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.
- “Tickets on sale for Mountain State Fair,” Asheville Citizen-Times: The Travelin’ McCourys bluegrass band will headline the 2009 Mountain State Fair, Sept. 11-20 at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center fairgrounds. Also performing at this year’s fair are Jake Owen, Randy Houser and the band 33 Miles. Advance admission and ride tickets are now on sale for the fair. …
- “North Carolina farm group strikes a blow for ag labor,” Southeast Farm Press: Agriculture in North Carolina has a lot going for it — great research and outreach university at North Carolina State, outstanding leader in Steve Troxler as Ag Commissioner, rich land and good climate — among other things. Two things agriculture in the Tar Heel State doesn’t have going for it are labor and land. …
- “Mouthful Blog: Four Square Restaurant wins Best Dish,” News & Observer: Four Square Restaurant placed 1st in the fine dining category in the annual N.C. Best Dish contest, a competition designed to get restaurants to use North Carolina products. …
- “Her hobby grows by 13 pounds a day,” News & Observer: Randi Byrd planted her first pumpkin seeds in May because she wanted to connect with the soil of her ancestors. But a blue ribbon at the N.C. State Fair wouldn’t hurt, either. …
- “Model of tobacco barn captures Robeson’s past,” Fayetteville Observer: Jimmy Dawson began building tobacco barns in Robeson County as a young boy. By the time he was 16, he was building them with his uncle for K.M. Biggs Farms. “We used nothing but a handsaw,” he said. Dawson, who is 64, worked for K.M. Biggs for more than 40 years. He can recall every detail of those old barns that used to dot the Robeson County landscape, including the poles on which tobacco leaves were hung for curing. …
- “Get fresh meat and cheese at the Farmers Market,” WRAL: Where can you buy local, buy fresh and buy organic without breaking the bank? It’s no surprise that the State Farmers Market in Raleigh offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. But did you know that it also offers other fresh-from-the-farm products, like meat, cheese, milk, jams and jellies? …
- “Next market for Carolina tobacco may be China,” WRAL: The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is considering exporting one of the state’s biggest cash crops to China. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said Thursday that, with an increase in the North Carolina’s cigarette tax and a smoking ban set to begin, tobacco farmers are preparing to take a hit in business. …