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.
- “Google invests in hog-waste power,” News & Observer: Internet search giant Google is among the investors in a Duke University-sponsored Yadkin County project that is turning methane from hog waste into electricity. A Google executive highlighted the project in a blog post Thursday discussing the company’s broader efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. …
- “Mountain State Fair entertains Asheville area with rides, music and exhibits,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Look for a lot of favorite attractions — and some new entertainment options — when the N.C. Mountain State Fair opens Friday at the WNC Agricultural Center near the airport. …
- “US food hardship rates still high, but hold steady,” News & Observer: More than 17.2 million households had difficulty feeding family members at some point last year, as the rate of “food insecurity” in the U.S. continued to hover at near-record levels, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. …
- “Farmers urged to have corn tested for mold,” Salisbury Post: Extreme summer heat and recent rains have combined to increase the potential in corn for a mold byproduct that can be harmful to humans and livestock, the N.C. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. …
- “Farmers affected by Hurricane Irene speak out to state officials,” News 14: Farmers who saw Hurricane Irene devastate this year’s crop voiced their concerns to state officials Wednesday. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler headed up an emergency meeting where he listened to farmers’ concerns. Troxler said one plan he has considered is trying to find a way for the state to set aside funds to help guarantee operating loans for farmers. …
- “2 restaurants win Best Dish awards,” Port City Foodies Blog: Two Wilmington restaruants have been named Best Dish in North Carolina contest winners. The competition, focused on dishes made with local foods, gave third-place awards to Marc’s on Market and Kornerstone Bistro. …
- “Cotton futures soar on hurricane’s damage,” The Wall Street Journal: Cotton futures jumped to their highest point in nearly two months as storm damage to southern U.S. cotton fields added a new layer of worry over the size and quality of this year’s domestic crop. …
- “Wind causes more problems than rain in western N.C.,” News & Observer: Authorities in western North Carolina say they had more problems from wind than rain as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee moved past the state. No injuries were reported. …
- “Irene to cost U.S. $1.5B,” News & Observer: The White House estimated Monday that Hurricane Irene will cost federal taxpayers $1.5 billion in disaster relief, further ballooning a government account that was already the focus of fresh partisan friction between President Barack Obama and Congress. …
- “NC county recovers from trio of disasters,” Winston-Salem Journal: Driving along the back roads of Bertie County, it’s hard sometimes to tell one disaster’s damage from another. …In less than 12 months, this county, home to around 19,000 people, has become North Carolina’s calamity corner, receiving two federal disaster declarations and one federal emergency declaration. …