Press Releases

RALEIGH – Due to increased fire risk, the N.C.

RALEIGH – Visitors can shop to their heart’s delight as the annual Fall Craft Fair returns to the State Farmers Market Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This popular and free event features over 100 vendors offering local products and handmade items for sale just in time for the holidays.

RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced the promotion of Greg Hicks of Oxford to assistant commissioner overseeing operations of the North Carolina Forest Service.  Hicks previously served as assistant state forester.

The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative and the New and Emerging Crops Program are accepting grant proposals for 2023 that align with their respective missions.

The N.C. Pesticide Board recently approved the following settlement agreements related to cases in Johnston, Lenior and New Hanover counties. Each instance involved application of restricted-use pesticides without a valid license.

Settlements are listed by county below:

RALEIGH – For the second year in a row, junior winners in the N.C. State Fair livestock shows drew a record amount of money in the Junior Livestock Sale of Champions. The top steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys earned $217,850 in the sale on Oct. 22.

As we head into cooler weather, fall is the best time to amend your lawns, especially fescue lawns and landscape areas, with lime and fertilizer and to start fall vegetable gardens. 

The 2023 N.C. State Fair ended its 11-day run with a strong final weekend
that pushed total attendance to 926,425. Other fair highlights included a new auction record for
the Livestock Sale of Champions and strong participation for Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief

John Tyler Moore of Durham wrapped up the State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge series
with a first-place win for his Brunch Balls recipe in the Nahunta Pork Center’s Not Your Mama’s Sausage Balls Challenge. Moore won the opening day contest, too. He took home $500 prize for the win.

Sarah Hester of Knightdale won the N.C. State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge titled the “Summer Salad of the South: Kickin’ Chicken Salad Challenge” presented by House of Raeford Farms. Hester’s Curry Chicken Salad earned $500 in prize money.