small farms

Small Snow Hill farmer has built his business through direct local sales of collards, heirloom variety sweet potatoes and greens

by Andrea Ashby | Mar 24, 2022

At 79 years old with a lifetime of farming experience to his name, James Shackleford of Snow Hill well understands the challenges of being a small farmer and making a living from the land. This year, he’s watching his input costs even more closely as he makes plans to put another crop in the ground. […]

With “Black Cotton,” N.C. farmer works to revamp the impression of Black Americans in cotton

by Brandon Herring | Feb 1, 2021

Julius Tillery is proud of his family’s history and his heritage of Black farmers in Northampton County, but he’s much more focused on the future than the past. He sees his company Black Cotton as a way to revamp the image often associated with Black Americans and cotton. That’s not to say the history of […]

Today’s Topic: NCDA&CS 2019 highlights.

by Heather Overton | Dec 31, 2019

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis to discuss “Today’s Topic.” As we come to the end of the year, it’s a good time to look back at some of the department’s accomplishments and highlights. It has been a busy year, but I am proud of the work […]

Agriculture internships help build interest in Ag careers

by Summer Jacobs | Jul 17, 2019

Summer break is a time when many college students decide whether to spend their summer at the beach or the mountains. While other students utilize this time for career-building internships. This is a great way for students to get experience in a variety of state government agencies. Recently, Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed the 50th anniversary […]

News Roundup: Jan. 27 – Feb. 2

by Heather Overton | Feb 2, 2018

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “If record yields didn’t make profits in 2017, how might 2018?” Southeast Farm Press: How did the 2017 crop year turn out? That is one of the questions I ask […]

News Roundup: July 29-Aug. 4

by Brian Long | Aug 4, 2017

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “Her goal is to connect farmers, food businesses to people with money to lend,” The News & Observer: As a child, Carol Peppe Hewitt often traveled with her father, a […]

News Roundup: May 6-12

by Heather Overton | May 12, 2017

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “New farmers face dwindling land, soaring prices in Triangle,” The News & Observer: Thomas Saile of Raleigh hopes to own a farm one day. Saile has spent time in an […]

News Roundup: March 19-24

by Heather Overton | Mar 25, 2016

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “Richmond County farmers, firemen train for ag trauma,” Richmond County Daily Journal: Farming can be a dangerous job. It’s often listed as one of the top 10 deadliest professions — […]

‘Meating’ the needs of local farmers

by Heather Overton | Mar 23, 2016

Tremendous growth. In two words that’s how the rise of meat handlers in the state would be described. The number has gone from one meat handler in 2002, to 876 currently registered with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Meat and Poultry Inspection Division. A meat handler is a farmer who raises his own […]

Today’s Topic: Small Farms Week in North Carolina

by Brian Long | Mar 22, 2016

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.” The Cooperative Extension program at N.C. A&T State University is marking its 30th year of celebrating Small Farms Week, an observance of small-scale agriculture and the farmers who make it happen. The USDA defines small farms as […]

News Roundup: Feb. 27-March 4

by Heather Overton | Mar 4, 2016

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “Mount Airy’s Nester Hosiery finds success with Farm to Feet brand,” Winston-Salem Journal: Officials with Nester Hosiery say the company uses an “All-American recipe” for making its Farm to Feet […]

News Roundup: Feb. 7-13

by Heather Overton | Feb 13, 2015

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to the full story. “Plant-grafting business breaks ground in Mills River,” Hendersonville Times-News: Despite temperatures in the 20s and wind chills in the […]

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