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.
- “Halifax County snares lumber producer,” News & Observer: Lumber producer Meherrin River Forest Products has decided to locate its operations in Halifax County, a move that is expected to create 40 new jobs over the next three years. …
- “Spring fire season approaching,” Boone Mountain Times: The N.C. Forest Service is urging residents throughout the state to think about safety and exercise caution during the upcoming fire season, which typically lasts statewide mid-March through mid-May. …
- “AV likely to face ag fines,” Carteret County News-Times: The discovery last week of a single log from a quarantined area and infested with a boring insect at the Atlantic Veneer plant on Lennoxville Road will likely result in federal fines. …
- “Inaugural NC Beer Month encourages beer tourism,” News & Observer: The concept sounds silly to some: beer tourism. What kind of nerd travels across the state – let alone across the country – to drink a pint of beer? Ahh, hmm, err … me. …
- “Fire on the Dock chef cooks ‘Carolina fusion’,” Wilmington Star-News: Growing up in the family business – Fong’s Chinese Restaurant in Laurinburg – chef Gerry Fong was seemingly destined for a life as a culinary artist. …
- “Audio: The Got To Be NC Festival Wants Your Antique Tractor,” Southern Farm Network: Space is still available for antique tractor and farm equipment hobbyists to display their machines at the Got to Be NC Festival at the State Fairgrounds May 17-19. …
- “Raleigh chef is finalist for regional James Beard award,” News & Observer: Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen is one of five finalists for a James Beard award – the culinary world’s highest honor. …
- “Freezing temps a worry to growers,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Keep the plastic handy. … In Henderson County, where 150 growers tend some 5,000 acres of apples, grower Kenny Barnwell said they should be safe this week. That’s quite a contrast to last year’s devastation, when a mild winter and early bloom was followed by a hard, devastating freeze. …
- “Gov. McCrory vows to help House of Raeford workers, turkey farmers after plant shutdown,” Fayetteville Observer: Gov. Pat McCrory said Saturday the state will help workers and farmers overcome the shutdown of the House of Raeford turkey slaughterhouse in Raeford. About 950 workers will lose their jobs in the next four to six months. …