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.
- “N.C. Turkey gets Obama pardon,” Winston-Salem Journal: President Obama pardoned his first turkey Wednesday, sparing “Courage,” a 45-pound broad-breasted white gobbler from North Carolina from becoming Thanksgiving dinner. In an appearance in the White House Rose Garden that was at turns light-hearted and serious, Obama reluctantly sentenced the pardoned turkey to life in Disneyland as his two daughters looked on. But he also offered the nation’s thanks to its military personnel and noted that Thursday’s most American of holidays comes as so many families “are hurting” from the protracted economic recession. . …
- “N.C. farmers remain on shaky ground,” WRAL: A combination of oversupply of product, the down economy and feed prices driven up by ethanol production have many farmers on shaky ground, North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler said. “That is a cinder block around the neck of our pork industry and poultry industry and the dairy industry when they’re trying to keep their heads above water,” Troxler said. …
- “Agriculture Secretary says farmers can be energy leaders,” Fayetteville Observer: American farmers, known for providing the nation with food and fiber, need to add another product to their catalog: Energy. That is a key message U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack had for about 230 people gathered at the Kiwanis Club’s Farm City Week on Friday afternoon in Fayetteville. He appeared with U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and N.C. Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten. In his other points, Vilsack said China has stepped closer to reopening its markets to the troubled American pork industry, and the government has helped farmers by buying their products. Farmers need to expand to fuel and power production to help the United States transition away from dependence on foreign oil, Vilsack said. “We need to turn our farm fields into the energy fields they’re capable of being,” Vilsack said. …
- “Harrisburg farm offers holiday experiences,” The Charlotte Observer: The Harris family was surprised when their haunted Halloween hayride attracted more than 500 people to their Harrisburg farm over two nights. So for an encore, the family is turning their attention toward the Christmas season. They are going to offer “Santa’s SleigHAY Ride and Photos” with Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves at the 150-acre farm off of Rocky River Road every Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kristen Harris said her parents’ sprawling farm is a good setting for kids to enjoy a hayride with Saint Nick amid the animals, silo, barnyard, old milking post and creek. “A lot of kids, especially if they’re from Charlotte, probably have never seen this much (open) land before,” said Harris. The 24-year-old plans to appear as Mrs. Claus, in addition to helping coordinate the holiday endeavor. …