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.
- “Remember When: Tobacco market, Halloween and elections make news,” Greensboro News and Record: 75 YEARS AGO – From the Greensboro Daily News, Nov. 1-7, 1934 Sales on the Reidsville tobacco market continue to be strong, with about 175,000 pounds sold on Monday at an average of about $32 per hundredweight. While growers are bringing significant amounts of tobacco to market, however, they are not bringing a large amount of finer grades such as cutters and wrappers. …
- “Henderson County apple growers oppose plan,” Asheville Citizen-Times: EDNEYVILLE – Henderson County’s 150 apple growers are facing a potentially devastating change in federal crop insurance rules that could greatly reduce payouts after hailstorms, freezes or other disasters. “It’s going to put us out of business, that’s what it’s going to do,” said grower Henry Barnwell, who works 65 acres. And to make matters worse, the comment period to voice their concerns to the U.S. Department of Agriculture ends Monday. The new policy could go into effect in 2011. …
- “Fair’s livestock exhibit includes variety of creatures,” Wilmington Star News: A detour to the livestock tent at the Cape Fear Fair & Expo quickly reminds visitors that much of the Lower Cape Fear is still farm country. “Yuck! Stinky!” said one little girl who got a little too close to one of the pens. Hers, however, was the minority opinion. Most of the youngsters and adults gazed intently at the varieties of ponies, burros, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, partridges, rabbits and other creatures, who mostly watched them back. …
- “Farmland released from conservation program,” Charlotte Observer: Here’s a look at the states where the most land is being released from the federal Conservation Reserve Program: -Texas, 3.85 million acres active; 644,025 acres expire in 2009; 698,313 expire in 2010; 683,991 expire in 2011 -Montana, 3.2 million acres active; 245,925 acres expire in 2009; 410,487 expire in 2010; 497,236 expire in 2011 -Kansas, 3.1 million acres active; 339,527 acres expire in 2009; 617,687 expire in 2010; 532,555 expire in 2011 -North Dakota, 2.86 million acres active; 212,294 expire in 2009; 261,409 expire in 2010; 388.974 expire in 2011 …
- “Harnett gets back to its roots with agricultural fair,” Fayetteville Observer: LILLINGTON – What began as a conversation at the county Extension Office several years ago came to life Tuesday as the county’s inaugural fair opened on 22 acres of marshy land in Lillington. “Some fairs go so commercial, and we don’t want that,” said Donna Rigby, president of the fair board. “We want this to be a true agricultural fair. The agricultural history here in Harnett County is just tremendous, but we’re losing it, and folks just don’t know.” …
- “Winning fair recipes,” News & Observer: Amanda Boury dominated the cooking contests at this year’s N.C. State Fair. She took home seven ribbons, more than any other competitor. Boury, 34, of Youngsville won four first-place, two second-place and one third-place ribbon. She placed in contests ranging from the N.C. Pork Producers’ Tarheel pork challenge to the N.C. Peanut Growers Association’s vegetarian recipe contest. Her winning recipes in those contests were Grilled Pork Cranberry Brie Paninis and Crispy Thai Chik’n Wraps with Peanut Sauce, respectively. …
- “Surry college gets grant from Tobacco Trust Fund,” Winston-Salem Journal: DOBSON — Surry Community College has received $20,000 from the Tobacco Trust Fund to help farmers in Surry and Yadkin counties learn to grow vegetables and fruit safely and economically. …