FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, NOV. 6, 2009

Board of Agriculture will meet Nov. 10 in Williamston

RALEIGH — The N.C. Board of Agriculture will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Williamston to consider increasing rental fees at state-operated farmers markets and agricultural centers.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center. It is open to the public.

The fee increases under consideration would affect the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ farmers markets in Asheville, Charlotte, Colfax, Lumberton and Raleigh and agricultural centers in Fletcher, Lumberton and Williamston. If approved, the new rates would take effect Jan. 1.

The board also will consider whether to authorize the N.C. SweetPotato Commission to conduct a referendum among growers in 2010. If the board approves the referendum, sweet potato growers would vote on a six-year renewal of an assessment to support the commission’s marketing efforts.

In addition, the Board of Agriculture will vote on whether to confirm an expansion of the state’s imported fire ant quarantine. The NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division published an expanded list of quarantined areas earlier this year. Regulations require homeowners and businesses to obtain a permit from the department before moving plants, sod and related equipment from quarantined areas into or through non-infested areas.

The Board of Agriculture is a policy-making body that adopts regulations for many of the programs administered by the NCDA&CS. Its 10 members are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.

-bal-2