Coyote Hunting Suspended in Five NC Counties

Earlier this week a Wake County judge Paul Ridgeway said he planned to put a temporary halt to the spot light hunting of coyotes in Dare, Terrell, Beaufort, Hyde and Washington Counties. The measure is designed to protect a different animal, the endangered red wolf. Four have been found shot in the last two months since night hunting for coyotes has been allowed. It’s believed the wolves were shot accidentally by people hunting coyotes, the two canine species are difficult to tell apart even in daylight. Coyotes are considered a threat to livestock and pets, their natural enemies are few while their population is high.

 Carolina's Weekly Crop Progress

In South Carolina’s crop progress report, Cotton harvest is slightly behind last year’s average of 73%, compared to 82% on the five year average. Peanuts are 98% harvested ahead of last year at 93% but right at the five year average. Soybeans are rated at 96% mature, far ahead of last year at this time of 85% and the five year average of 88%, 62% of the crop is rated good with 10% rated excellent.
 

North Carolina’s latest crop progress report shows that winter wheat is 65% planted across the state which is behind last year’s 74% average, but near the five year average of 69%. The crop is also slightly behind the five year average in emergence, with 30% of the crop emerged compared to 42% last year and 39% on the five year average.

For more on the crop progress click here.

Wheat Planting Varying Across the State

Al Wood of Pasquotank County Extension explains that in his area infrequent rains are keeping soils wet enough that planting is delayed, but Tommy Brooks of Lee County soil and water conservation reports that wheat planting in his area is just about complete. Early estimates are that there will be upwards of 800,000 acres of winter wheat in NC this growing season.
 

Pork Helping Sandy Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy the cleanup continues in the North east. According to National Pork Board President Conley Nelson, the pork check off has been a part of that response:

“We had a number of calls from state organizations that wanted some action, so we took our trailer and headed out to the east coast and worked with some states to get some producers lined up and we served about 9000 meals.”