Employers that have farmworkers with valid H2A visas who must be quarantined during the 2021 growing season due to COVID-19 will be able to apply for assistance to offset quarantine expenses. A total of $2 million will be available through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services COVID-19 Farmworker Quarantine Reimbursement program. The N.C. General Assembly approved the funding for this aid program, which comes from federal COVID-19 funds earmarked for North Carolina.
Press Releases
Commercial strawberry production requires intensive and precise fertilization. The best way to decide how much fertilizer to supply is to collect leaf and petiole samples and have them tested for nutrient levels. By monitoring nutrient levels and adjusting fertilization accordingly, growers can easily optimize crop growth, fruit quality and economic return.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will soon start treating a gypsy moth infestation in Buxton in Dare County. An annual field survey conducted by NCDA&CS indicated a reproducing population in the Buxton area. Treatments are expected to start on or around April 14, depending on weather conditions and insect development, and should be complete by late April.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from four stores in Scotland and Wake Counties because of excessive price-scanner errors. “The price on the shelf and the price at the register should match,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Stores have a responsibility to make sure their pricing is accurate, and most stores pass inspection. Ones with errors face fines until they come into compliance.”
April signals the start of strawberry season in North Carolina, and local growers are optimistic about the 2021 season and anticipate a crop that should last through Memorial Day.
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, North Carolina saw its first case of EEE in late July. There were nine recorded cases of EEE in 2020.
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 and social media sites. Please feel free to use any of this content or contact us if you have any additional questions.
The N.C. Pesticide Board recently approved the following settlement agreements for cases in Granville and Sampson counties. Settlements are listed by county below:
WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Industrial Hemp Commission will hold a public meeting to review and approve research pilot program applications.WHEN/WHERE:Thursday, April 110 a.m.
North Carolina farms across the state will have plenty of outdoor experiences and local food options this spring as they open their gates to welcome visitors. Farms are offering small group, reservation only and timed-ticketed events this spring.