Ag Leaders Growing Restless Waiting for Farm Bill
House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson released the long-overdue text of the revised Farm Bill last week, and ag leaders are saying it's about time for Congress to get busy revising the outdated 2018 iteration. North Carolina Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler says while some ag provisions were included in last ye...
Troxler: Farmland Preservation Funding Lags Amid Rapid North Carolina Growth
North Carolina is facing record growth, but state agriculture officials warn that expansion is coming at a cost: the steady loss of farmland and forestland. North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the state's goal is not to stop development altogether, but to slow the pace at which agricultural land ...
Congressman Davis Introduces Bills to Strengthen Rural Communities and Support the Next Generation of Family Farmers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) announced the introduction of two bills focused on strengthening rural communities, expanding access to federal resources, and supporting family farm succession: the Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act and Farm Transitions Act of 2025. Together, these bills ar...
State Warns of Widening Equine Herpes Outbreak
State officials are warning people not to participate in any horse shows or sales in light of a recent outbreak of equine herpes. As Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler points out, the current outbreak is now impacting several states."It actually started from a big show in Waco, Texas, and a big show in Guth...
Turkey operation in Wayne County tests positive for High Path Avian Influenza
RALEIGH - A turkey breeding operation in Wayne County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza. The positive sample was first identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh. This is the first case of high path avian influenza in commercial poultry in...
Troxler Welcomes China's Pledge to Resume U.S. Soybean Purchases
RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is welcoming news that China has pledged to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans, calling the development a major boost for farmers who have struggled with low prices and limited export opportunities. In an interview, Troxler said the announcement could...
A new chapter for N.C. wine: Polk County's first dedicated American Viticulture Area designation granted
TRYON - The wine industry in North Carolina celebrates a significant milestone as the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the establishment of the state's seventh American Viticulture Area (AVA).The Tryon Foothills AVA, which spans around 176 square miles in Polk County and accounts for over 77 acres of q...
Backyard flock in Rutherford County tests positive for HPAI
A backyard flock in Rutherford County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh. This is the first confirmed positive in Rutherford County. In the last 30 days, there have ...
Maple Hill Loopers record fifth straight win in the N.C. State Fair Tobacco Stringing Contest
The Maple Hill Loopers continued their winning streak in the N.C. State Fair's Tobacco Stringing Contest Friday, Oct. 17, notching the team's fifth straight win. The team is made up of husband and wife Sandy and Ken Jones of Maple Hill and Michael Sunday of Hendersonville. Over the contest's 21-year history, in additio...
North Carolina Opens Applications for $8M Agriculture Manufacturing Initiative
Applications are now open for the North Carolina Agriculture Manufacturing and Processing Initiative (NCAMPI), a new $8 million program aimed at strengthening the state's food and fiber supply chain.Administered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, NCAMPI is designed to support the growth, moder...