RALEIGH – The North Carolina (N.C.) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is offering financial assistance to employers who have farmworkers with valid H-2A visas that must quarantine during the 2021 growing season due to COVID-19.
Steve Troxler
Two million dollars will be available through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services COVID-19 Farmworker Quarantine Reimbursement program. The N.C. General Assembly approved the funding for this aid program.
“Farmworkers have always been critical to agriculture, but the pandemic has shown how essential a healthy workforce is to agriculture and our food supply,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “While it is a priority for all farmworkers to get vaccinated, this program will enable employers to safely quarantine workers who test positive for COVID-19 and hopefully minimize spread to their coworkers and others.”
Employers that have farmworkers will be eligible for reimbursement of the cost of meals and lodging for the duration of the quarantine period, not to exceed the per diem rates for federal employees. The employer on record for the farmworker with a valid H-2A visa, may submit a reimbursement request on behalf of any farmworker requiring to be quarantined following a positive test for COVID-19, provided the employer covered the initial eligible expenses out-of-pocket on behalf of the farmworker. The program will be for expenses incurred from March 11, 2021 through the duration of this year’s growing season.
The application period opens today and will continue through Dec. 15, 2021 or until program funds are exhausted. These funds are provided through CARES Act funding and subject to any changes to the federal legislation.
N.C. State Extension cautions strawberry producers to apply row covers to their plants in anticipation of freezing temperatures that will linger into the weekend.
A freeze warning started Thursday night and will continue Friday night. But conditions will improve on Saturday, though there still is a chance for a frost from Saturday night to Sunday.
According to N.C. State Extension, the morning of highest concern is Saturday morning. A high pressure system will allow winds to decrease and ground temperatures to cool. It is likely to be several degrees below freezing in many areas. This frost and ground freeze will extend into Georgia as well.
Farmers are encouraged to apply double covers in areas where temperatures are forecast to be below 20 degrees. It’s also important to have sprinklers set up and in place in case they’re needed.
N.C. State Extension recommends strawberry producers to secure their row covers to protect against high wind speeds and to implement cooling measures against warmer temperatures now and into the weekend.
Increasing temperatures are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above normal, especially in the mid-Atlantic area. This will undoubtedly speed up the development of buds and blooms this weekend.
High winds with 20 mph to 30 mph wind gusts are in the region today and will stay that way until Saturday.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has announced the cancellation of the 2021 Got to Be NC Festival, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are making progress in the state getting people vaccinated against this deadly virus, but we still have a ways to go in these efforts before a larger percentage of the population is vaccinated,” Troxler said. “We want people to be able to come out and safely enjoy all the fun activities offered at the Got to Be NC Festival, but it doesn’t make sense at this time to try to hold this annual event.
“I encourage folks to get vaccinated when it is their turn, so we can return to having events like the festival and the N.C. State Fair,” he said. “Our staff is busy planning for the 2021 State Fair and we are looking forward to this fall tradition.”
The Got to Be NC Festival highlights North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness industry, including North Carolina food products. Go to the Got to Be NC webpage at https://gottobenc.com to find products showcased at the festival.
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler praised the state’s agricultural sector for its continued prosperity during the COVID-19 pandemic during his annual State of Agriculture Address.
Troxler
“I am proud of the work that we’ve done to grow agriculture markets, preserve our farmland, protect our food supply and help position the next generation for success,” said Troxler during the address on Feb. 24, streamed on Facebook by the North Carolina Farm Bureau. “I’ve never been more proud of our industry or our farmers.
“I’m proud to say that agriculture and agribusiness continue to rep the state’s No. 1 industry at $92.7 billion,” Troxler said. “I believe we’re on the cusp of becoming a $100 billion industry in terms of economic impact.”
Troxler reports that both pork and poultry exports to China were up 20% in 2020. He also reports that exports of prepared foods have increased from $45 million to more than $400 million over the last 10 years.
North Carolina’s tobacco market has also seen a major turn-around with China coming back into play, purchasing U.S. flue-cured tobacco again. In 2021, contracted pounds are expected to return to over 300 million pounds.
North Carolina’s agriculture industry accounts for approximately 20% of the state’s workforce, which has pushed safety precautions to the top of the Department of Agriculture’s agenda.
“We’re continuing to work on vaccines timetables and when they are rolled out we are in regular communication with state health officials advocate acting for priority status for Ag workers. We continue to advocate for the need to protect these essential first line workers,” Troxler said.
Troxler was joined by Blake Brown, N.C. State University economist, who provided an agricultural economic outlook for the state.
According to Brown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a decrease in U.S. farm income for 2021. But he predicts North Carolina producers may see an increase this year.
“Despite lower U.S. farm payments, we’re probably going to see our income go up in 2021 because of the improvements that we’re going to see in the animal and poultry industry and because of the improvement that the commissioner mentioned with our tobacco pounds,” Brown said.
Brown also reports strong exports opportunities for pork, poultry, soybeans and corn for 2021, favorable for many North Carolina producers.
RALEIGH – Ice and freezing rain can be common weather events during the winter months. These types of weather events can severely impact trees and forested areas across the state. The N.C. Forest Service urges property owners and anyone preparing for or cleaning up after a storm to be cautious and think safety first.
Troxler
“If you’re out preparing trees for a winter storm or cleaning up after one, be extra cautious,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “If you’re a landowner with concerns about your woodlands, you have resources available to help you with a plan for managing damaged trees and timber. Contact your county ranger or a consulting forester.”
If you are a property owner preparing for a winter storm or cleaning up after one, here are some helpful tips and guidelines:
Before the Storm
Prevention is key. Properly pruned trees with strong branch attachments will hold up better in an ice storm.
Prune branches with weak attachments, co-dominant trunks and other defects. Hire a qualified arborist to ensure trees are pruned properly. Look for tree service companies with a certified arborist on staff and/or Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) accreditation.
Do not top your tree. Topped trees will quickly regrow new branches which are weakly attached and more likely to break during storms.
During the Storm
Safety first! Stay indoors in a safe place. Your safety is most important.
Do not attempt to knock ice or snow from branches. This will likely cause the branch to break, possibly injuring you. Branches are designed to bend and stretch. Quick shocks or instant bends will cause them to break more easily rather than bending slowly.
Do not spray water on a tree, attempting to melt ice or snow, as it will likely add more weight to the tree.
Do not try to prop up bending or sagging limbs.
Do not touch limbs that may be in contact with power lines.
After the Storm
Wait until ice or snow has melted before cleaning up.
Cleaning up downed debris presents many safety risks. First, assess safety conditions of your family, home and neighborhood. There may be a debris field, making for poor footing. There may be potentially downed power lines. If electrical wires are an issue, do not attempt tree work. Contact your utility company and let them remove the electrical wires.
Only attempt to clean up minor tree debris.
Operating a chainsaw on storm-damaged trees is dangerous. Historically, more people are injured by chainsaws than the storm that caused the tree damage. Never operate a chainsaw alone and always use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Work only on the ground, and always wear personal protective equipment such as a hard hat, a full-face shield or safety goggles, and hearing protection. Be aware of cutting any branches under tension or pressure.
Avoid leaving broken limbs on your tree. All broken or torn parts of the tree should be properly pruned. A proper pruning cut will promote sealing off the wound and reduce further threat of decay or excessive sprouting.
Hire an arborist with experience in storm restoration pruning.
Consider hiring an arborist with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) to fully evaluate the condition of your tree(s) after a damaging storm.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced on Monday the promotion of Kaleb Rathbone of Waynesville to assistant commissioner for Western NC Agricultural Programs and Small Farms and Teresa Lambert of Laurel Springs as the director of the Research Stations Division.
Troxler
Lambert fills the role created by Rathbone’s promotion. Rathbone replaces Bill Yarborough who retired as special assistant to the Commissioner, and he will also assume additional duties and oversight as an assistant commissioner.
“I am always pleased to have well-qualified and dedicated staff members step into new leadership roles at the department,” Troxler said.
“Both Kaleb and Teresa started working with the department in temporary positions at research stations during college, eventually returning to full-time positions and rising through the ranks. Their long-term commitment to agricultural advancement and innovation speaks to their drive to move North Carolina agriculture forward, help improve the bottom line for farmers and ensure we meet growing global food demands. I know Kaleb and Teresa will continue to serve our farmers well in these new roles.”
Rathbone graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in soil science and a master’s degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources management.
He most recently served as the director of the Research Stations Division, providing leadership, direction and oversight for the state’s 18 research stations from the mountains to the coast. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville for nearly eight years and was also a research specialist there for over five years.
Rathbone is active in the community, serving in advisory and leadership roles with Carolina Farm Credit, Haywood Community College and state and local Farm Bureaus and Cattleman’s Associations.
Lambert graduated from N.C. State University with both a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in poultry science.
She brings over 26 years of state service to her new role, having most recently served as the superintendent of the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury for nearly five years. Prior to that she worked for over six years with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Statesville and Sparta as an extension agent specializing in row crops and livestock. Lambert was a meat and poultry relief inspector for nearly five years covering processing facilities in 16 northwestern counties. In that role, she also provided on-site training to new employees.
She has also worked as a research technician at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs and a livestock extension agent in Winston-Salem.
Brad Graham, the crop unit supervisor and long-time employee of the Piedmont Research Station, will serve as the interim station superintendent.
Rathbone and Lambert have already assumed their duties.
According to N.C. State Extension, the new Southeastern Vegetable Crop Handbook is now available online. Extension vegetable specialists across the Southeast come together annually to update this handbook.
In addition to vegetables, garlic, some culinary herbs and hops are also included. There will be a limited number of hard copies available. Due to the lack of in-person vegetable grower meetings this season, they will probably be distributed through your local North Carolina Cooperative Extension offices. More information will be posted on that when it is available. And a big thank you to Vegetable Growers News for partnering with us on this project!
During the holiday season in the U.S., more than 20 million freshly cut Christmas trees are sold every year, with fir trees topping the most-desired list. Unfortunately growers cannot meet the needs of consumers, and every year, there is a shortage of trees, primarily due to the incredible losses of susceptible firs — including balsam, Fraser, Canaan and others — to the root fungus Phytophthora.
UGA CAES photo/Momi fir has proven itself over the last 25 years as the only known fir species resistant to Phytophthora root disease and could make a good Christmas tree, ornamental and timber species.
This affects consumers in Georgia and other Southeastern states, as more than 50% of the region’s fresh-cut trees are imported. Georgia growers offer Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis lelandii), Arizona cypress (Cypessus arizonica), red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana). But in recent years the demand for fir trees has continued to rise. With this knowledge, research has progressed to develop a fir tree suitable for growing in the Southeastern U.S.
In the early 1990s, attempts were made to introduce the Momi fir (Abies firma), a heat-tolerant fir that can grow in the Southeast. The Momi fir has proven itself over the past 25 years as the only known fir species resistant to Phytophthora root disease, making it a good Christmas tree and ornamental or timber species.
Because of the more desirable Christmas tree characteristics of Fraser fir, many growers In North Carolina have been grafting Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) scion — or shoot — wood to Momi fir rootstock. This enables a grower to grow a Fraser fir that is on Momi fir rootstock in Phytophthora-infested soils. Although grafting can be used to provide a solution to this situation, it can also be problematic. Grafting is very labor intensive, with the central-leader scion wood being difficult to attain, and success in the process can be elusive. Many have attempted to grow the Momi fir as a standalone Christmas tree species, but the process requires selecting for desirable Christmas tree characteristics.
Unfortunately, it is difficult both to acquire Momi fir seed and germinate it, so growers needed a more reliable source of the species. In 2017, with a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, research began to rescue embryos from Momi firs growing in Georgia. Embryos rescued from these trees could be cultured to produce hundreds of thousands of seedlings in less than six months if this propagation system could be developed. In mid-2019, a research team led by horticulture Associate Professor Mark Czarnota at the University of Georgia Griffin Campus created embryonic callus (a growing mass of plant cells) from rescued embryos of Momi firs growing in Georgia. In the near future, thousands of Momi fir seedlings could be made available to growers for rootstock and standalone Momi firs.
There are several characteristics of the Momi fir that make it undesirable as a Christmas tree, including picky foliage, an off-green color and the lack of a center leader. However, if the Momi fir could be crossed with other firs such as Fraser (Abies fraseri), balsam (Abies balsamea), Canaan (Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis), Nordman (Abies nordmanniana), Turkish (Abies bornmuelleriana) or the Guatemalan fir (Abies guatemalensis), hybrid embryos could be rescued, cultured into embryos and matured into seedlings. If a hybrid could be developed, it could provide an endless supply of a Phytophthora-resistant hybrid fir trees for the Christmas tree, ornamental and forestry industry in Georgia and the Southeast. This could open up fantastic financial opportunities for all of these industries in the region.
In order to create these hybrid firs, Momi fir trees growing in Athens, Griffin and Terrytown, Georgia, will be observed for female cone development. Once immature female cones (seed cones) are observed, they will be covered with pollen bags to prevent them from being pollinated by other Momi firs. When male cones are observed releasing pollen on Momi firs, covered female cones should be receptive and would be pollinated with pollen of Fraser or other desirable fir trees. When mature embryos are observed, hybrid cone embryos will be harvested and cultured to produce embryos and eventually seedlings. With any luck, these hybrids will be resistant to Phytophthora, forever changing our ability to grow firs in the Southeast.
For a current list of Georgia Christmas tree growers, visit the Georgia Christmas Tree Association website at gacta.com.
According to N.C. State Extension, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has announced a new round of grant funding that specifically includes support for hemp projects. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program is intended to fund projects related to research, extension and education. The purpose of AFRI’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grants is to increase agricultural production while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. The request for proposals (RFP) specifically states that projects should take a systems approach.
Grants can be used to address a number of goals. One goal is the development of rural economies. In particular, the RFA states that, “Of interest in this theme are industrial hemp projects that examine the supply chain as a system, including breeding, cultivation, feedstock logistics, industrial processing of products and market analysis.” https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rfa/FY21-AFRI-SAS-RFA-508.pdf
Funding for projects ranges from $1-10 million. Letters of intent are due by Jan. 7, 2021. The deadline for the full application is April 1, 2021.
