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.
- “Wildfire burns more than 21,000 acres; brief showers do little,” Wilmington Star-News: In a land more accustomed to hurricanes, this is a narrative not repeated in Pender County for 25 years: A rapidly growing wildfire has decimated tens of thousands of acres, blanketing the coast under a cover of ash-tinged smoke. …
- “FFA is growing fast as its mission evolves,” News & Observer: Back in the 1960s, the Future Farmers of America would gather at the N.C. State Fairgrounds and talk about the land and machines and animals. There were livestock evaluations – for cows, sheep, pigs, horses. There were assorted tractor-driving contests. And there were dairy taste tests. Those were pretty much the highlights. …
- “G-20 announces measures to stabilize food prices,” Charlotte Observer: The largest economies in the world agreed Thursday to a series of measures to stabilize world food prices after years of sudden fluctuations caused global instability, especially in poorer countries. …
- “Tobacco settlement said to be near,” Greensboro News & Record: A settlement appears in the works that could allow major tobacco manufacturers, such as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., to keep billions in disputed Master Settlement Agreement money. Multiple media sources reported Wednesday that 46 state attorneys general are reviewing a proposal to resolve the manufacturers’ claims that they have been hurt by nonparticipants of the landmark 1998 MSA agreement. …
- “N.C. hosting over 1,800 green energy projects,” News & Observer: The Triangle accounts for one-third of the state’s green energy projects, according to data issued this morning by the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association. …
- “Veterinarian comes home to treat large farm animals,” Hendersonville Times-News: From taking her stuffed animal’s temperature as a 5-year-old to vaccinating a feisty, 600-pound calf Tuesday at a farm in Pisgah Forest, Vicky Bochynek’s passion for helping animals hasn’t changed a bit. Only now, the agricultural community in Western North Carolina benefits as well, as Transylvania County has what appears to be its only large-animal vet. …
- “Farmers, ethanol makers likely OK with no subsidy,” Charlotte Observer: If a $5 billion-a-year federal subsidy that helped build the ethanol industry comes to an end, it will likely mean two things, experts who have followed its development say. …
- “Piedmont food to be marked with label,” Durham Herald-Sun: Piedmont Grown has launched a local certification program to clearly designate food and agricultural products that are grown, raised or made within the 37-county Piedmont region of North Carolina, including the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte areas. …
- “FDA issues graphic cigarette labels,” News & Observer: In the most significant change to U.S. cigarette packs in 25 years, the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released nine new warning labels that depict in graphic detail the negative health effects of tobacco use. …
- “Bertie family rebuilds stable to withstand tornadic winds,” WRAL-TV: This rural community in the northeast part of the state was hard-hit by the massive storm cells that spawned tornadoes throughout the region in April. A dozen people in and around Colerain were killed and homes, businesses and farms were decimated. Recovery is slow, but steady, as people struggle to rebuild their lives and their livelihoods. …