Press Releases

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will host top Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders, plus other national and state leaders to discuss the emergence of H5N1 in dairy cattle and the federal and state response. A panel discussion will also cover the preparation of the industry to respond to animal disease outbreaks.The Conversations with the Commissioner: Emerging Issues in Agriculture forum will be held Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Kerr Scott Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today that nine research projects that focus on helping specialty crop growers manage disease and adverse weather conditions, and that look at new plant varieties that could grow better in the state were awarded over $1.16 million in specialty crop block grant funding.
BOONE – Nine North Carolina dairies took honors for fluid milk and cheeses in state and regional dairy competitions held recently by the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Got to Be NC program.
RALEIGH – Giant watermelons, watermelon royalty and free slices of the summertime fruit – what’s not to love about Watermelon Day Friday, Aug. 23, at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh?              
RALEIGH – Ford’s Gourmet Foods, the master distributor for North Carolina-produced brands including Wine Nuts, Fire Dancer Jalapeno Peanuts, Earth Family Organics and Naturals and acclaimed Bone Suckin’ Sauces, was recently awarded the 2024 North American Agricultural Marketing Officials (NAAMO) Marketer of the Year Award.             
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, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2024, can apply for assistance through the program. 
RALEIGH – The N.C. Pesticide Board recently approved the following settlement agreements in Beaufort, Carteret, Chatham, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Lee, Lincoln, Pitt, and Stanly counties. Settlements involved instances of improper sales and purchasing of restricted-use pesticides, improper storage of pesticides, applying pesticides without the proper license or certification and other violations of state pesticide law.Settlements are listed by county below:
FLETCHER – There is still time to enter the general and livestock competitions at the N.C.
FLETCHER – Organizers with the N.C. Mountain State Fair sponsored by Ingles Markets are busy preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fair with the new entertainment and an expanded Got to Be NC Pavilion featuring 22 new outdoor vendors.New entertainment
  RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is cautioning pet owners not to feed B&B brand pet foods, made by B&B of New Jersey, after an investigation conducted by the department’s Food and Drug Protection Division determined these raw meat-based products were manufactured and distributed without the required regulatory oversight.