RALEIGH (N.C.) – Organic growers in North Carolina (N.C.) can apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or for recertification through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Growers who are certified or recertified between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022, can apply for assistance through the program. “Applicants can be …
September Webinar: Tips for Beginning Farmers and Farm Seekers
North Carolina FarmLink and the Organic Growers School will host a free webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. to discuss helpful tips for beginning farmers and farm seekers. Attendees will learn about the Farm Triangle and the Dunning-Kruger Effect and some upcoming beginning farmer training opportunities, including the Organic Growers School Journeyperson Farmer Program. Those interested can sign …
N.C. Counties Eligible for Crop Loss Program Following Tropical Storm Fred, April ’21 freeze
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced that farmers in 11 additional counties are eligible for the Western North Carolina (N.C.) Agricultural Crop Loss Program for damages and losses due to flooding and excessive rain from Tropical Storm Fred and an April 2021 freeze and frost. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. A total of $10 million is available. …
Watermelon Day at N.C. State Farmers Market
RALEIGH – Giant watermelons, watermelon royalty and free slices of the summertime fruit – what’s not to love about Watermelon Day, scheduled for today at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, North Carolina (N.C.). Activities including a giant watermelon contest, visits by the N.C. Watermelon Queen Emory New and the National Watermelon Queen Bethany Barfield, live music and face painting …
N.C. State Tomato Field Day Slated for Aug. 11
N.C. State Tomato Field Day Slated for Aug. 11 North Carolina (N.C.) State Extension will hold its annual Tomato Field Day on Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, North Carolina. Registration will be held at 8 a.m., with field tours starting at 8:45 a.m. and lunch served at noon. The vendor …
N.C. State to Host Turfgrass Field Day
Registration is ongoing for the Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Field Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Research Lab in Raleigh, North Carolina. The annual field day offers attendees an opportunity to view the N.C. State University Turfgrass Program’s research trials while interacting with faculty and staff. The topics for this year’s field day include cultural practices, …
NCDA&CS Finds Spotted Lanternfly in Forsyth County
RALEIGH – The North Carolina (N.C.) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed the first established presence of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the state. Initial surveys indicate the known distribution of the pest is within a 5-mile radius in Forsyth County near Interstate 40 in Kernersville, extending to the Guilford County line. Survey efforts are ongoing. “We have …
N.C. State Fiber Hemp Field Day
North Carolina State Extension will host a Fiber Hemp Field Day on July 19 at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury, North Carolina. Highlighted topics will include information about a planting date and variety trial, a cover crop no-till weed management trial and new variety research. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. All individuals must register …
N.C. State’s Suchoff to Lead New Hemp Research Consortium
David Suchoff, North Carolina (N.C.) State assistant professor of alternative crops, was selected as the director of the new Hemp Research Consortium, initially funded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) for up to $2.5 million. The consortium is a public-private partnership designed to align research-intensive and land grant universities’ research efforts with the hemp industry. The venture …
North Carolina Strawberry Season Underway
The arrival of spring means locally-grown strawberries are ready to be picked in North Carolina (N.C.). Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler discusses what consumers can expect from this year’s crop. “Growers have done a good job protecting the crop from recent cool temperatures and because of their hard work, this year’s strawberry crop looks to be plentiful,” said Troxler. Strawberry season …