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 the full story.
- “Ag Commissioner: ‘Best crop of Christmas trees ever’,” WNCN. For North Carolina Christmas tree growers, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. “We had good growth this year,” Back Achers Christmas Tree Farm Owner Frank Barick said. “We have more premium grade trees this year than we’ve ever had before.” This weekend, thousands of shoppers are expected to start their search for the perfect Christmas tree. North Carolina is the second-largest producer of real Christmas trees in the nation. … Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said this year’s crop is one of the best in recent memory. “We probably are going to have our best crop of Christmas trees ever,” Troxler said. “There’s going to be good selection, good prices and any size you could desire.” …
- “Ag grants help WNC trout farmers,” Hendersonville Times-News. Some local trout farmers are being given a chance to offset losses from their ever-increasing feed costs. The N.C. Department of Agriculture has announced a second round of funding through the Aquaculture Grant Program, which helps aquaculture producers statewide recover from losses suffered during 2009. In addition to trout, aquaculture producers include those who raise catfish, hybrid striped bass, freshwater prawn, gamefish and ornamental species. The program began last year when it targeted the 2008 production season. The problem of costly feed has not gotten any better since then. “Right now the feed is higher than it’s ever been,” said Chris Selle, who leases Cantrell Creek Trout Farm in Transylvania County and also operates the smaller Glady Fork Trout Hatchery just south of Brevard. “I’m paying over a dollar a pound for a lot of it now. Two years ago when I started the hatchery I was paying 60 to 70 cents a pound for the hatchery feed, so it’s gone up a lot.” …
- “Sweet potatoes are Euro smash,” Charlotte Observer. The humble sweet potato – a staple in Southern cuisine and perennial favorite on Thanksgiving tables – is suddenly looking a lot more cosmopolitan. With U.S. consumption growing slowly, farmers have found a market for the vitamin-packed, cholesterol-free sweet potato on the tables of health-conscious Europeans. Between 2005 and 2009, the value of U.S. sweet potato exports more than doubled to $51.4 million, with much of that growth coming from Europe, especially Great Britain. The value of exports to the United Kingdom jumped from $5.7 million to $20.4 million between 2005 and 2009, and in the first six months of 2010 exports were on pace to exceed last year’s total, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. …
- “USDA taps chicken farmer for new task,” The News & Observer. By day Maykia Yang works from home providing Web support for American Express. In the evening, the 44-year-old turns her attention to the family chicken farm. In eight years, the farm has grown into an operation that encompasses eight chicken houses – roughly 168,000 chickens at any given time. And the easygoing, soft-spoken Yang has made a name for herself in the community for helping other minority farmers – especially those of Hmong descent like herself. Recently her efforts got her named to a 19-member committee that will advise the USDA on ways to help farmers who are just starting out. With characteristic modesty, she says the appointment to the national advisory committee is no big deal. She faxed her application minutes before the deadline in September of last year. Even after being named to the committee, she didn’t tell any of her eight siblings or her parents. …