sweet potatoes

Regional Agronomists provide April crop updates

by Heather Overton | Apr 8, 2021

With a long, wet winter and now Easter behind us, field work and land preparation for the 2021 crop is in full swing. With the soils drying out over the past week, many acres have been tilled and/or burndown herbicides have been applied to row crop acres. There are still low-lying and/or poorly drained areas […]

New research station building reflects state’s investment in sweet potatoes

by Brandon Herring | Mar 22, 2021

At first glance, the new building at the Horticultural Crops Research Station may not seem that remarkable. It’s a light beige metal building. 60 feet wide. 100 feet long. It’s distinguished by its reddish-maroon trim. Otherwise, it’s a near twin to the older building just beside it. What it lacks in pizazz, the new building […]

Today’s Topic: Growers reminded to be on the lookout for nematode damage to sweet potatoes. Testing services available through Agronomic Services Division.

by Heather Overton | Sep 29, 2020

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis to discuss “Today’s Topic.” With the sweet potato harvest, growers are urged to keep watch for nematode damage and may want to consider molecular diagnostic testing if they are found. This is a service of the Agronomic Services Nematode Lab.

Recipe: sweet potato soldiers

by Joey Pitchford | Feb 28, 2020

February is almost over, which means that National Sweet Potato Month is coming to an end. It’s only right that we end off the month with one more sweet potato dish, and one that might just help satisfy your sweet tooth, too! As we discussed in another recent blog post, small fingerling sweet potatoes make […]

Recipe: slow cooker sweet potato bisque

by Brandon Herring | Feb 19, 2020

This time of year it’s pretty difficult to find truly local produce that’s in season in North Carolina. Collards certainly are an option, and there may be some goodies growing in greenhouses. There’s certainly not an abundance of local farm-fresh food though. (Check out the N.C. in-season guide here.) This is why canning and other […]

Not just for holidays, sweet potatoes make it from field to fork in a simple process

by Brandon Herring | Dec 13, 2019

Sweet potatoes experience a bit of a zenith during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays when their popularity soars. Sweet potato pies and casseroles are pretty popular, and lots of folks also enjoy what many people may call “candied yams.” In case you missed the memo, those are almost certainly sweet potatoes, not actually yams. (more […]

Today’s Topic: New nematode molecular diagnostic fee in effect.

by Heather Overton | Nov 21, 2019

The NCDA&CS’ nematode lab had a record-breaking year with over 52,300 samples processed, including 2,878 molecular diagnostic samples. Interest in nematode testing has increased from sweet potato producers, particularly in identifying the Guava root knot nematode. The lab has had to increase its fee from $10 to $20 to help manage increased laboratory supplies and […]

Recipe: Sweet Potato Pudding

by Emily Hughes | Feb 28, 2019

For the last week of Sweet Potato Month, we are giving you a sweet and easy dessert recipe. So why do we take a month to celebrate sweet potatoes? Not only are they delicious and packed with vitamins and nutrients, but North Carolina ranks no. 1 in the country for sweet potato production and produces […]

Recipe: Sweet Potato Muffins

by Emily Hughes | Feb 21, 2019

For National Sweet Potato month, we’re giving you the tastiest sweet potato recipes for any meal! With high school and middle school sports starting back for the season, this recipe will be the perfect breakfast or snack for athletes. Sweet potatoes are a rich source of fiber, iron, calcium and selenium, as well as a […]

Recipe: Sweet Potato & Sausage Hash

by Emily Hughes | Feb 7, 2019

Since February is Sweet Potato Month, we are here to bring you the tastiest sweet potato recipes that are easy for anyone to whip up! North Carolina is the number one producer in the country for sweet potatoes, supplying over 55% of the nation’s supply. Wilson, Nash, Johnston, Edgecombe, Duplin, Lenoir and Martin counties are […]

News Roundup: Aug. 25 – 29

by Heather Overton | Sep 1, 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. “A Week of Big Announcements in Washington,” Southern Farm Network: (Audio) The U.S. and Mexico have reached a partial NAFTA deal, and USDA announced details of a tariff rescue package for […]

Today’s Topic: Sweet potato weevil quarantine issued for two counties in South Carolina

by Heather Overton | Aug 28, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis to discuss “Today’s Topic.” Recently a sweet potato weevil quarantine area was established for Berkeley and Jasper counties in South Carolina after weevils were detected there. The quarantine is an effort to protect against the accidental introduction of the weevil into […]

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