N.C. Legislative NEWS
August 19, 2013
Since 1983, the TobaccoFarmLifeMuseum has been preserving the history and cultural heritage of Eastern North Carolina farm life. The museum was started by a group of local families who had pride in their past and a strong volunteer spirit. Having seen the way of life of their parents and grandparents becoming obsolete, these families wanted to preserve this personal and special history of the Eastern North Carolina flue-cured tobacco farm family for future generations. The museum has grown to an internationally recognized and accredited museum and today continues to interpret and present this important rural legacy to the public. Come visit and step back in time to a turn-of-the-century homestead, including a restored house and detached kitchen, smokehouse, log tobacco barn, and even an outhouse. The 6,000 square foot museum features both permanent and rotating exhibits on farm life, southern medicine, domestic skills, rural social life, and artifacts. Take a trip back in time to a simpler way of life. For more information visit
ImmigrationNEWS
Letter Sent to D.C. on Immigration Reform: Several NC business leaders and state lawmakers are calling oncongressional Republicans to support immigration reform. The letter was sent by former Vice President Dan Quayle, Carlos Gutierrez, the commerce secretary under President George W. Bush, and Karl Rove to Republican Reps. Renee Ellmers (NC-2), George Holding (NC-13), and Richard Hudson (NC-8). NC developer Judd Ammons, John Barnes of Barnes Farming Corp. and Farm Pak, Frank Granger of Fair Products, homebuilder Tim Minton, Republican state Reps. Tom Murry of Morrisville and Tim Moffitt of Asheville all signed their names to the letter. The letter urges GOP leaders to secure the borders, provide a legal means for US employers to hire workers, and provide a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants.
N.C. Legislative NEWS
Governor Vetoes Immigration Bill: Governor Pat McCrory vetoed an immigration bill, HB 786, because he said the bill made it easier for businesses to circumvent federal immigration law, which could allow more illegal immigrants to be hired in the state. Under current law, seasonal workers are given an exemption from E-Verify screening. The legislation sent to Governor McCrory expanded the definition of a seasonal worker from 90 days to nearly nine months and would also open the “seasonal” exemption to many industries other than agriculture. Governor McCrory recommended the entire bill be studied including the definition of a seasonal worker.
Ag Bills Passed: The NC General Assembly passed the following bills of interest to agriculture: SB 386 adds an 11th member, which must be an active hog farmer, to the NC Board of Agriculture. SB 205 changes the soil test required under animal waste management permit from annually to every three years. HB 211 removes weight restrictions on trucks carrying poultry or livestock feed from a storage facility or mill to a farm within 150 miles. SB 377 allows the governor to temporarily suspend routine weight inspections when there is an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage to crops ready for harvest or livestock.
NC’s Tobacco Tax Revenue: For FY 2011, tobacco tax revenue in NC represented 0.9% of its total tax revenue, according to figures released by the Tax Foundation. The DC-based, nonpartisan research organization reported that the state took in $289.5 million in tobacco taxes, putting the state in 39th place in the nation for the ratio of tobacco tax revenue to total tax revenue. As for tobacco excise taxes, NC ranks 45th at 45 cents a pack.
Campaign NEWS
Challengers for Coble’s Seat: Laura Fjeld, general counsel for the University of North Carolina system, announced she plans to run against US Rep. Howard Coble (NC- 6). Coble, who has had several medical issues lately, said he plans to run if his health allows. The News & Observer reported that Phil Berger Jr., a Republican and son of state Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger, plans to run if Coble steps down. Coble, a Republican, has held the seat for 15 terms. Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call rates the district as Safe Republican.
Environmental NEWS
EPA Announces New Pesticide Labels: The US EPA has developed new pesticide labels that prohibit use of some neonicotinoid pesticide products where bees are present.The new labels will have a bee advisory box and icon with information on routes of exposure and spray drift precautions. The announcement affects products containing the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, dinotefuran, clothianidin and thiamethoxam. The EPA will work with pesticide manufacturers to change labels so that they will meet the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) safety standard. For more info, click here.
Business NEWS
Unifi Purchases Additional Machine to Increase Production: Greensboro-based Unifi announced that it has purchased nine DTY (drawn textured yarn) machines and a sample machine, all of which will be relocated to the company's largest US yarn- manufacturing facility in Yadkinville, NC.The purchase will increase the company's production capacity in the growing regional market, while also providing additional flexibility to support the production of the company's premier value-added yarns. The company did not say whether additional jobs would be added.
Farm Size and the Organization of US Crop Farming: Crop production and land have been shifting to larger farm operations—mostly from midsize operations. The report draws on comprehensive farm-level data to detail changes in farm size and other attributes of farm structure and evaluates the key driving forces including technologies, farm organization, business relationships, land attributes, and government policies. To read the full report, click here.
University NEWS
CALS Enters New Research Partnership With Multinational Animal Health Company: NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences officially entered a groundbreaking research partnership with multinational animal health company Ilender,a23-year-old Peruvian company that develops and markets products for poultry and livestock health. NCSU faculty members and administrators signed a research agreement aimed at, among other things, exploring the commercial potential of plants found in Peru’s rainforest and providing for educational exchanges for students in the US and in Peru. Ilender is particularly interested in finding and developing alternatives to antibiotics used in the poultry industry.
Steve Lommel Named to Lead CALS research: Dr. Steven Lommel has been named associate dean and director for the NC Agricultural Research Service in NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective Sept. 1. Lommel currently serves in several administrative roles, including interim president of the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) in Kannapolis and assistant vice chancellor for research at NCSU. A professor of plant pathology for CALS and a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, Lommel’s work involves studying the structure of small plant viruses, with the goal of using them as viral-based nanotechnology cargo vehicles.
Commodity NEWS
N.C. Crop Summary: There were 5.3 days suitable for field work for the week ending August 11th, compared to 4.8 days for the week ending August 4th. Statewide soil moisture levels were rated at 9% short, 64% adequate and 27% surplus. Average temperatures for the week were normal to slightly below normal. The warmer conditions allowed farmers to get back in the fields and some of the crops to progress. However, the western part of the state received heavy rainfall again this week along with flooding in some areas. Corn and soybeans have progressed well but are behind last year’s estimates. Cotton and flue-cured tobacco are in line with previous year’s progress estimates, but wet conditions are affecting the quality of the crops. Hay harvest is problematic with not a lot of time between rains. To read the full report,click here.
NC Corn, Peanut, Soybean Production Up: NC’s August crop report released Aug.12 forecasts corn for grain yield at 132 bushels per acre, up 15 bushels from last year and ties the record set in 2006. Harvested acres are forecast at 880,000 acres, down 60,000 acres from 2012. According to USDA’s NASS NC Field Office, cotton yield is forecast at 775 pounds per acre, down 239 pounds from the 2012 yield of 1,014 pounds per acre. Harvested acres are expected to total 415,000 acres compared with 580,000 acres harvested in 2012. Peanut yield per acre is forecast at 3,600 pounds, down 500 poundsper acre from 2012. Harvested acres are projected at 79,000 acres, down 27,000acres from 2012.Soybean yield is forecast to average 30 bushels per acre, down 9bushels from last year’s yield of 39 bushels.Harvested acres are projected at 1.58 million acres, nochange from 2012.Flue-cured tobacco yield per acre is forecast at 2,000 pounds, down 240 poundsfrom the July 1 estimate.Acres for harvest are estimated at 170,000, up 6,000 acresfrom last year.Winter wheat yield, at 56 bushels per acre, is down 3 from the July 1forecast and down 1 bushel from last year.Harvested acres, at 930,000, are up 180,000 acres from2012. To read the full report, click here.
USDA Forecasts Record-High Corn Production in 2013: US corn growers are expected to produce a record-high 13.8 billion bushels of corn in 2013, according to the Crop Production report issued by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The forecast production is up 28% from drought-hit 2012. Abnormally wet and cold spring weather hampered early planting, but US growers wrapped up planting corn by mid-June, with 97.4 million acres planted to the crop. Also, with 64% of the corn crop rated in good to excellent condition as of August 4, corn crop condition remains significantly higher than at this time last year. Based on these conditions, NASS forecasts this year’s corn yield at 154.4 bushels per acre, the third-highest yield on record.
Insect Control Costs Declining as a Share of Cotton Production Costs:Expenditures on insect control in cotton are essentially unchanged at about 16 or 17 cents per kilogram of cotton over the last decade, despite inflation in chemical prices. However, as a percent of total production costs, insecticides are declining. The latest International Cotton Advisory Committee survey of the cost of production shows that an average of 16 cents were spent on insecticides themselves and their application on cotton per kilogram of lint in 20012/13. Expenditures on insect control in 2012/13 represented 11% of the net cost of cotton production. During 2000/01, expenditures on insecticides and applications averaged 17 cents per kilogram of production, but those expenditures represented 21% of the net cost of production at that time. Survey data indicate that in general, problems associated with insect control in cotton are improving around the world. Integrated pest management strategies, including reduced chemical use, use of chemicals with reduced toxicity and persistence, use of chemicals more precisely targeted at specific pests and more efficient application methods, are contributing to the reduction in insecticide costs as a share of total costs. A surge in the use of biotechnology in cotton has also lowered insecticide use; about three-fourths of world cotton is now produced with varieties with biotech traits.
USDA NEWS
Funding Available for Farmworker Housing: US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of nearly $40 million to provide housing for farmworkers and their families. Under the Farm Labor Housing Program, loans and grants are provided to farmers, farmers associations, family farm corporations, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies to develop or improve multi-family housing facilities for farmworkers and their families. Approximately $30 million in loans, $8.5 million in grants, and $951,000 in rental assistance will be available. Applications for Farm Labor Housing assistance are due September 13, 2013. For more info, click here or contact any USDA Rural Development state office.
Funds Available to Assist Rural Microentrepreneurs: US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of loan and grant funds to support rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises, which are defined as rural businesses with 10 or fewer employees. USDA's Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) will provide about $12.2 million to eligible applicants this year. Under the program, USDA may provide loans of up to $500,000 to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs). They, in turn, make microloans for business start-up or development to eligible microentrepreneurs who are unable to obtain conventional credit elsewhere. Grants of up to $30,000 are available for MDOs to provide technical assistance and training, particularly in rural areas that have experienced significant outmigration. USDA does not directly provide funds to the ultimate recipients. RMAP applications are due by September 13, 2013. For more info,click here.
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