Upcoming Ag
Review ad
deadlines
The following are deadlines
to submit ads for the Agricultural
Review newspaper.
Aug. 1 for the September issue
Sept. 2 for the October issue
Oct. 1 for the November issue
Nov. 1 for the December issue
Dec. 1 for the January 2025 issue
Mountain State Fair returns Sept. 6-15
ШAdvance tickets now
on sale online
If you are planning to attend the
2024 N.C. Mountain State Fair Sept.
6-15, now is a great time to purchase
advance admission and ride tickets
to save time and money. Discounted
admission tickets are available online
only at mountainfair.org
“Having your tickets in hand helps
speed up the entry process when
you arrive at the fair, plus it saves
you money,” said fair manager Sean
McKeon. “Buying in advance saves
faugoers S3 for each adult admission
and S2 per kid admission, which adds
up quickly.”
Advance tickets are S9 for adults
aged 13 to 64. Children aged 6 to
1 2 can get tickets for S5 in advance.
(See Advance tickets, pg. 3)
Peaches are plentiful, having a good season
Peak pea:h season in North Carolina
is well underway, and many farms
are expecting an extended season
through October this year. “Due
to the warmer winter, many farms
didn't get a freeze after peaches began
budding this year,” said Agriculture
Commissioner Steve Troxler. "That,
combined with the sandy soil and good
drainage where they grow best means
our farmers have plenty of peaches
at their farmstands, farmers markets
and in the grocery store.”
Between 20 1 7 and 2022, the number
of peach farms and total peach acreage
increased in North Carolina. As of
the 2022 Census of Agriculture, North
Carolina had 356 peach farms on a
total of 1,273 acres. “North Carolina
grows more than two dozen varieties
of peaches. Growers are harvesting
clingstone peaches now and will begin
harvesting freestone varieties near the
end of the month,” said Khaila Daye,
marketing specialist with the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services.
To find local peaches near you,
download the Visit NC Farms app at
www. vi sitnc farmst oday. com.
From the tractor
by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler
V
Commissioner Troxler
1 wanted to provide a drought
update, although this information
changes weekly.
As of press time, drought conditions
continue to persist in the majority
of the state, although recent rains
have allowed 18 counties to move
out of dry or drought conditions. To
date, five counties are categorized as
being in severe drought - Columbus,
Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin;
30 are experiencing moderate drought
conditions and 47 are now listed as
abnormally dry.
The recent rains have been vvdeoned
by farmers across the state, providing
some much-needed moisture for crops
and helping recharge farm ponds.
I wish I could say crops are out
of the woods, but crop conditions
continue to remain a big concern
despite some of them showing signs
of improvement.
We still have a long way to go
with this growing season and it is still
too early to know the impact weather
will have on yields until we get to
harvest time.
We know conditions have been
highly unfavorable for com, plus other
crops such as hay and pastures are also
feeling stress from the ament weather
situation. I have heard numerous
reports of farmers already feeding
hay to their cattle.
The National Agricultural Statistics
Service’s July 22 report shows 66%
of the com crop in our state being in
poor to very poor condition, with an
additional 19% in fair condition.
Soybeans, sweet potatoes, peanuts,
tobacco and cotton have benefitted
from the rains, and 1 hope the rainfall
over the past few days will continue
to provide a boost to crops.
Sweet potato growers are reporting
6% of crops are in poor condition,
33% in fair condition, 55% in good
condition and 6% in excellent condition
Those numbers were slightly better
than the week prior.
Peanut growers note 3% of crops
are in very poor condition, 4% in
poor condition, 32% fair, 54% good
and 7% excellent.
Flue-cured tobacco posts 7% in
very poor condition, 17% in poor
condition, 38% in fair condition, 34%
in good and 4% excellent.
This is a crucial time in the season
for many of the crops to receive
adequate water. We are thankful for
the recent rains and remain prayerful
for more rain as we continue through
the production season.
In late July, USDA Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack declared
a natural disaster for Columbus
County based on losses caused by
a drought- that's an area that has
seen significant com losses.
The disaster declaration means
Federal disaster assistance including
Farm Service Agency emergency
loans are available for eligible
farmers in Columbas County, plas
farmers in the contiguous counties
of Bladen, Brunswick, Pender and
Robeson.
We continue to encourage
producers to report conditions to
their local FSA office, take field
photographs and to stay in touch
with their insurance agents.
I will keep readers updated as
the season progresses and if new
counties are added to the federal
disaster declaration.
