ROCKINGHAM - As part of the ongoing mission of the Richmond Observer to provide expansive coverage of significant events, we offer the following links to allow ease of access to news and/or items of recent interest. These particular reports focus upon news of the past month which may directly affect life in Richmond County and other rural areas of the state.
1- President Trump released $12 billion in aid to U.S. farmers who have been harmed by trade disputes. The relief package will be financed through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. Reuters
Statement from NCFB President Larry Wooten Morning Ag Clips
USDA earmarking $12B in trade assistance AgriPulse
American Farm Bureau statement on trade assistance package American Farm Bureau
2- The U.S. House took up bills related to health care, including a bill that would put a two-year delay on Health Insurance Tax. American Farm Bureau
3- Howard Brown of Andrews is the 2018 North Carolina Farmer of the Year, and will now compete for the honor of Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. Brown, the owner of C.R. Brown Enterprises, is the first trout farmer to win a state award. Sunbelt Expo
4- If Senate leaders want to appoint Farm Bill conferees, as they’ve talked about doing, they’ll need to clear some procedural hurdles. SFN Today
5- NCDA & CS announced that organic growers in NC can apply for partial reimbursement of cost of becoming certified or for recertification. NCDA & CS
6- This reviews the rise of the North Carolina sweet potato, which more than 400 growers now harvest 100,000 acres annually. Southeast Produce Weekly
7- The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill to establish a Federal Communications Commission task force with the Agriculture Department to evaluate how to meet broadband connectivity and technological needs of precision agriculture. The Fence Post
8- A few North Carolina projects are on the most recent list of USDA investments in rural communities. Southeast Farm Press
9- Home delivery services like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh will have to contend with a new entry into the marketplace, as Chick-Fil-A has announced it is going to be testing out meal kits. CNBC
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.
