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North Carolina takes a tour of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

North Carolina takes a tour of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Author: Audrey Earnhardt/Wednesday, February 1, 2017/Categories: Chapter Activity Report Blog, Promotion of Agriculture, Chapter Development, Fellowship, North Carolina

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Recently the North Carolina Chapter of Alpha Zeta had the privilege to travel to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Farm Fields Management Unit in Manns Harbor, North Carolina. This refuge is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System and was established to protect the unique wetland habitat type and is managed for not only native wildlife, but also for people. During our trip we were able to learn about drainage and pump management, waterfowl management, and the Fisheries and Wildlife Services Cooperative Farming Program and policies. The Cooperative Farming Program is a mutually beneficial arrangement where the farmer is allowed to farm refuge land under certain guidelines and restrictions. The goal of the program is to provide food and cover for migratory birds and other resident wildlife. It supplements natural foods with grain foods, such as corn, milo, small seeded millets, and green browse. It is designed for farmers to buy the seed, plant, grow, and harvest the crop and leave a certain portion or share for the wildlife. This trip was a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with our fellow brothers and we learned a great deal about the role that agriculture plays in Wildlife Refuges.

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