Press Releases
The board of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of North Carolina has set the 2024 boll weevil assessment at 75 cents per acre of cotton. The amount remains the same as in 2023.The fee supports the foundation’s efforts to monitor cotton acreage in North Carolina for any reintroduction of the boll weevil and to respond promptly with eradication treatments if necessary.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced plans to add a year-round food venue at the State Fairgrounds that will be able to offer new food options for the growing West Raleigh area.
WHO/WHAT: Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will discuss the vision behind the State Fairgrounds next building project – the Midway Event Center – and improvements the new facility will offer fairgoers, event attendees and neighboring businesses and communities.WHEN/WHERE:
RALEIGH – A commercial turkey operation in Lenoir County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza. The positive sample was first identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh and confirmed by the USDA APHIS National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa. This is the first case of high path avian influenza in commercial poultry in North Carolina since 2022 when HPAI was found at nine poultry farms in Johnston and Wayne counties.
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.