Tis the season…the season to select and put up a Christmas tree. NC Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler says that North Carolina growers have an excellent crop this season:
"We've had a really good growing season, the trees are healthy, there's a wide variety of sizes to choose from and people like to go out now and cut there own tree but if you don't have time to do that you can find a fresh North Carolina Christmas tree at a roadside stand or a local farmers' market."
If a choose-and-cut tree is on your list this year, Troxler says that it’s easy to find a location:
"Visit www.ncfarmfresh.com and these will be the choose and cut locations all across North Carolina."
North Carolina is second in the nation in Christmas tree production behind Oregon with $85 million in cash receipts annually.
Coalition Responds to Proposed Child Labor Regulations
Responding to proposed child labor regulations, the American Farm Bureau Federation has filed comments on behalf of more than 70 agricultural organizations in response to a proposal by the Labor Department that would limit youth employment opportunities on farms and ranches. AFBF also filed separate comments on its own behalf supplementing its views on the DOL proposal. Farm Bureau noted that the proposed regulation seems to go well beyond DOL’s authority.
House Ag Subpoenas MF Global's Corzine to Testify About Missing Funds
The House Ag Committee voted late last week to subpoena Jon Corzine in the meltdown of MF Global - the bankruptcy of which may have cost farmers and others millions or more in lost investments. Farmers and elevators that had positions and margins with MF Global took losses when their investments were transferred to other firms. Total losses have been put at over one-billion dollars - and the Ag Committee - with futures and derivatives jurisdiction - wants to get to the bottom of the mess. House Ag Chair, Frank Lucas:
"At this time, we have yet to receive confirmation of attendance from a critical and material witness. Therefore, the purpose of today's meeting is to consider the issuance of a subpeona to compel the attendance of Mr. Jon Corzine before this committee on December 8."
China’s stimulus move a “game-changer”
China’s move to stimulate its economy raised eyebrows among agricultural market advisors and traders, suggesting the top foreign buyer of U.S. farm products may be joining an apparent broader attempt to use inflation as a means out of the world’s economic troubles.
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