Top Agriculture News

The first wave of disaster relief checks has been mailed to North Carolina farmers who applied for assistance through the 2024 Agriculture Disaster Crop Loss Program, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced on Wednesday. According to the press release, farmers in Western North Carolina were the first to receive payments, with additional checks to be distributed […]

Some employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who signed a public letter of dissent earlier this week were put on administrative leave Tuesday evening. That’s according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press. More than 180 current and former FEMA employees signed the letter sent to the FEMA Review Council and Congress on Monday critiquing recent cuts to agency staff and programs, and warning that FEMA’s capacity to respond to a major disaster was dangerously diminished. The AP has confirmed that at least two of the signatories received notices Tuesday evening informing them they would be placed on leave indefinitely. FEMA did not immediately respond to questions on how many staff were put on leave.

The farm bill was one of many topics of discussion this week at the 30th annual Dakotafest in Mitchell, South Dakota. With low commodity prices and a struggling farm economy overall, many producers are feeling stress and looking for more certainty about trade, farm programs, and more. And that’s beyond what was passed in the […]

Several of us are not ready to see summer go. There are options for that — you know, chase the warmth and fun to some tropical destination, or enjoy a tropical fruit that requires just a trip to the supermarket. That appears to be what consumers are doing, as Americans are enjoying an increasing number […]

Agricultural fairs are fun AND educational, showcasing the state’s $111 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry and celebrating everything that makes North Carolina unique. The registration period is open for the N.C. State Fair and the N.C. Mountain State Fair to sign up for competitions and advance tickets to both are on sale now. Mark your […]

This year’s weather has been mostly outstanding for crops, and that is easy to see when you look at your nearest corn and soybean fields. However, too much rapid growth can cause problems, and Iowa farmers have seen that firsthand. David Hoy, northeast Iowa agronomist with LG Seeds, said the fields in his area have […]

The football season is here, and no matter if your tailgate party involves a prep, college or pro game, food safety needs to be a part of the event playbook. U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety expert Meredith Carothers said tailgaters should start planning before they leave home. “As you’re preparing to go to a […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. After the close on Friday, we got the final national estimates from Pro Farmer following the conclusion of their crop tour. Throughout the week, the tour found good pod counts in soybeans and good ear weights and […]

Visit NC Farms and local content creator Megan Nichols, founder of NC Eat & Play, announced a new partnership Monday aimed at boosting agritourism across North Carolina through a year-long digital campaign. The collaboration will feature seasonal farm experiences through social media, newsletters and blog content. According to the press release, the campaign is designed […]

More than 180 current and former FEMA employees have published a letter warning of potential disaster due to cuts in the agency. The letter coincides with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, highlighting concerns about management and capacity at FEMA. It warns that current practices echo conditions the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act aimed to prevent. The letter criticizes policies like expenditure approval and reassignment of staff to ICE. It calls for FEMA to be an independent cabinet-level agency. Thirty-five signatories included their names, while 141 remained anonymous due to fear of suppression.