Top Agriculture News

HENNIKER, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire company is working to develop a fleet of autonomous helicopters that it hopes can be used to put out fires, spray crops and handle other dangerous jobs. Rotor Technologies has built two of the autonomous helicopters, started running test flights and plans a demonstration of the helicopter at an agriculture trade show in Texas on Wednesday. The company is hoping to sell as many as 20 of the small helicopters next year, most of which would be used by farmers to spray fields with pesticides and fertilizers. To allow those flights, the company is counting on getting Federal Aviation Administration approval by next year.

NEWLAND, N.C. (AP) — The White House’s Christmas tree is slated to be cut and transported from a North Carolina farm on Wednesday. Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm is located in Avery County, North Carolina. It was one of the hardest-hit counties from Hurricane Helene just a few months before. The farm experienced some road damage and lost between 5,000 to 6,000 smaller trees in a mudslide. But one of the owners, Sam Cartner Jr., says that other Christmas tree farmers had it much worse than his family’s farm. He hopes the White House tree can be an inspiring symbol for western North Carolina.

There are several considerations farmers need to take into account when they are looking to expand their land assets. Matt Gunderson is Senior Vice President of Strategic Relations at Farmers National Company. “There are some instances where, hey, it’s right next door. It makes sense. It’s a once in a generation. I’ve driven past it […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. This is the last full week before Thanksgiving’s shortened week, and volume has already been noticeably lower. Coming on the shortened week next week, we have first notice day on the December contracts. Grain and oilseeds finished […]

It’s just about Christmas tree season in South Carolina! Here to tell us about this industry is Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers. Commissioner: It sure feels early to be talking about Christmas trees – but tree farms across the state will be opening in about a week and a half, so it’s time to start planning. […]

Active duty and retired military members can receive a 20% discount on tree seedling purchases from the N.C. Forest Service through the end of November.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans are voicing frustration over how the state is still struggling to recover from two hurricanes that ravaged the region long before Hurricane Helene hit in September. The issues bubbled to the surface Monday during a legislative committee hearing about a budget shortfall in the state Office of Recovery and Resiliency. At issue are projects stemming from hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper asked for money to eliminate the shortfall last month as part of a larger package to address Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding. One top recovery official says pausing projects is an “option on the table” if lawmakers don’t come up with enough cash.

The SC Poultry Federation hosted it’s annual Friends of the Flock fundraiser at City Roots in Columbia last week. The event was well attended and included comments from SCPF Chair David Rush of Palmetto AgriBusiness Council member House of Raeford; SCPF Executive Director and PABC Board member Trey Byars; State Senator Wes Climer Senate Ag […]

Time to look forward now as we head into the winter months. I’m Mike Davis, and I’m with Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis from the State Climate Office of North Carolina. Corey, your office has just come out with its Winter Outlook. Let’s start with where we are right now, and where do you see […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. Market trade this week has been decidedly bearish so far. Hoping for a Friday to change the trend. Corn and beans both hit resistance levels and could not break through and have both seen a pullback with […]