Forage programs within the NCSU Crop Science Department are closely allied with programs in the Animal Science Department. Researchers include USDA scientists located on the NCSU campus.

Current research includes study of forage characteristics that alter nutritive value, nutrient cycling in forage crops which utilize swine effluent as a nutrient source, applied grassland ecology and management including silvo-pastoral agroforestry systems and cropping systems that integrate grazing ruminants, the development of sustainable forage/browse-based feeding and management systems for meat goats, the use of meat goats in biocontrol of weed and brush-infested pastures and woodlots, the browse potential of fodder tree species in agroforestry systems for meat goats, and strategic supplementation of forage-based diets for meat goats.