North Carolina can trace its beekeeping roots back in state inventories to as early as 1697 and the formation of the N.C. Beekeepers Association to 1917, but surprisingly that isn’t the oldest beginnings for either in the United States. The Colorado State Beekeepers Association was formed in 1880 making it the oldest state association in … Read more
Strawberry season in North Carolina is one of the best times of the year. The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer, and North Carolina strawberries are ripe for the picking and available at grocery stores, farmers markets and roadside stands across the state. North Carolina is one of the top strawberry producers … Read more
The N.C. Forest Service sustainably manages state forests across North Carolina. Many of them are open to the public and offer a variety of educational and recreational experiences. All state forests are managed for natural resource conservation with most providing the public access to expansive trail systems. With the N.C. Forest Service ushering in several … Read more
While strawberries are the first fruit of spring, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries quickly follow as spring gives way to summer. They also have a pretty big fan base, which has helped contribute to the success of Dr. Young’s Pond Berry Farm in Harnett County operated by Betty and Stan Trustman and their two grown sons … Read more
Around this time each year, people across the globe engage in one of the most heated debates of our time: Whether or not it’s okay to put Christmas decorations out before Thanksgiving. The spectrum seems to split right down the middle relative to when the exact appropriate time is to start decking the halls and … Read more
Christmas tree research in North Carolina is entering a new chapter after a groundbreaking at the Upper Mountain Research Station. The event in late November marked the official beginning of a new building on the research station that will house a seedbank for the most elite Fraser fir seeds in the world. Agriculture Commissioner Steve … Read more
Devastating. A word meaning highly destructive, damaging, causing severe shock, distress or grief. It’s also a word that has commonly been associated with the Grindstone Fire that ignited Nov. 27, 2021, at Pilot Mountain State Park. It’s not difficult to see where some might get that perception when viewing images and videos of the fire’s … Read more
A research project that has received funding from the NCDA&CS Bioenergy Research Initiative is exploring the possibility of growing American sycamore trees as a farm crop. The head researcher (called a principal investigator) John King, Ph.D., sees “growing” evidence that the trees planted in rotation on farmland could be a new revenue stream for farmers, … Read more
A research project that’s received funding from the NCDA&CS New and Emerging Crops Program is developing new varieties of hops for use in the state’s craft beer industry. Currently, the state’s breweries depend largely on hops grown in other states, but the North Carolina hops project aims to change that by breeding hops varieties that … Read more
July is primetime for homegrown watermelons in North Carolina. In the heat of summer, few things are better than the refreshment you can find in a sweet ripe watermelon. Independence Day is certainly a popular time to have watermelon during holiday meals. So if you need to pick out a watermelon for this July 4th, … Read more
