RALEIGH – 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 photos in your publications or contact us if you have any additional questions.
Eastern:
(Coastal counties) Reclaiming our coastlines from beach vitex
There’s so much to enjoy about North Carolina’s beaches in summertime, but while you’re there, be on the lookout for a pesky invasive species that is threatening to disrupt our coastal ecosystems. Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is a deciduous, woody vine that was originally introduced to the southeastern United States in the mid-1980s as an ornamental landscape plant, but has since escaped cultivation and become a major threat to North Carolina’s native dunes. The plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and spreads by sending out runners that can reach up to 60 feet. “It’s a bad plant to have around because it’s less effective at holding dune sand in place than native dune grasses are,” NCDA&CS Weed Specialist Jared Driscoll said. “Beach vitex outcompetes those native grasses, which means sand dunes can erode more quickly once beach vitex establishes itself. It helps promote dune erosion, which we don’t like to see.” …
(New Hanover) Young farmers with a passion for agritourism at Trask Family Farms
Starting a new adventure is always exciting, especially when that adventure is in agriculture. George Trask, owner of Trask Family Farms in Wilmington, never dreamed of owning and operating a farm but fell in love with life on the tractor. “Our family lives on a decent plot of land with great soil for growing fruits and vegetables, but we never really grew anything besides sweet corn for deer hunting,” said Angie Trask, George’s mother. “At 22 years old, George came home one day in need of a mental break from school and hopped on the tractor. That’s when this dream fully came to life for him because a new passion was awakened.” Veteran farmers from across the state, including Galloway Farms, have helped guide George to where he is today. The farm continues to grow sweet corn as well as tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, field tomatoes and wildflowers. In addition, they have started hosting agritourism events on site to interact with the public and bring the farm to them. ...
(Onslow) Always something new in agriculture at Mike’s Farm
We couldn’t host a series on agritourism without highlighting one of our state’s original agritourism destinations! If you escape to the coast of our state anytime during the year, you’re likely to hear the name Mike’s Farm in your travels. Since it’s inception in 1986, the farm has expanded from solely growing Christmas trees to a wide variety of produce. It has also become a highly popular agritourism destination for friends and families alike to enjoy. Today, the Lowe family grows pumpkins, strawberries, squash, cabbage, and many other spring vegetables. Mike’s Farm learned the word “innovation” at an early age. What started in 1986 as a Christmas tree operation slowly expanded to incorporate a bakery, restaurant, barn event venue, gift shop and more! “Mike and I met in high school and always had a love for agriculture,” said Theresa. “What started here as a simple family farm has evolved through the years to not only become something that we love and enjoy as a family, but also a place that the community wants to be a part of and invest in. Our goal is to provide a family atmosphere that customers of all ages will enjoy.” In fact, Mike’s Farm is often referred to as one of the original agritourism farms because they began hosting events on site long before agritourism was trendy or popular. ...
(Sampson) Research may lead to more N.C. sesame fields
“A little seed with big potential,” is how N.C. State University agricultural researcher Dr. David Suchoff often describes sesame and the possibility of growing more of the crop in North Carolina. After just a few years of research and growing test plots on the state’s research stations, Suchoff feels optimistic about sesame becoming a much more popular crop for Carolina farmers. “I think if everything works out, the idea would be that it just fits in and helps to diversify their commodity or row crop rotations,” Suchoff said. “So it might not be just corn and soybeans or corn, soybeans and tobacco; it’s corn, sesame and soybeans or corn, sesame, sweet potatoes and soybeans. “It just [potentially] adds that extra layer of diversity to our systems, which in my opinion, is always a good thing.” With his test plots, Suchoff has already seen several positive attributes that could make sesame an attractive crop for North Carolina farmers. …
(Wayne) Revisit the traditional ways of farming at Davis Family Farm
With a farmland legacy of over 200 years, the Davis Family has a lot to offer and showcase in our state. Located in Fremont, Davis Family Farms has been in operation since 1776 and is a member of our Bicentennial Farm Family Program. “This farmland has a rich history of use for our family and another farming family in our state who leased it for many years,” said Josh Davis, owner of the farm. “My wife, Erin, and I decided to come back and take over the farm a few years ago because I’ve always loved the land, had a passion for agriculture and a desire to continue our family legacy here.” Not only does the family grow a plethora of produce throughout the year, including broccoli, green peas and watermelons, and raise livestock, like chickens and goats, but they also offer many fun events each year to invite the community out to the farm for fun and educational hands-on experiences! Upon returning to the family farm, Josh and his wife immediately began offering agritourism events to invite the community to be a part of the agricultural adventure. “We want this farm to be a hub in the community,” Josh said. “Not just a place that people come on event days for specific things, but also somewhere they can come with their friends and family to just enjoy nature, learn about the farm and where their food comes from and truly connect with the land.” …
Piedmont:
(Durham) Bringing the Ag Industry full circle at Mystic Farm and Distillery
Did you know that distilleries help tell the story of N.C. agriculture through the products that they make? Mystic Farm and Distillery in Durham places strict focus on showcasing its role in the agriculture industry and educating people on the importance of distilleries in our state. From pro-wrestling and murder mystery dinners to cocktail making classes and line dancing, they host a variety of events throughout the year to appeal to all audiences and immerse them in the world of liquor made in the heart of N.C. Mystic may focus on the local market, but this year their Broken Oak bourbon was named “Best Small Batch Bourbon up to 5 years” out of hundreds of other bourbons at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Many bourbon lovers were shocked that North Carolina bourbon unseated hundreds of famous brands from Kentucky!...
(Durham) Fun times and cute cuddles at Old Mill Farm
From young to old, Old Mill Farm in Durham beckons the heart of every individual to come and enjoy the peace, joy, and serenity that can be found on a farm. Through the years, the property that Old Mill Farm now sits on has had many faces, including a winery/vineyard and dairy farm. In 2020, the Moore Family leased the farm, transitioning it to house a variety of animals and providing a place for the public to come and enjoy life on the farm. The farm’s General Manager, Kylee Harris, joined the operation in 2021, and has been instrumental in growing the farm’s agricultural and agritourism business. “I’ve always loved animals. I grew up helping on various farms in our community, anything to get me close to an animal,” Kylee said. “So, when I was finally able to own some for myself, I jumped at the opportunity.” Today, the farm is home to many adorable animals, including alpacas, goats, cows, pigs, donkeys and chickens. They also grow several produce items, including eggs, grapes, and blackberries. ...
(Edgecombe) The Lovitt family has a unique hobby – growing giant pumpkins
Many people have a hobby they really enjoy. For some, hobbies might be things like sewing, reading or playing sports, but for the Lovitt family it is giant pumpkin growing. For the last 12 years, the family has grown giant pumpkins for the North Carolina State Fair competitions. The whole family is involved in the year-round commitment to growing the best pumpkin possible and getting it to weigh-offs in October. Brother and sister, TJ and Marina, enter pumpkins every year. While the growing is now a whole-family activity, the idea originated from dad Gary. After seeing a giant pumpkin seed in a store one day, he decided that it would be awesome to have a picture of his children in front of a giant vegetable. “I was in a store buying my vegetable seeds for the spring. I picked up a pack of seeds and the pack above it was for giant pumpkins and had a picture of a little boy standing with the pumpkin,” Gary said. “I just remember saying that it would be neat to get a picture of my kid with a pumpkin that I grew. Twelve years later here we are.” …
(Guilford) Learning with Ice Cream at Homeland Creamery
Educating and exciting the next generation of agricultural workers is the mission of Homeland Creamery and the driving force behind a majority of the agritourism events that they host throughout the year. Although it was not always a dairy farm, the farmland at Homeland Creamery has been in agricultural use by the family for nearly seven generations. Like many kids growing up, Paige Garland, whose family owns and operates Homeland Creamery, didn’t realize the full potential and worth of the family farm until later in life. “I grew up on this farm, bottle feeding the calves and helping my parents with chores,” she said, “but I never understood the excitement around it and honestly took it for granted in a way until after college.” Upon graduating from Western Carolina University, Paige packed up her new family and returned to the farm. “I had an epiphany one day that the farm life I had growing up is exactly what I wanted for my kids,” she said. “So, in 2013 we packed it all up and moved back home to help run the farm.” Located in Julian, the farm is now home to a variety of cattle, including Jerseys and Holsteins. ...
(Iredell) The Vanhoy sisters have dedicated eight years of their lives to showing livestock at the N.C. State Fair
For some, anticipation for the North Carolina State Fair comes from dreaming about delicious, deep-fried food. For others, it comes from preparing an animal all year long and seeing your hard work pay off. The North Carolina State Fair is a time-honored tradition for many families in the state, and offers many opportunities to showcase the talents and skills of North Carolinians. That is just what Hannah and Emma Vanhoy do every year at the beef heifer livestock competitions at the N.C. State Fair. The sisters have been showing beef heifers at the Fair for the past eight years and love the challenge of working with animals. “We started showing with our high school livestock show team,” Hannah said. “When Covid started, we started showing on our own and have been ever since.” Now, Emma is going into her second year of college and Hannah is an incoming freshman, both at North Carolina State University. Over the years, the two have accomplished and learned so much through the Fair. ...
(Randolph) Outstanding produce and year-round fun at Millstone Creek Orchards
Memories are best made on the farm and Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur provides many opportunities throughout the year to do just that. In 2001, Beverly Mooney’s father planted his first apples. “My father bought this property in 1981. He was not sure what he wanted to do with the land at first, but he knew that this is where he wanted to retire,” Beverly said. “Him and my mother lived in Australia for seven years prior to his retirement, where they visited many orchards, fell in love with the lifestyle and decided to bring it back to North Carolina.” Today they grow 15 varieties of apples, like Honey Crisp, Fuji, Pink Lady and Granny Smith, as well as many other produce items, including peaches, grapes, pecans, berries, pumpkins, and flowers. In 2004, Millstone Creek Orchards opened its doors to the public for the first time and began offering agritourism events almost immediately. “We started by offering pick-your-own events, which remain our anchor on the farm to this day,” Beverly said. “From then until now, our agritourism footprint has grown so much, not only because we want to support the farm, but also because we want to be a place the community can come to make memories with their friends and family.” …
(Stokes) Following footsteps in agriculture at Robertson Family Farm
Agriculture is often less about the individual and more about the community. Robertson Family Farm embraces that ideology on their fourth-generation family farm in King. “My husband, Steven, grew up farming tobacco with his family, and although we have since transitioned to growing strawberries and a variety of other produce, this farm and its influence still runs through our blood and the life of the community,” said April Robertson. Today, the farm offers a variety of products direct to the consumer, including watermelons, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, okra, field peas, sweet corn and pumpkins. In 2017, the family decided to begin opening the farm to the community through pick-your-own strawberries. Since then, they have expanded to offering three community events each year that not only involve families across the state, but also local businesses. ...
(Wake) Competitions at the North Carolina State Fair allow entrants to showcase and explore their talents
When looking at all the blue-ribbon winners at the North Carolina State Fair, the story of how the food, art or livestock got there isn’t always at the forefront of the mind. From baking and gardening to art and livestock, competitions at the State Fair offer a chance for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to showcase their talents and passions. With 394 divisions and 4,027 classes of competitions to enter, there is something for everyone to take an interest in. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in your choice of competition or someone just getting started, there is something at the fair that is the perfect fit for you… Or maybe you’re more into arts and handicrafts, like Jillian Curtis, who entered 13 projects her first time entering at the fair last year. Thirteen projects is a lot to think about making, but add on a theme for every piece and you see the dedication behind the entries. “I have a friend who enters competitions every year, so she told me all about it,” Curtis said. “We both found a time to go through all the crafts available for entry, I signed up for them and then thought how funny it would be if they were all corn themed.” …
Western:
(Buncombe) Blueberries ‘From Scratch’ Recipes from the N.C. Mountain State Fair
Summertime in North Carolina means a bounty of berries are available across the state. Weekends and summer evenings offer the perfect time to find a local blueberry farm and pick you own delicious berries. Fresh berries are also available at farmers markets and grocery stores across the state. Once you get your berries home check out the recipes below from the 2022 N.C. Mountain State Fair’s Blueberries ‘From Scratch’ Competition. This special cooking contest was sponsored by the N.C. Blueberry Council. Each recipe had to include blueberries as its main ingredient and contain less than a cup of sugar. Recipes were judged on health, ease of preparation and taste.
(Mitchell) Heritage, Education and the heart of Agriculture at Altapass Orchard
At the highest altitude that two trains pass in our North Carolina mountains, stands one of the last remaining agritourism destinations in the area, The Orchard at Altapass. In 1993, Kit Trubey purchased the orchard with the intent of protecting it from future development. Even though she had never farmed before, Kit knew she wanted to keep the history of the orchard alive for the people of Altapass. “There is a lot of history here at the orchard. From the road going through the farm to the varieties of apples that are raised here,” said Sam McKinney, Mission Coordinator for The Altapass Orchard. “The community stepped up to help preserve that heritage by telling stories of the area and teaching the methods that the previous owners had used to grow some of the best apples.” Today, the farm is home to 35 varieties of apples, including King Luscious and Grimes Golden, as well as many on-site events that involve the community and continue sharing the Appalachian heritage of the area. ...
Statewide:
Health & dental screening programs look to team up with farms
“We want to let people know that we care about them, and that God cares about them. This is a small way that we can show them that we care.” That’s part of how Crystal Horton with North Carolina-based Baptists on Mission describes the organization’s health and dental screening programs. The leaders of those programs are now looking to expand those programs by partnering with more farms and other agricultural entities to reach more people in rural North Carolina. “Looking at the demographics throughout North Carolina, we know that there are a lot of farms and farm workers,” Horton said. “We’re a nonprofit faith-based organization focused on meeting human needs.” Just as the Baptists on Mission organization does during disaster relief, “the goal of the dental and health screening ministries is to help people in need and come alongside them,” Horton explained. While disaster relief is the largest and perhaps most well-known ministry of the organization, Baptists on Mission has a total of 19 ministries. The dental ministry began in 1988, and the health screening ministry began in 2015. Both programs operate via mobile units which travel across the state. There are currently two dental trucks in operation and one health screening mobile unit. There are plans to add two more units within the coming year. …
How you can save North Carolina’s trees while relaxing by the pool this summer
Midsummer in North Carolina brings lots of sunshine and high temperatures, and many people enjoy this warm weather by the pool. But did you know that while you’re splashing in the water and enjoying the sun’s rays, you can help save our trees? The link between trees and pool water may not seem clear at first, but two pests that threaten plants are attracted to water and may end up in your pool filters and skimmers! The spotted lanternfly (SLF) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) are invasive insects that feed on many plant species. The SLF was recently discovered in North Carolina and it’s important that any future infestations in the state are found quickly. The ALB has yet to be discovered in the state, but it’s getting closer. For both pests, early detection is key to management. By checking your pools for these insects and reporting them if you see them, you can help protect our forests! Both the SLF and ALB cause significant damage to plants. …
N.C. Forest Service continues to expand educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to state forests
The N.C. Forest Service sustainably manages state forests across North Carolina. Many of them are open to the public and offer a variety of educational and recreational experiences. All state forests are managed for natural resource conservation with most providing the public access to expansive trail systems. With the N.C. Forest Service ushering in several enhancements and notable additions, the outlook for state forests in North Carolina is bright. …
Preparing for the peak of hurricane season
More than two months into the 2023 hurricane season, the Atlantic basin has been relatively calm and North Carolina hasn’t yet faced a threatening storm. But warm water temperatures being observed off the coast and throughout the south Atlantic serve as a reminder that there is no such thing as preparing too early for the threat of a hurricane. While hurricanes aren’t caused by warm water, warm open waters serve as the energy source that allows hurricanes to strengthen rapidly. That means the warmer the water is as a system tracks across the Atlantic, the stronger the storm can be. “The peak of hurricane season is approaching. It’s time to use these nice blue-sky days to prepare for the disastrous grey-sky days. If you are in the coastal region, Know Your Zone. some of our most concentrated agriculture is located within the coastal plains region and along the transportation routes of 100-500 year flood risk. The hazards aren’t just isolated to the coast, tropical cyclones can be dangerous and destructive from the coastal plains to the Piedmont, to the mountains. …
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