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From the Midwest, with love.

A truckload of winter rye cover crop seed was sent to farmers in North Carolina from Albert Lea Seed House.

When Meghan Baker at North Carolina State reached out and told Albert Lea Seed staff about the small farms in western North Carolina in need of cover crop seed to help rebuild the soils in flood-scoured areas as a result of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, the team responded with care.

In cooperation with Baker and NC Cooperative Extension, AL Seed put together a truckload of winter rye to donate towards the effort. Heartland Logistics agreed to donate the cost to pick up and deliver the load.

“We’re proud to contribute to this uplifting effort from NC State,” said Elia Romano, co-owner and sales leader at Albert Lea Seed. “It’s a small thing we can do to help farmers in a big way. We’re encouraging anyone with cover crop seed on hand to do the same. Even if it’s a bag, a pallet or a truckload.”

If you’d like to donate cover crop seed or find other ways you can help support farmers in the Buncombe/Asheville area, reach out to Baker at 828-255-5522 or meghan_baker@ncsu.edu to make a connection.

They are still seeking winter rye, winter wheat, brassicas, vetch, winter peas and any other cover crop that can still germinate in cooler temperatures.