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.
- “How safe is our country’s food supply?” Hendersonville Times-News: When the year began, my 8-year-old son got sick, and thus unfolded a parent’s worst nightmare — the search for an unknown disease. …
- “Drug Resales Get Scrutiny,” The Wall Street Journal: Some drug distributors are setting up fake pharmacies that allow them to obtain and then artificially raise the prices for cancer drugs and other medicines that are in short supply, according to letters written by lawmakers Wednesday. …
- “Gasoline and Oil Inspection Board approves new rules for ethanol labeling,” Richmond County Daily Journal: The Gasoline and Oil Inspection Board approved changes on Wednesday to rules governing the way ethanol and other oxygenated gasoline blends can be labeled. Consumers could notice new labels at gas stations as early as May. …
- “Some farmers planting spring wheat in warm weather,” Charlotte Observer: Mike Bergeron started sowing wheat on his farm in northwestern Minnesota on St. Patrick’s Day. One week earlier, he was towing two of his daughters on a sled behind his snowmobile. …
- “Port City’s supermarket boom, Carolina Farmin’ looks to expand,” Wilmington Star-News: It’s true that even in lean times people have to eat, but Port City shoppers are finding themselves in the middle of a feast of choices. …
- “McDowell County’s animal shelter conditions ‘unacceptable’,” McDowell News: The county’s new animal shelter, which opened in late January at the former Legendary Ford-Mercury dealership, now has less than 30 days to correct the “unacceptable” conditions for the housing of homeless dogs and cats found there during a recent state inspection. …
- “Made in the Triad Special: The Favors of Carolina,” WFMY-TV: …On March 20, 2012, the NC Agriculture Department held its annual Flavors of Carolina event, that showcases local companies who make food and food-related items across the state. Agriculture/Agribusiness has a nearly $70 billion economic impact on North Carolina and accounts for 648,000 jobs according to the NC Department of Agriculture. …
- “Area chefs to compete in Fire on the Dock,” Wilmington Star-News: The theme from “Rocky” played, and the chefs stepped to the front of the room for photographs – some smiling, others offering intimidating glares as emcee Jimmy Crippen announced them Monday as competitors in Fire on the Dock at Shell Island. …
- “Hagan urges black farmers to file claims in case,” News & Observer: Sen. Kay Hagan is urging black farmers in North Carolina to file claims in a landmark $1.25 billion settlement with the federal government before time runs out. …