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.
- “Costly wildfire mostly contained,” Jacksonville Daily News: The 31,000-acre Holly Shelter wildfire has already cost more than $2 million to combat, according to information provided by state fire officials. The wildfire, which began June 19 after a lightning strike deep in the woods along the Onslow-Pender County line, is now 78-percent contained, said Brain Haines, a spokesman for the N.C. Forestry Service. …
- “2011 the second driest spring on record in Wilmington,” Wilmington Star-News: The double whammy of record low precipitation and excessive heat in the Wilmington area has taken its toll on corn and other crops. Significant rainfall could be on its way as soon as Friday, but for farmers like Wesley King, it may be too late to do much good. ..
- “House and Senate panels take up 3 trade bills,” Wilmington Star-News: House and Senate committees are disagreeing over how to handle American workers laid off because of foreign competition as they take up legislation to implement long-pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. …
- “UN calls for greener food production to feed world,” News & Observer: The United Nations says world food production must increase by up to 100 percent by 2050 and focus on greener methods to sustain an expected 9 billion population. …
- “Load up on fresh produce,” News & Observer: You know what nutritionists say. You know what federal dietary guidelines advise: Load up your meals with fruits and vegetables. The fresher, the better. If you’re ever going to do it, now is your chance. That’s because summer is when conditions are best for shifting your eating pattern to take advantage of in-season produce. …
- “Get your hop on,” Mountain Xpress: Researchers, growers offer hop-yard visit at Mills River station. Feeling hoppy? On Saturday, July 16, from 9 to 11 a.m., visit the “hop yard” at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in Mills River. The aim is to provide useful information to local brewers, Western North Carolina hops growers, those interested in becoming hops growers and folks just plain interested in hops. …
- “Farmers welcome rain but hope for more,” Burlington Times-News: While last week’s storms caused flash flooding around Alamance County, for local farmers the rain was absolutely vital for the future of their crops. …
- “Orange winning the fight for its farms,” News & Observer: From atop Jeff Sykes’ 65-foot silo, you can see why the farmer and his family are committed to keeping their land the way it is. …
- “When her day job soured, N.C. entrepreneur turned to cucumbers and brine,” News & Observer: The pickle lady grows her own cucumbers in Piedmont soil. She personally delivers her jars to Harris Teeter and dozens of shops and restaurants. It’s not uncommon for her to get an early start on arranging jars on grocery shelves when her customers are still asleep. …
- “Golden Leaf Foundation may be less effective,” Winston-Salem Journal: The Golden Leaf Foundation has survived the General Assembly’s budget ax for the 2011 session, but its ability to assist economic-development projects may have been diminished. …