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 gives a helping hand to farmers and homeowners,” WECT-TV: Governor Beverly Perdue signed measures intended to help with the cleanup from a line of storms that moved across the state. Perdue signed Executive Order 89, which will help farmers clear their land and return to their livelihoods in the wake of the storms. …
- “Obama declares NC a disaster,” WRAL-TV: In the wake of deadly tornadoes that ripped through central and eastern North Carolina on Saturday, President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared the state a disaster, paving the way for federal aid for affected counties. Obama’s declaration means federal funding will be available to affected individuals in Bertie, Bladen, Cumberland, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Wake and Wilson counties. …
- “State lawmakers work to assure relief efforts help residents,” News 14 Carolina: North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler toured some of the hardest hit farmland in the state Tuesday and says the devastation he saw was expansive. Troxler says it will take time, money, and helping hands for the effected farmers to recover. …
- “Tornadoes tear through Johnston County farms,” NBC-17: Saturday’s tornadoes destroyed 17 buildings on Rickie Norris’ farm in Four Oaks. “There was two of them and they got together. Both of them came together and made one big one and come through here and destroyed everything over here I’ve got,” said Norris, owner of Stony Fork Farms on Strickland’s Crossroads Road. …
- “Cleanup begins in aftermath of storms,” News & Observer: A day after a violent storm system swept across North Carolina, kicking up tornadoes and flattening much in its path, residents began the painful process of cleaning up and mourning those lost. …
- “Local growers offer fresh produce,” Fayetteville Observer: Springtime is a prime time to buy fresh. Farmers markets around the Cape Fear region are overflowing with nature’s bounty, from ripe berries to crunchy asparagus. Other offerings include homemade jams, honey, fresh cut flowers and naturally-raised meats. …
- “NC study looks at pros, cons of shipping industry,” News & Observer: A wide-ranging study of the maritime business in North Carolina will examine how shipping goods by sea can create more jobs and encourage economic development. The StarNews of Wilmington reported Tuesday that the North Carolina Department of Transportation will spend $1.7 million in to gauge the potential for enhancing the state’s maritime business. …
- “Getting their feet dirty,” Durham Herald-Sun: Tim and Helga MacAller have their feet in the dirt, and that’s where they like them. The owners of Four Leaf Farm in Rougemont were taking visitors on a tour of their vegetable garden, flowers, plants, greenhouses and even a kiwi vine Sunday afternoon during the 16th annual Piedmont Farm Tour. …
- “Asheville-area experts offer tips on how to buy organic,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Not all vegetables are created equal. Unfortunately, they aren’t always priced the same either. In an economy forcing families to cut corners, eating healthy and saving the planet are taking a hit when it comes to buying organic over conventional food products. But local experts say the choice doesn’t have to be all or nothing. …
- “Food safety course for marketing rabbit meat offered in Mills River,” Asheville Citizen-Times: A two-day course geared toward rabbit producers interested in selling rabbit meat will be held May 3-4 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River. The deadline to register for the course is April 27. …