Timeline: 1964-1969

 

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1964 ? Tobacco Crop

Tobacco has experienced a great deal of opportunity and change. From baskets to bales, sticks to bulk barns, hand priming to machine harvesting and auctions to contracts, tobacco has been a strong cornerstone for the farmer. One notable achievement for North Carolina is the diversification of the tobacco farm. A number of our commodities can trace their growth and prosperity to the golden leaf. Tobacco has been the bedrock of the North Carolina economy.

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1966 ? Fairgrounds Improvements

Major improvements in water and sewage facilities at the fair have resulted in safer, cleaner fairgrounds. Among other improvements, the number of fire hydrants is increased from five to 14 and water and sewage outlets are made available to all concession stands. In 1983, major improvements to fairground infrastructure include electrical renovations, paving, storm and sanitary sewer drainage.

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July, 1968 ? Soil Testing Division Enters Computer Era

The Soil Testing Division began using computers to generate reports in 1968. Laboratory data was collected manually, entered by keypunch, and stored on a large diskette. The state computer system (SIPS) processes the data and generates the reports. Computerization improves efficiency in meeting the grower demand for soil testing.

Soil test data are compiled by county and summarized by crop within the county. The summary data are used to show trends in the fertility status of the land and provide information to agricultural specialists to assist growers in refining their lime and fertilizer practices. The division analyzed 86,998 samples.

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1969 ? State Fair Extended

The NC State Fair was extended from six to nine days. In 1986, the Fair was again extended from nine to ten days. Beginning in 1986, major exhibits sponsored by the Department became a regular feature of the State Fair. These exhibits include The Barn, The Country Store, Down on the Farm, Harvest Time, Four Seasons, The Back Porch and Cyberspace.