NCDA&CS Offers Organic Certification Cost-Share Assistance

Web AdminNorth Carolina

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 …

UF Research to Help Plants Cope with Parasitic Nematodes

Web AdminAgriculture Research

Parasitic nematodes are responsible for about $125 billion in annual crop loss worldwide, and they can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their tomato yield. “The situation with nematodes is exacerbated by an emerging concern in agriculture: the effect of warming nighttime temperatures. This unprecedented trend is causing critical challenges to crops,” said University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …

UF Research to Help Plants Cope with Parasitic Nematodes

Web AdminResearch

Parasitic nematodes are responsible for about $125 billion in annual crop loss worldwide, and they can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their tomato yield. “The situation with nematodes is exacerbated by an emerging concern in agriculture: the effect of warming nighttime temperatures. This unprecedented trend is causing critical challenges to crops,” said University of Florida Institute of Food …

N.C. Counties Eligible for Crop Loss Program Following Tropical Storm Fred, April ’21 freeze

Web AdminNorth Carolina

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

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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

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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 Apple Field Day

Web AdminApple

North Carolina (N.C.) State University’s annual Apple Field Day will occur on Thursday, July 28, starting at 4 p.m. at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, North Carolina. Producers and industry experts are welcome to attend the free event. The N.C. State Apple Team will provide information on various topics related to apple production. Such …

NCDA&CS Finds Spotted Lanternfly in Forsyth County

Web AdminNorth Carolina, Pests

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’s Suchoff to Lead New Hemp Research Consortium

Web AdminHemp, North Carolina, Research

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 …

Strawberry Growers Be Wary of Potential Frost

Web AdminStrawberry, Weather

A potential for a frost event this weekend should have strawberry growers in North Carolina on high alert. North Carolina (N.C.) State Extension says that producers will need to protect their crop if the weather forecast predicts frost. The greatest potential for frost will be Sunday and Monday mornings, though some regions in the western part of the state could …