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 news garnering attention across the state and/or nation. These particular links relate to items of interest in conjunction with NC’s rural communities and agricultural developments.
1- Smithfield Foods made a major announcement yesterday, that it will expand its Smithfield Renewables division and implement manure-to-energy projects at 90 percent of its hog finishing spaces in North Carolina and Utah. CSR Wire
Smithfield rolls out biogas plan, says it will cover most lagoons WRAL
2- USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue says the trade assistance program will not extend to farmers in 2019, on the assumption that the market will recover even if the trade war with China persists. Bloomberg
Worries over EPA E15 rule (comments on trade aid) Progressive Farmer
NMPF asks USDA to boost dairy trade aid SFN Today
3- More than 400,000 of the state’s 7 million registered voters have voted already during the early voting period, in higher numbers than usually seen in mid-term elections. WUNC
Civic engagement begins with VOTING FB Advocacy
4- Farmers and ranchers are still holding out hope Congress will give them the certainty they need, through the passage of a new farm bill by the end of the year. American Farm Bureau
5- The Piedmont Soybean Field Day was held recently, and speakers advised that Piedmont growers are seeing Palmer amaranth and waterhemp continue to shift into their region. Southeast Farm Press
6- Willa is actually a Pacific storm, but she found her way east to dump more rain on North Carolina today. SFN Today
7- FDA released new FSMA guidance documents this week and wants to hear from those who will be impacted by them. Food Safety News
8- Hugging a cow hadn’t occurred to me as a way to relax, but an upstate New York farm is finding that people will pay $300 for the privilege. Blindfold
9- Some emerging agricultural communicators making a difference aren’t necessarily who you would expect. Ag Journal Online
10- Third-through-fifth graders have a new My American Farm game, Auction Adventures. American Farm Bureau
11- The Soil Health Diverse Cover Crop Workshop in Nash County is Monday, Nov. 19. NC Soil & Water
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.
