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. These particular links relate to items of agricultural interests.
1- Close to 5,000 farmers, state and local officials and others gathered in Duplin County to show their support for the farm families under attack in nuisance lawsuits against Smithfield Foods, for which they raise hogs. WITN
Update: Elected officials say ‘enough is enough’ with hog farm lawsuits Jacksonville Daily News
A jury of peers? Beyond Bacon blog
Coverage from the event and commentary on NCFB Facebook
‘Traffic jam’ at Duplin County hog farm as rally pushes back on neighbors’ lawsuits Raleigh News & Observer
GOP officials show hog farmers love as next nuisance suit heads to court WRAL
2- President Trump said recently that he prefers to wait until the dust settles from the November mid-term elections before going back to NAFTA negotiations. Tariffs are in effect with the NAFTA countries, and are continuing to unfold with China. SFN Today
Trump prepares additional tariffs on additional $200B in Chinese goods The Hill
German cars and American steak: Early trade war victims emerge Bloomberg
3- When farmers see work to be done, they get to it! A group of Wilson County farmers put their time, money and equipment into restoring the dam at Silver Lake, which was compromised in Hurricane Matthew. Farmer Johnny Barnes said his late father, Carson Barnes, encouraged him, Zacky Bissette, Jerome Vick and Todd Glover to take on the project. Wilson Daily Times
4- President Trump has pardoned two Oregon ranchers imprisoned in conjunction with a fire that burned public grazing lands. American Farm Bureau and others are applauding the pardon. Western Farmer-Stockman
5- American Farm Bureau is encouraging Congress to reform the Endangered Species Act, which AFB President Zippy Duvall writes is ‘a failure, and an expensive one at that.’” American Farm Bureau
6- City of Charlotte leaders have been studying the robustness of the local food economy compared to similar-sized regions, and found their own scene wanting. The study concludes the city’s markets underperform, wholesale market channels are lagging and more. Plan Charlotte
7- John Howard of Deep Run might be best-known these days as Vivian Howard’s dad, but he has a long career in farming enterprises throughout the region, and he shares his thoughts on agriculture past and present. Agriculture
8- A judge has said that although evidence that Roundup causes cancer is weak, experts will be allowed to connect Roundup to cancer in a lawsuit brought by cancer victims against Monsanto. Phys
9- J.M. Smucker, maker of Smucker’s jams, is selling off several of its best-known food brands, including Pillsbury, Hungry Jack and Martha White. CNN
10- Attendees of the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will see an ad in the programs promoting American Farm Bureau and the Ag Foundation. American Farm Bureau
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.
