Winners in the N.C. State Fair’s junior sheep competitions have been announced. Following is a list of the winners in each class: Junior Ewe Meat Breed ChampionsSupreme Grand Champion and Grand Champion Got to be NC shown by Cynthia Connolly of Mount Ulla (Rowan)Supreme Reserve Grand Champion shown by Caley Mayo of Whitakers (Nash)Reserve Grand Champion Got to be NC shown by Abigail Wilson of China Grove (Rowan)Junior Ewe Meat Breeds – Southdown
Press Releases
Following is a list of the winners in the N.C. State Fair pig, goat and turkey shows:Breeding GiltGrand Champion shown by Floyd Davis of Richlands (Wilson)Reserve Grand Champion shown by Allison Stoner of Taneytown, Md.Junior Breeding GiltSupreme Champion shown by Gray Palmer of Hurdle Mills (Orange)Reserve Supreme Champion shown by Hannah Cooper of Hertford (Perquimans)Junior Market Barrow
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 contact us if you have any additional questions.
More mental health support will be available to farmers and ranchers thanks to a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to expand the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network -NC.
In recognition of the service and sacrifice of veterans and members of the armed forces, the North Carolina 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.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from stores in Forsyth, Hoke, New Hanover, Randolph, Sampson and Wake counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.
The N.C. Board of Agriculture will hold a meeting Monday, Nov. 8, at 1:30 p.m. in the Martin Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.The board will take up the following items:
County governments and nonprofit groups may now apply for funding assistance from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for farmland preservation projects. Applicants have until Friday, Dec.17, to apply.Grants are available to secure agricultural conservation easements on lands used for agricultural production; to support public and private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable agricultural, horticultural and forestland activities; and for the development of agricultural plans.
North Carolina tobacco growers will vote Nov. 18 on whether to continue a self-assessment of 10 cents per 100 pounds of flue-cured and burley tobacco sold to support tobacco research and education. The check-off program started in 1991 and allocates about $200,000 annually to tobacco-related research and extension projects at N.C. State University. State law requires a referendum be held every six years.
Peak-season soil testing fees are set to take effect Dec. 1 through March 31, 2022, pending final approval by the N.C. Board of Agriculture at its Nov. 19 meeting. Submitting soil samples to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic Services lab before that date will mean growers and homeowners can avoid the $4 per sample fee.