Biennial report North Carolina Department of Agriculture

              THE LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
THE COLLECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINIANA
C630.6
NSa
1956/58
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
00033953605
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BiensucU R&p&d
1956-1958
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BIENNIAL REPORT
for 1956-1958
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
L. Y. BALLENTINE. Commissioner
RALEIGH, N. C.
12-58 )M
OUR COVER PICTURE
The photo on our cover symbolizes in several ways
the "new look" in North Carolina agriculture. It illus-trates
our expanding grain and forage production,
which in turn partly reflects the steady expansion in
our livestock industry. It depicts the trend toward in-creasing
mechanization in our farming operations.
The tall corn in the picture is a North Carolina hybrid,
symbolizing our progress in utilizing agricultural re-search
to obtain greater yields.
All of these are encouraging signs of a brighter fu-ture
for the state's agriculture. But they also mean
that our farming people have been making, and must
continue to make, some radical readjustments. North
Carolina is a state of small farms, with the largest farm
population in the nation. To meet competition, we must
continue the trend toward mechanization and more effi-cient
production methods. At the same time, it is desir-able
to keep our large farm population gainfully
employed in agricultural pursuits, and our farm pro-grams
must be shaped with this need always in mind.
To meet the challenge before us requires imagination,
ingenuity, know-how and determination. But it can be
met, because our farmers and agricultural workers
have these qualities ; and, in addition, we are generously
blessed with the necessary resources of soil and climate.
\
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Board of Agriculture .._•. 5
Personnel 6
Commissioner's Summary : ___. 13
Highlights of Board Meetings 21
Accounting Division . 28
Chemistry Division . 35
Credit Union Division •_ 43
Dairy Division 45
Entomology Division 49
Markets Division 55
Museum Division 79
Publications Division 87
Research Stations Division 90
Seed Testing Division ___108
Soil Testing Division _v 111
State Fair Division . 113
Statistics Division :„115
Veterinary Division 119
Warehouse Division 126
Weights and Measures Division 129
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
L. Y. Ballentine, Commissioner
Ex-Officio Chairman
J. Atwell Alexander Stony Point
W..I. Bissette Grifton
Glenn G. Gilmore Julian
Hoyle C. Griffin Monroe
Claude T. Hall Roxboro
George P. Kittrell Corapeake
J. Muse McCotter New Bern
Charles F. Phillips Thomasville
J. H. Poole West End
A. B. Slagle Franklin
PERSONNEL
of the
STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
June 30, 1958
L. Y. Ballentine, Commissioner
Administration
John L. Reitzel Assistant Commissioner
Bettie H. Carrigg Stenographer Clerk III
Hazel I. Horner Stenographer Clerk II
Doris B. Wofford _. Stenographer Clerk III
Division of Accounts
Grace H. Malloy ___. Auditor
Edna C. Brown Accounting Clerk I
Gaynell Bullock Accounting Clerk II
Alicegrae F. Ferrell Accounting Clerk IV
Mildred M. Horton ._ Accounting Clerk I
Elsie W. Jordan Accounting Clerk III
Jean G. Pace Accounting Clerk I
Gwen W. Ratchford Accounting Clerk I
Lena P. Sockell _ Stenographer Clerk II
Lunelle Yeargan Cashier Department of Agriculture
Publicity and Publications
Blackburn W. Johnson Public Information Officer III
Mary Yvonne Creech ____ Stenographer Clerk II
M. Pauline DeCosta Public Information Officer I
Joseph A. Hunter Clerk II
Bettye T. Rogers Clerk I
Inspection
George A. Brown, Jr Feed, Fertilizer and Insecticide Inspector I
E. H. Cooper Tax Auditor III
Lindsey Ennis Feed, Fertilizer and Insecticide Inspector I
Harvey C. McPhail Feed, Fertilizer and Insecticide Inspector I
James R. Stevens Feed, Fertilizer and Insecticide Inspector II
Markets
John A. Winfield Director Agricultural Marketing
Wilbur S. Brannan Marketing Specialist III
Betty W. Chapman Stenographer Clerk III
John H. Cyrus Marketing Specialist III
Jay P. Davis, Jr Marketing Specialist IV
Lewis F. Dunn Marketing Specialist II
Louise T. Dunn Stenographer Clerk III
Dewey H. Evans, Jr Marketing Specialist III
Ollie W. Faison.. Marketing Specialist IV
Jesse R. Ferrell Marketing Specialist II
Cleo M. Gault Laboratory Technician I
Joe B. Gourlay Marketing Specialist III
Report for 1956-58
—
Personnel 7
Elmer C. Green Marketing Specialist III
Thomas E. Green, Sr Marketing Specialist III
Evelyn G. Harper Stenographer Clerk II
George F. Harrington Marketing Specialist II
Wendell P. Hedrick Marketing Specialist IV
Vernon W. Hill Marketing Specialist III
James F. Hockaday, Jr _ Marketing Specialist I
Julius P. Jenrette Marketing Specialist III
Fred P. Johnson __ Marketing Specialist IV
Ralph B. Kelly Marketing Specialist IV
Ethel Y. Kiker _ Marketing Specialist III
Katherine B. Koppen ._ Stenographer Clerk III
Frances A. Lancaster Stenographer Clerk II
William E. Lane.. Marketing Specialist II
Melba J. Lindsay Stenographer Clerk II
Staley S. Long, Jr Marketing Specialist II
Hugh B. Martin Marketing Specialist IV
Neii.l A. Morrison, Jr Marketing Specialist III
Charles G. Murray Marketing Specialist III
Lavinia E. Murray Stenographer Clerk II
Hobart W. Myrick Marketing Specialist III
Mary L. Norman Stenographer Clerk II
Betty S. Pethel : Stenographer Clerk III
Arthur K. Pitzer „ Marketing Specialist III
Lois M. Pleasants Laboratory Technician I
Phoebe D. Powers Stenographer Clerk III
H. D. Quessenberry Marketing Specialist IV
B. S Rich Marketing Specialist IV
Carson W. Sheffield __ Marketing Specialist IV
Beatrice L. Smith Accounting Clerk I
Horace A. Smith Marketing Specialist HI
Robert W. Southerland Marketing Specialist II
Ann B. Stoddart..- Accounting Clerk I
Annie R. Strickland __ Stenographer Clerk II
Clrtis F. Tarleton Marketing Specialist IV
Carl H. Tower _ Marketing Specialist HI
George H. Turner, Jr Marketing Specialist II
Euris R. Vanderford ___ Marketing Specialist II
Paclin e M. Watkins _. _ Typist Clerk I
Dewey C. Wayne Marketing Specialist IV
Patsi C. Wellborn Accounting Clerk II
James A. Williams Marketing Specialist II
Dairy
C. W. Pegram Director of Dairy Service
Lafayette H. Boykin, Jr ...Dairy Specialist II
Elmo H. Hollomon Dairy Specialist II
Paul R. Jordan, Jr Bacteriologist
W. L. McLeod Dairy Specialist II
Robert L. Merritt Laboratory Helper
Francis Patterson Dairy Specialist III
Mary M. Weathers Stenographer Clerk II
Giles M. Williams Dairy Specialist II
Entomology
C, H. Brannon state Entomologist
Hugh I. Alford, Jr Entomologist II
James F. Greene Entomologist II
J. A. Harris ...Entomologist III
Pauline P. Newsom Stenographer Clerk II
Jesse F. Sessions Entomologist II
D. L. Wray... Entomologist III
8 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Seed Laboratory
Willard H. Darst Director of Seed Testing
Magdalene G. Brummitt ....Seed Analyst III
Walter E. Burgiss Seed Specialist
Prances H. Colvin Seed Analyst II
Mahlon B. Dickens Seed Specialist
Stella W. Etheridge Seed Analyst II
Pearl G. Gray .. Stenographer Clerk II
Virginia B. Griffin ....Seed Analyst I
Theodora W. King Seed Analyst I
Murphy G. McKenzie, Jr Seed Specialist
Kenneth M. Mintz Seed Specialist
Evelyn J. B. Murdoch Seed Analyst I
Ewald Smith Seed Analyst II
Joe N. Tate, Jr Seed Specialist
Mildred W. Thomas Seed Analyst II
Analytical
E. W. Constable State Chemist
L. V. Amburgey Micoranalyst
Henry W. Barnes, Jr Chemist IV
Elizabeth F. Bartholomew Chemist II
Samuel C. Boyd Laboratory Helper
Z. B. Bradford ._ Chemist IV
Burney A. Britt Chemist II
David E. Buffaloe Chemist IV
Margaret B. Carter Chemist II
James A. Chapman Laboratory Helper
Vera A. Culler. Chemist I
Dorothy M. Davis Stenographer Clerk III
J. Whitt Davis Feed, Fertilizer and Insecticide Inspector I
Ralph E. Ferguson, Jr Chemist I
John J. Filicky _„. Chemist II
Evelyn A. Freeman Stenographer Clerk I
Robert L. Freeman Food, Drug and Cosmetic Inspector
Charles H. Godwin, Jr Food, Drug and Cosmetic Inspector
Samuel H. Hinton Laboratory Helper
Velva E. Hudson Typist Clerk III
Harold L. Jackson Chemist I
Jesse G. Jernigan Chemist II
H. D. Matheson . Chemist II
W. P. Matthews.. ~ Chemist IV
Mary A. Melvin. Stenographer Clerk II
Harry A. Miller ..Chemist VI
William A. Morgan Laboratory Helper
L. M. Nixon... Chemist V
Fred P. Nooe Food, Drug and Cosmetic Inspector
Myrna L. Nowell Typist Clerk III
H. F. Pickering Chemist IV
J. S. Pittard Chemist IV
L. B. Rhodes _ Food Chemist
Clyde W. Roberts Food, Drug and Cosmetic Inspector
Don H. Smith Laboratory Helper
Valyne F. Starling. Chemist I
William Sylver, Jr Laboratory Helper
Robert N. Tulloch • Chemist II
Muriel M. Weathers Chemist II
Hazel L. Willis Stenographer Clerk III
Crop Statistics
John T. Richardson Administrative Officer
Raymond R. Alford, Jr. Miscellaneous Duplicating Machine Supervisor G-S 4
Report for 1956-58
—
Personnel 9
Mary S. Allen Research Analyst I
Louise W. Byrum Research Assistant
Ben E. Clayton, Jr Statistician I
Charlie H. Cross, Jr Duplicating Machine Operator II
John S. DeCourcy Analytical Statistician GS 7
Martha F. Early Research Assistant
Terry M. Edwards Duplicating Machine Operator II
Evelyn L. Finch Vari-Type Operator II
Winifred C. Karangelen Research Assistant
Ida L. King Research Assistant
Mary F. Lloyd Vari-Type Operator II
Carrie M. Mann Research Assistant
Janie H. Murph Research Assistant
Nancy C. Penny Stenographer Clerk II
Josephine H. Smith... _ Research Assistant
Robert H. Tilley Analytical Statistician GS 11
Olaf Wakefield Analytical Statistician GS 12
Harry A. White Analytical Statistician GS 12
Rosa M. Wrede _ Research Assistant
Soil Testing
Eugene J. Kamprath Director Soil Testing
John O. Anderson Laboratory Helper
Jo Ann Briggs Stenographer Clerk I
Carolyn E. Carroll Stenographer Clerk I
Evelyn S. Conyers Chemist I
Carolyn O. Copeland Chemist I
Roberta B. Dean ..Chemist I
Ruth S. Gardner Chemist II
Arthur Giles , Laboratory Helper
Joann J. Leazer ... Typist Clerk I
Gerald D. McCart Agronomist I
Alice F. McLamb Typist Clerk I
Luella M. Remini Stenographer Clerk III
Margaret E. Stancil Stenographer Clerk II
Dorothy R. Thornton Stenographer Clerk II
Charles D. Welch Agronomist II
Veterinary
Hal J. Rollins..... State Veterinarian
Josephine A. Allen Stenographer Clerk III
William A. Andrew.... Poultry Specialist I
John D. Baker Veterianrian III
Marvin O. Batchelor Livestock Inspector
Samuel O. Benson Veterinarian III
Charles R. Border Veterinarian III
Wilma N. Boykin Laboratory Technician I
G. I. Bullock Livestock Inspector
Julius B. Cashion Poultry Specialist I
Jesse J. Causby Poultry Specialist II
Kenneth G. Church Poultry Specialist I
James H. Clegg Poultry Specialist I
William W. Clements : Veterinarian II
Henry B. Collins Livestock Inspector
Donald E. Cooperrider Director of Diagnostic Laboratory
Alton L. Corbett Livestock Inspector
Eugene C. Couch Poultry Specialist I
Lilly F. Daughtry Stenographer Clerk II
W. J. Elkins _ Poultry Specialist II
L. J. Fourie Poultry Specialist III
Jamfs A. Frazier Poultry Specialist I
George D. Fuller Livestock Inspector
10 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Frank S. Hall Clerk I
Ralph Hamilton Veterinarian II
Franklin J. Helm ....Veterinarian II
Elizabeth R. Helms Laboratory Technician II
Frank Howard, Jr.- Laboratory Helper
G. W. Ivey ._ _ - Poultry Specialist II
R. Russell Jeter Veterinarian II
William H. Justice Veterinarian II
James D. Kellet Poultry Specialist I
Irene K. Kilpatrick Laboratory Technician II
Fred D. Long __ ....Poultry Specialist I
Paul C. Marley Poultry Specialist I
N. P. McDuffie Poultry Specialist I
Lola S. Mitchell Stenographer Clerk II
Sue F. Odom Stenographer Clerk II
Donald D. Pate Veterinarian III
Peter S. Penland Poultry Specialist I
Lucy D. Ponder Laboratory Technician III
Verlin E. Reese _ Poultry Specialist I
James U. Richardson Laboratory Helper
Laurie E. Roach Veterinarian II
Phil R. Sandidge Poultry Specialist I
Dixie D. Southard Poultry Specialist I
John Williams, Jr Laboratory Helper
Theron S. Williams Veterinarian III
John R. Woody Poultry Specialist I
Auburn L. Wright __ ..Poultry Specialist I
Research Stations
Cecil D. Thomas Director of Research Stations
Julia N. Medlin Stenographer Clerk II
George F. Stanley. Administrative Assistant of Agriculture
J. L. Rea, Jr ___. Research Station Superintendent
Elwood A. Allen Senior Herdsman
Herbert W. Allen Farm Foreman II
Lillian A. Bishop Stenographer Clerk I
Fenner B. Harris Herdsman I
J. M. Carr Research Station Superintendent
Elizabeth Floyd Stenographer Clerk II
Locke C. Hagwood Farm Foreman II
Chester Kearney Feed & Farm Laborer
Marjorie J. King Typist Clerk I
Warren H. Bailey _. Research Station Superintendent
Susan D. Killebrew. Stenographer Clerk I
Thilbert A. Suggs Farm Foreman II
Randolph Whitley Herdsman I
Murray R. Whisenhunt Research Station Superintendent
Theodore R. Burleson, Jr __ Poultryman
Rufus Curtis "Z~ZZ'ZZ"....Dairy<man
James R. Edwards __ Dairy Superintendent
Bernice H. Harrell ..„ Stenographer Clerk II
Garfield Harris Farm Foreman II
William C. Holder.... Dairyman
Dana F. Tugman Research Station Superintendent
Anna S. McClure Stenographer Clerk I
Gordon D. Sheets.... Farm Foreman II Dan L. Taylor Herdsman I
Jesse W. Sumner.... Research Station Superintendent
Ernest W English _ Poultryman
Jacob B Matthews Dairyman
MELviN G. Richert..... Dairyman
John Sasser, Jr..... _ Farm Foreman u B. L. Williams..... Stenographer Clerk II
Report for 1956-58
—
Personnel 11
J. W. Hendricks Research Station Superintendent
Gentry E. Belvins Farm Foreman II
Rose B. Ingram Stenographer Clerk II
Samuel M. Miller, Jr Herdsman
Maynard L. Self Dairy Research Supervisor
William L. Steele Dairyman
Clyde Z. McSwain, Jr Research Station Superintendent
Dwight C. Austin Farm Foreman II
Julia L. Skinner Typist Clerk I
Wallace J. Dickens Research Station Superintendent
William T. Grimsley Farm Foreman II
Weights and Measures
C. D. Baucom Superintendent of Weights and Measures
John I. Moore _. Weights and Measures Inspection Supervisor
Walter R. Burnette. Heavy Duty Scale Inspector I
Joyce G. Carter Stenographer Clerk II
William T. Crawford Weights and Measures Inspector
Grady F. Hall Heavy Duty Scale Inspector I
Roderick M. Horton Liquid Fertilizer Specialist
Marion L. Kinlaw, Jr Weights and Measures Inspector
Grover R. Kiser Weights and Measures Inspector
Rufus A. Malloy Weights and Measures Inspector
Ned A. Powell Heavy Duty Scale Inspector II
Marvin E. Shambley Weights and Measures Inspector
James M. Vestal, Jr ._ Weights and Measures Inspector
Frances A. Wilson Stenographer Clerk II
Dan C. Worley Weights and Measures Inspector
Gordon S. Young Heavy Duty Scale Inspector II
State Museum
H. T. Davis Museum Director
Dudie V. Ashe Maid
Julian W. Johnson Museum Exhibits Designer
Ernest R. Jones Janitor-Messenger
F. B. Meacham Zoologist
Julia F. Nowell Stenographer Clerk II
Sara D. Prince Clerk I
Custodial
Robert Harris.— Stock Clerk I
Vernon A. Williams Stock Clerk I
Gasoline and Oil Inspection
C D. Baucom Director of Gas and Oil
Carey M. Ashley Chemist I
Milton Barefoot Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Maddrey W. Bass Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Malver L. Boyette Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Kathleen C. Brafford Chemist I
John A. Bynum... Gasoline and Oil Inspector
William L. Carpenter Chemist II
Glenn R. Cates Chemist I
Lonnie E. Cayton Calibrator
Harvey Clodfelter, Jr Chemist I
Jack C. Connolly, II ___. Chemist I
Milton C. Converse __ Chemist II
Joseph Denton Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Paul H. Etherujge Chemist I
J. A. Galloway Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Roy B. Hallman Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Elliott Harrison Laboratory Helper
Hugh F. Hayes Chemist II
12 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Horace E. Heemak _ Calibrator
Clarence L. Holland, Jr .- Chemist I
Ira G. Holloway Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Edwin H. Hutchins Chemist I
Herman L. Jones Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Lucy E. Jordan Chemist I
Richard W. King Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Gertrud Lare -. Accounting Clerk II
William J. Lee Chemist I
Robert H. McArver Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Claiborne M. Nixon Calibrator
Francis W. Oakes. Gasoline and Oil Inspector
W. T. O'Briant Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Douglas M. Pait Gasoline and Oil Inspector
William H. Perry .. Calibrator
Betty J. Phillips __ -Stenographer Clerk I
Parley B. Rasmussen, Jr Chemist II
James R. Rivers— Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Milton H. Rowe, Sr -Gasoline and Oil Inspector
H. L. Shankle Chemist V
J. T. Shaw Chemist II
Harry W. Shelton Chemist I
Ray D. Sigmon Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Koy S. Smith Gasoline and Oil Inspector
David B. Spivey _ Calibrator
Fred O. Sumner Liquified Gas Inspector
Ralph G. Thornburg _"_ Chemist II
James E. Turpin ._. Gasoline and Oil Inspector
Leon E. Van Brunt Calibrator
Bobby M. Wagner.. ..Chemist I
Mary Jo Warren Stenographer Clerk II
Mildred B. York Stenographer Clerk II
Cooperative Inspection Service
Eldridge C. Price Marketing Specialist II
Peggy Y. Smith Accounting Clerk II
Egg Marketing Act
Stuart A. Glover, Jr Marketing Specialist II
Lilliam T. Isley Stenographer Clerk II
Cecil R. Register Marketing Specialist II
State Warehouse System Supervision
A. B. Fairley Warehouse System Superintendent
Hazel K. Cobb Clerk II
Hallie K. Morrow Stenographer Clerk II
Frank C. Person Warehouse Examiner
Martha E. Swindell Stenographer Clerk II
Credit Union Supervision
W. V. Didawick Credit Union Administrator
A. S. Bynum Fiscal Examiner II
Howard L. Pijahn Fiscal Examiner II
Edward H. Sessom _. Fiscal Examiner II
John T. Simpson Fiscal Examiner II
Structural Pest Control Commission
Harry B. Moore, Jr Entomologist III
Distribution of Surplus Commodities
James A. Graham Manager Farmer's Market
Elizabeth M. Boykin . Secretary
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
By L. Y. Ballentine
Co minissioner of Agriculture
North Carolina agriculture is going through a transition period
which began shortly after the end of World War II. The nature
of agriculture is such that any radical readjustments are some-what
slow in coming about, and we can expect to remain in a
transitory stage for years to come. Nevertheless, during the
past two or three years the changes have accelerated in pace and
broadened in scope.
This is a very gratifying development. The state's agriculture
has been shifting toward a position where it can begin more fully
and efficiently to utilize our great resources of soils, climate
and farming people. But, of course, the many changes have had
their impact on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
They have made new demands on the Department, and called
for expansion of traditional activities.
Much of this new or expanded work has been carried on with
little or no increases in funds or personnel. This achievement
has been due, in large measure, to two factors. One is increased
efficiency made possible by the construction of badly needed
facilities. The other, and most important, has been the dedi-cated
loyalty of Department employees who have exerted them-selves
"beyond the call of duty" to meet the demands.
Further complicating and adding to the work of the Depart-ment
and the Board of Agriculture have been the rapidly chang-ing
technologies which have a direct bearing on the Department's
regulatory and service work. In the dairy industry alone, for
instance, new methods for handling milk at the farm, and new
processes or products developed by dairy distributors, have call-ed
for a great deal of effort in formulating regulatory measures
and procedures. New methods for the manufacture and delivery
of feeds and fertilizers have posed problems of inspection from
the standpoint of both quality and quantity of these products.
These are but illustrations of the types of changes which are
calling for increasing work and study on the part of Department
14 N. C. Department of Agriculture
personnel and members of the Board of Agriculture. They are
referred to in more detail in chapters of this report prepared by
the heads of the various divisions responsible for these phases
of the work. This section of the report will be devoted to the duties
and activities which devolve more directly upon the Commission-er
of Agriculture, some general departmental activities not cover-ed
in other sections, and a review of some new responsibilities
placed in the Department by the General Assembly of 1957.
Activities of the Commissioner
As agricultural problems and programs increase, so does the
necessity for the Commissioner of Agriculture to work with
other agencies dealing with agricultural problems at state, inter-state,
and federal levels. At present, the Commissioner of Agri-culture
for North Carolina is chairman of the Transportation
Committee of the National Association of State Departments
of Agriculture and a member of that Association's executive
committee. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on
Cooperative work under the Agricultural Marketing Act with
State Departments of Agriculture, the Agricultural Advisory
Committee of the Democratic National Committee, and the Agri-culture
Department Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States.
At the state level, he is a member of the Governor's Farm
Advisory Committee, a director of the Agricultural Foundation
of North Carolina State College, a member of the North Carolina
Cotton Promotion Committee, and chairman of the North Caro-lina
Committee on Migrant Labor.
By legislation, the Commissioner of Agriculture is also chair-man
of the State Board of Agriculture, the State Board of Gaso-line
and Oil Inspection, and the Board of Directors of the North
Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame. He is a member of the
North Carolina Milk Commission and of the Crop Seed Improve-ment
Board. He is also charged with the responsibility for
licensing and inspecting all agricultural fairs held in the state;
and for regulating, licensing and inspecting all North Carolina
rendering plants.
All of these activities, whether in cooperation with govern-ment
or non-government agencies, and whether voluntary or
required by law, have an important bearing on North Carolina's
agricultural welfare. The names of these committees or agen-
Report for 1956-58—Administration 15
cies indicate their character and the importance of their acti-vities
to the state.
Certain laws also require other Department personnel to parti-cipate
in the work of independent agencies. One of these makes
the Commissioner and the head of the Department's Seed Test-ing
Division members of the Crop Seed Improvement Board.
Another provides that the Governor shall appoint two members
from the Department to the Structural Pest Control Commission
and that one of these shall be from the staff of the Department's
Entomology Division. By appointment, Dr. D. L. Wray has
represented the Entomology Division, and Assistant Commis-sioner
John L. Reitzel has represented the Department at large,
since the Commission was established in 1955. Dr. Wray has
served as secretary to the Commission since it was established.
However, shortly after the end of this biennium Mr. Reitzel was
elected to that office for the ensuing year.
The law enacted in 1953 to license and regulate rendering
plants authorized the Commissioner of Agriculture to designate
a member of his staff to serve on a committee charged with
making regulatory recommendations and rendering plant in-spections.
Dr. H. J. Rollins, State Veterinarian, has represent-ed
the Department on this committee since 1953. This law au-thories
the Commissioner of Agriculture to adopt the regulations
governing rendering plants, of which there are now 13 licensed
in the state.
Near the end of the 1954-56 biennium, the Board of Directors
of the Agricultural Hall of Fame set up standards for the select-ion
of individuals to be given recognition in the Hall, and de-signated
a room in the Agriculture Building for its location. In
May, 1957, Colonel Leonidas LaFayette Polk, first North Caro-lina
Commissioner of Agriculture and leader of the National
Farmers Alliance, was chosen as the first member of the North
Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame. As this biennium draws
to a close, plans are under way for converting into a suitable
shrine the room selected for the Hall of Fame.
Supervision of agricultural fairs in the state continues to be
an effective tool in preventing the abuse of the name "fair" by
undesirable fly-by-nights. Under state law and regulations, the
term fair must apply to bona fide agricultural and industrial
expositions. Those classified as commercial (that is, charging
admission or operating any traveling shows or games) must be
licensed by the Department of Agriculture. There were 79 fairs
16 N. C. Department of Agriculture
licensed in 1956, and 77 in 1957. All of these fairs were inspect-ed
; and only one fair in 1956, and two in 1957, failed to meet the
minimum standards and qualifications for re-licensing in the
succeeding year.
Commodity groups are continuing to take advantage of the
state law which permits them to place assessments on their prod-ucts,
when these are approved in referendums authorized by
the State Board of Agriculture. The assessments are for the
purpose of raising funds to promote the use and sale of such prod-ucts.
Personnel of the Department of Agriculture assist such
groups in launching these programs, and for several of them
the Commissioner of Agriculture collects the assessments
through the Department's Accounts Division. The North Caro-lina
Peanut Growers Association chose this method of collection,
and during the 1956-58 biennium, a total of $110,136.92 was col-lected
and turned over to this association.
Peach growers held a successful referendum in May, 1956, and
authorized the Commissioner to collect the assessment of one
cent for each tree in commercial peach orchards. Collections
turned over to the North Carolina Peach Growers Society, Inc.,
during this biennium amounted to $5,861.90.
During this biennium, the North Carolina Cotton Promotion
Association and the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association re-quested
and received authorization from the Board of Agri-culture
to hold similar referendums. In both cases the assess-ments
were approved by the required two-thirds majority of
those voting. The cotton assessment became effective Septem-ber,
1957, and by the end of the current biennium the assess-ments
collected totaled $21,270.90. The assessment on beef cat-tle
sold for slaughter became effective April 1, 1958, and by the
end of the biennium $3,617.40 had been collected.
In 1957, North Carolina farmers for the third time overwhelm-ingly
approved the "Nickels-for-Know-How" program. This is
the popular name for a program authorized by state law under
which farmers may vote an assessment of five cents a ton on all
feed and fertilizer sold in the state to raise funds for the pur-pose
of supplementing agricultural research and dissemination
of research information. The law provides that referendums on
the question of continuing the assessment be held at three-year
intervals. The State Department of Agriculture serves as the
collecting agency for these "nickels". During this biennium,
"Nickels-for-Know-How" collections total $275,946.67. This
Report for 1956-58
—
Administration 17
money was turned over to the Agricultural Foundation at N. C.
State College, which administers the fund.
New Legislative Responsibilities
Technological changes in agricultural production and process-ing
frequently make it necessary to re-appraise the legal and regu-latory
measures designed to protect the farmer and consumer.
A typical case is afforded by the flue-cured tobacco situtation
at the beginning of this biennium. New methods of processing
tobacco, and new types of cigarets, caused a shift away from
light-bodied tobaccos to heavier types. In the meantime, several
varieties had been developed which were high yielding but which
had undesirable qualities in the light of the changes in consumer
demand. Late in 1956, the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture an-nounced
price support discounts, or penalties, on these varieties.
The immediate result was a surplus of seeds of these penalized
varieties and a shortage of seeds of the acceptable types. Inas-much
as a tobacco variety cannot be determined by a visual ex-amination
of its seed, it soon became apparent that some amend-ments
to the Seed Law were needed to afford greater protection
for the farmer in variety labeling of flue-cured seeds.
The state Board of Agriculture, at the request of the Depart-ment's
Seed Testing Division, the N. C. Experiment Station, and
the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association, sponsored
legislation designed to provided needed safeguards. These were
enacted into law on April 9, 1957.
In brief, these amendments provide
(1) That any flue-cured variety offered for sale in the state
must be recorded with the Commissioner of Agriculture before
November 1 each year. The same designation must be used
for each variety recorded as was used when the variety was first
sold or recorded officially with an agency responsible for the
enforcement of a State Seed Law.
(2) That a one-ounce sample of seed of each variety must be
furnished the Commissioner at the time of recording. These
samples are for planting in verification tests.
(3) That the Commissioner accept for recording only those
flue-cured varieties which have been declared by the Tobacco
Seed Committee to be correctly identified. The Tobacco Seed
Committee consists of four ex-officio members from the North
Carolina Experiment Station and three persons appointed by the
18 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Commissioner of Agriculture to represent the seed trade, the seed
producers, and the farmers at large.
A new law enacted in 1957 permits processors of meat and
meat products to enter into voluntary agreements with the Com-missioner
of Agriculture to have their products inspected for
condition and wholesomeness under state supervision. To obtain
this service processors must meet minimum requirements for
plant facilities and processing methods under regulations adopted
by the State Board of Agriculture on July 29, 1957. Processors
pay the cost of the service including the salaries of plant inspect-ors
and the Department of Agriculture is empowered to add a rea-sonable
administrative charge. By the end of this biennium
eight meat plants in the state had come under this voluntary in-spection
program, and seven others did so shortly after the close
of this biennial period.
A law sponsored by the North Carolina Peanut Growers Asso-ciation
to license and regulate buyers of. farmer stock peanuts
became effective July 1, 1957. Under this law, any firm or in-dividual
who buys one ton or more of peanuts from producers
must obtain an annual license from the Commissioner of Agri-culture.
A fee of $10 per buyer provides funds for the admini-stration
of this law.
While the law authorized the State Board of Agriculture to
adopt rules and regulations necessary for its enforcement, it
also stipulates that the Commissioner of Agriculture shall ap-point
a five-member committee to advise in the enforcement of
the law and in formulating regulations. The committee, by law,
is made up of two representatives of North Carolina peanut
growers, one representative of the Cooperative Marketing Asso-ciation
serving the state's peanut growers, one member repre-senting
North Carolina peanut commission buyers, and one repre-senting
the peanut millers and shellers of the state.
Regulations recommended by this committee were adopted by
the Board of Agriculture on July 29, 1957. Under these regu-lations
all licenses expire on June 30 each year, and each buyer
must obtain his annual license at least 15 days before he makes
his first purchase during the effective period of his license. An-other
regulatory provision requires buyers to retain all records
of transactions until the first day of October following the buy-ing
season during which the transaction took place.
The Plant Pest Law was extensively re-written by the 1957
legislature to broaden and clarify the regulatory authority of the
Report for 1956-58
—
Administration 19
State Board of Agriculture and the responsibilities of the De-partment
as they pertain to the control and eradication of inscets
and other plant pests.
Personnel Changes
On December 15, 1957, Dr. S. L. Tisdale, who had been director
of the Soil Testing Division for two years, resigned to become
manager of the National Plant Food Institute's regional office
in Atlanta. Dr. Tisdale had made a fine contribution to North
Carolina agriculture, first as Research Associate Professor of
Agronomy at N. C. State College, and later in maintaining high
standards of efficiency in the Department's Soil Testing Labora-tory.
It was with reluctance, therefore, that we accepted his
resignation — the more so because his new position took him out
of the state.
We had the good fortune, however; to obtain the services of
Dr. Eugene John Kamprath to fill the post left vacant by Dr.
Tisdale. Dr. Kamprath also came to the Department from N.
C. State College, where he had been an Assistant Professor of
Soils. He was graduated from the University of Nebraska with
a B. S. in 1950 and an M. S. in agronomy in 1952. He did post-graduate
work in soil fertility at N. C. State College, which a-warded
him a Ph. D. in 1955.
As this biennium drew to a close the Department of Agricul-ture
was saddened by the death of Blackburn W. Johnson, who
for 10 years had been director of the Publications Division and
Secretary to the Board of Agriculture. He brought to this posi-tion
broad experience in newspaper work, having served as a re-porter
for the Associated Press and for several North Carolina
papers, one of which he owned and published for a time. He had
also been editor of the Farmers Federation News, Asheville, N.
C, for several years, and, for a brief time, editor of the Carolina
Cooperator, published by the Cotton Association and the F. C. X.
in Raleigh. Such a combination of journalistic and agricultural
experience, combined with his high standards of integrity and
warm personality, made him invaluable to the Department and
beloved by his co-workers.
Filling the vacancy left by such a man was not easy. But as
this report is written, we are glad to announce that a man who
is well-equipped for the position by background and training
has been appointed to this post. Elwood Mintz, who takes over
the duties as head of the Publication Division on September 8,
1958, comes to the Department from the N. C. Agricultural Ex-
20 N. C. Department of Agriculture
tension Service, where he has been assistant publications editor
for the past four years. He was born and reared on a Bruns-wick
County farm and was graduated from the University of
North Carolina with an A.B. degree in 1950. His earlier experi-ence
includes several years of teaching school and two years as
safety representative for the Department of Motor Vehicles.
State Board of Agriculture
The State Board of Agriculture is the regulatory and policy-making
body for the Department of Agriculture. Its 10 mem-bers
are appointed by the Governor for staggered terms of six
years, and the law requires that they represent the major sec-tions
of the state and various types of agricultural production.
They serve without compensation, except for the days they are
in session.
During this biennium Board members, too, have borne the
brunt of fast-changing agricultural and technological problems
of the Department of Agriculture. Many complicated techni-cal
matters have required their study and consideration, both
during and between meetings of the Board.
North Carolina is particularly fortunate in its Board of Agri-culture.
The Commissioner and personnel of the Department
of Agriculture, as well as the farmers and other citizens of this
state, are deeply indebted to this group of men for the public
service which they have given freely, and for the wisdom and
impartiality they have brought to the offices they hold.
During the 1956-1958 biennium, the State Board of Agriculture
held 11 meetings and was in session 12i/2 days.
Following is a brief list of the meetings which indicates the
wide variety of subjects requiring the Board's consideration and
judgment:
HIGHLIGHTS OF BOARD MEETINGS
1956-1958 Biennium
July 26, 1956,
Raleigh
Statesville
Test Farm
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell.
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips.
Heard report on auction of Old Piedmont Test Farm at
Statesville, June 15, 1956. Adopted motion to commend
Commission appointed to handle sale.
Warehouse Loans Approved loan of $137,500 from Warehouse Fund to States-ville
Elevator Co. for erection of grain elevator.
Approved loan of $13,000 from Warehouse Fund to Farmers
Bonded Warehouse, Inc., Wagram, N. C.
Approved loan of $23,000 from Warehouse Fund to D. D.
McCall and H. C. Council, St. Pauls, N. C.
Approved loan of $25,000 from Warehouse Fund to Sandhill
Bonded Warehouse, Inc., Southern Pines, N. C.
Budget Requests
October 15, 1956,
Raleigh
Tidewater Re-search
Station
Easement for
Telephone Line
Bottling Non-
Milk Beverages
in Dairy Plants
Ice Milk in Open
Containers
October 16, 1956,
State Fair
Heard heads of divisions of Dept. explain proposed budget
requests for the 1957-59 biennium. Approved budget.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole, A. B.
Slagle.
Approved easement granting right of way to Carolina Tele-phone
and Telegraph Company for telephone line and poles
across Tidewater Research Station.
Held public hearing and amended regulations to permit
bottling of non-carbonated citrus juices in plant bottling
Grade A milk.
Held public hearing on proposal to permit ice milk to be
served in open containers for immediate consumption.
Deferred action.
Attended opening of N. C. State Fair.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, J. H. Poole.
Approved loan of $88,000 from Warehouse Fund to Fred
Webb, Greenville, N. C, for construction of 250,000-bushel
grain elevator.
Dairy Regulations Held public hearing on amendments to Dairy Regulations:
(1) Multi-vitamin milk and fortified skim milk—appointed
a committee to recommend regulatory measures. (2) Defi-nitions
of cottage cheese and creamed cottage cheese
—
adopted definitions. (3) Reports from butterfat testers
adopted regulation. (4) Licensing milk samplers—adopted
regulation. (5) Procedures for sampling milk from farm
bulk tanks deferred action. (6) Condemnation of worn
or corroded equipment for manufacturing frozen desserts
adopted. (7) Requiring submission of plans for alteration
or construction of ice cream or frozen dessert establish-ments—
adopted. (S) Regulations to permit operation o*
mobile frozen dessert units—deferred.
January 14,
Raleigh
1957,
Warehouse Loan
22 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Bologna, Frank-furters
and
Smoked Sausage —Definition
Tobacco Seed
Labeling
(Variety)
Piedmont Test
Farm, States
-
ville
Witchweed
(Striga)
Soybean Cyst
Nematode
February 18, 1957,
Raleigh
Tobacco Seed
—
Amendments to
Seed Law
Seed Potato Law
Amendments
"Nickels For
Know-How"
Referendum
Ice Milk in Open
Containers
Vitamins in
Milk
Dairy Regulations —Sampling from
Farm Bulk
Tanks
Warehouse Loan
Mobile Frozen
Dessert Units
News & Observer
Farm Income
Contest
April 8 and 9,
1957, Raleigh
Held public hearing and adopted regulation to define and
limit the amount of cereal and dried milk solids in bologna,
frankfurters and smoked sausage.
Appointed committee to draft amendments to seed law for
purpose of tightening provisions for labeling tobacco seed
as to variety.
Received report on land sold and remaining unsold at Old
Piedmont Test Farm, Statesville.
Heard report from C. H. Brannon, State Entomologist, on
discovery of new pest known as "Witchweed" (Striga) in
four counties of North Carolina.
Heard report from C. H. Brannon on new discoveries of
soybean cyst nematode in Tennessee and Missouri.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Hoyle C.
Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell, Charles F. Phil-lips,
J. H. Poole.
Heard and approved recommendations of committee ap-pointed
January 14 on amendments to seed law providing
for registration of tobacco seed varieties.
Heard and approved proposal to amend seed potato law to
require notification to Department as to disposition of
potatoes found in violation of the law and as to anticipated
shipments of seed potatoes; also to make illegal the posses-sion
of un-official seed potato tags.
Authorized "Nickels for Know-How" referendum to be held
in 1957.
Received request from counter-freezer operators for action
on proposal to permit sale of ice milk for immediate con-sumption
in open containers. Also heard opposition to
this proposal from representatives of N. C. Dairy Products
Association. Deferred action for further study.
Received report of committee appointed Jan. 14 on recom-mended
definition for fortified skim milk, but committee
requested more time to prepare a definition of multi-vitamin
whole milk. Voted to defer action on fortified skim milk
until it could be considered with definition for multi-vitamin
whole milk.
Adopted regulations specifying procedures for sampling
milk from farm bulk tanks on six months trial basis.
Approved increasing by $6,000 the loan to D. D. McCall and
H. C. Council, St. Pauls, N. C, approved on July 26, 1956.
Considered further the request to adopt regulations to
permit operation of mobile frozen dessert units. Deferred
action.
Voted to go on record as endorsing the Raleigh News &
Observer's Farm Income Contest, and urging organizations
and individuals in the various counties to supplement and
support this program.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole.
Report for 1956-58
—
Administration
State Pair Audit
State Fair, Ap-pointment
of
Manager
Japanese Beetle
Quarantine
Milling Grade
of Corn
Vitamins in
Milk
Dietary
Beverages
Received Report on Audit, North Carolina State Fair, for
the period January 1, 1956, to December 31, 1956.
Reappointed Dr. J. S. Dorton as Manager of the North
Carolina State Fair for the next 12 months.
Amended regulation to extend Japanese Beetle Quarantine
to 10 new counties.
Held public hearing and established standards for a mill-ing
grade of corn.
Received report of committee appointed on January 14 to
recommend regulatory measures, and adopted regulations
on a six-month trial basis, governing Fortified Grade A
Skimmed Milk and Grade A Vitamin-Mineral Fortified Milk.
Held public hearing and adopted regulations and standards
for dietary beverages made with non-nutritive sweeteners.
ice Milk in Open Adopted regulations governing the sale of ice milk in
Containers open containers when dispensed directly from freezers for
immediate consumption on the premises.
Three-pint ice Postponed action on a request from a container manufac-
Cream Container
t Urer to permit the sale of ice cream in three-pint con-tainers.
Legislation to
License Peanut
Buyers
(April 9)
Cotton Refer-endum
June 3, 1957,
Raleigh
Fertilizer Grade
List
Endorsed legislation proposed by N. C. Peanut Growers
Association to license and regulate buyers of farmers stock
peanuts.
Certified N. C. Cotton Promotion Association, Inc., as group
representative of N. C. cotton producers, and authorized the
Association to hold a referendum among cotton growers
on the question of levying upon themselves an assessment
for promoting the use and sale of cotton.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette. Hoyle C.
Griffin, Claude T. Hall, J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phil-lips,
J. H. Poole.
Held public hearing and adopted official fertilizer grade
list for fiscal year 1957-58.
Fertilizer Regis- Adopted regulation prohibiting registering as a specialty
Bomnv
°f £nles grade any grade of fertilizer which has appeared on the
official grade list at any time during the five years imme-diately
preceding such registration.
Removed From
List
Warehouse Loan
Application
Received application for loan of $55,000 from the Ware-house
Fund to Shelby Bonded Warehouse. All money being-out
on loan, agreed to give this application first considera-tion
when money becomes available.
Dietetic Ice Milk Adopted definitions and standards for
made with non-nutritive sweeteners.
'Dietetic Ice Milk"
Oxford Research Appointed a committee to negotiate with Oxford Future In-
^esWcr^ndus- dustries regarding an exchange of land from the Oxford
trial Site Research Station for a prospective industry.
July 29, 1957,
Raleigh
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore. Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter. Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole, A. B.
Slagle.
24 N. C. Department of Agriculture
(Oath of office
reappointed
members)
Oath of office was administered in the Governor's office to
Claude T. Hall, J. H. Poole and A. B. Slagle for appoint-ments
to new six-year terms.
Dairy Regulations Held public hearings on proposal to amend dairy regula-tions
as follows.
Farm Bulk Milk
Holding Tanks
Dispenser Milk-shake
Machines
Definition for
Whipped Cream
and Table Cream
Topping
Swine Diagnostic
Laboratory for
Eastern N. C.
Meat Inspection
Regulations
Fertilizer—Re-quest
for Ex-ception
From
New Regulation
Statesville Test
Farm, Commit-tee
to Lay Out
Roadway
State Fair Man-ager,
Salary
Peanut Buyers
Regulations
October 14,
Raleigh
1957
Witchweed
Quarantine
Soybean Cyst
Nematode
Quarantine
Nursery
Regulations
Beef Cattle Pro-motion
Assess-ment
Referen-dum
Dairy Regula-tions—
Choco-late
Milk
Amendments to clarify, and adapt to modern tank designs,
regulations for installations of farm bulk milk holding
tanks.
Postponed action on proposed regulations to permit opera-tion
of dispenser milkshake machines. Appointed com-mittee
to make recommendations at next meeting.
Postponed action on proposed definitions for "Whipped
Cream" and "Table Cream Topping" and authorized com-mittee
to make recommendations at next meeting.
Authorized Commissioner to appoint a committee of repre-sentatives
from eastern hog-raising counties to select the
location for a swine diagnostic laboratory in Eastern N. C.
Held a public hearing and adopted regulations under new
law providing for voluntary inspection of meat, meat prod-ucts
and meat by-products.
Received request from H. G. Hastings Company, Atlanta,
Ga., for exception from regulation requiring 5-year waiting
period before grades removed from official list may be
registered as specialty. Request denied.
Authorized committee from the Board to lay out a road-way
back of an 18-acre tract recently sold from the Old
Piedmont Test Farm at Statesville.
Approved increase in salary from $8,118 to $9,054 for Dr.
J. S. Dorton, Manager N. C. State Fair, amount of increase
representing equivalent of pay increase granted by legis-lature
to State employees classified under Personnel De-partment.
Adopted regulations under new law to license and regulate
buyers of farmers' stock peanuts.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole, A. B.
Slagle.
Adopted regulations quarantining certain areas of the state
to prevent the spread of a new plant pest known as "Witch-weed"
(Striga sp.)
Revised regulation placing a quarantine on certain areas
of the state to prevent the spread of soybean cyst nematode.
Held public hearing on proposed revision of nursery regu-lations.
Postponed action.
Authorized North Carolina Cattlemen's Association to
hold a referendum on the question of assessing themselves
to promote the use and sale of beef.
Held public hearing and amended Dairy Division regula-tions
to permit the sale of chocolate milk containing a
minimum of 2 percent butterfat.
Report for 1956-58
—
Administration 25
Milkshakes
Milkshake Dis-penser
Machines
Fertilizer Regula-tions,
Guaran-tees
of Water
-
Soluble Mag-nesium
Amended definition of milkshake to require the use of
Grade A milk in this product.
Adopted regulations governing operation of milkshake dis-penser
machines.
Heard request from fertilizer manufacturer that regula-tions
be amended to permit guaranteeing percentage of
magnesium which is water-soluble in tobacco fertilizers.
Deferred action to permit industry to be heard.
Fertilizer Regula-tions—
Registra-tion
of Grades
Removed From
List
Cotton Assess-ment
Referen-dum
Report
Nickels for
Know-How Ref-erendum
Report
Whipped Cream
and Table
Cream Topping
October 15, 1957
Raleigh
December 19, 1957
Raleigh
Appointing Head
of Soil Testing
Division
Fertilizer Grade
List-—Request
for Reinstate-ment
of 3-9-6
Heard request from fertilizer manufacture for modifica-tion
of regulation prohibiting registration as specialty
grade any grade which has appeared on the official list
within a five-year period. Deferred action pending com-mittee
recommendation and public hearing.
Received report from North Carolina Cotton Promotion
Association on results of self-assessment referendum held
August 23, 1957.
Received report from Agricultural Foundation, State
Grange, and N. C. Farm Bureau Federation on results of
"Nickels for Know-How" referendum held August 23, 1957.
Received recommendations of committee appointed July
29, 1957, that whipped cream and related products be re-quired
to conform with regulations governing fluid cream
products. Authorized Commissioner to notify manufac-turers
of such products that they must so conform.
Attended opening of 1957 State Fair.
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole, A. B.
Slagle.
Approved appointment of Dr. Eugene John Kamprath as
head of Soil Testing Division, replacing Dr. S. L. Tisdale,
who resigned effective December 15, 1957.
Heard request for reinstatement of 3-9-6 on official fertilizer
grade list. Deferred action until regular fertilizer grade
hearing for 1958-59.
Dairy Regulations —Butterfat in
Skimmed Milk
and Buttermilk
Held public heaing and amended Dairy Regulations to place
a maximum of one percent butterfat permitted in skimmed
milk and buttermilk.
Fortified Milks Made trial definitions of Fortified Grade A Skimmed Milk
and Grade A Vitamin-Mineral Fortified Milk permanent
sections of the Dairy Regulations.
Sampling Proce-dures
for Farm
Bulk Tanks
Made trial regulations governing sampling procedures for
farm bulk tanks a permanent part of the Dairy Regulations.
Nursery Regula-tions
Adopted new Nursery Regulations, including revised nurs-ery
inspection fees.
Piedmont Re-search
Station—
Purchase and
Sale of Land
Authorized a committee to conduct preliminary negotia-tions
in connection with offers to buy three outlying tracts
of land at the Piedmont Research Station in Rowan County,
and recommended purchase of a 20-acre strip and building
adjacent to the southeast boundary of the farm.
26 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Sale of Bldg. at Ratified sale of an old frame tenant house at the Upper
R&s
P
e
e
a
r
rch°sta-in
Mountain Research Station, Laurel Springs,
tion
Sale of Bldg. at Ratified sale of 2-story wood frame barn at Piedmont Re-feafcTltaton
Search Station
' Rowan County-
Weights & Meas- Held public hearing and adopted regulations setting forth
tions—Custom- customary standards of weight and capacity measures, and
ary standards, prescribing standard weight packages for butter, cheese,
and Regulations oleomargarine and shortening,
on Sale of Oleo-margarine,
But-ter,
etc.
March 3, 1958,
Raleigh
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole, A. B.
Slagle.
Piedmont Research Received report of committee appointed December 19, 1957,
of
a
LancT
Sale
*"° aPPra* se land for which purchase offers had been re-ceived.
Approved sale of 23-acre tract to J. W. Hamby for
$50 an acre, and sale of 4-acre tract to town of Kannapolis
for $1,000.
Piedmont Research Approved granting right-of-way easement to Duke Power
of^WavlSii^*" ^°" *" 01 P°wer lines connections at Piedmont Research Sta-ment
tion.
Visit by Gov-ernor
Hodges
Heard brief talk by Gov. Hodges commending the Board
for their services to the state and urging their cooperation
with Governor's Advisory Farm Committee.
Swine Diagnostic
Laboratory for
Eastern N. C.
Approved accepting the gift of one acre of land in Chowan
County offered by J. Wallace Goodwin as a site for swine
diagnostic laboratory near Edenton.
Warehouse Loan—
Shelby Bonded
Warehouse
Departmental
Budget—1959-
1961
Approved loan from Warehouse Fund of $55,000 to Shelby
Bonded Warehouse, Shelby.
Reviewed proposed requests under "A Budget" for operat-ing
Department of Agriculture at present levels of service
and for Capital Improvements.
May 12-13, 1958
Raleigh
Present: J. Atwell Alexander, W. I. Bissette, Glenn G.
Gilmore, Hoyle C. Griffin, Claude T. Hall, George P. Kittrell,
J. Muse McCotter, Charles F. Phillips, J. H. Poole.
Seed Regulations
Amended
—
Germination
Standard for
Garden Beans
Amended seed regulations to lower minimum germination
standard for garden beans from 75 percent to 70 percent, to
bring this standard into uniformity with federal regula-tions.
Added witchweed to list of noxious weeds prohibited in
crop seed.
Lease to State of Approved lease to the State of North Carolina of certain
Market
1 Farmers equipment and facilities at Raleigh Farmers Market, to be
operated by the N. C. Department of Agriculture in co-operation
with other state agencies in providing marketing
services to farmers and conducting experiments in the
operations of farmers' markets.
Report for 1956-58
—
Administration 27
Meat Tenderizers
State Fail-
Audit Report
State Fair Man-ager
Appointed
Apple Growers
Referendum
Department Bud-get
1959-61
(May 13. 1958)
Fertilizer Regula-tions
Grade List
Discussed with Health Department and industry representa-tives
requests for regulations to permit the use of tender-izers
on meat processed in North Carolina. Appointed
Committee to study the problems involved and make recom-mendations
to the Board.
Received report from Department of State Auditor of audit
for the North Carolina State Fair for the calendar year
1957.
Re-appointed Dr. J. S. Dorton to serve as manager of the
North Carolina State Fair for another year.
Certified the North Carolina State Apple Growers Associa-tion
as the agency representative of commercial apple pro-ducers
in certain counties; and authorized the association
to hold a referendum on the question of self-assessment to
promote the use and sale of apples.
Reviewed requests under "B Budget" for new or expanded
activities in the 1959-61 biennium. Approved "A Budget"
reviewed at March 3 meeting, "B Budget" and "Capital
Improvements" requests.
Held public hearing on various proposed amendments to
fertilizer regulations.
Adopted official fertilizer
July 1, 1958.
?rade list for year beginning
Minor Elements Discussed proposal to require guarantees of amounts of
in Fertilizer minor plant foods when these are advertised. Deferred
action.
Registration of
Grades Re-moved
from
List
Labeling
Fertilizer-
Insecticide
Mixtures
Amended regulation prohibiting registration as specialties
any grades of fertilizers which have appeared on the grade
list during the preceding five years, by making this prohi-bition
apply only to fertilizers sold in bags of 25 pounds
or more.
Authorized Commissioner of Agriculture to accept labeling
meeting federal requirements for the labeling of fertilizer-insecticide
mixtures.
ACCOUNTS
Grace H. Malloy
Auditor
Financial report of the Department and the various divisions.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Code 1101
STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Summary by Purposes 1957-58
I. Administration _. $ 39,584.29
Accounting Office 43,227.01
Publicity and Publications 37,988.42
II. Inspection 56,173.53
III. Markets 344,034.68
V. Dairy ._ 58,765.10
VI. Entomology 77,462.81
VII. Seed Laboratory 83,634.34
VIII. Analytical 222,310.34
IX. Crop Statistics ~- 150,632.29
X. Soil Testing 91,533.72
XI. Blister Rust Control
XII. Veterinary 335,541.60
XIII. Research Stations 490,185.39
XV. Weights and Measures 89,725.05
XVI. State Museum 31,761.41
XVIII. Custodial ___. 18,044.44
XIX. Miscellaneous 109,495.74
XX. Rabies
XXI. Japanese Beetle Control
XXII. White Fringed Beetle Control
XXIII. Indemnity Diseased Slaughtered Livestock
XXV. Vesicular Exanthema
Deferred Obligations—Transferred
to 1957-58
Total Expenditures $2,280,100.16
Summary by Objects
11. Salaries and Wages $1,547,930.90
12. Supplies and Materials 138,889.06
13. Postage, Tel., Tel., and Express 33,571.72
14. Travel Expense 178,919.47
15. Printing and Binding 27,429.93
16. Motor Vehicle Operation 15,337.07
17. Light, Power, and Water. 7,189.06
18. Repairs and Alterations 18,236.25
19. General Expense 108,081.33
22. Insurance and Bonding 3,074.38
23. Equipment 61,952.63
32. Additions and Betterments : , 34,944.16
1956-57
$ 36,744.86
25,186.19
32,688.34
50,753.90
292,419.83
52,990.40
47,462.02
75,272.64
228,099.35
143,741.46
78,413.60
896.32
257,326.14
415,357.81
87,431.64
28,318.70
17,296.54
105,518.69
6,905.32
9,488.01
8,023.45
19,748.22
21,841.00
$2,041,924.43
,336,321.51
121,146.83
30,544.82
167,764.65
24,448.68
18,257.47
5,166.11
16,758.31
103,280.09
3,074.38
62,511.84
42,714.32
Report for 1956-58
—
Accounts 29
1957-58 1956-57
33. Stores for Resale 19,526.05 15,885.89
Contribution to Retirement System 85,018.15 72,208.53
Deferred Obligations—Transferred
to 1957-58 21,841.00
Total Expenditures $2,280,100.16 $2,041,924.43
Less Transfer from RMA 68,855.99 79,373.77
Less Transfer from AMA 1,898.48 3,716.93
Less Sale of Land—Balance 18,679.15
Less Transfer from USDA
Cooperative Agreement 1,562.94 1,998.17
Less Research Stations Perquisites 10,591.67 9,744.52
Less Sale of Land—Piedmont Research
Station, Iredell County 30,725.00
Less Sale of Land—Piedmont Research
Station, Rowan County 2,176.00
Less Deferred Obligations
—
Transferred from 1956-57 21,841.00
Less Transfer from Cooperative Inspection
Service, Code 1803 3,726.00
Less Transfer from State Warehouse System
Supervision, Code 1801 3,283.00
Less Peanut Handler's Licenses 1,840.00
Less Sale of Automobiles _.. 5,334.93
Less From Code 3214—Purchase of Land
Tobacco Research Station 4,945.00
Totai $2,128,265.15 $1,923,466.89
CONDITIONS OF FUNDS
Treasurers Cash—June 30 __ $ 48,199.85 $ 161,027.51
Investments in Bonds and Premiums on Bonds 103,874.98 103,874.98
Total Credit Balance June 30 $ 152,074.83 $ 264,902.49
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Code 1101
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Fertilizer Tax $ 357,805.51 $ 383,854.72
Cottonseed Meal 920.85 1,042.96
Feed Tax 337,269.57 297,689.45
Seed Licenses 30,394.00 28,981.00
Condimental Feed _. 8,200.00 4,680.00
Serum 15,972.37 17,668.98
Costs 13,400.28 14,855.69
Linseed Oil 504.09 328.29
Bleached Flour 7,275.00 7,560.00
Bottling Plants „ 1,650.00 1,150.00
Ice Cream 2,445.00 1,435.00
Insecticides 31,620.00 28,270.00
Research Stations 139,457.79 148,103.93
Bakeries 2,550.00 2,660.00
Chicken Tests 59,738.23 58,680.66
Seed Tags 19,374.33 25,396.54
30 N. C. Department of Agriculture
1957-58 1956-57
Inspection Entomology 10,021.55 9,098.80
Oleomargarine 1,150.00 1,250.00
Land Plaster and Agricultural Lime 23,014.50 22,722.26
Fertilizer Registration 6.368.00 6,432.28
Miscellaneous 91.76 10S.77
Feed Registration 8,256.00 7,738.00
Canned Dog Food Registration 515.60 390.04
Lime Registration 375.00 335.00
Livestock Marketing Permits 6,300.00 5,500.00
Dog Food Stamps 11,613.01 11,194.71
Hatchery Fees and Supplies 4,007.05 4.323.30
Permits for Out-of-State Milk 425.00 575.00
Anti-Freeze Permits 2,935.00 1,475.00
Weights and Measures Fees 7,215.00 8,317.50
Garbarge Permits 713.00 777.00
Babcock Testers Licenses 232.00 255.00
Tobacco Curers Tags 602.00 20.00
Land Plaster Registration 30.00 2,650.00
Rendering Plants 50.00
Sampler's Licenses 496.00 246.00
Interest on Investments 2,500.00 2,500.00
Total Agricultural Receipts... $1,115,437.49 $1,108,315.88
Contribution from General Fund '. 900,000.00 798.958.00
Total Revenue.... $2,015,437.49 $1,907,273.88
SHEEP DISTRIBUTION PROJECT
SPECIAL FUND—Code 3
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956— June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 48,189.18 $ 15,148.96
Revenue Collections 253,347.47 169,404.10
Disbursements 286,998.54 136,363.88
Credit Balance—June 30 14,538.11 48,189.18
DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS COMMODITIES
Code 19
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 116,758.39 $ 114,496.96
Revenue Collections 6,607.30 12,849.85
Disbursements 6,785.43 10,588.42
Credit Balance—June 30 116,580.26 116,758.39
N. C. AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND MARKETING ACT
FEDERAL FUND
Special Fund—Code 51
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 9,300.65 $ 6.978.06
Receipts—RMA Matching Fund 70,814.06 70,814.03
Sale of Cars 2,696.00
Report for 1956-58
—
Accounts 31
1957-58 1956-57
Disbursements
Markets Division Expenses in Connection with
RMA Project—Transferred to Code 1101
Crop Statistics Division Expenses in Connection
• with RMA Project—Transferred to Code 1101. ...
Credit Balance—June 30
68,855.99 64,794.03
1,898.48 3,697.41
12,056.24 9,300.65
SPECIAL DEPOSITORY ACCOUNT REPORTING SYSTEM
Code 56
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 4,750.00 $ 4,500.00
Receipts—(Cash Bond Deposits) Reporting System 250.00
Handlers of Farm Products 5,000.00
Credit Balance—June 30 9,750.00 4,750.00
GASOLINE AND OIL INSPECTION
General Fund—Code 320
STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Revenue Appropriation $ 311,043.00 $ 276,511.00
Disbursements 299,862.40 258,815.35
Unspent Balance of Appropriation 11,180.60 17,695.65
STATE WAREHOUSE SYSTEM—SUPERVISION
Special Fund—Code 1801
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 21,618.87 $ 22,098.04
Receipts
Revenue Collections 34,059.41 33,266.85
Miscellaneous Collections 333,628.55 878,071.12
Disbursements
Expenditures 38,719.25 33,746.02
Miscellaneous Expenditures 333,984.88 878,071.12
Credit Balance—June 30 . .._._. ____.. 16,602.70 21,618.87
STATE WAREHOUSE SYSTEM—PRINCIPAL
Special Fund—Code 1802
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Cash on Hand—State Treas.—July 1 ..„._.$ 10,193.75 $ 53,183.83
Receipts
Repayment of Loans 42,279.97 22,768.03
Sale of Bonds 208,255.23 43,241. S9
Total Availability 260,728.95 119,193.75
32 N. C. Department of Agriculture
1957-58 1956-57
T~)l si") II T*fiPlYlPTl t s
Loans to Warehouses 260,500.00 109,000.00
Treasurers Cash—June 30 _ ._ 228.95 10,193.75
Loans to Warehouses _ _ 612,868.00 394,647.97
Invested in 2%% U. S. Gov't. Bonds 97,000.00 333,000.00
Total Worth—June 30 710,096.95 737,841.72
COOPERATIVE INSPECTION SERVICE
Special Fund—Code 1803
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30. 1958
Treasurers Cash—July 1 $ 78,200.84 $ 32,326.20
U.S. Treasury Bonds—2%% Par Value 40,000.00 40,000.00
Premiums on Bonds 1,175.00 1,175.00
Credit Balance—July 1 119,375.84 73,501.20
Receipts 447,623.44 408,435.46
Disbursements 455,154.98 362,560.82
Credit Balance—June 30 111,844.30 119,375.84
EGG MARKETING ACT
Special Fund—Code 1804
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 8,918.09 $ 5,210.92
Receipts _ 19,702.34 19,076.50
Disbursements ._....: 15,206.79 15,369.33
Credit Balance—June 30 13,413.64 8,918.09
STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL
Special Fund—Code 1805
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 6,081.89 $ 3,696.05
Receipts 17,613.00 7,001.00
Disbursements 8,707.02 4,615.16
Credit Balance—June 30 14,987.87 6.081.89
VOLUNTARY POULTRY INSPECTION
Special Fund—Code 1806
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 5,052.03 $
Receipts 80,614.16 61,043.72
Disbursements 80,691.96 55,991.69
Credit Balance—June 30 4,974.23 5,052.03
Report for 1956-58
—
Accounts 33
credit union supervision
Special Fund—Code 1807
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
1957-58 1956-51
Credit Balance—July 1 $ 4,538.18 $
Receipts 37,572.23 32,918.46
Disbursements _ 35,502.34 28,380.28
Credit Balance—June 30 6,608.07 4,538.18
VOLNTARY MEAT INSPECTION
Special Fund—Code 1808
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Credit Balance—July 1 .....% $
Receipts .__. 13,382.33
Disbursements 10,929.32
Credit Balance—June 30 2,453.01
CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GENERAL FUND
General Fund—Code 3212
STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Revenue Appropriation $ 945,640.00 $ 908,284.79
Expenditures
Contribution to Department of Agriculture
—
Code 1101 900,000.00 798,958.00
Hay Curing Research Project 1,035.80
USDA Feed-Grain Program 2,102.80
Distribution—USDA Food Program 1,444.87
Unspent Balance of Appropriation 45,640.00 104,743.32
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS—ADDITIONS AND BETTERMENTS
Code 14391
STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Appropriation $ 132,938.35 $ 13,259.48
Receipts 129,100.00
Disbursements 126,583.96 9,421.13
Unspent Balance of Appropriation _____ 6,354.43 132,938.35
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Code 1483
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1. 1956—June 30, 1958
Appropriation $ 258,000.00 $
Receipts 16,700.00
Disbursements 90,817.42
Unspent Balance of Appropriation 183,882.58
34 N. C. Department of Agriculture
EMERGENCY HAY PROGRAM
Code 22
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
1957-58 1956-51
Credit Balance—July 1 $ $
U. S. Department of Agriculture Allotment 582.49 48.33
Disbursements 582.49 48.33
Credit Balance—June 30 .__
N. C. EDUCATIONAL RADIO & TELEVISION COMMISSION
General Fund—Code 637
STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS
July 1, 1956—June 30, 1958
Appropriation $ 3,205.00
Disbursements _ 1,672.85
Unspent Balance of Appropriation 1,532.15
DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY
Dr. E. W. Constable
State Che?nist
The work of the Division of Chemistry involves administration
of a group of control laws, the purposes of which are to safe-guard
the health, welfare and economic interests of consumers,
to promote sound agricultural and business economics, and to
curb fraud and unscrupulous or destructive competition.
As implied by the Division name, chemical and related pro-cedures
are basic factors in this work to make determinations
and evaluations. Because of their highly technical nature, these
are services which cannot be performed generally by the people
themselves.
The products covered by these laws are fertilizers and ferti-lizer
materials; liming materials and landplaster, livestock and
poultry feeds, pesticides, linseed oils, automotive antifreezes,
foods, drugs, cosmetics and devices, oleomargarine, flour bleach-ing,
enrichment with vitamins. The Division also adminis-ters
the laws regulating application of pesticides by aircraft,
and inspections of bakeries, bottling plants, other food processing
plants, storages, vehicles and sales outlets through which these
products are handled.
Requirements which apply generally to the products covered
are that they shall bear specified, factual and informative label-ing
and guarantees which must be met. It is further required
that foods, drugs and cosmetics be wholesome and free from
adulteration or exposure to insanitation, that drugs shall carry
cautions, adequate directions for use, and in case of dangerous
drugs, notice of restricted sale. Pesticide labeling must also
give directions for use, warnings of danger, antidotes and first
aid instruction when neeeded. Operators in aircraft dusting
must meet certain qualifications and procure state licenses in
order to operate legally in the boundaries of the state.
Summaries of these activities, with other pertinent infor-mation
are given in the following sections.
Commercial Fertilizers and Liming Materials
Samples of fertilizers, fertilizer materials, liming materials
and landplaster are officially collected from all parts of the state
by Division inspectors and sent in for analysis to determine com-
36 N. C. Department of Agriculture
pliance with guarantees. Inspections include checking for com-pliance
with labeling requirements and coverage by inspection
taxes. Analyses are made respectively as follows : for fertilizers —the content of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, calcium, magnes-ium,
chlorine, sulphur, boron, acid-forming qualities, and (re-cently
added) iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and molybdenum;
for liming materials—calcium, magnesium, and screen size; for
landplaster—calcium sulphate.
Coverage for the biennium was
:
Official fertilizer samples 20,528
Unofficial samples of fertilizers and
materials for farmers 87
Official liming materials—with
potash and landplaster 226
Total 20,841
Details of samples collected and analyzed are published in the
Annual Fertilizer Bulletins. These results show the products
to have been generally of standard quality and as represented.
The direct use on the soils of nitrogen solutions, liquefied an-hydrous
ammonia and, to a limited extent, liquid mixed ferti-lizers
appear to have become a fixed practice in farm operations.
These products are registered, sampled, analyzed, and reported,
and otherwise dealt with as is the practice with other fertilizers.
Among the problems which have appeared in the fertilizer
field are
:
1. The sale of very dilute fertilizer solutions (fractional per-centages
of plant food), delivered in, and applied to turf from,
fuel-oil tank trucks during the off-season in the sale of oils.
2. The sale of fertilizer in bulk, at times delivered and applied
to the soil by spreader trucks.
3. The sale of liquid mixed fertilizers, either delivered as bulk
lots or applied to the soil.
4. The sale of solutions from compartment tankers which mix
these as they are applied to the soil.
5. The sale of materials from cars on railroad sidings, these
materials moving from car to siding mixer, thence to regular
vehicles for delivery as bulk mixes, or to spreader trucks for
direct application to the soil for farmers.
Report for 1956-58
—
Chemistry 37
6. The sale of fertilizers as "buyers' mixes".
The sale of very dilute solutions was stopped both because of
failure to meet the minimum requirement of 20 units of plant
food and also because of corrosiveness to equipment. The sale
from compartment or "mixer-spreader" trucks and tankers and
from freight cars at railroad sidings appear to be still in the
developmental or experimental stage. Three of these practices
—
the sale in bulk of liquids and of solids, the delivery of these as
bulk lots or spread on the soil, and the sale as "buyer mixes"
appear to be growing practices. Attendant problems of pro-tection
and control are now under study.
Because of increased interest in trace elements in fertilizers
by manufacturers and users, the provision of the law for guaran-teeing
additional plant food elements was brought into force and
arrangements made for adding guarantees for manganese, cop-per,
iron, zinc and molydenum. Fuller significance of this move
remains to be disclosed by time.
The fertilizer inspectors, although they regularly work on
an "intermittent" basis, returning for each fertilizer season, are
classified as "temporary", therefore receive none of the bene-fits
that other employees enjoy. All receive the same pay, the
lowest in the inspection scale, although a number of them have
been in the work 10 to 20 years. Request is being made in the
pending budget for improvement in this status, putting them
on a pro-rate basis for all considerations extended other em-ployees.
Commercial Feeds
In line with the provisions of the applicable laws, samples of
commercial livestock and poultry feeds and canned dog food were
officially collected from all parts of the state, checked for com-pliance
with labeling, tax and other requirements and analyzed
chemically for content of crude protein, fat, crude fiber, urea,
medication, moisture; and microscopically for ingredients and
their condition.
Results of the work show that standards and quality were
maintained at a normal level. These were reported individually
and also published in detail in the annual Feed Bulletins. Cov-erage
for the biennium was as follows
Official samples 4,915
Unofficial samples 343
58 N. C. Department of Agriculture
For medication (on above samples) (363)
Total 5,258
The annual increase in tonnage of feed sold continued through
the biennium. The accompanying expansion of sales in bulk
and as "customer's mixes", as in the case of fertilizers, posed new
problems in protection and control. It is recognized that absence
of effective control in these areas is an open invitation for return
of fraud and unscrupulous competition in this industry. Stud-ies
toward needed adjustments are in progress.
Economic Poisons
Following a period of rapid development and the appearance
of many new economic poisons, the industry and usages to a
large extent continue to maintain a relatively constant position,
but with the addition of new items from time to time. North
Carolina agriculture calls for a large volume of these products
as it does of fertilizer. The volume of samples collected and
analyzed is in proportion.
The pesticide season naturally falls into the calendar year
rather than a fiscal year. The pesticide law hterefore places
registrations and other procedures on the calendar year basis.
The annual Insecticide Report, in which details of activities and
results of analyses are given is also on the calendar year basis.
Therefore, reports herein are on the same basis.
Results of the work for the biennium 1955-57 show that stan-dards
were maintained on a normal level and that generally sat-isfactory
products were supplied to users. Defective products
were dealt with as prescribed by law. The coverage for the
two years is as folows:
Official samples 2,843
Unofficial samples 27
Total 2,870
Some difficulty has been encountered due to bulk sale of pesti-cides
from broken packages, an illegal practice. Some mer-chants,
for greater profit or selling advantage, were buying cer-tain
liquid products in 50 gallon drums and retailing them in
gallon lots, put into any container handy, more often than not
without the required labeling, directions for use, warnings of mis-application
and dangers. In addition to this practice being il-
Report for 1956-58
—
Chemistry 39
legal, it resulted in damage to crops, i.e., mistakenly using MH-
30 as an insecticide on young tobacco plants, the effect on the
entire plant being the same as when used to stop growth of
suckers on more mature plants. The practice was largely due to
lack of information or carelessness and was promptly discontin-ued
on notice.
Aerial Crop Dusting
Purposes of the aerial crop dusting law are to eliminate un-ethical
practices and irresponsible performances in some seg-ments
of this business, to allay numerous complaints and group
moves to outlaw this type of crop dusting, to bring better order
in this business, to support and maintain the sound element of
the industry, and to preserve for the farmers of the state a
useful facility in the production of crops. The law, now in its
fifth year of operation, although still with some exceptions,
has largely accomplished these purposes.
The general turmoil and confusion which characterized the
industry has disappeared. Complaints now are few. Usually
these are readily cleared. There still is some carelessness in
spreading pesticides on property adjacent to that intended to
be treated. Several court actions have been necessary to en-force
compliance with the requirements for registration and
liability insurance coverage. These were effective. Fuller in-spection
facilities would be advantageous.
Licenses issued for the biennium were as follows:
1957 1958
Contractors 50 41
Applicators 105 81
Airplanes 101 76
Automotive Antifreezes
Experience in the control of internal combustion engine anti-freezes
continues on the highly satisfactory level which has ap-plied
since the law was enacted, 1949. No unethical operators
have appeared, no spurious products have been found on the mar-ket
and no complaints on these products have come to the atten-tion
of the Department. Much credit for this highly satisfac-tory
status is due the dealers and Oil Jobbers Association of
the state and to ethical manufacturers for their cooperation.
Merchants uniformly purchase stocks on authentic evidence of
current clearance of these products by the Department.
40 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Registrations were 65 brands for 1956-57 and 74 brands for
1957-58. These, representing 37 manufacturers, covered both
the alcohol and glycol types of products.
Foods and Drugs
The work of the Chemistry Division in administering the North
Carolina Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act has been generally ef-fective
within the limits of the facilities provided for that work.
It is recognized, however, that this program has not kept pace
with the state's growth in population and expansion in industry,
particularly that dealing with foods. Obviously a staff of four in-spectors
and two food chemists is inadequate to fully cover the
expanded needs in safeguarding the state's food supply.
These facts are set forth in the current budget and requests
are made for the addition of two food chemists and two food
inspectors as at least a tentative measure toward a more ade-quate
food control program.
Among the provisions of the food laws is the requirement that
foods shall be composed of sound and wholesome raw materials,
that they be stored, handled and processed in a fully sanitary
manner and that environment, housing, equipment, vehicles and
other facilities be kept and used in a manner to preclude ex-posure
that may result in contamination.
In order to determine compliance with these requirements,
regular and systematic inspections are made of these facilities
and written reports made accordingly. Defects of a minor nature
usually are corrected by calling attention to them and giving
information on requirements. Major defects or bad conditions
may require stoppage of operations until corrections are made,
embargoing and diverting products to other channels of use, de-naturing
and destroying unfit products, or other appropriate ac-tions
according to circumstances. Actions under these headings
are summarized as follows
:
Food Plant Inspections
Bakeries and Doughnut Plants 2,136
Bottling Plants 1,184
Other types of plants (processing and packaging
meats, pickles, seafood, flour, meal, candy, po-tato
chips, fruits and vegetables, etc.) 2,528
Total 5,848
Report for 1956-58
—
Chemistry 41
Plant Operations Suspended
Bakeries 29
Bottling Plants 12
Others (as per preceding tabulation) 76
Total 117
Among the many ways in which the food supply may become
unwholesome, fraudulent or dangerous to health are contami-nation
with poisonous or deleterious substances, insanitation,
decomposition, exposure to vermin, products from diseased ani-mals,
misrepresentation, abstraction of valuable constituents or
substituting with cheap or worthless diluents. Among the most
insidious types of adulteration is insanitation and contamination
with bacteria. These often are the cause of sickness.
In addition to food plant inspections, basic procedures for de-tecting
adulteration are analyses (chemical, physical and other-wise)
of official samples. Because of the great volume of food
on the market, the greatest effectiveness of work is dependent
on the critical judging and selecting of significant official sam-ples.
Further information derives from reports and complaints
made by consumers and dealers and from unofficial samples sub-mitted
by them.
The activities of the biennium included the handling and check-ing
of 2,264 samples, representing products both satisfactory
and unsatisfactory; 540,000 pounds of foods and 5,000 bottled
items under 190 embargo actions. These embargoes involved
all classes and types of foods—canned goods, beverages, fruits,
vegetables, bakery products, sugar, spices, meats, candies, milk
products, etc.—and for various reasons such as spoilage, in-sanitation,
contamination by insects, rodents, worms and other
vermin, storm and fire damage, etc. On a year-to-year basis,
statistical data of this nature will vary broadly since a single
heavy storm or flood, a large warehouse fire or the wrecking of a
produce train can alter the picture overnight by thousands of
items or millions of pounds.
Each year has its quota of losses from fires, storms, floods and
wrecks. Fortunately, this type of loss during the biennium was
relatively small, and mostly limited to minor fires, occurring
in shopping centers, markets and bakeries.
The integrity of drugs as to quality, composition, and factual
labeling can be determined only by chemical analysis. This is
42 N. C. Department of Agriculture
the basis for the part of the law which applies to drugs. The
"boot-legging" or illegal sale of dangerous and habit-forming
drugs also is a constant danger. The Department's facilities for
work in this field is limited, but every effort is made to curb
such activities and afford maximum protection. This work at
times is carried on cooperatively with the U. S. Food and Drug
Administration, since this class of drugs is produced largely in
other states and moves in interstate commerce and, therefore,
is subject to both federal and state laws.
The policy of cooperation with other agencies permits work in
certain lines to be carried out on a level of effectiveness not oth-erwise
possible. In line with this procedure, the illegal sale of
barbiturates was apprehended and the advertising and sale of
bogus tranquilizer drugs was stopped. Under six embargo ac-tions,
stock of plastic fingernail shields, located in various parts
of the state, were stopped and removed permanently from com-merce,
since, after being used for a period of time, they result-ed
in many women losing fingernails.
Personnel and Laboratories
Questions of personnel and laboratories has been a part of the
Division's budget and biennial reports for a period of years.
Personnel status was somewhat improved in the past biennium
by the addition of a secretary and a feed and insecticide in-spector.
A continued need in this line, however, is for more
adequate help in food inspection and analysis. Provision for
two inspectors and two chemists are in the current budget
requests.
Laboratory needs are well taken care of by the new space in
the annex to the Agricultural Building. Current budget requests
in this respect are limited to need of new and improved equip-ment
which is necessary in analyzing new pesticide and feed
medication materials.
CREDIT UNION DIVISION
W. V. DlDAWICK
State Superintendent of Credit Unions
The Credit Union Division was established by the 1915 Gen-eral
Assembly for the purpose of organizing credit unions and
supervising their operation. The supervision is to ensure that
each credit union is conducting its operation in accordance with
the law so that the members' money will be safe.
We are now making regular examinations on a ten-month basis
to all state-chartered credit unions and more frequent follow-up
visits to those where examination reveals something wrong.
Persuasion is the chief tool used to correct a bad situation, and
it usually works. But, where it fails, the Division may use
firmer methods.
When embezzlement is revealed by an examination, we have
been doing the detailed checking necessary to substantiate the
claim with the bonding company for the credit union. This is
not a primary function of this office. However, it is given as an
additional service which is essential but which most credit unions,
being non-profit organizations, are unable to provide for them-selves.
Any group having a common bond of association, occupation,
or residence can organize a credit union in order to have a con-venient
way to save money regularly, even in small amounts, and
a place to borrow money at a reasonable rate of interest when
the need arises. Because of growing interest in consumer credit
costs and allied problems, many employers are now assisting
their employees in securing a credit union to finance their pur-chase
of consumer goods. The credit union loan is by far the
best and cheapest to be had from any financial institution.
Almost all of the 232 state chartered credit unions showed an
excellent growth during the two-year period covered by this
report. The consolidated figures reveal that the combined assets
of these organizations increased $5,303,058.53 during the two-year
period. Loans to members increased $4,597,170.23, and
liquid assets (investments) increased $1,583,631.03. These
consolidated figures were compiled from the financial and statis-tical
reports received from the credit unions as of June 30, 1958.
This Division has helped to conduct three workshops for credit
44 N. C. Department of Agriculture
union treasurers and officers during the biennium. These work-shops
will pay off in better records being kept by the treasurers
and in better audits being made by the supervisory committees.
This will improve the operation of the credit unions and will make
our supervisory-agency examinations easier and require less time.
NUMBER, MEMBERSHIP AND ASSETS
OF STATE-CHARTERED CREDIT UNIONS
June 30, 1956 June SO, 1958
Active Credit Unions 221 232
Total Members 80,043 83,658
Total Assets $19,241,841.94 $24,544,900.47
Average Dividend Paid .042%
NORTH CAROLINA CREDIT UNIONS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
June 30, 1956
Cash in Bank and on Hand $ 2,208,213.29 $ 1,703,626.92
Loans to Members 13,933,173.62 18,530,343.85
Investments and Bonds 2,245,634.10 3,829,265.13
Other Assets 854,820.93 481,664.57
$19,241,841.94 $24,544,900.47
LIABILITIES
Shares $15,310,732.45 $19,867,044.27
Deposits 1,084,991.67 1,100,242.62
Reserve Fund 1,226,106.77 1,372,311.40
Undivided Earnings 658,173.60 537,270.55
Other Liabilities 961,837.45 1,668,031.63
$19,241,841.94 $24,544,900.47
DAIRY DIVISION
C. W. Pegram
Director
The dairy industry is developing into big business in North
Carolina. During 1957 Grade A milk production reached an all
time high of 837,158,295 pounds, exceeding record production
in 1956 by 10.3 percent. Fluid milk and cream sales likewise
were up 5.3 percent over 1956. Milk imports reached the lowest
level since records were started in 1946.
Many changes are taking place in dairying. Bulk tanks,
milking parlors and in-place cleaning systems are being rapidly
installed by producers. Processing plants are using paper bot-tles,
short time pasteurizers, automation devices ; and some milk
is being fortified with vitamins and minerals. Enforcement of
North Carolina's dairy laws is important, and the Dairy Division
has attempted to keep pace with the growth and changes of the
industry by stepping up its regulatory program.
The farm bulk tank movement has affected the pattern of
butterfat check testing very materially. When milk was deliv-ered
in cans, samples were secured at the plant. The farm bulk
tank system requires farm visits to take official samples, and it
is estimated that 3,000 farm tanks are in use. Indications are
that all Grade A dairymen will use them in the near future.
Samples are also secured by tank routemen, 240 of whom have
been examined and licensed to perform this service.
Practically all milk is marketed on the basis of butterfat con-tent,
which is highly variable. One of the important duties of
the Dairy Division is to supervise the sampling and testing pro-cedures
covering 260 licensed samplers and 108 licensed testers.
The Division has two well-equipped mobile dairy laboratories
which are used on a year-round basis. The following plan of
procedure is used:
1. Inspections of 61 butterfat testing laboratories, with special
emphasis being given to equipment and apparatus.
2. Check testing of composite samples which are the basis of
producer payments. In case errors are found, adjustments are
required to be made.
3. Securing and testing of four fresh stratified milk samples,
either at plant or dairy farm, for the purpose of comparison
with licensed samplers' tests.
46 N. C. Department of Agriculture
4. Observation of sample methods used by licensed samplers.
5. Training and examining of applicants for samplers' and
testers' licenses.
6. Making special investigations upon request.
7. Mailing to producers official notices of test results.
Approximately 60,000 check tests were made during the bien-nium,
involving 1,615 investigations.
Accurate sampling and testing requires that every step be
taken properly. Carelessness and indifference have no place in
this important work and when found, corrections are required to
be made.
The supervision given to Babcock tests has resulted in more
accurate testing and a better understanding between producer
and buying plant.
Part of the Division's activities are devoted to the purity and
wholesomeness of milk and other dairy products. Samples are
purchased on state-wide basis and delivered to one of our three
laboratories (one central laboratory in Raleigh and two mobile
units). Laboratory tests are made for butterfat, milk solids,
and bacteria. In order to maintain the standards of purity, our
fieldmen are constantly checking manufacturing practices of our
processors. A total of 6,583 samples were analyzed during the
biennium. This work is important to the consumer and makes
for fair play between competitors.
Adulteration of milk by the addition of water is an ever pres-ent
threat to the industry. Usually it is caused by carelessness
and indifference. The use of farm bulk tanks and pipeline milk-ers
has aggravated this threat. An aggressive analysis pro-gram
is being carried on, in cooperation with local health de-partments
and industry. Since the freezing point of milk is one
of its most constant physical properties, variations from the nor-mal
are used in detecting the adulteration of milk with water.
The cryoscope is an apparatus used for accurately measuring the
freezing point of milk. An improved type has been installed in
the central laboratory, which has made for more rapid determina-tions.
In December 1958, the Board of Agriculture provided for the
sale of fortified vitamin mineral milk. This new product has
offered additional problems in regard to labeling and assays.
To determine that the declared vitamin and mineral additions
are present, it is necessary to submit samples to an out-of-state
Report for 1956-58
—
Dairy 47
biological laboratory for complicated assays. At present, 24
plants are offering these products to the public.
The matter of correct labeling of cartons occupies much time.
The objective is to secure accurate and prominent labeling of
milk and other dairy products in order that the consumer may
fully understand exactly what he is buying and by whom it was
processed or manufactured. For instance, one may easily confuse
ice milk with ice cream. Enthusiastic salesmen and advertising
personnel have presented many technical problems in regard to
our labeling laws. Much progress has been made through cooprea-tion
from the dairy industry and carton manufacturers.
Another important phase of the work of the Dairy Division is
administering the ice cream and frozen desserts law. This in-volves
60 wholesale establishments, and 250 retail "soft serve"
plants which sell their product direct from the freezer to the
consumer. The estimated production in 1957 was as follows
Gallons
Ice Cream 12,825,000
Ice Milk 5,802,000
Milk Sherbet 756,000
Water Ice 1,578,000
North Carolina ranks 16th among the states in the manufac-ture
of these products. This supervision service is devoted en-tirely
to consumer protection. As shown in the statistical sum-mary
at the end of this chapter, approximately 1,600 field inspec-tions
were made along with nearly 3,000 complete chemical and
bacterial analyses. All manufacturers are licensed; and annual
license fees of $20 are paid by wholesale plants, and $5 by "soft
serve" operators. License and permit fees collected during the
biennium totaled $7,144.
The Milk Import Law requires that before milk or cream may
be brought into the state permits must be obtained from the
Commissioner of Agriculture by both the receiver and the out-of-state
shipper. Enforcement of this law has provided higher
quality milk to the consuming public. The dairy industry has
cooperated by using available surplus milk before making appli-cation
for out-of-state permits. This has made for higher returns
for dairy farmers.
Fluid milk imports totaling 5,701,000 pounds during 1957 were
at the lowest level since records were started in 1946. Imports
in 1956 were 11,560,000 pounds.
48 N. C. Department of Agriculture
The Dairy Division makes every effort to cooperate with all
agencies interested in promoting quality, protecting the consum-er,
and rendering service toward building a greater dairy in-dustry.
One of the Division's cooperative duties is making butterfat
tests for the North Carolina Milk Commission. The Commis-sion's
rules require a minimum of 3.6 percent butterfat in all
fluid milk offered for sale in this state. To avoid duplication of
effort, the Department of Agriculture and the Milk Commission
entered into a cooperative agreement whereby the Commission
furnishes and equips a mobile dairy laboratory, and the Dairy
Division of the Department provides the personnel to run the
tests. The Division made 2,845 official tests for the Commission
during the 1956-58 biennium.
The Dairy Division also makes butterfat tests of milk supplied
to schools through the school lunch program. It also makes
inspections of plants supplying frozen desserts to food contract-ors
serving interstate carriers, such as air lines. This is another
cooperative project which prevents duplication of effort.
Cooperation was also given to state and local health depart-ments
in many fields of endeavor, and every effort is made not to
duplicate inspection services.
STATISTICAL SUMMARY
1954-56 1956-58
Plant Investigations (butterfat check-testing) 1,199 1,615
Milk Testers licenses issued 106 125
Milk testers examinations given 36 55
Milk sampler licenses issued ._ 371
Milk sampler examinations given „ 195
Butterfat Check tests -.39,410 52,710
Composite check tests 1,479 4,797
Butterfat tests supervised — - 354 1,933
Butterfat tests for Milk Commission 483 2,362
Butterfat laboratory inspections 180
Farm Bulk Tank inspections- 239
Official butterfat notices sent to producers 3,000 3,500
Ice Cream plant inspections 1,201 1,592
Ice cream and frozen dessert samples analyzed 3,106 2,996
Ice cream establishments closed 5 3
Processing plant inspections 12 123
Gallons of milk embargoed 2,855 3,090
Lactometer tests 5,373 1,218
Cryosscope determinations 936 4,015
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
C. H. Brannon
State Entomologist
The activities of the Entomology Division have been widely
expanded in recent years to meet new or expanded needs. Basic
legislation, long on the statute books, gradually became inade-quate
to fully support all of this work. A new Plant Pest Law
enacted in 1957 gives legal authority for work which has long
been done, but for which statutory support was ambiguous.
The Board of Agriculture adopted a new set of nursery regu-lations
on December 19, 1957, based upon the new Plant Pest
Law. These regulations, which revise the nursery inspection
fees, also give specific instructions for the enforcement of the
law, as applied to nurseries in the state.
Nursery Inspection
The annual inspection and certification of the nurseries of the
state constitutes the largest project of this Division. There are
now 725 nurseries in North Carolina which must be carefully
inspected, at least once a year, by trained and experienced staff
members. Nurseries with difficult plant pest problems, or those
under the special requirements of state and federal quarantines,
may require repeated inspections and constant supervision for
the certification and movement of their stock.
Nursery inspection alone requires the full-time services of
three staff members for at least four months of each year. Fees
must be collected and certificates issued before the nurseries can
have their shipping tags printed. Each nursery is required to
have an exact copy of its valid certificate printed on its shipping
tag. These certificate copies must accompany all shipments or
movements of stock from the nursery.
The nursery inspection fees are as follows
:
First acre or fraction thereof $3.00
Each additional acre up to 10 1.00
Each additional acre 11 to 20 .75 per acre
Each additional acre above 20 .50 per acre
There are 535 nursery stock dealers in North Carolina. Deal-ers
must file an affidavit with this Division, stating that they
50 N. C. Department of Agriculture
will handle only certified stock. The source of their stock must
also be stated. Movements of truck shipments of nursery stock
are inspected at shipping points and warehouse centers. Move-ments
by rail are checked at transit centers by federal inspectors,
and by state inspectors within the state. Stores handling nurs-ery
stock are inspected as frequently as possible to see that their
stock carries certificate tags from the state of origin. North
Carolina allows entry of nursery stock from other states, pro-vided
valid certification tags from state of origin are attached.
Valid North Carolina certificate tags are likewise accepted by
other states.
WITCHWEED
Witchweed is the latest addition to the North Carolina list of
serious plant pests. First found in this state during the latter
part of 1956, this parasitic weed is a terrific threat to the basic
economy of the state and the nation. Witchweed has never before
been found in the western hemisphere. When and how it reached
North Carolina has not been determined. It has possibly been
here for 20 or 25 years, from reports of farmers in the infested
area.
Where heavy witchweed infestations exist, the corn crop is a
complete failure ; other small grains and grasses are also attacked
by the witchweed.
A rapid survey in the fall of 1956 revealed a well-established
infestation straddling the South Carolina line in the vicinity of
Whiteville. Inspections were terminated by frost in the 1956
survey before a thorough investigation could be made.
Inspections in 1957 gave the following data
:
Infested counties 8
Number of properties ... 278
Total acreage of infestation 23,830
This situation looked alarming. Meetings with farmers, Ex-periment
Station, Extension Service, and federal officials were
frequent during 1957.
Early in 1957, Dr. Edward L. Robinson was employed by the
Experiment Station and stationed on the Border Belt Tobacco
Station at Whiteville for full-time research on the witchweed
problem. Progress was slow, due to the fact that no work had
ever been done before in this hemisphere. Results of work done
in India and Africa, especially the latter, were carefully studied.
Report for 1956-58
—
Entomology 51
Twelve acres of land were leased near Evergreen, in Columbus
County, for field tests of any chemicals that looked promising in
laboratory or plot tests.
The federal government placed into effect a quarantine
against the witchweed on September 6, 1957, and the state
witchweed quarantine, adopted by the State Board of Agricul-ture,
became effective on October 14, 1957.
The witchweed is now found on 1,450 properties on 137,710
acres, located in eleven counties, as follows: Bladen, Columbus,
Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Pender, Richmond, Robe-son,
Sampson and Scotland.
Congress has recently appropriated $3,000,000 for control and
suppression of the witchweed because of its threat to the entire
corn crop of the nation.
The witchweed is also found in eight South Carolina counties
it is not known to occur anywhere else in the western hem-isphere.
Imported Fire Ant
The imported fire ant has swept over 9 southern states from
an infestation located at Mobile, Alabama. This serious pest
was brought in from Australia, or South America, in about 1918,
and is now well established on thousands of acres of land. This
ant, which has a very painful sting, destroys crops, kills young
livestock and wild life, may kill a young child, and causes painful
stings to any one attacked. These insects build large, hard-crusted
mounds which may be 15 inches in diameter and 10 inches
in height. Blades of harvesting machinery may be badly dam-aged
in striking these mounds. Over 1,000 people have been
seriously stung in one day in New Orleans.
A federal quarantine was placed in effect against this pest on
May 6, 1958, but North Carolina was not included in this quaran-tine,
due to the very small infested area in the state.
The infested areas in North Carolina, all of which have been
treated, are as follows
Brunswick County 12 acres
Mecklenburg County 218 acres
Onslow County 1,337 acres
Total 1,567 acres
52 N. C. Department of Agriculture
Soybean Cyst Nematode
The center of the soybean cyst nematode infestation has shift-ed
from North Carolina to the Mississippi Valley. Large infested
areas were located two years ago in areas bordering the Missis-sippi
River in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and
Tennessee. The infestation in North Carolina may have come
from the Mississippi Valley area.
Let it be stressed that new discoveries of this pest do not nec-essarily
mean new spreads. Infestations that may have existed
for some years, being difficult to find, may have only been re-cently
discovered. Federal and state quarantines have been in
effect for some time and are being carefully enforced.
The infested areas of North Carolina are as follows
:
Camden County . 225 acres
New Hanover County 1,549 acres
Pender County 604 acres
Apiary Inspection
The queen breeders in the state are carefully inspected each
year and are issued certificates. Colonies were inspected in a
wide area over the state in an effort to eradicate disease, where
possible. Colonies infected with American foul-brood were de-stroyed
unless, in the opinion of the inspector, the beekeeper was
safely sterilizing with disease inhibiting drugs or antibiotics.
The bee inspection program consists in carefully inspecting,
as mentioned, queen breeders and package bee shippers, as well
as clean-up inspections in an area or entire county. Inspections
were made for all those requesting such inspections. Certificates
were issued to beekeepers whose colonies were to be moved to
other states, when inspections proved them to be free of disease.
Inspection data is as follows
:
1956 1957
Queen breeders and package bee
shippers certified 12 12
Colonies inspected 6,984 7,188
American foul-brood, colonies inspected _ 79 104
European foul-brood, colonies inspected„ 61 12
Apiaries inspected 694 568
Report for 1956-58
—
Entomology 53
Japanese Beetle
The Japanese beetle has now spread to all sections of North
Carolina. Therefore, the large trapping and suppression pro-gram
formerly supported by state and federal funds, has been
discontinued. However, 10 temporary inspectors were used
mostly in the western and eastern counties of the state for in-spection
of shipping centers, nurseries and greenhouses. This
pest has now taken its place with the boll weevil, Mexican bean
beetle, various tobacco pests, etc., which are established all over
the state. It, therefore, becomes a problem for each individual
or community to deal with according to their own means and
desires. The money spent upon this pest by the state and fed-eral
governments is considered well worthwhile since the spread
of the beetle was delayed for many years.
White-Fringed Beetle
There has been no change in the status of the write-fringed
beetle since the last report, when 26 counties in eastern North
Carolina were under quarantine. No additional counties have
become involved, though some additional acreage in the infested
area has been added.
Inspections and quarantine enforcement, in cooperation with
the federal government, is going along very nicely.
Narcissus Inspection
Narcissus inspection has continued on the same basis as for
many years. Growers must make application for inspections,
which are designed to keep narcissus fields free from nematode
infestations.
North Carolina narcissus growers sell mostly cut flowers ; bulb
sales are not of large volume in North Carolina.
Inspection data is as follows
1957 1958
Acres inspected 89 110
Properties infested 2 2
Insect Collection and Identification
The vast insect collection of this Division, which consists of
over a million specimens, is being transferred to modern cabinet
shelves, which are of the latest design. The old Schmidt boxes,
54 N. C. Department of Agriculture
from which they are being moved, will be used for receiving,
transferring and shipping to specialists for determination. The
transfers will be completed during 1958, when all specimens will
be safely stored in air-tight, pest proof cabinets.
ASHEVILLE AND WILMINGTON OFFICES
This Division maintains an inspector at Wilmington and Ashe-ville
to carry out our activities in those areas. The Asheville in-spector
supervises the inspection of large collecting areas of na-tive
stock and cooperates with Federal and State Forestry offi-cials
in the enforcement of the white pine blister-rust quarantine.
All suppression and control of forest pests is under the super-vision
of the State Forester.
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Much of the inspection, survey and quarantine enforcement of
this Division is carried out in close, cordial cooperation with the
Plant Pest Control Division of the U. S. Department of Agricul-ture,
whose local offices are in the Capitol Club Building in
Raleigh.
Experiment Station and Extension Service
Close cooperation is maintained with research staff members of
the N. C. Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agricultural
Extension Service, in all problems which vitally affect North
Carolina agricultural recovery.
DIVISION OF MARKETS
John A. Winfield
Director
If North Carolina farmers had been averse to changes, and
unwilling to adopt new practices and techniques in their farming
operations during the 1956-58 biennium, the results could have
been disastrous. Fortunately, however, customs were cast aside
new enterprises were given a chance and, in general, farmers
prospered despite the many factors that tended to work against
them.
It was not an easy task for them. Major adjustments were
necessary and the large outlays of capital which were required
in many instances raised the stakes in their "game of chance" to
almost unthought of levels. Economic conditions made this pos-sible
for some; impossible for others.
Weather conditions, always a major threat to the farmer, left
much to be desired during the two-year period. Optimum condi-tions
prevailed only for brief periods, and quality and yields were
materially affected. Such conditions increased production costs
and served as a hindrance to orderly and efficient marketing.
It was largely a result of these circumstances that prompted
Division personnel to use a more direct approach in assisting
producers and others with their marketing problems during the
biennium. Appropriately referred to as the "button-hole" ap-proach
by many who have observed the results of its application,
it involved making the necessary recommendations for getting
an efficient job done and the necessary follow-up work to see
that the suggested recommendations were properly carried out.
This naturally involved a large number of personal visits to indi-vidual
producers, buyers and sellers. But by following through
on the various problems and actually assisting in the elimination
of them, worthwhile results were obtained. Had it not been for
the cooperative efforts of Extension Service personnel, research
workers, vocational agriculture teachers, the Department of
Conservation and Development, farm groups and others, this
saturated effort could not have been as effective as it proved to
be during the 1956-58 biennium.
Only the surface has been scratched in this endeavor. However,
two years of experience and proved results of its effectiveness
have strengthened the hopes of Division personnel that greater
56 N. C. Department of Agriculture
and lasting efficiency in the marketing of North Carolina's agri-cultural
products can be brought about.
The Division of Markets is appreciative of the splendid work-ing
relations it enjoyed with other agencies during 1956-58. It
is the desire of the Division to continue this cooperative approach
so that greater efficiency in the marketing of all agricultural
commodities can be realized as quickly as possible.
Following is a summary of activities for the past biennium in
the various phases covered by this Division
:
Tobacco
During the past biennium the tobacco industry experienced
revolutionary changes that affected growers, as well as manufac-turers
of tobacco products. The rapid changes were brought
about principally by the shift in consumer preference for filter
tip cigarettes. These changes reduced the total use of flue-cured
and burley tobacco resulting in fewer acres planted.
Changes in buying patterns of companies, and increased use
of processed tobacco in sheets, also contributed to an uncertain
market and weakening demand for certain grades.
The situation at present is the most critical faced by tobacco
growers since the beginning of the tobacco program, 24 years
ago.
In terms of loss to tobacco growers these shifts have meant
about a 130-million dollar drop in North Carolina tobacco income.
In order to offset as much of the loss as possible, every effort
was made to assist growers in preparing, sorting and marketing
tobacco to meet grading and buying changes.
In rendering this service, group meetings were held in coopera-tion
with vocational teachers, county agents, farm organizations
and individual farmers. Two phases of the problem are ap-proached
in these meetings. First, farmers are given a thorough
analysis of the tobacco situation as it relates to stocks on hand,
domestic and export disappearances, changes in consumer pref-erence
and developments in the industry. These factors establish
the trends that determine the kind of tobacco that will be in
strongest demand during the coming season, and such analysis
gives the grower a chance to adjust farming practices to market
demand.
The marketing phases deal with farm sorting and market
preparation problems. These are subjects of practical demon-strations
on the farm and in tobacco warehouses. Growers at-
Report for 1956-58
—
Markets 57
tending these meetings are shown a simpler method of sorting
tobacco into standard grades. Display demonstrations on ware-house
floors are also part of the service program. In carrying
out this program during the 1956-58 biennium, specialists held
221 group meetings which were attended by 6,134 farmers.
North Carolina statutes require that the Division of Markets
issue a monthly report of tobacco warehouse sales. During the
biennium this report was distributed to a mailing list of 1,200,
including growers, warehousemen, dealers, press, radio, civic
and farm organizations.
The North Carolina "Tobacco Report" was prepared and dis-tribtued
to 6,000 members of the industry each year. Informa-tion
on prices, trends and other related subjects was also pre-pared
for newspapers, magazines, radio and TV programs.
Summary of Other Activities
1956-57 1957-58
Warehouses visited 311 310
Farm organization meetings 18 14
Civic Clubs 7 14
Industry meetings * _ _. 14 16
Radio talks 8 11
Magazine articles 6 9
Tobacco organization meetings 15 11
Cotton and Engineering
Activities of the Cotton and Engineering Section include serv-ices
in the marketing of cotton, and technical or engineering as-sistance
to other commodity sections in the Division of Markets.
Cotton services are designed to: (1) Preserve the grade and
quality values of cotton and cotton seed in pre-ginning handling,
ginning and storage; (2) provide the trade and state agencies
with laboratory test data on the fiber properties of North Caro-lina
cotton; (3) improve and integrate the operating policies of
all raw cotton interests, particularly those of ginners and initial
cotton buyers; (4) cooperate with and supplement cotton pro-grams
of other agencies and organizations.
Of the three factors determining grade values of cotton fiber
—
color, smoothness of ginning, and trash content—the last two
involve gin processing, and are controllable. Cotton ginners have
many opportunities to assist their customers in the marketing
of cotton. As engineers, our specialists are qualified to design,
erect and operate modern gin facilities and to instruct ginners
with respect to operating techniques. Their ginner contacts
afford many opportunities to promote recognition of grade and
58 N. C. Department of Agriculture
staple values at the initial marketing level and to assist ginners
in providing buying and selling services for their customers.
Within recent years the use of laboratory test results on cotton
fiber has become essential to efficient cotton spinning and the
selection of cottons for specific end uses. The Division of Mar-kets
operates a cotton-fiber testing laboratory and releases, at
two-week intervals, laboratory reports on cotton from 27 selected
points in the state. These reports facilitate the marketing of
North Carolina cotton and increase the demand for it.
Cotton work for the biennium includes 1,119 gin visits, 110
cotton mill contacts and attendance at 120 cotton meetings.
Technical or engineering assistance to the corn milling indus-try
in North Carolina is a continuing assignment to this section.
Services to the milling industry are conducted in close cooperation
with the State Chemist and the Grain Section of the Markets Di-vision.
Objectives of the program are to : (1) Improve sanita-tion
in handling and processing corn for human consumption;
(2) improve the design, construction and use of mechanical
elements and facilities used by the corn milling industry; (3)
standardize milling corn procurement activities; (4) elevate
the operating policies of the industry and allied interests.
Field procedures are patterned after the cotton ginning pro-gram
and require approximately 275 mill visits annually. Our
specialists cooperate with the industry in promotion and develop-ment
activities.
The need for technical assistance with pre-marketing opera-tions
becomes increasingly urgent as agricultural enterprises in
the state become more diversified and as modern merchandising
of farm products requires more and more marketing processing,
conditioning and handling. Practically all commodities require
some grading or sampling or treatment of one kind or another in
marketing channels. Farmers' markets, assembly plants and
buying stations have traffic and other operational problems.
Practically all use one or more items of mechanical equipment.
The success and permanency of an agricultural enterprise often
are determined by the location and efficiency of processors.
Engineering services provided by this section are designed to
fill the need between "no engineering" and the professional talent
employed by heavily capitalized firms and corporations. Our
services are available to other commodity sections of the Division
of Markets, all divisions of the Department of Agriculture, and
other state agencies.
Report for 1956-58—Markets 59
Activities of our engineers during the biennium include the
design of a swine disease diagnostic laboratory, a slaughtering
and meat packing plant, a sweet potato curing and storage facil-ity,
a vegetable cooling device, and a method of bulk handling
and sampling of peanuts. Assistance to the Grain Section in-cluded
advising on the construction and improvement of 28 stor-age
and handling facilities, feed manufacturing installations and
commercial seed processing plants.
Grain
Continued progress is being made in the construction of new
and additional grain handling, storing and marketing facilities
throughout the state.
During this two-year period, six firms built new facilities
totaling 558,000 bushels of storage capacity. Twenty-five firms
added 1,469,000 bushels to existing plants. Grain producers built
3,687,000 bushels of storage capacity on their farms, bringing
the total on and off-farm storage capacity within the state to
26,721,000 bushels. Nine firms are planning the construction of
1,960,000 bushels of storage facilities for 1958-59.
New and expanded grain storage facilities have increased the
efficiency in grain handling and merchandising. They have also
brought about a more competitive and stable market which, in
turn, has increased the net returns to producers. With more
storage facilities available in North Carolina, untold dollars have
been saved and will continue to be saved from freight on grain
out of the state at harvest and back in for feed during the re-mainder
of the year.
Market outlets are not only expanding through new and added
grain facilities, but also through new and existing feed process-ing
plants. This expansion has come about primarily as a result
of sharp increases in the production of poultry, particularly
broilers. An example of the expansion in broiler production,
which caused the need for feed processing and in turn resulted
in expanded outlets for grain, is found in the Rose Hill area.
Three small feed mills in this area are processing approximately
1,300,000 bushels of corn per year. This is approximately one-half
of the average corn production for the county. This rapid
increase in grain consumption is also seen in other parts of the
state.
To further expand outlets for the increasing production of
soybeans, Gurley Milling Company in Selma is building a solvent
60 N. C. Department of Agriculture
processing plant; Buckeye Cellulose Corporation in Raleigh is
installing the solvent process also, and other firms may shift to
the solvent method for extracting oil from soybeans. This will
enable processors to meet competitive prices because more oil
can be extracted and their operations will be more efficient.
The increase in grain handling facilities resulted in more re-quests
from firms for assistance in operating elevators, dryers
and grading equipment. This involved synchronizing the re-ceiving
of grain with the size and speed of handling by the eleva-tor,
and with the cleaning and turning equipment. Assistance
also included checking grain dryers while they were in operation
and instructing plant operators in the proper use of grain grad-ing
equipment. In conducting this work, specialists made 557
visits to grain handlers, elevator operators and processing plant
managers.
To further train operators in the grain business, seven grain
grading demonstrations were held with 447 attending. Special-ists
in the Grain Section cooperated with the N. C. Grain Pro-duction
and Marketing Committee in two Statewide Grain
Schools with 76 attending, and 18 county schools with 374 attend-ing.
At the grain grading demonstrations marketing specialists
also explained the importance of merchandising grain on the
basis of grade and quality, and discussed commercial facilities
and marketing methods in North Carolina.
Specialists cooperated with the North Carolina Extension
Service in making surveys to determine the need for grain facili-ties
in the areas of Selma, Kinston, Fayetteville and Rose Hill.
These surveys included grain production, grain facilities, esti-mated
operating cost, estimated marketable grain and an estimat-ed
income. As a result of these surveys, one firm is constructing
storage facilities for 100,000 bushels, and plans have been com-pleted
for another with 150,000 bushel capacity. In addition, two
others, which will have a capacity of 500,000 bushels, are in the
development stage.
Requests from commercial firms for grain inspection and
grading during the harvest period is indicative of the increased
interest among our grain trade in buying and selling on a grade
and quality basis. Four additional full-time inspectors were
placed at elevators during the two-year period. These inspectors
are paid from the Department's Cooperative Account Fund, and
all fees for inspections are paid into this fund.
Inspection of all official moisture meters within the state were
made each year of the biennium and corrections for accuracy
Report for 1956-58
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Markets 61
were made where needed. Specialists also trained personnel to
operate the moisture meters and other grading equipment.
Another primary function of this section is to certify grade
and quality of all grains, soybeans and hay upon request from
commercial grain storage facility operators, feed and oil process-ing
plants, brokers and handlers of hay. This service promotes
the merchandising of grain and hay on a quality basis and as-sures
buyers and sellers of receiving the quality of products
they purchased. In this work during the biennium, specialists
supervised the inspection and grading of 10,371 lots of grain and
made 1,065 condition reports, representing 7,941,351 bushels of
grain. There were 17 hay inspections made representing ap-proximately
170 tons.
A new program in seed service and marketing is being initiated
by this section. This program is designed to assist seed cleaners,
seed handlers, and distributors in processing and marketing the
highest quality seed possible throughout the state. Special efforts
will be made to encourage proper seed treatment, seed drying and
the production of seed specifically for seed purposes. The fol-lowing
groups assisted in developing this program : N. C. State
College Extension Service and Experiment Station; N. C. Crop
Improvement Association ; Seed Testing Laboratory, N. C. De-partment
of Agriculture; and the N. C. Seedsmen's Association.
Fruits and Vegetables (Grading and Regulatory)
The inspection and certification of fruits, melons, peanuts and
vegetables continued to be a major activity. This service is ren-dered
to producers, shippers and receivers upon request. Grad-ing
is done on the basis of established U. S. Standards as adopted
by the State Board of Agriculture. Buying and selling on the
basis of established uniform standards is a basic part of orderly
marketing.
Properly trained inspection personnel is essential in the per-formance
of the inspection work. During the 1956-58 biennium,
141 inspectors were trained, 211 experienced inspectors were
given refresher courses and nine key-man personnel conferences
were held by the supervisor. At the peak period, 285 inspectors
were employed.
Shipping Point Certifications work for the biennium amounted
to: 10,500 carlot equivalents of fruits, vegetables, melons, clean-ed
and shelled peanuts; 305,527 tons of farmers' stock peanuts
delivered to millers and government warehouses by producers,
and 27,458 tons graded out of storages for CCC. Inspections at
62 N. C. Department of Agriculture
auctions amounted to 1,678,718 packages of various vegetables
and berries and 837,955 bushels of sweet potatoes. Receiving
market inspections totaled 883 carlots of various fruits and vege-tables
for wholesale receivers, and 5,946,832 pounds of produce
for delivery to military installations and state and federal insti-tutions.
Inspection of string beans for delivery to processors conducted
at Edenton, Pantego and Washington, and sweet pepper inspec-tion
work was performed at the Dunn processing plant.
Regulatory activities were chiefly the enforcement of the Han-dlers'
Act and the Seed Potato Law. Contracts between pro-ducers
and processors were checked and approved or returned for
correction and the financial responsibility clause checked for
compliance. Approximately 322,000 sacks of seed potatoes were
checked for compliance with the Seed Potato Law. These meas-ures
have contributed heavily to the protection of producers in
avoiding unscrupulous dealings.
Fruits and Vegetables (Service)
The greatest needs in fruit and vegetable marketing in North
Carolina at present are: (1) Better packaging; (2) more uni-form
quality; (3) reduced handling costs; (4) reduction of
waste; (5) more effective advertising; (6) assembling quality
produce in quantity to attract larger buyers.
During the past two years, the approach to these problems was
through cooperation with other state and federal agencies, as
well as with grower and shipper organizations and other groups.
Close contact was maintained with state and federal research
projects relating to improved marketing practices in 'fruits and
vegetables, and the results were applied wherever possible.
Among the special projects Division specialists conducted or
cooperated in were
:
(1) Continuing to assist peach growers in their adver