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 Ag Commissioner Details Ag Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Grant Awards,” Southern Farm Network: The Agricultural Development and Farmland Trust Fund has recently awarded their 2013 grants. …
- “NC has 10th most farmers markets in U.S., report finds,” WBTV: All of the rain we’ve seen this summer has hurt the livelihoods of some local farmers. Still, farmers markets are popping up everywhere. It only takes a few years before repeat business becomes more like a family tradition. …
- “Wake County Commissioners focus on agriculture,” Wake Forest Weekly: Four years after work on it began, the Wake County Commissioners unanimously approved the Wake County Agricultural Economic Development Plan (AEDP) Monday. The plan was then presented to and certified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (NCDA&CS) on Tuesday. …
- “Smithfield Foods executives say sale to Chinese good for Southeast grain, livestock producers,” Southeast Farm Press: Since the announcement several weeks ago that Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer and processor in North America would be purchased by Chinese pork giant Shuanghui International, grain farmers in the Upper Southeast have been concerned. …
- “Asheville’s Winter Sun Farms preps for winter CSA program,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Markets are bursting with fresh produce, and winter seems far away. Still, the thriftiest of cooks are starting to squirrel away the summer bounty in the form of preserves, pickles and prepared and frozen vegetables. …
- “N.C. State Fair adds more entertainment,” WRAL: Some old favorites and several new acts will be roaming the state fairgrounds this October for the annual N.C. State Fair. …
- “Peak-season soil-test fee coming this fall,” Chatham Journal: The 2013 Appropriations Act passed by the General Assembly approved a $4 fee for soil samples analyzed by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the period from December through March. The fee is an attempt to lessen the backlog associated with the busy season when the lab is routinely inundated with tens of thousands of samples. …
- “Vetoed bill would have helped local ag community,” Hendersonville Times-News: Gov. Pat McCrory vetoed a bill Thursday that would have helped the agricultural community hire seasonal workers, said Mark Williams, executive director of Agribusiness Henderson County. Under current law, E-Verify screening to determine a worker’s immigration status is required after 90 days of employment. …
- “Cabarrus News: Annual Agricultural Celebration puts focus on farmers,” Charlotte Observer: There was no red carpet or phalanx of photographers, but there was a buzz of celebration and excitement in the air as folks gathered for the eighth annual Agricultural Celebration on July 30. Instead of evening gowns and tuxedos, attendees wore T-shirts and dungarees to this event where farmers have the rare opportunity to socialize. …