Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets 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.
- “Vilsack: USDA investment should help rural America,” Fayetteville Observer: HILLSBORO, Mo. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday that crop subsidies aren’t going to be enough to help revitalize rural economies and he expects the federal government to do more to help small town America. …
- “Former U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor sells 8,000 acres in Transylvania County to conservation groups,” Asheville Citizen-Times: He may have been known as “Chainsaw Charlie,” but former Congressman Charles Taylor is now permanently protecting the largest undeveloped, privately owned tract of land in Western North Carolina. …
- “Farmers markets expand their reach,” Wilmington Star-News: Like mushrooms, where one farmers market pops up, others have followed quickly. The success of one signals that others may flourish. Farmers, of course, have the benefit of increasing their revenues. From tiny backyard plots to 100-acre family farms, growers are taking advantage of the local foods movement behind the proliferation of markets locally. …
- “Carolina grower downsizing operation,” Southeast Farm Press: North Carolina agriculture is losing — kind of — one of its finest, but gaining a dedicated and more active leader in helping agriculture in the Tar Heel state develop a sound business model for rural and urban partnerships. Long-time North Carolina cattleman and grain grower Henry Walker says he is gradually getting out of the grain business and downsizing his cattle operation. …
- “Hurricane lull has some wondering if N.C. coast is ready,” Charlotte Observer: WILMINGTON — Fourteen years after Hurricane Fran ripped through southeastern North Carolina, emergency officials say buildings and homes in the region are better prepared for the next big storm But they aren’t as sure about the residents. …
- “Food safety bill worries farmers,” Hendersonville Times-News: The recent outbreaks of contaminated peanuts, spinach and salsa have “poured gasoline on the discussion” over food safety legislation. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a food safety bill last summer, and the U.S. Senate is expected to take up a different version soon. …
- “Durham Tech plans to offer a new field of study at its Orange County campus — Sustainable Technology.” Durham Herald-Sun: Bill Ingram, president of Durham Technical Community College, made the announcement Thursday at a meeting of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, saying Orange County was the ideal place to implement the program. …