“Life Stories: Steve Mobley was champion and fan of grass-fed beef and organic produce,” News Observer: Children in Louisburg living near Meadow Lane Farm have often woken on autumn mornings to find that pumpkin fairies visited their home the night before. Those fairies have born a strong resemblance to Steve Mobley and his wife, Martha, who have enjoyed sneakily placing the home-grown gourds at doorsteps and the bottom of driveways. Their spritely gifts have delighted their neighbors’ children, and more recently their grandchildren, for more than 20 years. …
- “Southeast fruit, vegetable growers hoping fall crops help them bounce back,” Southeast Farm Press: It has been way too wet in the Carolinas this season, but on the bright side, the water situation looks good for fall fruits and vegetables… as long as it doesn’t start raining again.“Our soil moisture is good,” said James Sharp of Fresh-Pik Farms, a fruit and vegetable operation in Kenly, N.C. “I am sure we have a good high water table.” He was looking forward to a good season for his fall crops. Fall collards were one crop that appeared in position to finish strong, he said. …
- “Bryan Hagler forced to farm around record rainfall in 2013 Southeast Farm Press,” Southeast Farm Press: Rain, rain and more rain for North Carolina farmer Bryan Hagler made 2013 a year of many ‘firsts’, most of which he would like to forget.Hagler who farms cotton first and then wheat, soybeans and corn in Scotland, Robeson, and Hoke counties in southeast North Carolina, says the rainfall that many are calling a 100-year phenomena, forced him to do things he never thought he would do in his farming career.He grew up on a family farm and after returning from North Carolina State University, where he earned a degree in agriculture in 1980, he began farming on his own.
- “NC schools better than most going local with food,” WNCN: North Carolina’s public schools are going local in their cafeterias more than most states. The U.S. Agriculture Department said this week that North Carolina is among the country’s leaders in buying and serving local food to students — based on department’s first nationwide “Farm to School Census” of school districts. More than 60 percent of North Carolina’s 115 districts said they’ve been participating in farm-to-school activities, which can include purchasing from local sources and planting edible gardens, according to the census. …
- “Wine samples available near NC State Fair,” WNCT: Wine samples are almost available at the North Carolina State Fair, for the first time.The News & Observer of Raleigh reported (http://bit.ly/Hd7ryT) that six wineries have set up to offer samples and sales at the horse complex just across the road from Gate 8 at the fair. The North Carolina Wine and Grape Council had lobbied agriculture officials for years to be able to offer samples and sell bottles at the fair.
- “No Clear answers for farmers in Obamacare,” North Carolina Health News: No Clear Answers for Farmers in Obamacare: Obama administration officials promised that rural residents, in particular, would see reductions in their health insurance rates. But North Carolina’s farmers are still waiting to see. Shiloh Avery and her partner, Jason Roehrig, grow certified organic fruits and vegetables at Tumbling Shoals Farm in Millers Creek, just east of Boone, and they’re eking out a living on the land. “Farming is good, but it’s not a lucrative career choice,” Avery said. …
- “Southeast fruit, vegetable growers hoping fall crops help them bounce back,” USDA: (blog) When students have experiences such as tending a school garden or visiting a farm they’ll be more likely to make healthy choices in the cafeteria. And when schools invest their food dollars in their local communities, all of agriculture benefits, including local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food processors and manufacturers.Good news: these healthy habits are taking root all across the country. USDA released today results from a nationwide Census of farm to school activities. We found that 43 percent of all public school districts have an existing farm to school program in place. Another 13 percent of school districts surveyed are committed to launching a farm to school program in the near future. With purchasing local food as a primary farm to school activity, in school year 2011-2012, schools purchased and served over $350 million in local food. …