Press Releases

RALEIGH – The N.C. Pesticide Board recently approved the following settlement agreements in Beaufort, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Harnett, Rowan, Robeson, Union and Wake counties. Settlements involved instances of improper handling or application of pesticides, applying pesticides without the proper license or certification and making restricted-use pesticides available to unlicensed people.Settlements are listed by county below:

RALEIGH, N.C.– The Animal Welfare Section of the Veterinary Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting applications from local governments for grants from the Animal Shelter Support Fund.  Information on the grant funds and the application process can be found on the Animal Shelter Support Fund page of the AWS website at:  https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/aws/ShelterSupportFund.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Nonprofits and government agencies wishing to apply have until March 4 at 5 p.m.Applicants can submit a draft application for staff review by Jan. 25 to gain feedback on their grant proposals. A pdf of the draft application should be sent to jenni.keith@ncagr.gov.

The N.C. Plant Conservation Board will meet jointly with the Scientific Committee to discuss items related to land conservation, stewardship efforts of the N.C. Plant Conservation Program and regulatory matters.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from 18 stores in 12 counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.         

State Veterinarian Mike Martin has granted entry into North Carolina to Santa Claus and his magical reindeer. This ensures that Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and yes, even Rudolph will be allowed into the state on Christmas Eve.  “Santa’s reindeer are magical and pose no health threat to our native deer,” said Martin. “We look forward to welcoming them to North Carolina during Santa’s trek around the world.”

Blue Ridge Beef is voluntarily recalling several lots of its two-pound logs of Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix produced at its Statesville facility due to possible contamination of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The firm previously issued a press release but has expanded it to include more lots.

Read the Executive Order HereToday, Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency for Duplin and Sampson counties in response to the effects of heavy rain and flooding on the agricultural sector in those counties.

RALEIGH – Below is a summary of local interest stories that have recently been highlighted on the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ In the Field Blog. Please feel free to use any of this content or photos in your publications or contact us if you have any additional questions.

     The N.C. Structural Pest Control Committee approved settlement agreements at its Nov. 29 meeting. Cases approved for settlement came from Durham, Mecklenburg and Wake counties. Following are the agreements listed by county: