Each week we’ll round up the latest N.C. agriculture headlines from newspapers across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to each paper’s full story.
- “NC agriculture commissioner speaks about food aid,” Fayetteville Observer: North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is highlighting the ways the state and federal governments are providing food assistance. Troxler will speak Friday afternoon in Winston-Salem along with Clyde Fitzgerald, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. …
- “Maps will offer farms to visit,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Maps showing North Carolina farms that provide recreational experiences will soon be available at spots across the state. The N.C. Department of Agriculture said the free fold-out maps will show 213 places tp find “agritourism,” from hayrides in the mountains to pick-your-own berry fields near the coast. …
- “Tractor jobs are headed for Nash,” Raleigh New & Observer: In an area where the unemployment rate has reached 13.2 percent, any jobs are good news — especially when they pay a third more than the average wage for the area. On Wednesday, state officials announced that LS Tractor USA plans to open a new facility in Battleboro, outside of Rocky Mount. …
- “Strawberry recipe contest,” Raleigh News & Observer: The State Farmers Market in Raleigh is hosting its annual Strawberry Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 30. As part of the celebration, cooks can compete in a strawberry dessert contest. Entries must include two cups of strawberries. A total of $225 in prize money will be given out to the top three winners. For more information and the contest rules, contact Kevin Hardison at 733-7136, ext. 234 or Monica Wood at 733-7417.
- “Herb explosion,” Asheville Citizen-Times: “Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” are just the beginning of what the more than 50 vendors are offering at the Spring Herb Festival at the WNC Farmers Market on May 1-3. …
- “Local Strawberry Crop Looking ‘Exceptional’,” WXII: With cooler temperatures and plenty of rain recently, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said Friday this year’s strawberry crop should be a good one. …
- “Small farmers losing acres,” Agweek: Dwindling acreage isn’t just the farmer’s problem. Steve Troxler, North Carolina agriculture commissioner, has to care: It’s his job. But how about the rest of us? Does anyone else care that North Carolina lost more than 600,000 acres of farmland in five years? …
- “A field trip to the family farm,” Salisbury Post: U.S. Rep. Howard Coble went looking for the future of farming Monday morning. And, sure enough, he found her. “Where’d the little redhead go?” Coble asked, scanning a crowd of a dozen or so who surrounded him on a Mount Ulla dairy farm. …
- “Farmer reaps rewards of patience,” Hendersonville Times-News: Danny McConnell stands in a brown dirt-covered field, which at first glance appears desolate. As one’s eyes adjust to the surroundings, they notice tiny shoots poking through the soil. …
- “Uncorked: North Carolina Wine of the Month,” Winston-Salem Journal: Wine: Stony Knoll Vineyards 2005 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Cost: $15. Review: Stony Knoll Vineyards in Surry County has produced an atypical but enjoyable chardonnay from its 2005 vintage. …