Support for Pesticide Bills Urged: NC S Congressional Delegation Is Being Urged Tosupport

August 30, 2010

It was in 1917 that James Theodore Neese, a farmer living in eastern GuilfordCounty, began to market his popular country sausage. By 1920 the population of Greensboro had reached 19,861, so there were eager customers for “Mr. Thede’s” special recipe. Actually, it was his wife, Annie who developed the recipe. Mr. Thede operated a “Trade House” and also butchered hogs and cattle for his neighbors, concentrating on this work after cold weather set in. He began making sausage with a hand-operated grinder. Gradually he built a trade in town, making deliveries in a prairie schooner. Since refrigeration was in its infancy, everything from slaughtering to packaging was done at night. In the 1920’s Miss Annie stirred up another Neese recipe – liver pudding. She never used chemicals or preservatives in either sausage or liver pudding, and the same recipes are still faithfully followed. The firm is still a family-owned and operated business. Tom Neese, Jr. is president. And the firm has been at its present site on Alamance Church Road since 1936. Neese Country Sausage’s principal sales area is North Carolina.

WashingtonNEWS

Support for Pesticide Bills Urged: NC’s congressional delegation is being urged tosupport for S.3735, a bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and H.R. 6087, a similar bill. The Senate bill, recently introduced by US Senator Lincoln and co-sponsored by US Senator Chambliss, seeks to clarify the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The bill will bring legal and regulatory certainty for farmers, foresters, and ranchers regarding EPA’s recent actions related to the Clean Water Act and has been assigned to the U.S. Senate Ag Committee. A similar bill, H.R. 6087, has been introduced in the House by Frank Luca, R-OK. All interested persons in NC are being encourage to write NC’s delegation and ask for their support of the bills before they return to Washington from recess.

Legislation Limits Farm Payments: Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced a bill that limits farm program payments to any individual to $250,000 and caps direct payments at $40,000, counter –cyclical payments at $60,000, and marketing loan gains (including forfeitures), loan deficiency payments and commodity certificates at $150,000 annually. The bill closes what Feingold says are loopholes used to avoid statutory limits and improves standards used by USDA to determine if farmers are actively engaged on their farms. The bill is touted as saving more than $1 billion over ten years and preventing large farms from running family operations out of business.

Campaign NEWS

Marshall Says No to Tobacco Tax at AgLeaders Conference: At the NC Agribusiness Council’s AgLeaders Conference, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Elaine Marshall said she likely would have voted against the plan to fund health insurance for low-income children with an increased federal cigarette tax. Republican Sen. Richard Burr, Marshall’s opponent, voted against the bill. Democrat Sen. Kay Hagan voted for the plan, though she said she strongly opposed taxing cigarettes to pay for health insurance.

Ellmers Wants to Debate Etheridge:After receiving the endorsement of Sarah Palin, Republican congressional candidate Renee Ellmers challenged her opponent, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, to a debate. Etheridge’s campaign spokesman said that they anticipate a debate with opponents but aren’t sure when.

Democratic Committee Recommends Keever for Goforth’s Seat: The Buncombe County Democratic Party Executive Committee will recommend Patsy Keever for the House of Representative District 115 seat previously held by Rep. Bruce Goforth. The governor will have to approve the appointment, which would allow Keever to fill Goforth’s remaining term. Keever is running for the State House and will face Republican Mark Crawford in November.

Former Opponent Endorses McIntyre: Republican Will Breazeale has endorsed Democrat Congressman Mike McIntyre. Breazeale lost to McIntyre in 2008 and lost the Republican nomination this past May against Ilario Pantano. Breazeale said that after the recent debates between Pantano and McIntyre, he felt McIntyre was the best choice.

Drought NEWS

Western Counties Get Needed Rain: Recent rains in western NC have improved drought conditions, changing all 13 counties from “moderate drought” to “abnormally dry”. The report issued last week by NC Drought Management Advisory Council noted that stream levels are rising and increased soil moisture but that it would take regular rainfall to lift the “abnormally dry” classification.

Commodity NEWS

First Case of EEE in VA: Ag officials in Virginia have confirmed the state’s first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis for 2010. An 18-month-old mustang, which had been vaccinated against EEE, was too sick to recover and was euthanized. The state reported 8 cases of EEE in 2009. Officials are encouraging horse owners to work with their veterinarians to ensure effective vaccination and prevention. EEE has a mortality rate of nearly 80%.

Cold Storage Meat Supplies Down: A decrease in protein supplies looks good for all sectors according to J.P. Morgan analyst Ken Goldman. Higher wholesale pork prices pushed inventory out the door, resulting in the lowest level since 2004. USDA’s Cold Storage report found frozen pork supplies were down 28 percent from last year and down 5 percent from last month. Frozen poultry supplies, down 11 percent from last year, rose slightly from last month. Total chicken stocks were down 1 percent from last year and a month ago. Turkey was reported down 22 percent from a year ago and 1 percent from last month. Total frozen red meat was down 20 percent over last year and 1 percent from last month.

Fuel & Energy NEWS

Wind Farm May Be Coming to NC: Apex Wind Energy of Charlottesville, Va. wants to lease 213 square miles near Wilmington and Morehead City for a large wind farm. The company asked the federal government for the lease and if approved will conduct a five-year site assessment before applying for final approval. Meanwhile, Duke Energy is dropping its plans to build three wind turbines in the Pamlico Sound because it would cost too much. Shallow water construction and underwater vegetation also made the project cumbersome.

Reduced Electric Rates: Duke Energy and Progress Energy plan to provide some relief to their customers. Falling energy costs have prompted the companies to temporarily cut residential rates. Duke Energy expects to drop rates by 6.5 percent in September, and Progress will cut its rates by 4 percent in December. New power plants, system upgrades, and implementing alternative energy sources will spur higher rates for both companies over the next several years.

Natural Gas Supply Found in NC: State geologists have found significant deposits of shale gas in Lee, Moore, and parts of Chatham counties. Energy companies are scrambling to buy the rights to the natural gas from land owners.

Business NEWS

Profits Drop, NC Construction on Schedule for Sanderson: Higher production costs and hot temperatures have led to weaker third-quarter sales and profit for Sanderson Farms. Profits fell from $43 million to $36.1 million for the same quarter last year. Since Russia has reopened to U.S. poultry imports, CEO Joe Sanderson expects demand to be substantial. The company is still on track to open a new chicken facility in Kinston in January. Meanwhile, company officials are still hunting for a location for a second plant and are considering sites in Wayne and Nash counties. To begin construction in spring, the new site will be chosen soon.

New Farmers’ Market to Open in Wilmington: J.W. Covil Grocery closed more than 30 years ago in Wilmington but has plans to open a farmers’ market around the corner from the original store. The Covils are planning a “soft opening” in September but plan to be in full swing in April.

People NEWS

New UNC System President: Thomas Ross has been selected as the new University of North Carolina system president by the UNC Board of Governors. Ross, a Greensboro native, has served as the president of DavidsonCollege since 2007. He will replace Erskine Bowles, who led the system for the past five years. Ross received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson and his law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to becoming president at Davidson, he served as an NC Superior Court judge, director of the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts, and the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem.

NC Grower Continues on Soybean Board: The American Soybean Association (ASA) has confirmed five new members and extended the appointments of nine other soybean growers to lead ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program. Ken Bartlett of NC had his appointment extended.

Thigpen Appointed to NC Court of Appeals: Gov. Bev Perdue appointed Special Superior Court Judge Cressie Thigpen to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Judge Thigpen, a distinguished jurist and former president of the N.C. State Bar, will fill the vacancy created by the recent confirmation of Judge Jim Wynn to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Thigpen’s appointment will expire at the end of the year. Next week he plans to file as a candidate for election in November for an eight year term on the Court of Appeals beginning in January 2011.

EnvironmentalNEWS

Rabies Cases: Recent cases of rabies serve as a reminder to residents to take care around wildlife. Two raccoons in WakeCounty and a rabid bat in OrangeCounty have been confirmed with the disease.Article

NCDANEWS

Specialty Foods Winners: Companies from Rougemont, Elizabethtown and HollySprings were winners in the Product Awards Competition at the N.C. Specialty Foods Association’s fall conference. Fancy’s Candy’s of Rougemont was named the 2010 Grand Champion for its Sin in a Tin Milk Chocolate and Walnut Toffee. D’vine Foods of Elizabethtown took home two awards. The company’s Muscadine Vinaigrette won in the Dressings category, and its Stokes Purple Sweet Potato Butter took the prize in the Jams, Jellies and Preserves category. Grill Master Chuck of HollySprings won in the Dry Mixes, Dips and Rubs category for its Grill Master Steak Rub. Ford’s Gourmet Foods, maker of Bone Suckin’ Sauce and an assortment of specialty food products, received an Export Achievement Certificate from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Sen. Richard Burr and state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler presented the awards at the N.C. Specialty Foods Association’s fall conference Aug. 23.

Mark Your Calendar

The Environmental and Conservation Organization will hold a meeting to address water quality on Monday August 30 at 7 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist of Transylvania County, 24 Varsity St. Registration is recommended. For more info or to register, call 692-0385 or visit

“Protecting your Business, Preventing a Recall” will be held on Tuesday, September 28 at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury. The one-day workshop will focus on food safety and offers business owners an optional opportunity to develop their own recall plan. The workshop is designed for meat producers and processors, value-added food producers, and mid-sized food processing/packaging businesses. The cost for the workshop is $25 and includes lunch and materials. Registration is required, and the deadline is Sept. 21. For more info, go to or by calling Annette Dunlap at (919) 733-7887, ext. 257.

The North Carolina Energy Policy Council – Energy Efficiency Committeewill meet on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m., Dept. of Commerce 4th Floor Board Room, NewEducationBuilding, 301 N. Wilmington St, Raleigh.