WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 – WASHINGTON, August 7, 2020 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers and…
Posts published in “Ag News”
WASHINGTON — To assist Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) borrowers experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic and other challenges in production agriculture, USDA’s Farm Service…
NAP provides financial assistance to you for crops that aren’t eligible for crop insurance to protect against lower yields or crops unable to be planted…
Many growers test soils regularly to provide the best quality nutrients for their crops. Citizens now have the opportunity to receive a report on their…
By Steven Brown, State Executive Director in Indiana, USDA Farm Service Agency Farmers and ranchers feed our state, our nation, and in fact, our world.…
USDA is aware that people across the country have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China. USDA’s Animal and…
Hunter Green from Abbottsburg is offering fresh corn at the Bladenboro’s Farmers Market on N. Ash Street in Bladenboro. Green is a recent UNCW graduate aspiring…
State Partnership Delivering 900,000 Masks and Infection Control Supplies to Protect Health and Safety of Farmers and Agriculture Worker RALEIGH: The North Carolina Department…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that they have until Aug. 3 to nominate eligible candidates to…
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program…
RALEIGH – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced last week the acceptance of more than 1.2 million acres in…
Contributed The North Carolina Complete Count Commission (NC CCC) has partnered with the State Library of North Carolina (SLNC) to offer Q&A Webinars for the…
On June 18, 2020, the 4-H and FFA from counties across the Southeast region congregated on a Zoom call to host the sixth annual Regional…
WASHINGTON, D.C., – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing additional flexibilities for producers to file on acres with failed crops or crops that…
(Elizabethtown, N.C.), July 2, 2020 – Agricultural producers in Bladen County must complete crop acreage reports by the July 15 deadline. Chris Tatum, county executive…
Elizabethtown, N.C., July 1, 2020 – Agricultural producers in North Carolina can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal,…
WASHINGTON – USDA’s Farm Service Agency will now accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal, expanding the options available to…
Contributed Initiative and Grant Program Provides Financial Support to Ensure Local Green Spaces Continue to Thrive SMITHFIELD, Va., June 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pure Farmland™ believes…
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces that Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) safety-net signup for 2021 coverage will…
Where: Bladen County Cooperative Extension Office Address: 450 Smith Circle, Elizabethtown, NC Date/Time: By appointment: Call ahead to reserve a spot 15-minute time slot to…
Hey folks! This is William Craig, and I am the Consumer Horticulture Agent for NC Cooperative Extension- Bladen County. Today, I wanted to share some…
In Elizabethtown, the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market is a busy hub for many farmers and crafters. Ms. Betty Tatum announced she and her son would…
By N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services RALEIGH – The first day of summer may be right around the corner, but fresh N.C. peaches…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2020 must…
Contributed Bladenboro Primary School Participated in the Bonnie Plants Farms Cabbage plants contest. Third-graders across North Carolina get cabbage plants from Bonnie Plants Farm. They…
WASHINGTON – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020. Elections will occur in certain…
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is aware of the recent Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals decision regarding…
Contributed Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus. “Mosquito-breeding season in…
Contributed USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake of natural disasters,…
Contributed by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services RALEIGH — Gardening can provide much needed physical activity and emotional wellbeing to balance the…
Contributed Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and local administration of…
Blueberry farmers battle the weather elements, along with social and economic issues. This year the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues have added to the stress…
RALEIGH, NC, May 26, 2020 – Agricultural producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides direct payments to offset impacts…
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2020– USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake…
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up…
RALEIGH — With students out of school and families cooking more meals at home than usual, here are five kid-friendly blueberry recipes from the N.C.…
RALEIGH, NC, May 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting new or modified proposals from state governments…
Payments Have Started for Producers Impacted by Drought, Excess Moisture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane…
WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Administrator Chad Rupe requesting the Rural…
Contributed RALEIGH — North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and N.C. Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding met Wednesday to discuss the importance of agriculture and…
Contributed RALEIGH — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced Edwin (Eddie) Woodhouse as the new State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency…
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss…
By Charlotte Smith BladenOnline.com reached out to Smithfield Foods’ representatives and Bladen County Health Director, Dr. Teresa (Terri) Duncan this week about the status of…
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic Services lab has scaled back its testing to a few core services, making home…
RALEIGH – North Carolina’s strawberry season kicked off around the same time the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the state. Now, local strawberry…
Tillis Led Bipartisan Effort Urging the Trump Administration to Protect America’s Domestic Food Supply WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded the U.S.…
RALEIGH, NC, March 26, 2020 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve…
Small farms play a vital role in supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of United States rural and farm economies and in protecting and enhancing its…
Across the country, county and state Farm Bureaus are making safety a priority through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program. As part of ASAP, March 1-7…
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and…
By Charlotte Smith Farms must ensure an abundant food supply for consumers to help nourish the population that is expected to grow up to 10…
Contributed RALEIGH — The board of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of North Carolina has set the 2020 boll weevil assessment at 75 cents per…
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border State Also Available WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2020 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 10 Virginia counties as primary…
By Charlotte Smith On the last Friday in January, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia made up of a three-judge panel heard…
RALEIGH — Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently approved an updated quarantine which amended regulations pertaining to the production and sales of sweet potato seed in…
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s hog and pork processing industry continues to be an economic powerhouse, generating more than $10 billion in economic output for the…
RALEIGH – The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative and the New and Emerging Crops Program recently awarded $1 million in grants for 15 projects aimed at…
A meeting was held for agriculture and forest landowners on Tuesday, January 23rd, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Bladen County Extension Office…
Producers, Beat the Rush – Call Today to Make an Appointment WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 15, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers…
Supporting the agricultural industry, impacting rural communities and stimulating economic development are key objectives for the 2020 NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (NCTTFC) grant cycle.…
Smithfield Foods Generates Renewable Natural Gas from Wastewater to Power North Carolina Communities
Smithfield Foods Generates Renewable Natural Gas from Wastewater to Power North Carolina Communities
SMITHFIELD, Va., January 8, 2020 — Smithfield Foods, Inc., in partnership with Duke Energy and OptimaBio, LLC, is now producing renewable natural gas (RNG) from the wastewater treatment system at…
Becky Spearman, Bladen County Extension Director and Livestock Extension Agent announced upcoming events for the area. There will be an Agriculture and Forest Landowners Meeting…
A new decade is at the door and the year 2019 is running out of time. Before moving forward to the 2020s, here is a…
By Hannah Davis, WBHS FFA Reporter West Bladen’s FFA chapter received a grant from Cape Fear Farm Credit that allowed the agriculture students to plan,…
RALEIGH – Anyone planning to work with auxin herbicides, such as 2,4-D or dicamba, in North Carolina in 2020 will need to attend annual training,…
The West Bladen High School FFA and Yearbook Clubs worked together to produce a video under the leadership of their teacher, Mr. Autry. Miss Emily…
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced recipients of over $1.3 million in funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Block…
The Bladen County Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently completed its 2019 County Committee Elections and Albert C. Beatty was elected to a three year term…
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 5, 2019 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)…
USDA reminds producers in North Carolina that the nationwide deadline to sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) is Friday, Dec. 6. MFP payments…
Contributed RALEIGH – Harvest of crops across North Carolina has been ongoing for months and weather has generally been favorable for growers, unlike the wet…
RALEIGH – Farms across the state are opening their gates for travelers looking for ways to celebrate the season with unique and fun farm experiences.…
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy today announced that USDA is investing…
Bladen County farmers may apply for emergency loans for physical and production losses caused by Hurricane Dorian, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced. President Donald…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots on November 4 to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the Farm Service…
VANDER – Jenell Young moved away from Cumberland County more than 30 years ago, but after her parents died she still wanted to preserve the…
Contributed RALEIGH – Starting Nov. 1, the Agronomic Services Division’s fee for nematode species identification through molecular diagnosis, will increase from $10 to $20. Even…
RALEIGH – The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative is seeking grant proposals focused on research and development of agricultural and forestry-based feedstocks for bioenergy production as…
Attorneys involved in the hog farm lawsuits against Murphy-Brown LLC, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, filed motions to allow appeals, however, the cases remain unresolved.…
New Signup Deadline for Dairy Margin Coverage is September 27 WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended the deadline…
Agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Sign-up…
Eastern North Carolina farmers may be eligible to receive part of a $3 billion disaster relief package from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers can…
Donations to North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Fund following Hurricane Florence have helped thousands of North Carolina families with housing, repairs and other needs in the…
Enrollment for 2020 Begins October 7 WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds dairy producers that the…
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler released the following statement regarding Gov. Roy Cooper’s issuance of Executive Order 100 in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. “Due…
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is expanding its payment options to now accept debit cards and…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is expanding its payment options to accept debit cards and Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit. These paperless…
By Charlotte Smith Smithfield Foods, Dominion Energy (together Align Renewables) , and hog farmers are all working together to create renewable energy with biogas in Southeastern North Carolina.…
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2019 – Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate unanimously passed the Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) to help family farms…
EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.; Mohamed Ahmedna, dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; and other leaders from North…
RALEIGH – A four-year-old, unvaccinated mare in Cumberland County was euthanized after contracting the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis in North Carolina this year.…
Enrollment Now Open through Dec. 6 WASHINGTON, July 29, 2019 – Signup opens today for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture…
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2019 – A new online tool can help farmers and ranchers find information on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm loans that may…
RALEIGH – The N.C. Seed Board meeting scheduled for Friday has been canceled after a settlement involving a cotton seed complaint was reached. The N.C.…
RALEIGH – Women landowners and natural resource professionals interested in learning more about management and conservation of private lands are invited to attend one of…
Olivia Herring, a teacher at Emereau School in Elizabethtown, was awarded the North Carolina Farm Bureau 2019 Ag In The Classroom “Going Local” Grant by…
Olivia Barnes was awarded two scholarships by Farm Bureau recently. She plans to continue her education at UNC Pembroke and later transfer to N.C. State…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on June 17 and has started issuing…