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.
- “Raleigh man will lead Future Farmers of America,” News & Observer: A native North Carolinian will soon be responsible for overseeing the development of the next generation of American farmers. Joshua Bledsoe of Raleigh is headed to Indiana to become the next chief operating officer of FFA…
- “N.C. State researchers find muscle-building substance in mustard greens, broccoli,” News & Observer: It turns out Mom was right – greens really are good for us. But what Mom didn’t know is that vegetables such as kale, mustard greens and broccoli are more than just healthy foods – they may contain a substance that one day could strengthen the muscles of people suffering from debilitating disease and the effects of aging. …
- “Disease threatens black walnut trees,” Watauga Democrat: State forest officials announced last week that a disease responsible for widespread death of black walnut trees in western states has been detected in North Carolina. …
- “NC Ag Commissioner Sees Farm Bill Extension as a Good Thing,” Southern Farm Network: Last week the United State Congress passed a 9-month 2008 Farm Bill extension imbedded in the legislation to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. …
- “FDA begins implementing sweeping food-safety law,” The Washington Post: The Obama administration moved ahead Friday with the first major overhaul of the nation’s food-safety system in more than 70 years, proposing tough new standards for fruit and vegetable producers and food manufacturers. …
- “Fresh produce draws crowd to winter market,” Asheville Citizen-Times: It was like Christmas morning all over again for the lucky shoppers who arrived early at the Indoor Winter Tailgate Market Saturday, but some latecomers may have felt as if they’d gotten coal in their stockings. …
- “Our View: Home Grown Goodness,” Richmond County Daily Journal: Is there anything quite as good as a piping hot ear of sweet corn, fresh from your own garden out back? Of course not. It’s fresh, clean, pure — touched by nothing but sunshine and rain, and nurturing, fertile soil. …