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.
- “Perdue slices budget; GOP says go deeper,” News & Observer: Legislators will begin debating a proposal that would give Gov. Bev Perdue more power to cut this year’s budget by at least $400 million – even as their leaders are pressing her to do more. …
- “CCCC to host biodiesel summit,” Durham Herald-Sun: Jon Van Gerpen of the University of Idaho, considered by some to be one of America’s foremost biodiesel educators, will be a speaker at the 2011 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit hosted by Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro on March 5. The summit draws enthusiasts together to listen to top industry experts, compare notes and learn about one another’s projects. …
- “New heat treatment scorches exploding bedbug problem,” WRAL-TV: “Don’t let the bedbugs bite” isn’t just the stuff of lullabies anymore. These tiny, bloodsucking insects are invading the country’s hotels, stores and homes. …
- “Farmland preservation effort beefed up in Asheville area,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Buncombe County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to put more teeth in the county’s efforts to preserve farmland. …
- “Plasticulture grower gets sound agronomic advice,” Southeast Farm Press: North Carolinian Mike Howard and his son grow strawberries and an assortment of vegetables for local retail sale. Over the years, they’ve built up a loyal clientele.
- “Farmers create new alliance to fight bad publicity,” Charlotte Observer: Two dozen of the nation’s largest and best-funded farm groups have formed a coalition to counter poor publicity that they say has led to some bad public policies and threatens farmers’ ability to produce food for the world’s population. …