Each week we’ll round up the latest N.C. agricultural 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.
- “Rain keeps recession from having great impact on farmers,” High Point Enterprise: DENTON – Rain, rather than recession, has been a more important “R” word for many farmers this season. Spring rains have been good for most farmers. “Because of the rains, most crops are doing well,” said Troy Coggins, a Davidson County agricultural extension agent. Corn and soybean crops are headed for good yields, barring extreme weather changes or a sudden spike in fuel prices, Coggins said. “Crop prices should be good,” Coggins said. …
- “New buildings should boost Ag Center’s visitation,” Asheville Citizen-Times: FLETCHER – Commercial construction may have slowed to a trickle in much of the mountains, but it’s going gangbusters at the WNC Agricultural Center. Two new buildings that will open late this summer should boost visitation and keep visitors in the area longer – and add to the center’s already impressive economic impact. …
- “Farming continues to decline statewide,” High Point Enterprise: TRIAD – While still a leader in farming, North Carolina’s footprint is shrinking. There are fewer farms, and farmland acreage continues to decrease statewide. The state lost more than 600,000 acres of farmland from 2002 to 2007. In 2007, North Carolina had 52,900 farms, compared with 53,900 in 2002, the census showed. “When you lose that many acres, it means not just small farms are losing land, the large farms are shedding land, too,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said. “To put 600,000 acres in perspective, it’s like taking Sampson County off the map.” …
- “At best-dish finalist Il Palio, they believe in local food,” Durham Herald-Sun: CHAPEL HILL — Cooking with local food is more than just what the Il Palio Ristorante does. It’s what the restaurant’s staff believes in, said chef Adam Rose. So they thought a cool contest to enter would be the Best Dish in North Carolina restaurant competition of the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. …
- “Threshers Reunion showcases N.C.’s agriculture history,” News 14: DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. – North Carolina’s rich agricultural history is taking center stage this week as the 39th annual Old Southeast Threshers Reunion kicked off in Denton Tuesday. Organizers began the popular event with an unofficial blessing from Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I don’t think you can ever see the future without seeing the past,” Troxler said. “And this is the way we started in agriculture, and you’ll see everything here from steam power to actual horse power.” …
- “Threshers’ Reunion kicks off at Denton FarmPark,” High Point Enterprise: DENTON – Even at the age of 92, Jamestown resident Willard Moore finds a way to operate a steam shovel during the annual Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion at the Denton FarmPark. … During a tour of Denton FarmPark, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was able to see the steam shovel and many other exhibits. Troxler provided opening remarks for the 39th reunion. “We can’t let people forget how important agriculture is and what it does for North Carolina,” he said. “This is the perfect venue for doing that. For me, this is something I can’t miss during the July 4 week. This is what built the country and state.” …
- “Oral history project recalls the traditions, smells of family farms,” Asheville Citizen-Times: With the growing national interest in healthy food, traditional farm values are gaining a renewed appreciation. Area farmers who met with Rebecca Williams, Kaye Myers, Polly Johnson and Nick Lanier for the Friends of Mountain History’s museum theme exhibit “That’s a Long Row to Hoe” vividly recalled another country value: communal hard work. …
- “Adapt and survive: Some Orange County farmers have weathered challenges by focusing on local markets,” Chapel Hill News: BINGHAM TOWNSHIP – A few miles past downtown Chapel Hill’s densely packed and heavily trafficked roads, away from the storefronts and streetlights, lies rural Orange County. The quiet, sloping green hills are dotted with tractors, cows and farmhouses with wide porches. The people who live and work those farms are fiercely protective of their land, and their lifestyle, and in Orange County that land and lifestyle are threatened by development and difficult odds. Farming is hard work with uncertain returns, and the average age of farmers in the county is 57. …
- “Ingles offering farm fresh local produce,” Asheville Citizen-Times: WAYNESVILLE – Ingles Markets is turning into a local farmer’s market of sorts.The Asheville-based grocery store chain last month began carrying strawberries from Kaleb Rathbone’s Fines Creek farm in its Waynesville, Canton and Hazelwood stores. Ingles stores in Haywood and Buncombe counties also recently began carrying romaine lettuce from the Bethel fields of farmer Skipper Russell. …
- “FSA targets funds for farmers,” Lexington Dispatch: The N.C. Farm Service Agency has announced the availability of funds targeted for socially disadvantaged individuals who want to purchase or operate a family-size farm in the 2009 fiscal year. In the 2008 fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30, N.C. Farm Loan Programs made 99 SDA loans totaling more than $14 million. …