Josh Barnes
Josh joined Barnes Farming Corporation full-time in 2018 after growing up working on the family farm during breaks at school. Upon graduating from North Carolina State University in Agricultural Business Management with Horticultural and Crop Science minors, he spent 3 years as a regional crop nutrient sales representative. At Barnes Farming his primary focus started in managing greenhouse transplants, sweet potato micropropagation, and post-harvest storage of sweet potatoes. Since then Josh now oversees the farm’s tobacco production and marketing as well as sweet potato seed production.
Over the years Josh has become well-versed in new crop production practices and inputs that are required in an adaptive ag landscape. Annual soil and nematode sampling on every single field, and use of biological products that stimulate growth and control pests have always played a part of Barnes Farming’s operation. He maintains relationships with NCSU through the NC Sweetpotato Commission, NC Certified Sweetpotato Seed Growers Association and is a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) and 4R Nutrient Management Specialist (4R NMS) through the American Society of Agronomy.