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.
- “Apple farmers hope wet times out of the way,” Hendersonville Times News: The president of the Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association said apples are in good condition despite an unusually wet season. “I have no need to complain,” Jerred Nix said. “It makes for a bigger apple.” Frequent showers have caused aggravation working in the fields, he said, and the moist conditions have infected some of the apples with scabs. …
- “Abundant rainfall worries NC farmers, water departments,” WRAL: A deluge of rain in the last several weeks has area farmers struggling to salvage what they can from water-logged fields and consumers waiting to see whether it will have an impact on their grocery bills. “I’ve never been through this before,” said Jimmy McKenzie, a third-generation farmer. “I’ve been through wet years, but I’ve never been through a wet June like this.” …
- “Above-normal rain takes toll on farms, outdoor activities,” Wilmington Star News: The Brunswick County farmer, owner of Lewis Nursery and Farms near Rocky Point, said he lost about 20 percent of his blueberries and about 70 percent of his bell peppers to June’s above-normal rainfall. …
- “More rain could damage North Carolina crops,” Fayetteville Observer: Officials say more heavy rains could cause crop damage in North Carolina. The Charlotte Observer reported (http://bit.ly/17QMUvE ) crops in the state already have suffered from unusually cool and wet conditions. Farmers have been forced to delay planting. Experts say growing and harvesting will be at least three weeks later than normal. …
- “Lee farmers left stymied, stuck by persistent rainfall,” Sanford Herald: In fields across Lee County, tobacco plants are stunted and standing water lines the rows of wheat waiting to be harvested. June was the third wettest on record for the Lee County area, and local farmers are feeling its effect. Gross Farms owner John Gross said he’ll be lucky to harvest half the tobacco crop he got last year and, in some places, the crops are a total loss. …
- “Heavy rains further threaten damaged crops,” Charlotte Observer: Heavy rains forecast for this week could seriously damage crops already weakened by unusually cool and wet conditions. Frequent rains and cooler than normal temperatures have delayed planting, growing and harvesting schedules by up to three weeks. Some fields have been unable to be planted or harvested. Some plants have already drowned in the wet soil, and waterborne disease has hit others. …
- “Bridge makes DuPont safer,” Asheville Citizen Times: Now instead of dodging cars in a death-defying game of highway chicken, visitors to DuPont State Recreational Forest can safely visit its waterfalls with a leisurely walk across a wooden bridge spanning the rippling trickles of Little River. …
- “Scotty McCreery returning to State Fair,” WRAL: Concerts at the 2013 North Carolina State Fair will feature performances by rock, country, contemporary Christian and bluegrass musicians, along with a Michael Jackson tribute band, officials said Monday. Garner native and “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery will make his second straight State Fair appearance, with concerts on Oct. 21-22. Alternative rock band Sister Hazel will kick off the State Fair on Oct. 17. …
- “Virus deadly to piglets spreads to North Carolina’s hog farms,” Reuters: A swine virus deadly to piglets has been discovered on two hog farms in North Carolina, an official in the No. 2 hog-producing U.S. state said on Tuesday. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) was found at a sow farm, where piglets are born, and at a finishing farm where hogs are fattened up for slaughter, said Dr. Tom Ray, director of Livestock Health Programs for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. …
- “Big China Tobacco Company Opens Office In Cary,” WUNC: A Chinese tobacco company has announced plans to open its North America headquarters in North Carolina. The state Agriculture Department has worked hard to bolster trade relations with China. And it’s paid off. China Tobacco International informed Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler this week that they will be opening offices in Cary. …
- “Former elite firefighter from Raleigh says ‘Hotshots’ are like Marines in fighting wildfires,” News & Observer: The wildfire that killed 19 elite firefighters in Arizona on Sunday hit home with a Raleigh man who used to serve on one of the “Hotshot” crews himself. In fighting wildfires, Hotshots are like Marines in combat, said Randolph Harrison, now assistant county ranger in Wake County for the N.C. Forest Service. …
- “EPA approves Arundo reed for use in proposed Sampson County ethanol refinery,” News & Observer: Federal regulators have approved an energy wonder crop as a renewable fuel, clearing the way for a major commercial biofuels refinery in Sampson County. The Environmental Protection Agency ruled Friday that Arundo donax, a giant reed that yields three times as much ethanol per acre as corn, qualifies as a cellulosic renewable fuel. The ruling makes the Arundo reed a contender to replace Midwestern corn in the production of renewable transportation fuel.