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
- “Martin’s Meats closing operation,” Sampson Independent: A 58-year staple in the Sampson County community has announced plans to suspend operation of its beef processing plant. That word came earlier this week in a press release announcing that the Martin’s Abattoir & Wholesale Meats, Inc. operation would end, effective immediately. The company, said Jeffrey Martin, director of operations for Martin’s plans to continue paying its employees for the next 60 days and will keep all the company benefits in place as well. Martin attributed the closing on the current economic climate which, he said, had become increasingly difficult in the last 18 months, particularly in the slaughter industry. …
- “State warns of equine virus,” Burlington Times-News: Twelve horses across North Carolina have been diagnosed with the Eastern equine encephalitis virus so far this year and all but one of these horses have died from complications caused by the virus. Horses can get the virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The disease is more common in the eastern part of the state than in other geographic regions. Eight of the 12 horses were diagnosed with the EEE virus from mid-July to early August when above-average rainfall amounts created additional breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Dr. Tom Ray, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Director of Livestock Health Program, said on Monday that during the past 10 years the state has experienced as many as 24 diagnosed cases in horses for a single year and as few as three cases of EEE diagnosed in horses in a single year. …
- “40 states, including North Carolina, urge FDA to regulate e-cigs sooner,” Winston-Salem Journal: A group of 40 state attorneys general, including North Carolina’s Roy Cooper, added its voice to those of health advocates urging the Food and Drug Administration to issue proposed regulations for electronic cigarettes by an Oct. 31 deadline. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution in a disposable cartridge and create a vapor that is inhaled. The tobacco industry, advocacy groups and consumers have been waiting since 2009 for the FDA to decide how it will regulate e-cigs for product safety, minimum legal age for use, flavors, marketing and retail availability. …
- “The Forestry Service’s state nursery supplies trees for reforestation; Farm to School program supplies fresh produce to N.C. schools,” UNC-TV’s North Carolina Now: (Video) The NC Forestry Service manages a self-supporting tree nursery that sells 15 million trees a year. The Farm to School program works with farmers across the state to provide healthy, locally-produced school lunch options. And the Alexander Youth Network marks a milestone in children’s mental health care.
- “Smithfield shareholders OK deal with China company,” News and Observer: Shareholders of Smithfield Foods Inc. on Tuesday approved a plan to sell the world’s largest pork producer and processor to a Chinese company.
The company, based in Smithfield, Va., said more than 96 percent of the votes cast during a special meeting in Richmond were in favor of Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd.’s offer of $34 a share, or $4.72 billion in cash.
- “NC agriculture leaders meet in Carteret Co. to discuss agribusiness,” News 14 Carolina: (Video) Agriculture leaders from around the state are gathering in Carteret County this week to discuss methods of growth in North Carolina’s largest industry. Department of Agriculture leader Steve Troxler says agribusiness in North Carolina is a $75 billion industry. Topics of discussion at this week’s conference include how technology and partnerships with various agencies and universities are making the business more efficient. Leaders also discussed federal issues that impact the industry. “This is going to be so important to the future of agriculture, to all states across the nation and then you think of the other things that are out there. We don’t have a farm bill yet, which impacts the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which trickles down to the states, and this is the road map for the future in agriculture so we need Congress to act,” said Troxler, N.C. Department of Agriculture. …
- “Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Visits NC Farms,” Southern Farm Network: (Audio) Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden spent the day in North Carolina this week touring some farms. Harden, a Georgia farm girl herself, said she saw three operations that were indicative of Carolina agriculture: “The first was a turkey grower working in the private sector, and not really happy. When he was 23 years old he tried to get credit and couldn’t. He ended up at USDA with a farm loan and started in the poultry business. He will make his last payment next month and is a real success story. He is someone who wanted to farm but didn’t have a farm and was looking for support.” Harden’s second stop was a multi-generational farm: “It was three generations, the grandfather, son and grandson. It is very diversified with corn, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. The family lives right on the farm. Its great to see that a multi-generational farm is still viable.” Harden’s third stop was a small hobby farmer direct-to-consumer sales: “This was a small minority farmer who retired from an in town job and inherited some land and now grows produce and has a stand. He had one of his best years there this year. All three stories are a great example of how important agriculture is to the country.” …
- “Get your fill of N.C.-grown apples,” Burlington Times-News: Did you know that North Carolina ranks seventh in apple production in the United States? If you’re an apple lover, that’s reason to celebrate, because according to the North Carolina Department of Agricultural and Consumer Science, we have more than 300 commercial apple operations with 10,000 acres of apple bearing orchards in this state. That’s a lot of apples! …
- “Wood pellet agreement approved for Port of Morehead City,” WNCT: A deal to expand the Port of Morehead City’s profile in the wood pellet industry was approved by the the North Carolina State Ports Authority Board of Directors on Thursday. The agreement would allow for construction of a wood pellet export facility at the port. According to terms of the agreement, WoodFuels would finance and build a $25 million export facility at the port to receive, store and load wood pellets for export to Europe. There, the pellets would be used as a renewable energy source. The 20-year agreement says the facilty would first receive the pellets for shipment late next year. Revenue is estimated at $1.2 million and $2 million annually. …
- “Officials say Cleveland Co. fair is safe,” WSOC: (Video) The Cleveland County Fair opened today and more eyes are on the fair more than ever after last year’s E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 100 visitors and killing one toddler. The source was traced back to the petting zoo. Signs point attendees to hand-washing stations and warning them not to touch the animals. Plastic chains are set up inches from the caged animals to remind visitors not to pet the animals. Department of Agriculture officials said chains are a sufficient warning and inspectors also told fair officials to erect more signs telling people not to touch the animals. Terri Ellison brought her grandson to the fair. “There are a lot of warning signs,” the grandmother said. “I feel safe for him, but we won’t be touching the animals.” …
- “Colo. farmers arrested in fatal listeria outbreak,” Charlotte Observer: The owners of a Colorado cantaloupe farm were arrested Thursday on charges stemming from a 2011 listeria epidemic that killed 33 people in one of the nation’s deadliest outbreaks of foodborne illness. Federal prosecutors said brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen were arrested on misdemeanor charges of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. Each man faces six counts. They pleaded not guilty in federal court and were released on unsecured bonds. Trial is scheduled for Dec. 2. Prosecutors said the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined the Jensens didn’t adequately clean the cantaloupe. …
- “NC Fights Invasive Beetle With Stingerless Wasp,” WUNC: North Carolina is releasing wasps to fight an invasive beetle in ash trees. Forestry officials say the particular species of wasp is a natural enemy of the emerald ash borer. The beetle was first found in North Carolina earlier this year. It invades ash trees and kills them in two to three years. Kelly Oten of the North Carolina Forest Service released 900 wasps, which naturally do not have stingers, Thursday morning. She says the USDA is breeding them. “They lay eggs in the larvae of the beetles and basically eat it from the inside out,” Oten says. “We have native birds that eat the ash borer, too. Hopefully between these things attacking it, it will keep the population at a more manageable level so we don’t see the widespread mortality in ash trees that we’re expecting.” …