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.
- “Grants offer local farmers chance to diversify,” Hendersonville Times-News: Four local farmers were among the recipients of $148,500 in WNC Agricultural Options grants awarded to diversify farm businesses in the 2013 growing season. …
- “Pintful: Fullsteam, Cackalacky collaboration a spicy success,” News & Observer: Of the many ingredients in Page Skelton’s tangy Cackalacky Spice Sauce – including the secret ones – one is missing: ginger. Skelton compensates in his newest venture, showcasing the spicy root in an unlikely but delectable collaboration with Fullsteam Brewing Company’s founder, Sean Lilly Wilson. …
- “A whole-hog butchering class,” Winston-Salem Journal: A lot of people these days like to buy their meat straight from a farmer. But only a select few want to butcher it themselves. A dozen of those select few came to Yellow Wolf Farm in Walkertown on Sunday for a whole-hog butchery class. …
- “N.C. apple crop took a whopping hit,” Charlotte Observer: Early predictions in August that North Carolina had lost 80 percent of the apple crop turned out to be pretty close to the final number. A report released Jan. 25 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that our state’s apple losses were huge, at 76% of the crop. …
- “Fire on the Dock dining competition returns to Wrightsville Beach,” Wilmington Star-News: Finally, it’s time to fill out those brackets, and there are some tough choices, even in the first round. …
- “Japan’s new import rules to help US beef industry,” Charlotte Observer: Ranchers welcomed Japan’s decision Monday to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports, saying it will provide a boost to the American meat industry but cautioning that it will take time before exports to Japan reach their levels of a decade ago. …
- “Proposed sale of N.C. State research forest draws criticism,” News & Observer: Sale of an 80,000-acre forest could provide a big financial boost for N.C. State University’s Forestry and Environmental Resources Department, but the proposal is drawing sharp criticism from faculty and alumni, who say this “crown jewel” of the forestry program is too important to lose. …