Interest in the department’s social media accounts continue to grow as our Facebook followers grow to nearly 50,000 plus over 20,000 on Instagram. The department plans a new social media series beginning in January. Follow us to stay up on the latest ag news and information, plus fun features about the state’s No. 1 industry.  

• I don’t talk about social media a lot, but I know how important Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) can be in communicating with people.

• The department has an active social media presence that is continuing to grow, and I would encourage listeners to follow our accounts if they are not already doing so.

• You can keep up with the latest ag news and information, plus we include fun ag facts and features that let you know more about the industry that feeds us.

• On Facebook and X (Twitter), you will find us by searching for NC Agriculture and on Instagram look for gottobenc.

• This has been a growth year for our social media accounts. Our Facebook followers stand at nearly 50,000 and our Instagram followers are over 20,000.

• Of course, we want to see that number continue to grow because it helps us share agriculture information and messages directly with followers.

• Hurricane Helene showed us why having a tool to directly communicate with folks is so important.

• Some of our largest posts this year included important hurricane disaster information.

• For example, a post highlighting a tractor company that came to Western N.C. to help farmers repair their equipment following the hurricane reached over 300,000 people.

• Another post highlighting a poultry donation by a poultry company reached almost 300,000, too.

• While a post about schedules for donation sites also reached nearly 300,000.

• It is important to be able to broaden our reach on ag issues and emergency information. So many people today primarily get their information from social media sites, so we want to be sure our messages are there for people who need it.

• It’s a great time to follow along. We will launch a new year-long series in 2025 focusing on specific commodities and the farmers who grow them, ways you can cook with them, nutritional content and Got to Be NC members who offer these commodities.

• Each week in the month will have a different focus on that commodity. We are starting the year off with peanuts, followed by peppers in February, and then will feature strawberries in March.

• I hope you will join us as a follower.