Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus.“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent. But, both diseases are preventable by vaccination.”Last year, there were three recorded cases of EEE and two cases of WNV.
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The N.C. Board of Agriculture will hold a meeting Monday, May 2, at 1 p.m. in the training room of the Steve Troxler Agricultural Sciences Center in Raleigh.The board will take up the following items:
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today named Peter Thornton of Cary as the new director of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Marketing Division. Thornton replaces Joe Sanderson, who retired in March after 34 years with the department.
The Got To Be NC Festival is honoring farmers aged 18-40 in a brand-new way this year through the Young Farmer of the Day program. The program, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina, celebrates our state’s agricultural future and three young farmers who are behind our state’s $95.9 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from stores in Anson, Durham, Forsyth, Granville, Guilford, Moore, Johnston, Randolph, Stanly, Union, Vance and Wake counties because of excessive price-scanner errors. These stores represent 23 of the 42 stores fined across North Carolina during the first quarter of 2022.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from stores in Chowan, Columbus, Dare, New Hanover, Perquimans and Wayne counties because of excessive price-scanner errors. These stores represent eight of the 42 stores fined across North Carolina during the first quarter of 2022.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from stores in Ashe, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Moore, Surry, Watauga, Yadkin counties because of excessive price-scanner errors. The stores represent 11 of 42 stores fined across North Carolina during the first quarter of 2022.
With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, strawberry farms are opening for shoppers and, undoubtedly, strawberry lovers are ready for local berries. “Growers have done a good job protecting the crop from recent cool temperatures and because of their hard work, this year’s strawberry crop looks to be plentiful,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “In fact, some fields are opening up for pick-your-own guests this weekend.”
Spring brings our lawns and gardens alive from the winter. Spring is also an excellent time to submit your soil samples to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services soil testing lab for lime and fertilizer recommendations.“Soil testing helps protect the environment by determining and advising users on what nutrients are needed to ensure optimal plant growth,” said Jagathi Kamalakanthan, NCDA&CS soil agronomist. “Plus, it can save people money especially since fertilizer costs have increased dramatically this year.”
WHO/WHAT: WHEN: WHERE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The N.C. Plant Conservation Board will meet to discuss items related to land conservation, stewardship efforts of the N.C. Plant Conservation Program and regulatory matters. Wednesday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.