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.
- “NC seafood to be focus of Local Catch Summit,” WRAL: Speakers for the 2013 Local Catch Summit in Skyco are focusing on ways to include North Carolina seafood in the local food movement. …
- “Chefs Challenged to Bring on the Fire in Blowing Rock in 2013 ‘Got To Be NC’ Competition Dining Series,” High Country Press: North Carolina chefs should begin sharpening their knives—and their culinary skills—as the “Got To Be N.C.” Competition Dining Series kicks off its second year of statewide competition in its birthplace, Blowing Rock. …
- “Audio: FDA Discusses New Food Safety Modernization Act with Producers,” Southern Farm Network: The US Food & Drug Administration has been saying for two years that new food safety rules would be issued soon, and soon finally came last month. While the new proposed rules are still in the comment period, North Carolina Department of Agriculture hosted a listening session on Wednesday, which was simulcast for South Carolina producers as well. …
- “Area teens conducting scientific trials on tomatoes,” Charlotte Observer: Students at four Rowan County high schools are conducting scientific trials on tomatoes to see if industry pruning standards are superior to extra pruning or no pruning at all. …
- “NC State Fairgrounds enacts new rules for gun shows,” News & Observer: People who bring guns to the State Fairgrounds to sell at gun shows will have to follow some new rules after an accidental shooting that injured three people last month. …
- “Cotton farmers produce more but profit less,” Fayetteville Observer: Every eight minutes, like clockwork, a specially fitted tractor chugs out to the middle of Gene West’s field and scoops up another yellow tube stuffed with a ton of cotton. …
- “Farmers focus on growing visitors, not crops, at conference,” Wilmington Star-News: Farmers take note: Tourism season is about to begin and the state’s agritourism office wants you to reap the benefits of all those visitors by getting them to spend time and money in your fields. …
- “Billy McLawhorn reflects on 30 years as a North Carolina crop consultant,” Southeast Farm Press: After 30 years of working as a licensed agricultural consultant, Billy McLawhorn says the work is different now, but still as challenging and rewarding as the day he started. …
- “Snyder’s-Lance celebrates 100th anniversary,” Charlotte Observer: Snyder’s-Lance, a company that started with a man selling peanut butter and crackers on the streets of Charlotte, turns 100 this year – an occasion the company said Monday it will mark with new products and charitable donations. …
- “To apply pesticides follow label; it’s the law,” Hendersonville Times-News: Pesticides are always a hot topic and can really begin some heated discussions. But what do you know about pesticides and how to use them correctly? In North Carolina, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services serves as the pesticide regulatory agency. …
- “Many farmers in NC say they don’t have enough workers,” WSOC-TV: Many North Carolina farmers said they do not have enough workers to pick the crops, in light of a national labor shortage. With immigration reform back in the spotlight, farmers like Doug Carrigan said they welcome an overhaul. …