Category: Agriculture

RALEIGH – Shoppers who enjoy searching for deals and unique products at the Raleigh Flee Market have one final weekend to shop before the market closes in preparation for the N.C. State Fair, which runs Oct. 15-25. The flea market will operate Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed until the weekend of Nov. 7. Held each weekend at the N.C. State Fairgrounds except during the month of October, the …

RALEIGH – State officials have determined that a single load of alfalfa hay, originating in Kansas and delivered to Murphy Farm Hay and Feed in Louisburg on Aug. 11, was the source of blister beetle contamination. The bales from this load of hay were bound with a reddish-orange twine. Murphy Farm Hay and Feed sold much of this hay at retail, as well as further distributed hay from this single load to Jones Farm Hay and Feed in Middlesex. No …

This fall, Vance County Cooperative Extension will offer a series of seminars to help you become a Successful Gardener! The seminars will be held on Thursday evenings (6:30 to 8:00 pm) at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, (210 Southpark Dr. in Henderson). The cost is $15 for all four classes in the series, or $5 each a la carte. Advance registration is REQUIRED. The schedule is as follows: Class 1, Sep 24: Strategies for Creating & Maintaining a Beautiful …

The North Carolina Tobacco Research Referendum will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2015. Morris White, Vance County Extension Director, said one polling place has been established in the County. The polling location is the Vance County Extension Office located at 305 Young Street in Henderson. Morris White explained that the referendum is being held to let tobacco growers decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program.  This program has been in place since 1991, and the law requires …

RALEIGH – State officials issued a stop-sale order Monday on alfalfa hay received from Kansas and being sold at Murphy Farm Hay and Feed in Louisburg and Jones Farm Hay and Feed in Middlesex for blister beetle contamination, which can be deadly for horses. Store owners voluntarily recalled the alfalfa hay when they learned about the possible contamination and are cooperating with feed inspectors from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to notify any animal owners who may …

RALEIGH – The annual window of opportunity for ordering seedlings from the N.C. Forest Service Nursery Program is open. The Forest Service produces about 20 million quality seedlings for 54 species of conifer and hardwood trees each year at its nurseries in Goldsboro and Crossnore. “The Forest Service is selling hardwood seedlings in quantities as low as 10 and conifers in quantities as low as 50,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Large orders can be accommodated, too, as our nurseries …

RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler signed an emergency order today expanding the quarantine for emerald ash borer to include the entire state, following the discovery of borers in several more counties across the state. “We have surveyed the state to see if we could find evidence of this highly destructive pest in previously undetected counties,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our staff have now turned up evidence of emerald ash borers in the central, eastern and western parts of …

RALEIGH – More than 70 N.C. Forest Service personnel are currently helping fight fires in the Western United States. And for the first time in its 100-year history, the agency sent fire engines out West, too. The three engines are former military trucks that have been converted into fire trucks capable of carrying 600 to 800 gallons of water. Two of the trucks are going to Idaho, and the third is going to Oregon. The trucks, which left last weekend, …

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is holding five regional meetings to inform backyard poultry owners about the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that is expected to be introduced in the state this fall. Veterinarians with NCDA&CS and the N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will give an overview of the U.S. outbreak and how North Carolina is planning to protect commercial poultry and small flocks. They will also answer questions about the …

At The Farmers Market This Week *Apples   *Butter Beans  *Cantaloupe  *Corn  *Cucumbers  *Cut Flowers  *Eggs  *Eggplant  *Green Beans  *Honey  *Okra  *Onions  *Peaches  *Peas  *Peppers  *Potatoes  *Radishes  *Sauces & Rubs  *Shrimp  *Squash  *Tomatoes  *Watermelons   We will have  SHRIMP at the VCRFM  Saturday, August 8th We will also feature many handmade crafts such as textiles, soaps, note cards, and artwork.  Rounding out our variety of goods this week will be an assortment of plants -including hanging baskets, herbs, & vegetable plants; baked …

RALEIGH – Wine lovers may raise a glass to a new report that shows the North Carolina wine and grape industry contributes $1.71 billion to the state’s economy. “It is encouraging to see continued growth in the wine and grape industry, not only for our wineries, but also for our grape growers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “More than 77 percent of all wine produced in North Carolina comes from North Carolina grapes.” The study was commissioned by the N.C. …

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, August 6 2015, 2 pm at Farmers Market (210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC). This meeting is open to the public and the Board welcomes comments and input. For more information, call 252-598-0814 or e-mail farmersmarket@vancecounty.org.

RALEIGH – The State Farmers Market is looking for local watermelon growers to submit entries to its Largest Watermelon Contest. The exhibition will be part of the market’s annual Watermelon Day on July 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “This year’s high temperatures and low precipitation have helped North Carolina’s watermelon crop,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Many growers are expecting a better year than 2014, so there will be a lot to celebrate at Watermelon Day.” The grower …

RALEIGH – North Carolina veterinary officials have received confirmation of three cases of canine influenza in Asheville and Winston-Salem, and are receiving reports of suspected cases in Greensboro. According to reports, more than 200 dogs may have the virus, but since it is not a reportable disease in North Carolina, the problem could be more widespread. Veterinarians are asked to voluntarily report cases to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Animal Welfare Section at 919-715-7111 or agr.aws@ncagr.gov<mailto:agr.aws@ncagr.gov> so …

RALEIGH – A Cumberland County horse died last month after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, a mosquito-borne disease that is preventable by vaccination. The 8-year-old Quarter horse died despite veterinary treatment. This is the first reported case of EEE in North Carolina this year. The state recorded 12 EEE cases in horses in 2014. The virus has been detected in North Carolina for many years and is considered endemic, meaning the virus is now commonly found in the state and horse …

Recruiting Now for Master Gardener Class Volunteers needed! Do you love gardening? Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer? The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program is just for you! Our training classes will begin on Tuesday, July 28, 9 am to noon and meet weekly for 14 weeks. No gardening experience required! For more information, or to request an application form, call 252-438-8188, 252-257-3640 or e-mail paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu. FREE SEMINAR – All About Propagation! July 22, 12 noon, Vance County …

RALEIGH – Organic growers in North Carolina 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, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2015, can apply for assistance through the program. The program will pay 75 percent of the cost of certification up to a total of $750. Under the grant, operations can be certified and …

This Week at the Market blackberries blueberries okra beets peas radishes sweet corn squash cucumbers  red and white potatoes  tomatoes cabbage peppers  zucchini  cantaloupe  watermelon   onions green beans peaches eggplant We will also feature many handmade crafts such as textiles, soaps and artwork. Rounding out our variety of goods this week will be an assortment of plants including hanging baskets, herbs,  vegetable plants, as well as baked goods including pies, sweet breads, salsa, jellies, and rolls. Note that availability is …

RALEIGH – July is Peach Month in North Carolina, and one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting a great peach is to buy directly from growers at orchards, roadside stands and farmers markets. “Unlike in other states, the vast majority of North Carolina peaches are sold directly to consumers within a few days of harvesting,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Buying peaches that soon after harvest ensures you are getting a quality, tree-ripened peach that has had time …