Steve Troxler: Ag center plans

Regarding the Sept. 13 letter “Development dismay,” the Agricultural Sciences Center planned for Reedy Creek and Edwards Mill roads in Raleigh is necessary for the state’s continued service to North Carolina residents, farmers and businesses.

Though it will be located in a rapidly developing part of Wake County, this lab’s services will benefit people in communities across the state – both rural and urban. Because the state already owns the land, the location will help to lower the cost of construction.

The site, which is adjacent to the existing state agronomic services lab, makes fiscal sense, though it will reduce the amount of land occupied by cows. We hope to keep the cows in the area if at all possible. We also plan to plant gardens to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

On a broader scale, I have initiated a program in partnership with the Department of Transportation to increase pollinator habitats in North Carolina. And for over a decade our department has helped conservation groups and local governments protect working farms and forests across the state.

We want to ensure that future generations have opportunities to see cows, horses and other farm animals.

This story was originally published September 23, 2016 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Steve Troxler: Ag center plans."