For Kyle Miller, working in agriculture isn’t just his job. He feels it’s a gift that he has to share. "I've always loved agriculture. I've always just wanted to farm my whole life,” Miller said. “When it's in your blood, it's more than just a job or profession. You...
Brandon Herring
Research may lead to more N.C. sesame fields
“A little seed with big potential,” is how N.C. State University agricultural researcher Dr. David Suchoff often describes sesame and the possibility of growing more of the crop in North Carolina. After just a few years of research and growing test plots on the...
Health & dental screening programs look to team up with farms
“We want to let people know that we care about them, and that God cares about them. This is a small way that we can show them that we care.” That’s part of how Crystal Horton with North Carolina-based Baptists on Mission describes the organization’s health and dental...
NCDA&CS employees work to protect pollinators this week and beyond
It’s estimated that about a third of every bite of food we eat comes from the pollination activity of pollinators. So protecting them is vital to maintaining our food supply. That’s a big reason the national Pollinator Week exists – to remind people about the...
Jim Burnette retires after 45 years with NCDA&CS
May 10, 2023, marked Jim Burnette's 45th anniversary with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Since November 2006, Burnette has served as the director of the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division. The division hosted a retirement...
Fairgrounds crew builds new skillet skee-ball game for GTBNC Festival
Skee-ball, skillets and fabricated fried eggs will combine for a fun new competition at this year’s Got to Be NC Festival. So, which came first, the skillet or the egg? Carolina Cooker and parent company Agri Supply, have long supported agriculture in this state, so...
Earth Day Reminder: Department program aims to protect land and water resources
Earth Day is a good time to remember a program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that focuses on safety and environmental protection. That program is the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program (PDAP), which protects our lands,...
New videos cover some “dos, don’ts, hows and whys” of bees and beekeeping
A new video from a division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture is a resource to help beekeepers manage pests and keep their bee colonies healthy. A second video serves as a tutorial to help anyone understand the basics of a hive and to help investigators...
Bertie County office of N.C. Forest Service recognized with team award
Commissioner Steve Troxler recently recognized employees in the Bertie County office of the North Carolina Forest Service. He honored them with the quarterly Accomplishment in Team Excellence Award during a presentation at the Troxler Agricultural Sciences Center in...
Hops research continues with on-farm trials testing viability in North Carolina
https://youtu.be/Be67QA7iBFk Two on-farm trials have helped agricultural researchers realize the real-world challenges of growing hops in North Carolina. The trials were essentially field experiments that took place during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. They were...
N.C. summer fruit won’t come without some winter work
Although North Carolina is in the middle of winter, some of your favorite summer fruits are getting attention on farms across the state. No, that’s not a reference to chocolate-covered strawberries you may have for Valentine’s Day. (If that’s a treat for you this...
Dicamba training options expand in 2023
Farmers and pesticide applicators planning to use auxin products in 2023 have more options for training this year, compared to years past. (This applies specifically to applicators using over-the-top dicamba products such as XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium on...