Earlier this week, NC State Small Grain Specialist Dr. Randy Weisz released the names of this year’s yield contest winners. Executive Director of the NC Small Grain Growers Association, Dan Weathington shares with us the top three:

“Sanderson Farms in Wayne County has the high yield of 117.8 bushels. Second place went to Lawrence Chappell  in Perquimans at 110.4 and third place was Barco Brothers Inc, in Currituck County at 110.”

 There were only 33 entries in this year’s contest.
 

SC Farmers Appointed to National Peanut Board

Earlier this week, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed three members and three alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board. Beginning their service immediately through December 2015 will be Corrin F. “Bud” Bowers Jr of Estill, as an alternate, and Edward M. Rast, Jr. of Cameron SC will serve on the board beginning January 1st 2014 through December 2016.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Far From Over
 

The government's latest look at the hurricane season concludes it could still be very active. Dr. Gerry Bell with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center…

“We are expecting13-19 named storms in which 8-9 will be expected to become hurricanes and 3-5 of those could become major storms.”

We are now entering the peak of the season and Bell says it's time for coastal residents to dust off their evacuation plans and for others who could be affected by hurricanes to get prepared.
 

Family Farms the Future of Feeding the World

As farmers and ranchers look for strategies to increase production to feed a growing world population, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and Food Tank suggest the best way to nourish the world is through increased production from family farms.

FAO predicts the world population will increase by 34 percent to reach 9.1 billion by 2050. In preparation for 2014, the International Year of the Family Farming, FAO and others are highlighting ways to provide family farmers the tools they need to really nourish the world.