Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for…
Monthly Archives: May 2014
Troxler advises agribusinesses to prepare for hurricane season
Hurricane season officially begins Sunday, with scientists predicting fewer storms than normal. But as Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler says, it only takes one storm to ruin a farmer’s year. He is encouraging all farmers and agribusineses, such as food manufacturers,…
Proposed EPA water regulations won’t exempt farmers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed modifications to the Clean Water Act definitely will expand the federal government’s regulation of agriculture land uses, according to Donald Parrish, senior director of regulatory relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation. That’s despite…
With Research Sorghum Yields Could Rival Corn & Soybean Yields
As we heard from NC State Extension Corn specialist Dr. Ron Heiniger earlier this week, corn has once again had a rough start, and Heiniger says some of the corn acres needing replanted will go to grain sorghum: “We will…
Mid-week Livestock Auctions See Lower Prices
At the 2 livestock auctions held Wednesday at Norwood and North Wilkesboro a total of 1055 cattle and no goats were sold. Slaughter cows trended mostly $0.50 to $3.50 lower, feeder steers trended mostly $2.00 to $18.00 lower, and heifers…
Thrips Menacing Flue Cured Tobacco
NC State Extension Entomologist Hannah Burrack has posted a new informational sheet concerning thrips in tobacco. While the insects are pesky, the greater damage is thrips ability to spread tomato spotted wilt virus. To date, foliar sprays for thrips have…
Davie County Back in the Chicken Business
The Davie County/Mocksville, North Carolina area has been dealt several economic blows the last few years, most recently with the closure of the Townsends Poultry Processing facilities both in Mocksville and Siler City. North Carolina’s House of Raeford has purchased…
NC State Economist Mike Walden – Spending the Budget
Mary Walden: “Mike, one of the long time criticisms of government agencies is that they will always spend their budgets. Some worry that this motivates wasteful spending. Has there been any analysis on whether changing the rules might help this…
VA Rep. Cantor to farmers: Passing newest farm bill ‘was pretty rough’
U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th, told members of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board that an “unholy marriage between food stamps and farm policy” complicated Congress’ ability to pass the 2014 Farm Bill sooner than it did. “The most difficult…
Investigators seek citizen help to locate invasive pest
Hiding in plain site, Benghal dayflower lay dormant in the South Carolina soil this winter. But now that the warmth of spring is coaxing the pretty pest into the daylight, state investigators are asking for citizen help to locate it…
