Press Releases
RALEIGH, N.C. — In response to rising fertilizer costs and increasing grower interest in soil health practices, the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services’ Agronomic Services Division has released a new step-by-step guide to help farmers measure the nutrient value of their cover crops and reduce fertilizer inputs.
Spring wildfire season in North Carolina is in full swing, with fire activity surging statewide over the last 10 days. Since Friday, March 20, N.C. Forest Service rangers have responded to 626 wildfires across the state. Not including today, at least 114 of those fires have started since the statewide ban on open burning became effective at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 28.
The cause of the Jumping Branch fire currently burning in McDowell County was determined to be the result of improperly discarded smoking material. Hilary Brooke Inman, 38, of Marion, NC, was cited and charged with North Carolina General Statute 14-138.1 as a result of starting a fire upon grassland, brushland, woodland without fully extinguishing the same. The Jumping Branch fire is currently 185 acres in size and 20% contained as of Tuesday morning, March 31.
Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 until further notice.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today that the application period will open Monday, March 30, for three of the four categories that producers can apply for $221 million in USDA block grant disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene losses. The block grant has four program categories, with an application required for each category in each county that a farmer or landowner qualifies for. The categories are:
To commemorate the annual tree-planting holiday, the N.C. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program has announced that 73 communities, 12 campuses and five utilities have been awarded 2025 Tree City USA, 2025 Tree Campus Higher Education and 2026 Tree Line USA designations. North Carolina observes Arbor Day the first Friday following March 15, while National Arbor Day is held the last Friday in April each year.
RALEIGH – Applications are now being accepted through April 13 for the N.C. Agriculture Manufacturing and Processing Initiative, which was created to fund and promote the establishment of value-added agricultural manufacturing and food processing facilities in North Carolina. The program includes $4.3 million in available funding to support eligible projects.
With North Carolina’s spring wildfire season arriving at a time when most of the state is experiencing moderate to severe drought, the N.C. Forest Service is urging the public to apply best practices and common sense with all outdoor fire, especially yard debris burns.
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has identified infestations of spongy moth in seven counties across North Carolina that it anticipates treating in 2026.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is announcing a rebranded and streamlined grant program – NCAIR – that supports agricultural research and the state’s agricultural economy.The program previously awarded funding through three areas of focus – the Bioenergy Research Initiative, the New and Emerging Crops Program and Innovations to Advance the Agriculture Economy. Those initiatives are now known solely as North Carolina Agriculture Innovations & Research or NCAIR.