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 state and/or nation.
1- An N.C. House member commends the respectful, but forceful participants of last week’s Rally for Agriculture and talks about the underappreciated impact of the state’s farmers and agribusinesses. Kinston Free Press
Livestock and the environment SFN Today
2- The Trump Administration is set to move forward tomorrow with tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports, and China says it’s ready to counter with its own tariffs, specifically targeting U.S. farmers. CBS News
China tries to ease retaliation fears with pledges to help foreign businesses weather trade war Politico
3- While it was positive news that the U.S. House and Senate each passed a farm bill, there’s still advocacy work to do toward getting a conference committee to settle on a reconciled agreement that works for farmers. American Farm Bureau
4- A down farm economy, erratic weather and patchy access to health care in rural areas has contributed to the sad news that the rate of farmer suicides has increased in recent years. CBS News
Suicide Prevention National Institute of Mental Health
5- A new federal proposal would shrink the habitat area for the red wolf, to just the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. WRAL
6- Wisconsin-based Brakebush Brothers has bought and will reopen the Mocksville poultry processing plant that House of Raeford closed last December after a fire. SFN Today
7- Asheville farm Balsam Gardens has been plagued by deer eating his organic crops, and is hoping the city council will allow a bow hunting organization that uses the deer meat to feed the hungry to help. Asheville Citizen-Times
8- American Farm Bureau says the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow states to collect internet sales tax is a good thing for small and rural businesses. American Farm Bureau
9- Farmville’s “Home Place Strawberries and More” decided to open its gates to put on an Independence Day celebration for locals who wanted to spend the Fourth on a farm instead of the beach. WNCT
