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.
- “Workers finish final shift at House of Raeford as plant closes, leaving hundreds without jobs,” Fayetteville Observer: Leaning over behind the open trunk of his car, King Love pulled off his rubber work boots and slipped his feet into a pair of comfortable sandals for the drive home. After 23 years, it would be his last ride from his job at the House of Raeford turkey slaughtering plant in Hoke County. The plant ceased operations after Thursday’s first shift, on which Love had worked as a chiller operator. …
- “Piney Woods Farm brings peaches to the beaches,” Lumina News: Piney Woods Farm in Burgaw, N.C., is owned and operated by Buron Lanier and his wife Sara. A family-run farm, Piney Woods produces apples and peaches in season (August for apples and June through August for peaches), as well as chicken, eggs and beef year round. Buron and Sara’s three children, Lauren, Haley and Amos, are all actively involved in the family business. …
- “Crop biotech company to expand by 150 jobs by 2018,” Lancaster (Pa.) Farming: A global agriculture biotechnology company is expanding its North Carolina operations with plans to add 150 new jobs within about five years. Syngenta Biotechnology Inc. said Tuesday it will expand its Durham operations to include a new laboratory and offices at its Research Triangle Park research center. The jobs tied to researching crop protection and seed development methods are expected to pay an average of nearly $82,000 a year compared to the Durham County average of almost $67,000. …
- “Farmers say they’ll need help after rain, high water destroyed crops,” WSOC: Many farmers in Lincoln and Catawba counties say if they don’t get help, they’ll go out of business after recent rain and high water damaged crops. Hundreds of acres of crops have been destroyed. On Tuesday, Gov. Pat McCrory visited both counties where residents are cleaning up after flooding from the weekend’s heavy rains. While he looked at the damage to the washed out roads, bridges and homes, he said he hasn’t forgotten about the farmers. The governor told them he’s working with the agriculture department to see if the state can help farmers whose crops have been damaged by the water. …
- “State Wants You To Get Your Money’s Worth At Frozen Yogurt Shops,” WUNC: Summer is in full swing, which means it’s high season for frozen yogurt shops around the state. But the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is urging customers to be wary: what you pay for might not be what you get. Many yogurt shops determine price based on the weight of the yogurt and toppings, but they are required to subtract the weight of the cup or package first (which is called the tare weight). According to Jerry Butler, NCDA&CS Weight and Measures program manager, not every shop is aware of that. …
- “State Biofuels Center to shut down after funding cut,” Winston Salem Journal: The Biofuels Center of N.C. said Monday it will shut down, effective Oct. 31, because of General Assembly’s decision to eliminate its $2.06 million funding from the 2013-15 state budget. …
- “NC State Fair tickets on sale Thursday,” Charlotte Observer: Tickets for this fall’s N.C. State Fair go on sale at early-bird prices online Thursday at 10 a.m. Fairgoers will be able to buy advance tickets for admission, concerts at Dorton Arena and carnival rides for the fair, which opens Oct. 17 and runs through Oct. 27. Last year’s State Fair attracted almost 970,000 visitors. …