From grapes to cotton, tobacco to Christmas trees, any crop can be harmed if the wrong herbicide or pesticide comes in contact with it. Certain specialty crops are especially vulnerable because they can be damaged by lots of normal herbicides and pesticides that are commonly used on farms and yards across North Carolina. Beehives could […]
It seems many people, including business owners and managers, are thinking about deep cleaning these days. That’s especially true as more businesses in North Carolina reopen and people transition from the governor’s “stay home” order to a “safer at home” advisory. While still not advised by the state’s health leaders, that means more people will […]
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis to discuss “Today’s Topic.” On the heels of Earth Day celebrations, the NCDA&CS Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program has collected more than 4 million pounds of unused and unwanted pesticides. The program ensures these products are disposed of in a responsible and […]
It’s the time of year when you may be seeing more carpenter bees around your house, especially if you’re around your house more these days. Carpenter bees are solitary though, so you won’t find them in hives – probably just one or two at a time in any given area. Right now, lots of male […]
Four million pounds. Two thousand tons. Sixty-four million ounces. No matter how you say it, it’s a big number, and for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer services, it’s a major milestone. Four million pounds is the amount of pesticides the department has helped collect and properly dispose of since 1980. That’s the year […]
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.” In March, North Carolina voters approved the Connect NC bond package. The bond contained $94 million to help the department build a new laboratory complex to replace several aging labs: Veterinary, Food and Drug, Structural Pest & Pesticides, Standards and […]
Every day, we receive emails through our website from people who have questions related to agriculture or services provided by our department. Answering emails is part of our efforts to provide the best customer service to North Carolina residents. The following questions were answered by Jim Melvin, assistant director of the Food and Drug Protection […]
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.” Since 1944, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. Gov. Pat McCrory has also proclaimed the week N.C. Farm Safety and Health Week to raise awareness of the importance […]
Labor Day travel plans could bring travelers into contact with more than just a relaxing day in the mountains or at the beach. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages travelers to be aware of bedbugs and to take steps to ensure these infamous hitchhikers do not come home in the luggage. “Bedbugs […]
What do you do when you have hundreds of Madagascar hissing cockroaches you don’t want anymore? This is a problem recently faced by the NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division. “We ordered three about five or six years ago; (the company) sent us six, thinking some would probably die in transit,” said Jim Burnette, […]
Few people like dealing with creepy, crawling pests in their homes or yards, and a growing number of consumers are turning to pest management professionals for help. That’s good news for the state’s pest-management industry according to the N.C. Pest Management Association, a nonprofit trade group based in Morrisville. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s […]
If you’re a farmer or homeowner and want to safely dispose of your old or unwanted pesticides, you can drop them off at one of several collection events this spring. The season kicks off Feb. 26 in Northampton County. The events are hosted by the department’s Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program and Cooperative Extension. Since 1980, […]