Summary: The start of the year means it’s time for commodity meetings and the annual Agricultural Development Forum held at the Southern Farm Show. The 20th annual forum will be held Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m. This year it will be held in the Special Events Tent by the Commercial and Education Buildings.
- January and February are always busy months for agriculture with many commodity association meetings planned. These offer a great opportunity for farmers to gather and catch up on the latest news involving their commodities and start thinking about the upcoming growing season.
- Calendars begin to fill up so I want to remind growers to mark their calendars for Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m. for the 20th Annual Agricultural Development Forum.
- We are busy planning this event now and will have an update on the economic outlook for 2026 plus an update on the 2024 ag crop disaster assistance program.
- I hope by that time we will also be able to provide an update on the $221 million federal ag disaster block grant that we will be administering as well.
- Currently we are awaiting approval by USDA for our plan to distribute that funding. Once we have that approval, we expect to announce the application period for this federal program.
- In addition, we will be presenting the Exporter of the Year award, and I will also deliver my annual State of Ag address.
- The past couple of years, the State of Ag address has taken the form of a question-and-answer session, and we intend to do that this year as well.
- We will also be providing lunch following the forum, so I invite listeners to join us for these important updates.
- This year we will be set up in the Special Events Tent near the Commercial and Education Buildings as the Holshouser Building is undergoing renovations.
- The forum and several other commodity meetings are always held in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show at the State Fairgrounds.
- This is the largest farm show in the Carolinas and Virginia with more than 400 exhibitors expected. It’s a great place to learn about new products and services, to attend commodity meetings and visit with other farmers.
- In addition to the Ag Development Forum on Feb. 5, there is also the N.C. Growers Association Annual Meeting on Feb. 4, and on Feb.6 the annual meeting of the N.C. Crop Improvement Association and the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina.
- The Tobacco Farm Life Museum will also host its annual Breakfast with the Commissioner fundraiser at 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 6.
- There will be entertainment at the Farm Show including the South Atlantic Woodsmen Association Lumberjack Show and music by the Brothers N’ Bluegrass Band that is sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina.
- The Southern National Draft Horse Pull wraps things up at 6 p.m. on Feb. 6. You can buy tickets for this event at the show.
- I hope you will mark your calendars and plan to attend.