Gary Roberson, a native son of North Carolina and agricultural engineer at North Carolina State University, retired in early 2024 after four decades as a teacher and Extension specialist in the Department of Agricultural Engineering. He retired as the Charles W. Sugg Distinguished Professor and Extension Specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Roberson received his Bachelor of Science degrees in agricultural education and agricultural engineering in 1978 along with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in 1980 and 1988, respectively, all from North Carolina State University. He was a recipient of the 2016 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award because of his outstanding instructional efforts.
Roberson made many contributions and provided solutions to agriculture across numerous crops, including peanuts, and a wide range of subjects associated with agricultural engineering. One of his most notable contributions was work on precision digging of peanuts using the RTK system. Many farmers across the Virginia-Carolina region have adopted this technology based on his findings. The result has been major increases in both digging efficiency and peanut yield.
Thank you, Gary, for your service to peanut growers in North Carolina and surrounding states and to the larger peanut industry. We wish you well as you move into retirement.
