Topics Related to Public Affairs
A commercial turkey operation in Johnston County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza. The positive sample was first identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh and confirmed by the USDA APHIS National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa.Since late January, the HPAI virus has been found in 48 commercial farms in 12 states and 32 backyard flocks in 13 states. This is the first case of high path avian influenza in domestic poultry in North Carolina.
WHO/WHAT:Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is hosting an open house celebrating the completion of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ largest ever building project. The event will include tours of the necropsy, fuel quality and biological labs.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agricultural Crop Loss Program has been expanded to include farmers in six western counties that suffered freeze or frost damage to their agricultural commodities from April 2 to April 21, 2021.To be eligible for assistance under the program expansion, a person must have experienced a verifiable loss of agricultural commodities as a result of this freeze disaster and the person’s farm must be located in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties.
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 in your publications or contact us if you have any additional questions.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will open the application period for Phase II of the state’s Swine and Dairy Assistance COVID program beginning Feb. 23.
North Carolina cotton growers will vote March 31 on whether to continue a checkoff program that supports their industry.The referendum would authorize an assessment of up to $1.20 per bale of cotton, however, the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association Board of Directors plans to continue the assessment at the current rate of $1 per bale. If approved the assessment would be in effect for another six years.The checkoff program supports improvements in cotton production, marketing and research, and also promotes the general interests of North Carolina’s cotton industry.
WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is hosting its 16th annual Agricultural Development Forum in conjunction with theSouthern Farm Show.The forum will include a 2022 economic outlook, a panel discussion on increasing the meat and seafood processing capacity of smaller, local processors in the state, and a presentation on the fertilizer market – which has seen steep increases in prices this season.
The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is accepting applications for the 2022 grant cycle. Successful projects will meet the key objectives for 2022: create positive impacts for rural communities, stimulate economic development and support the agricultural industry. Funds will be awarded in the fall of 2022 for selected innovative projects.
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 in your publications or contact us if you have any additional questions.
The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (N.C. TTFC) awarded over $4 million through 23 grants for agricultural and economic initiatives across the state. These grants place a high priority on projects that stimulate the agricultural economy, train current and future farmers and help farmers execute innovative ideas.