WHO/WHAT: The North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Committee will hold a meeting to hear committee member reports pertaining to Sentinel Landscape activitiesand reports on other Sentinel Landscape programs.WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022
Press Releases
WHO/WHAT:The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund will hold an advisory committee meeting to:
Residents and visitors looking for farms that offer outdoor experiences and unique gift ideas this holiday season will have plenty of options with many winter agritourism activities planned at farms across the state. Light shows, holiday festivals, craft markets, and wine tasting are among the seasonal offerings.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Nematode Assay Lab is warning North Carolina growers to expect turnaround times of 15 weeks or longer for routine (predictive) nematode samples submitted this year. Samples submitted for diagnostic testing, including molecular diagnosis of guava root-knot nematode species, will be given priority and those results should be available in around five working days. Currently, there are around 15,400 samples waiting analysis.
A horse in Surry County, has tested positive for equine infectious anemia over the past week. A horse in Henderson county has also tested suspect for having EIA and is awaiting confirmatory test results from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are no direct epidemiological links between the cases at this time, however, both cases have been associated with recent sales of racing horses.
A backyard flock in Durham County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh.This is the first confirmed positive in Durham County. In late spring and early summer, HPAI was found at nine poultry farms in Johnston and Wayne counties. In mid-October HPAI was found in a single backyard flock in Wake County and in mid-November was found in a single backyard flock in Union County.
A backyard chicken flock in Union County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh.This is the first confirmed positive in Union County. In late spring and early summer, HPAI was found at nine poultry farms in Johnston and Wayne counties and in mid-October HPAI was found in a single backyard flock in Wake County.
WHO/WHAT:The Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs will host a groundbreaking on Friday for a new Christmas Tree Improvement Center. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will join station superintendent Tracy Taylor, researchers, cooperative extension staff, growers and funders for the milestone event.WHEN/WHERE:Friday, Nov. 1810 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.(Lunch will follow with additional information and networking.)
The busy season has begun for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic soil testing lab and growers, gardeners and homeowners are reminded to submit their samples before Dec. 1 to ensure faster turnaround on results and avoid peak-season testing fees.The peak season is anticipated to run from Dec. 1 to March 31, 2023. During that time, there is a $4 fee per sample. Testing outside the peak season is free.
To show its appreciation for the service and sacrifice made by veterans and current military members, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 25% discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel during the month of November. The discount applies to the first $500 of all new orders, up to a $125 discount.