WHO/WHAT:Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will make a significant announcement regarding agriculture’s economic impact in North Carolina. Sen. Brent Jackson and Rep. Jimmy Dixon are also slated to speak.WHEN/WHERE:9:30 a.m., Friday, May 19, 2023Tobacco Pavilion at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, RaleighBACKGROUND
Press Releases
North Carolina’s current most famous fowl will be on display during the annual Got to Be NC Festival in Raleigh. The event runs May 19-21 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Visitors to the festival can meet Chocolate and Chip, the two North Carolina turkeys pardoned this past Thanksgiving at the White House. The birds, as well as the other animals, will be on display during the festival.
The Got to Be NC Festival has added even more family friendly activities to its lineup this year, making the festival a can’t miss event May 19-21 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. New activities include a Butterfly Barn, Lil Ducky Water Racing game, a guest appearance by Chocolate and Chip the White House pardoned turkeys from North Carolina, a cast iron skillet skee ball competition presented by Carolina Cooker, egg candling demonstrations and new food vendors.
The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market will be hosting Strawberry Day, Friday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate the sweet and tasty fruit. The day features free activities for children, recipes for adults and a visit from Suzy Strawberry for selfies. Visitors will also be able to sample North Carolina strawberry varieties and vote on their favorites.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will soon start treating for spongy moth, formerly known as gypsy moth, infestations in several areas across North Carolina. Treatments are weather dependent and may start as early as May 31 and could continue through June 20. The areas to be treated include:
Thirty-one North Carolina students have been named recipients of 2023 N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarships, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced.The scholarships are designed for high school seniors and students currently enrolled in an institute of higher education who have participated in the junior livestock or market turkey shows at the N.C. State Fair.
The N.C. Structural Pest Control Committee has approved settlement agreements for 11 cases. Settlements involved cases in Beaufort, Caldwell, Chatham, Cumberland, Gaston and Wake counties. Following are the agreements listed by county:
North Carolina’s strawberry season is well underway and to celebrate this sweet and tasty season, the State Farmers Market will be hosting Strawberry Day Thursday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can enjoy free samples, free recipes, live music, a performance from the N.C. State University clogging team, and a visit from Suzy the Strawberry.The N.C. Strawberry Association and the market are hosting a strawberry dessert contest with a total of $400 in prize money offered to the top three winners. First place wins $200, second wins $125 and third takes home $75.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has secured $7.6 million in USDA-AMS funding to support the continuation and expansion of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s FarmsSHARE program that provides food assistance to those in need by purchasing fresh, local food from small farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers and small businesses.
North Carolina veterinary officials have received reports of several cases of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) that have been confirmed to have been caused by the H3N2 canine influenza virus. To date, all of these cases involve dogs that had been boarding at North Carolina boarding and/or dog day care facilities within the past two weeks.