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.
- “N.C. State farming researchers get $3.9 million grant,” Triangle Business Journal: Farming researchers at N.C. State University received a $3.9 million grant to build and evaluate supply chains for local farmers and fishers to service large-scale markets in North Carolina. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), awarded the grant to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). Those involved hope to improve the delivery and accessibility of local foods, something that is in growing demand. …
- “Longleaf pines a good fit for eco-agriculture in Southeast,” Southeast Farm Press: Tall and majestic longleaf pine trees once covered more than 90 million acres in the Southeast, though down to about 3 million acres today, these native trees and the ecosystem they support are making a comeback in many areas. …
- “Wilmington area a boon for local winery business,” Wilmington Star News: A recent study conducted by the N.C. Division of Tourism and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, found that 80 percent of winery customers are visitors outside the community, but 70 percent of them live within the state. …
- “Success at growing flowers leads to store that sells them,” News & Observer: From tobacco leaves to Valentine’s Day roses and carnations, Dragonfly Florist is a new extension of an old Harnett County family farm. Terry Johnson, who has been farming for 25 years, opened the flower shop in the small town of Coats in July 2011 after buying an existing floral business. …
- “White House warns of food safety cuts,” Charlotte Observer: Impending across-the-board budget cuts could mean fewer government food safety inspections and higher prices for meat at the grocery store. …
- “Incubator farming brings new farmers to an aging table,” Jacksonville Daily: As the average age of farmers in North Carolina rises and affordable farmland becomes harder to find, some in N.C. are working to give new farmers the tools they need to succeed in the industry. …
- “Abundant rain eases drought risk in WNC,” Hendersonville Times News: Plentiful rain over the past few weeks has pulled western North Carolina out of drought. A drought monitoring report issued this week shows none of the mountain region’s counties are dry or in drought. …
- “His dream: Charlotte’s largest commercial kitchen,” Charlotte Observer: When Casey Brawley left his job as a real estate developer to launch his pimento cheese business, he needed a commercial kitchen to produce the cheese (made from his grandmother’s recipe) that he now sells to grocery and retail stores. …
- “Farm Initiative Gets Underway with Businesses,” Southern Pines Pilot: Pinehurst Resort recently received its first shipment of carrots from Ricky Carter Farms in Ellerbe. “They were beautiful,” said Ed Peckels, the resort’s director of food and beverage. “We’re looking for great things from our local growers.” …