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 Hurricane Florence and its effects on NC’s rural communities and agricultural developments.
1- Tropical Storm Michael was felt in the state as early as Thursday morning, as Gov. Roy Cooper said at 10:30 a.m. that some areas had already seen six inches of rain and the storm was adding insult to those injured by Florence. WITN
State fair delayed opening until Friday due to Hurricane Michael; inspectors kept an eye on rides CBS 17
USDA responds to Hurricane Michael Morning Ag Clips
2- NCFB President Larry Wooten appears on this morning’s AgriTalk with Chip Flory to talk about Hurricane Florence and how farmers prepared to deal with Michael. AgWeb
Hurricane Florence’s impact on hog farms NC Pork
Tillis & Burr statement on federal disaster assistance applications Press Release
A shout-out to and for volunteers SFN Today
Valuing storm damaged timber following the recent storms Morning Ag Clips
3- A Bayer gene expert says he is optimistic about the future of gene editing and is hopeful that consumers will better understand its benefits. Western Farmer-Stockman
Organic farming with gene editing: An oxymoron or a tool for sustainable farming? The Conversation
CRISPR and beyond: Closing keynote addresses breeding advances Farm Journal AgTech
4- National 4-H Week: The organization boasts more than 7 million members. Take a look at its history and what 4-H is up to these days! Salisbury Post
National 4-H Week highlights the importance of agricultural education Beef Daily
5- When times are tough, it’s good to have a friend who understands. In North Carolina and elsewhere, harvest season has been challenging this year, but social media has helped farmers connect and encourage each other. Successful Farming
6- A few factors are contributing to the delay of the farm bill, and one of them is disagreement over measures to mitigate wildfires. Washington Examiner
Farm bill meets the campaign trail Politico
7- American Farm Bureau is warning that a proposed IRS change to the tax code could threaten the viability of key programs that work to preserve farmland and open space. American Farm Bureau
8- A new survey finds that most Americans want to know the farmers who produce their food, and some are even interested in moving to a farm. Morning Ag Clips
9- Department of Defense research into using insects to carry viruses onto crops for the purpose of genetically modifying them to withstand droughts, floods and foreign attacks is drawing some criticism. New York Times10- Learn more about the Swine Floodplain Buyout program at a number of meetings later this month and November. All offers must be postmarked by Nov. 30. NCDA & CS
11- NC State’s new Rural Works! internship program seeks to put young people into careers in rural areas, and you can learn more about how it works here. Rural Works!
