RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services urges farmers and homeowners to evaluate pesticides and other chemical storage areas when cleaning up from Hurricane Helene.
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RALEIGH – Hurricane Helene not only flooded many areas, knocked out power and destroyed the possessions of thousands of homeowners and businesses in North Carolina, it may have washed away household termite protection as well, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said today.
With a little help from a forklift and a crane, some of the largest pumpkins and watermelons in the world were weighed in at the N.C. State Fair on Tuesday. Growers waited in anticipation to see if their giant would weigh more than the last. The winning entries will be on display in the Agri Supply Expo Center for fairgoers to see and photograph at the N.C. State Fair, Oct. 17-27.Tuesday’s weigh-in included the special competition sanctioned by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth and hosted by the N.C. State Fair. The competition is open to competitors from other states.
WHO/WHAT: Giant pumpkins and super-sized watermelons will settle the great debate on which is the largest when they hit the scales at the weigh-off for the N.C. State Fair Great Pumpkin/Watermelon competition. There are 22 pumpkins and 14 watermelons registered to enter the competition.WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15; Agri Supply Expo Center, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh
RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service is waiving the requirement for open burning permits in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties effective at noon Saturday, Oct. 12, until further notice. This measure is enacted through the authorization of House Bill 149, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024.
By David H. Hardy & Joe Hudyncia, Agronomic Division – NCDA&CSLuke Gatiboni, Crop & Soil Science Department– NC State UniversityHurricane Helene caused great devastation throughout much of western North Carolina and farm fields were not spared. There are reports of impacts to fields in all landscape positions. This situation calls for a vigilant approach to soil and crop management that includes assessment on a field-by-field basis.
WHO/WHAT: Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will officially open the 156th N.C. State Fair with a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.WHEN/WHERE: Friday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.Tobacco Pavilion, State FairgroundsMORE INFO: State Fair officials, state agricultural leaders and other dignitaries will participate in the ribbon cutting.
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has opened a new mass communication tool NCFARMAID, that will allow farmers to opt in to receive emergency response information and links to important hurricane relief resources. The tool is free to use and communication is one-way only.To opt in for the service, farmers should text NCFARMAID to 888777.
The application period for county governments and conservation nonprofit groups to apply for farmland preservation grants from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund opens Oct. 14. Applicants have until Jan. 17, 2025, to apply.