Top Agriculture News

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Officials say federal disaster workers paused and then changed some of their hurricane-recovery efforts in North Carolina, including abandoning door-to-door visits, after receiving threats. The threats that they could be targeted by a militia emerged over the weekend, at a time when the government response to Helene is being targeted by rampant disinformation. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call about a man with an assault rifle who commented about possibly harming employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency working in the hard-hit areas of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, in the North Carolina mountains. The man was later arrested charged with a misdemeanor.

In just a few short days, the 156th N.C. State Fair kicks off, and so does the N.C. State Fair Farm Family of the Day, sponsored by the Tractor Supply Company. One North Carolina farm family will be recognized every day of the fair, highlighting the contributions of family farms to our state’s $111 billion […]

The U.S. Sustainability Alliance was formed to share the stories and values of U.S. farmers, fisherman, and foresters with European audiences. Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation President, talked with EU officials about the sustainable practices and conservation programs in U.S. agriculture. “We met with them because agriculture in the United States has a great […]

It’s fall, and to many people that means pumpkin patches and hayrides. Commissioner, tell us what South Carolina agritourism farms are doing this October. Fall is an especially busy time for agritourism farms. Pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes, trick-or-treat events, harvest festivals… We continue to see an increase in agritourism. Definition: agriculture-based activities that bring […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. We got USDA’s latest supply and demand estimates on Friday. The market only expected very minor adjustments and that is what USDA delivered. USDA pegged corn carryout just barely below the psychologically important 2 billion bushel level […]

A question of major concern to many in North Carolina and beyond, following Hurricane Helene’s devastation in the mountains has been, “What about the Christmas trees?” Western North Carolina is a major producer of Fraser firs and other popular holiday varieties. Larry Smith’s trees have been selected national winners in the White House Christmas tree […]

Agriculture Undersecretary for Food Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie is among those who acknowledge a full scope of damages is weeks, even months away, yet there are preliminary indications how farms and forests in the impact zones fared. The undersecretary, at a recent federal post hurricane response briefing, said from a federal crop insurance perspective… […]

The USDA is out now with its new quarterly hogs and pigs report. “What this report is telling us is, you know, I don’t think there was any real big surprises.” Not even a couple of the small ones. This from USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell. “What this report says, more or less, is that […]

Friday, September 6, 2024 Unfortunately, our office has been notified that scammers are pretending to be North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler on social media and peer-to-peer payment services like Venmo. Imposter scammers pretend to be someone in a position of authority to get your hard-earned money or personal information. Commissioner Troxler and other […]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has signed the state’s first relief package to address Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The bill signed Thursday allocates $273 million for immediate needs and gives flexibility to agencies and displaced residents in western counties. The Republican-dominated legislature approved the measure unanimously the day before. Nearly all the money will be used to meet the federal government’s match for state and local disaster assistance programs. Other provisions help nutrition workers in closed schools. The money is coming from the state’s large savings reserve. The bill also changes how upcoming elections are conducted in 25 counties. More Helene relief legislation could advance in two weeks.