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.
- “Eastern N.C. remains parched,” News & Observer: Saturday’s flooding rains helped ease the drought in Wake County. But overall, Eastern North Carolina remains dry, according to the latest assessment from the N.C. Drought Monitor. The drought remains particularly bad in the southeast corner of the state, where several counties are experiencing extreme drought conditions. …
- “Price of food to rise after corn crop damaged by heat,” Charlotte Observer: Americans can expect to pay slightly higher food prices next year, because of expectations that an unseasonably hot summer damaged much of this year’s corn crop. …
- “NC State researcher looks for bedbug remedy,” WRAL-TV: Entomologist Coby Schal of North Carolina State University is working on ways to stop the nationwide bedbug invasion. …
- “N.C. panel approves changes on posting gas prices,” Greensboro News & Record: The state Board of Agriculture has approved changes to the way North Carolina gas stations advertise the price of fuel. The rule change is aimed at making sure consumers know when a gas station charges different prices for cash and credit card purchases of fuel. …
- “Free credit counseling available for Townsend Poultry farmers,” WNCN-TV: More than 170 farmers across five counties will lose production contracts when Townsend closes its processing plants in Siler City and Mocksville this October. The Agricultural Advancement Consortium will offer free credit and debt counseling for farmers at risk of losing their livelihood with Townsend. …
- “Dismal Swamp State Park threatened by wildfire,” WRAL-TV: Dismal Swamp State Park in Camden County has been closed to visitors due to potential danger from a wildfire on the adjacent Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. …
- “Davidson to continue use of gas chamber at shelter,” Winston-Salem Journal: Animals at the Davidson County Animal Shelter will continue to be euthanized in a gas chamber, despite passionate pleas to end the practice from animal advocates and concerned citizens at a meeting of the Davidson County commissioners Tuesday night. …
- “Local chef places in national seafood cookoff,” Outer Banks Sentinel: Executive chef Bud Gruniger and sous chef Nathan Robinson place the finishing touches on their entry into the 2011 Great American Seafood Cookoff in New Orleans Saturday. …
- “Asheville’s Mountain State Fair competitions open to registration,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Entry forms are now available for competitions in the 2011 Mountain State Fair, Sept. 9-18 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. …