Press Releases

FLETCHER – If winning a blue ribbon is on your bucket list, now is a great time to start planning what you want to enter and get started on those entries before the Aug. 14 and Aug. 28 deadlines for the N.C. Mountain State Fair competitions. There are 46 different categories of competitions for adults and kids, including an ice cream eating contest you can enter on Sept. 15, the day of the event.

 WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Plant Conservation Board will meet to discuss items related to land conservation, stewardship efforts of the N.C. Plant Conservation Program, and regulatory matters. WHEN:Wednesday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to noonWHERE:Steve Troxler Agricultural Science Center 4400 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 

CHARLOTTE – Summer is in full swing, and the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is celebrating with Watermelon Day on Sunday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Highlighting one of North Carolina’s favorite summer crops, visitors can taste fresh watermelon samples provided by the N.C. Watermelon Queen, check out giveaways from Got to Be NC and experience a day of family-friendly fun. 

The N.C. Forest Service will begin accepting orders Wednesday, July 1, for its annual tree seedling sale. With an average annual production of 10 million seedlings, and a reliable supply of more than 40 tree species, the NCFS Nursery Program produces enough native and genetically improved tree seedlings to plant roughly 18,700 acres of land.

Due to the detection of New World Screwworm in the United States, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will enforce additional interstate movement health requirements for warm-blooded animals, including livestock, horses, dogs and cats, entering North Carolina from states affected by a New World Screwworm Infested Zone. 

The Rose Bay Canal Fire burning in Hyde County is currently 618 acres in size and 24% contained. The increase in size is the result of successful strategic firing operations carried out by firefighters Tuesday, June 9. A strategic firing operation is a carefully planned tactic where firefighters intentionally and precisely burn vegetative fuels to eliminate what a wildfire can burn.Increased cloud cover, light winds and good overnight recovery for relative humidity moderated fire behavior during today’s operational period.

WHO/WHAT: The North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Committee will hold a meeting to hear committee member reports and conduct other Sentinel Landscape business.   WHEN: Tuesday, June 16 at 1:30 p.m.WHERE: Hall of Fame Room, Agriculture Building, 2 W. Edenton St., Raleigh.The public may also join the meeting via conference number 984-204-1487. The conference ID is 255 597 652, followed by the # key.  

The Rose Bay Canal Fire burning in Hyde County is currently 455 acres in size and 20% contained. The fire was first reported Tuesday, June 2, and firefighting crews quickly worked to establish containment lines around the fire’s perimeter. However, the presence of deep, organic pocosin soil combined with dry, receptive fuels poses a challenge for responding resources and containment efforts. Minimal spotting led to an increase in acres burned over the weekend, but engaged aerial and ground resources have been successful in catching the fire and limiting its spread.

The N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) is launching a new Disaster Mitigation Program (DMP) to help reduce heightened wildfire risk in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The DMP will provide wildfire risk reduction treatments at no cost to eligible private and public landowners in 39 federally declared disaster counties. Designed to address hazardous fuel buildup, fallen timber and reduced access, the DMP aims to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire impacts to homes, infrastructure and natural resources. 

           RALEIGH – Thirty-three North Carolina students have been selected recipients of 2026 N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarships, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced.            The scholarships are designed for high school seniors and students currently enrolled in an institute of higher education who have participated in the junior livestock or market turkey shows at the N.C. State Fair. The scholarship program has awarded $677,500 since it started in 2015.