ROCKINGHAM – As part of the ongoing mission of the Richmond Observer to provide expansive coverage of current events, we offer the following links to allow ease of access to breaking news and/or items of immediate interest garnering attention across the nation.
1- A second North Carolina hog farm contracting for Smithfield Foods was found guilty last week in a Raleigh court of posing a nuisance to neighbors. Earlier in the week, new limits on punitive damages in similar cases became law.
Jury awards $25m in NC hog farm odor lawsuit Feedstuffs
NC Farm Bureau Report NCFB-YouTube
Senator continues to fight for farmers Sampson Independent
Hog farm lawsuit Duplin Times-Facebook
Ag is important NCFB-YouTube
2- Also last week, the U.S. Senate passed its farm bill, and now the House and Senate will work to reconcile their two bills. AgNet West
Ag lawmakers ready for farm bill negotiations Inforum
Amendment to limit checkoffs fails to make farm bill AgWeb
3- Over the weekend, Canada announced new tariffs on U.S. goods, and the Randolph County newspaper talked to farmers and ag officials in the area about their thoughts on tariffs. Asheboro Courier-Tribune
U.S. officials: Fixing Ag trade problems to take time Wallaces Farmer
Canada tariffs on US goods from ketchup to lawn mowers begins WRAL
4- Did you fire up the grill for the Fourth? Your burgers, dogs, sides and drinks for 10 cost about $55.07 on average this year, down about 1 % from last year. Feedstuffs
America’s cheese stockpile just hit an all-time high Washington Post
5- State lawmakers have gone home for a few months, but they’ve approved six questions for voters to decide on the November ballot. They will vote on amendments to the N.C. Constitution, including those related to voter ID, capping the state income tax and the right to hunt and fish. WUNC
6- It’s still very hot outside, with heat indices making it feel even hotter. Forecasters say the heat wave will continue into the week. USA Today
Hot and humid weather pattern marches on Spectrum News
7- Soybean acres have topped corn acres, for the first time since 1983. American Farm Bureau
Trade spat to turn U.S. into top EU soybean supplier Bloomberg
8- Federal officials have determined that canal water near the Yuma, AZ romaine lettuce growing fields are the source of E. coli linked to the lettuce. Food Safety News
9- The annual Blacklands Farm Managers Tour returns Aug. 1 in Pinetown, and here’s an overview of what you can expect at this year’s event. Southeast Farm Press
10- Save the date: Aug. 8 is the 2018 Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Field Day, and registration is now open. TurfFiles
11- The North Carolina Forest Service Nursery Program is, as of today, accepting orders for seedlings. NCDA & CS
Editor’s note: It is the policy of the Richmond Observer to print news release material in its original format, as it was received, with minimal, if any, editorial adjustments.
