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.
- “Successful end to Mountain State Fair,” WLOS-TV: The 2011 NC Mountain State Fair ended on Sunday night. Organizers said they had a good turnout, about 182,000 people attended the fair this year. The fair was about five thousand visitors short of setting a record. …
- “State Fair offers discounted ticket prices to military members,” News 14: The State Fair is offering discounted ticket prices for members of the military. All current and former service members can buy tickets at the gate for $5. Fair officials are also encouraging visitors to bring items for military care packages on the annual military appreciation day. The State Fair begins Oct. 13. …
- “NC says wine industry grew 58 percent in 4 years,” WRAL-TV: A study finds North Carolina’s once-fledgling wine industry, grape growers and related businesses are directly responsible for employing about 3,800 and those workers generate another 3,700 jobs. …
- “Agritourism offers farmers & local families fall fun,” WFMY-TV: If you asked Trey Early 10 years ago what his family’s farming business would look like today, he’d never have thought he’d be growing pumpkins and cutting corn mazes. But with the tobacco business drying up, the Earlys are entering another year of operating the J. Razz & Tazz Farm in Gibsonville. …
- “Bedbug Panic Often Creates More Danger Than Bites,” The New York Times: As bedbugs have made a comeback, aided by resistance to pesticides and spread by worldwide travel, scientists have found that panic over the blood-sucking pests may be more dangerous than their bite. Some people are misusing poisonous chemicals in a desperate bid to eradicate the pests, federal officials said Thursday. …
- “Industries fear new wage rules,” News & Observer: North Carolina industries that rely on seasonal foreign workers are fighting new federal rules that sharply raise wages, with some arguing that the regulations will put them out of business. …
- “Republicans push for mandatory E-Verify; farmers not so sure,” Charlotte Observer: A hotly contested bill moving this week would compel employers to verify worker eligibility via the Internet while it ratchets up the nation’s perennial immigration debate. Farmers fear it. …
- “Triad pumpkin crops damaged by summer heat, Hurricane Irene,” WFMY-TV: Farmers are blaming Hurricane Irene for destroying or damaging their pumpkin crops. Summer heat has also carved a hole in pumpkin season. …