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.
- “Abundant rains prove challenging for farmers,” Hendersonville Times News: Farmers depend on ample rain for their livelihoods, but county sod, corn and apple farmers say Mother Nature has provided too much of a good thing this spring. “My granddad always told me, ‘A dry year will scare you to death, but a wet year will starve you to death,’” said Jason Davis, who farms corn and vegetables at North River Farms in Mills River. …
- “Early-planted corn in North Carolina showing nutrient deficiency symptoms,” Southeast Farm Press: Corn planted early in the year often yields better than late-planted corn, but it can also be hindered by unfavorable weather. This year, cool and wet conditions early in the season have stressed plants and slowed root growth. …
- “Troxler advises farmers to prepare for hurricane season,” Bladen Journal: As another hurricane season nears, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds farmers that basic emergency planning can go a long way in lessening a crisis situation. …
- “Agriculture brings science and math to life for North Carolina high school students,” The Produce News: Students and teachers from high schools in Rowan County, NC, are engaged in a new project that seeks to bring science and math concepts alive through agriculture. They are taking a leap from their textbooks to hands-on learning at an outdoor laboratory with access to world-class researchers. …
- “How Carol Peppe Hewitt and Slow Money NC are raising funds for farmers, one loan at a time,” The Independent Weekly: It’s a little after noon on a recent rainy Saturday in Pittsboro, and the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market is winding down. Children are dashing about while a band plays on the porch of the nearby Chatham Marketplace co-op grocery. …
- “Rain doesn’t keep people away from Got to Be NC Festival,” News & Observer: A stroller-filled crowd descended upon the State Fairgrounds on Sunday, despite a few rain showers, for the annual Got to Be NC Festival. The weekend’s off-and-on wet dampened attendance at the festival that is designed to promote North Carolina agriculture, food, wine and, for the first time this year, beer. …
- “Headwaters becomes newest NC state forest,” Asheville Citizen Times: North Carolina is now thousands of acres richer in forests, bogs, streams, plants, critters and waterfalls. The newly formed Headwaters State Forest sits in the East Fork watershed of the French Broad River in southern Transylvania County. …
- “Three conservationists win McBride award,” Hendersonville Times-News: Growing up, Owen Taylor and his two brothers spent countless hours exploring in the forested East Fork headwaters owned by their father, Charles Taylor. …
- “N.C. Senate’s budget plan includes funds for water, land conservation,” Wilmington Star News: Several Southeastern North Carolina priorities fare better in the Senate’s two-year budget plan compared to the recommendations made this year by Gov. Pat McCrory, though wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists still worry about cuts proposed by Senate leaders to certain programs and agencies. …
- “As farm bill debate looms, Tarheel lawmakers gird for fight over tobacco,” News & Observer: The U.S. Senate this week has started to fine-tune the huge, new five-year farm bill, working through votes on a series of amendments that will include a proposal to eliminate federal subsidies for tobacco insurance. …