In the Field

Today’s Topic: Got to Be NC Festival takes place May 18-20 at State Fairgrounds

Brian Long — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:05:54 +0000

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.” The fifth annual Got to Be NC Festival is set for May 18-20 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The event celebrates North Carolina food and agriculture, but as Commissioner Troxler tells Rhonda, the festival is also [...]

Foundation for N.C. lumber exports built on strong relationships

Paul Jones — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps promote exports of N.C. agricultural products through its International Marketing office. Through these efforts, North Carolina now exports about $3 billion in agricultural products each year. Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight some local growers and food manufacturers finding success on the global stage. From [...]

News Roundup: May 5-11

Paul Jones — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:17 +0000

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to the full story. “Farmers markets getting money to take food stamps,” Hendersonville Times-News: The federal government is spending $4 million to help [...]

In the Kitchen with Brian and Lisa: Mile-high Strawberry Pie

Paul Jones — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

WRAL reporter Brian Shrader and our own Lisa Prince feature seasonal recipes in their Got to Be Good Cookin’ segment using ingredients grown and available right here in North Carolina. Here’s a unique idea for a Mother’s Day present: This weekend, pack up the car and take your mother to a pick-your-own-strawberry farm. With more [...]

Strawberry Day at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

Paul Jones — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

There is nothing quite like the sweet taste of a fresh strawberry. If you agree, be sure to stop by the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market for Strawberry Day Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The celebration includes free samples of N.C. strawberries and Lumpy’s strawberry ice cream, plenty of strawberry recipe ideas to take [...]

NCDA&CS employees receive awards for exports

Paul Jones — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:27 +0000

Each day, department employees work to better the state of agriculture in North Carolina. Too often, these employees get overlooked for their accomplishments. Recently, however, two employees in our International Marketing Section were recognized for their work promoting N.C. agricultural exports. Cathy Ma, international trade specialist, swept all the categories for which she was nominated [...]

CEFS Field Day draws a crowd

Andrea Ashby — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:20:15 +0000

Around 300 people came out to see some of the latest research under way at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro. Field Day visitors saw some of the ongoing projects involving outdoor swine, the development of local bread wheats for the Eastern U.S., barley production, beneficial habitats, organic canola production, no-till corn, [...]

Today’s Topic: N.C. Forest Service launches fire prevention campaign

Brian Long — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:08:43 +0000

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.” The N.C. Forest Service recently launched a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the number of wildfires in North Carolina that occur because of carelessness. Commissioner Troxler tells Rhonda that careless burning of yard waste and other [...]

Strawberry Trifle has the sweet taste of success in the State Farmers Market Strawberry Dessert Contest

Andrea Ashby — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:23:18 +0000

Margaret Hicks of Clayton won $100 and bragging rights in the State Farmers Market Strawberry Dessert Contest for her Strawberry Trifle recipe. Second-place honors and $75 went to Lisa Raschke of Raleigh for her Strawberry Tiramisu recipe. Third place and $50 went to Kristina G. Harris of Raleigh for her Strawberry-Lemon Shortcake recipe. Judges recognized [...]

Photos from the Field: NCDA&CS hosts EPA officials

Paul Jones — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:00:58 +0000

Jim Jones, acting assistant administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the Environmental Protection Agency, visited with farmers, labor organizations, Cooperative Extension agents and department employees from the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division last week to learn more about issues facing North Carolina’s farm workers. Friday, Cooperative Extension agents and [...]