Farmers whose crops were flooded by Tropical Storm Fred face not only the prospect of lower yields and loss of quality, but also the reality that those crops cannot be used for human food.“Floodwater may contain sewage, harmful organisms, pesticides, chemical wastes or other substances,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Also, wet foods may grow mold, which can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals.”
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A limited number of spaces are still available to attend the upcoming N.C. Agritourism Networking Association’s Summer Farm Tour Aug. 30. To attend, interested farmers should register as soon as possible online at https://nc-ana.org/product/summer-farm-tour-registration-2021. The cost for NC-ANA members is $109 per person or $209 per person for non-members.
Fall offers great opportunities to explore agritourism activities on farms and across North Carolina. Visitors will find plenty of outdoor experiences from tours, u-pick fruit, crop mazes and pumpkin patches, farm stands, farmers markets, festivals and local foods. The following is a sample of agritourism opportunities offered at North Carolina farms this fall.
As floodwaters recede and cleanup continues in western North Carolina, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services urges farmers and homeowners to evaluate pesticides and other chemical storage areas.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will activate its hotline beginning Saturday, Aug. 21, to connect farmers with resources that can assist with damage and other agricultural emergencies related to the storm. The toll-free number is 1-866-645-9403. A live operator will be available on the hotline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler released the following statement after touring storm damage today in Western N.C. and meeting with farmers who suffered crop and infrastructure damage and losses.
North Carolina farmers interested in growing hemp in 2022 will begin getting their licenses from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as North Carolina wraps up its pilot program in conjunction with federal rules going into effect this year. Letters will soon be sent to the 1,500 licensed hemp producers in the state notifying them of the change.
The N.C. Mountain State Fair has extended the deadlines for the cooking and gospel singing competitions to Aug. 20 at 11:55 p.m.All competitions are online registration only. The cooking competition offers a total of $3,825 in premiums and the gospel singing competition has $2,100 in total premiums.Interested contestants still have time to enter the Clogging Championship, which also has an Aug. 20 deadline. Other competition deadlines remain the same, including the following:
The deadline to enter crafts, art and food preserves in competition at the N.C. Mountain State Fair is quickly approaching. To help as many fairgoers as possible in the area be able to enter, the Mountain State Fair is again offering the Pony Express Run with free delivery for entry items from outlying Cooperative Extension offices to the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher.
WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Industrial Hemp Commission will hold a public meeting to review and approve program applications. WHEN/WHERE:Wednesday, Aug. 182 p.m.