In past years, the Cooperative Extension has been faulted for lacking a mission and needing to survey the public for ideas about what it should be doing. This link may not work, so below are listed the needs from which respondents to Buncombe County’s survey are to select their priorities.

  • Aging Issues
  • Communication
  • Household Maintenance
  • Best Management Practices
  • Farm Incubator
  • Marketing
  • Sustainable Commercial Landscapes
  • Business Planning
  • Value Added Agriculture
  • Diversification of Existing Agribusinesses
  • Tailgate Markets
  • Agritourism
  • Energy Crops
  • Organic Production
  • Educate Consumers on Value of Local Foods and Agriculture
  • Fresh Produce Safety on the Farm
  • Food Safety at Home (storage and preparation)
  • Preserving and Canning Foods
  • Safety, Health and Hygiene of Workers on the Farm and in Food Production
  • Extension Community Association (ECA)
  • Master Gardners [sic.]
  • 4-H
  • Civic Education
  • Diversity
  • Public Planning
  • Policy Making
  • Partnership Development
  • Community Group Facilitation
  • In-Door Air Quality
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Healthy Cooking and Eating
  • Physical Activity
  • Food Labels
  • Nutrition
  • Parenting Education
  • Child Care Programming and Education
  • Family Stress
  • Child Development
  • Out Door Learning Environments
  • Spending and Budgeting Plans
  • Planning for Emergencies
  • Identity Theft
  • Financial Goal Setting
  • Food Availability for Low Income Families
  • Home Energy Conservation
  • Water Quality
  • Air Quality
  • Pesticide Safety
  • Youth Environmental Programs
  • Farmland Preservation
  • Septic Systems and/or Private Wells
  • Land Use Conservation
  • Environmentally Sound Landscape Management
  • Plant Selection
  • Home Fruit and Vegetable Production
  • Community/School Gardens
  • Indoor and Outdoor Pest Management
  • Water Conservation