Got to Be NC Festival runs May 21-23 in Raleigh
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The Got to Be NC Festival
returns for its third year with
more activities, food and family
friendly fun for visitors. The
three-day event will be held May
21-23 at the State Fairgrounds in
Raleigh.
Returning to the entertainment
lineup is antique tractors and farm
equipment, a daily tractor parade
around the fairgrounds, a draft
horse pull, a tractor pull, lawn
mower races, a Harley Davidson
drive in, classic cars, a bluegrass
music competition, a fiber fair,
rides and games.
‘This festival showcases
some of North Carolina’s rich
agricultural heritage through
The N.C. Department of
Agriculture and Consumer
Services is offering grants to
fund new projects to enhance the
competitiveness of specialty crops
in the marketplace. The program,
managed by NCDA&CS, is
funded through all. S. Department
of Agriculture grant established
by the 2008 farm bill.
“We are happy to again be able
to offer this program, making
nearly $1.2 million available
this year through a competitive
grant process,” said Agriculture
Commissioner Steve Troxler.
'These grants will benefit the
specialty crop industry, and will
help small farmers and local food
efforts.”
displays of farm equipment, fiber
arts, locally produced specialty
products and working farm
machinery,” said Agriculture
Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We
are looking forward to drawing
more exhibitors, more competitors
and even more visitors this year
as this event continues to grow.”
On the food front, festival
goers will find plenty of good eats
- seafood, barbecue pork, deep-
fried treats and North Carolina
specialty products.
On May 21, the Amran
Shriners will hold a fish fry from
11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., with all
proceeds bene fitting the Shriners
Hospital. On May 22, Masonic
NCDA&CS will accept grant
applicationsrangingfrom$ 10,000
to $100,000 from non-profit
organizations and corporations,
commodity associations, state
and local government agencies,
colleges and universities.
Applicants must reside or their
business or educational affiliation
must be in North Carolina.
Applications must be submitted
by 5 p.m. on June 4.
Projects involving the
following specialty crops are
eligible: Fruits, vegetables, tree
nuts, dried fruits, horticulture,
Christmas trees, turfgrass/sod,
and nursery and greenhouse
crops. Funding opportunities are
(See Specialty crops, pg. 2)
lodges from across the state will
compete in the N.C. Pig Jig - a
pig cooking contest.
Once judging is complete,
the pork will be chopped and
sold as sandwiches and plates.
The proceeds will benefit the
Masonic Home for Children and
the Central Children’s Home.
In the Expo Center, North
Carolina food and wine products
will be featured in the N.C. Food
Expo. Visitors can sample and
purchase some of the state’s finest
and tastiest products.
“No festival would be complete
without music and we have a
variety on tap this year.” said Jim
Knight, festival manager. “The
Bluegrass competition returns
to the flower show area on
May 22, while beach, country
and alternative music will be
featured on the Geico Triangle
Stage near the Expo Center.”
The Fiber Fair will see a
major expansion in 2010 with
more demonstrations and
products for sale.
“Also be sure to check out the
NASCAR Street Tour,” Knight
said. “Several tricked out Ford
vehicles with big screen TVs
with satelite reception will be
on display near Dorton Arena.”
Following is a schedule of
(See Got to Be NC, pg. 2)
NCDA&CS offers grants
for specialty crops
Tobacco Trust awards
$6.1 million in grants
The N.C. TobaccoTrust Fund Commission announced $6.1 million
in new grants for a record 36 projects funded.
The grants place a priority on projects that address ways to
stimulate the agricultural economy in local communities, decrease
unemployment and strengthen sales of local foods. Projects that
support North Carolina’s agricultural economy, especially in areas
affected by changes in the tobacco industry, were targeted.
“The rural economy in North Carolina has continued to face
challenges in a post-tobacco buyout era,” said Billy Carter, the
Commission’s chairman. “With this new grant cycle, the Tobacco
Trust Fund Commission placed a high priority on projects that will
stimulate sales of North Carolina products, assist dislocated workers
with workforce development and fund other innovative projects.”
Since 2002, the NCTTF has awarded grants to public and nonprofit
agencies that meet the goals of strengthening the rural and tobacco-
dependent economies of North Carolina.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
received more than $1 million in grants for research, marketing and
international trade initiatives.
(See Tobacco grants, pg. 2)
From the tractor
by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler
Each year, our Statistics
Division compiles information
on what farmers intend to plant
for the coming year. This year’s
results indicate a significant
boost in cotton production, a
double-digit increase in peanut
production and a small increase
in sweet potato plantings. On the
down side, wheat, soybeans and
tobacco production are expected
to drop this year.
Based on the information
gathered, growers plan to plant
540,000 acres of cotton, up 44
percent over 2009. This marks a
big comeback after a three-year
decline in production.
Peanut acreage is expected to
be up 19 percent above last year
with 80,000 acres planted.
North Carolina leads the coun¬
try in sweet potato production,
and I don’t think that will change
based on planting intentions.
Sweet potato production is
expected to jump 6 percent
above 2009 numbers, making it
the largest production year since
1950. A total of 50,000 acres of
sweet potatoes are expected to be
grown this year.
Wheat production seems to
be taking the biggest hit in 2010,
down 21 percent from 2009 at
550,000 acres. Soybean plantings
are projected to drop by 8 percent,
while tobacco is expected to
be down 6 percent based on the
tobacco companies’ purchasing
contracts. Soybean acreage is
projected to be 1.65 million acres,
with tobacco acreage at 167,000.
Corn production is expected
to remain the same as last year at
870,000 acres.
We regularly experience
this up and down in commodity
production and prices, as farmers
look to boost profitability. For
example, many farmers moved
away from cotton production as
corn and soybean prices rose in the
past few years. Crop rotation also
figures into the decision making.
Rotating crops helps the soil,
and coupled with better cotton
prices, many farmers appear to be
rotating from soybeans to cotton
production this year.
Commissioner Troxler
Whatever crop farmers are
planting, I am hopeful for a
great growing season, with
ample rain to carry farmers
through.
You can find this report at
www.ncagr.gov/stats/release/
CropRelease03 . pdf.
