrounded by agriculture, but didn’t have much experience working in the industry,” Nikki said. “Dan hired me in 2013 and sparked a love of agriculture in my heart that I didn’t know existed. He taught me so much about the industry, especially the small grain industry, and groomed me for this position from day one.” Today, Nikki can’t imagine doing anything else but working in our state’s number one industry!
So, what exactly does the N.C. Small Grain Growers Association do to help farmers across our state? According to Nikki, they bridge a variety of gaps that not only help farmers here and now, but also in the years to come. “Our association funds applied research in production, management practices and variety development that help ensure the future of our state’s small grain industry, especially wheat, which is one of the bigger commodities that we work with,” she said. “We also host field days each year across the state that invite farmers to come learn about current research and get further involved.” In addition to research, the association conducts a variety of educational programs and events to help the community learn more about our state’s small grain industry. “We work with a variety of organizations, including schools, universities, and government agencies, to host educational talks, booths and more throughout the year,” Nikki said. “You would be surprised how many people don’t understand the importance of small grains in our state. Educating them on how wheat is incorporated into their everyday lives, as well as some of the other grains we work with, is a large part of what we do.” For in school demonstrations, Nikki often takes her wheat grinder to teach kids, and adults, how flour is made. They also manage a booth at the Southern Farm Show in February at the N.C. State Fairgrounds where they bake cookies to hand out and teach attendees how they are made with flour from wheat farms across our state.
The association also promotes education through two scholarship programs each year. The N.C. Small Grain Growers Association Annual Scholarship awards ten students with $2,500 to attend the N.C. College or University of their choice and pursue a degree in agriculture. “This scholarship used to be for students specifically pursuing an agriculture degree at N.C. State University but has changed this year to include any college in our state that students wish to attend,” Nikki said. “There are so many great ag schools in our state, and we are excited to expand the opportunities for students to apply for these scholarships this year.” Applications for this scholarship program are open now through May 1st, so if you are interested, or know someone interested, in applying, visit their website to apply today!
The second scholarship offered by the association is the Dan Weathington Memorial Endowment Scholarship in honor of the association’s previous Executive Director. “Dan passed away in 2020 due to cancer, so this scholarship is in honor of his legacy,” Nikki said. “Not only was Dan a leader in the industry, but he always had a passion for students who wanted to pursue a degree and career in agriculture. We believe this scholarship, which gives students the opportunity to do just that, is something that he would be tremendously proud of.” This scholarship is currently funding three students at N.C. State University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) program. This scholarship is relatively new for the association, so it will continue to grow in funds and impact in the years to come.
According to Nikki, any farmer who sells their grain in North Carolina is automatically a member of the N.C. Small Grain Growers Association! “The assessment approved by North Carolina Farmers is one-half percent of the sales receipt (price per bushel multiplied by number of bushels), which is $0.005 of every $1.00 paid to the grower for the rate of wheat, rye, oats, barley, rape seed/canola and grain sorghum,” she said. “That money is a farmers entry to the association.” This is great news for wheat and other small grain farmers in our state because that means all of them can access the benefits provided by the association. If you want to become more involved, start looking for upcoming field days in your area, and get to know your local extension agents and board members.
Wheat is an extremely important commodity for N.C. Agriculture for a plethora of reasons, including its usage for both livestock and people. “North Carolina is a unique wheat growing state because only 20% of the crop we grow is used for human consumption, while the other 80% is used for livestock feed,” Nikki said. “Not only that, but it’s one of the first crops harvested in the New Year since it grows well during the winter months. That alone makes it extremely important for our farmers because it comes at a critical time when the income is needed.” In fact, our state doesn’t even export wheat because the entire crop grown in our state is needed. We are so thankful for the hard work of wheat farmers, and other small grain growers, in our state. Be sure to check out the N.C. Small Grain Growers Association website and social media pages to learn more and stay up to date with current industry events!
