Agricultural review [2025 : January, v.100 : no.1]

Published by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Wooten Rural Leadership Award goes to N.C. FFA N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxier (third from left) presented the award alongside thcn-Gov. Roy Cooper at the State Capitol. Apply for farmland pres¬ ervation grants by Jan. 17 The application period for county governments and conservation nonprofit groups to apply for farmland preservation grants from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund closes on Jan. 1 7. Grant applications, rules and information packets are available online at www.ncagr.gov/divisioas/ farmland-preservation/applicants. For more information, call the Farmland Preservation office at 919-707-3074. Upcoming Ag Review ad deadlines The following are deadlines to submit ads for the Agricultural Review newspaper. Jan. 2 for the February issue Feb. 3 for the March issue March 3 for the April issue April 1 for the May issue The N.C. FFA Association was recently honored with the 2024 Larry Wooten Rural Leadership Award for its long-time commitment to young people. A special recognition was given to Bruce L. Miller for his 30- plus years of service with N.C. FFA as an agriculture teacher in Rowan County Schools, and the Southern Alamance High School FFA was also recognized for its strong and award-winning programs. Since 1929, N.C. FFA has helped guide and develop the next generation of leaders who have gone on to strengthen communities and agriculture in the state. That mission and work continues today across 370 North Carolina chapters. There are over 48,000 FFA members in the state and over 83,600 students enrolled in agriculture courses in Editor ’s note North Carolina. The event took place at the State Capitol on Dec. 3, 2024, with N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxier, Gov. Roy Cooperand Larry Wooten in attendance. “I am proud any time we can recognize agriculture and those working in rural parts of our state in our state’s capitol,” Troxier said. “Agriculture is important to all of us and we need to be sure that message is heard here in Raleigh, too.” Miller was recognized for his incredible legacy of service to the students, school and community for over 30 years. He continues to be difference- maker in his community serving on the Rowan County Zoning Board, Rowan County Soil and Water District, Rowan County United Way and the South Rowan YMCA board. The Southern Alamance FFA Chapter at Southern Alamance High School in Graham was also recognized. This is one of the largest and most active FFA chapters in the state and it has been recognized nationally for many years in both (See FFA, pg. 5) Discover North Carolina Are you ready to discover North Carolina agriculture? In 2025, we’re launching our brand-new content series, #DiscoveringNCAgriculture! In our 2024 series, #NextGenAg, you met dozens of youth and young adults from across North Carolina who are contributing to our state’s No. 1 industry: agriculture and agribusiness. In 2025, we’ll take a closer look at some of the commodities, the North Carolina farmers that grow them and the food businesses that use them. Each month we will highlight a commodity grown in our state and share how it is grown, raised and used in value-added products. We'll look at how these commodities present agritourism opportunities and how you can use them in your kitchen at home. agriculture in new series Every Tuesday in 2025 on our website and social media pages, you’ll learn more about these 12 commodities from a farmer, agribusiness producer, nutritionist, commodity association or other expert. We’ll begin with peanuts in January followed by peppers, strawberries, poultry, mushrooms, peaches, pork, tomatoes, muscadines, apples, sweet potatoes and, in December, greens. As an Ag Review subscriber, you’ll see many of these stories featured in each month’s paper. But to keep up with the latest stories from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, check out the department’s blog at www.ncagr.gov/blog or find us on social media. The series kicks off Jan. 7 - the first Tuesday of the new year. From the tractor by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxier Commissioner Troxier As we start 2025, 1 can tell you that 2024 will remain a big part of this new year as work continues to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Agriculture across our state took a big hit in 2024. We have been working with N.C. State University economists, cooperative extension agents, soil and water districts, FSA offices, USDA information and others to determine estimated losses, and that number statewide is over S4.8 billion. That’s the worst agricultural damage that we have experienced in North Carolina. Of that, S4.23 billion was from Flurricane Helene, and S696 million was from the summer drought and tropical storms. That number includes the loss of equipment, buildings, infrastructure and crops. Crop loss alone from Hurricane Helene was S907.62 million. These damage estimates in the wake of these storms don’t include agritourism, which is also significant for Western N.C. in particular. Without question 2024 has been one of THE most challenging years for agriculture. We were already facing millions of dollars in ag losses from the summer droughts and heavy rains from tropical storms when Hurricane I Idene bulldozed through Western N.C. Since the storms, I have encouraged our Congressional delegation to push for passage of a Farm Bill that includes disaster assistance. Federal funding will be critical to recovery in Western N.C. because of the magnitude and scope of damage. I recently spoke at the legislature to the House Agriculture Committee to talk about the need for disaster assistance for farmers and why agriculture cannot afford to wait. Representatives and farmers from around a dozen commodity groups spoke first and shared their stories and the impact these losses would likely have in the future if disaster assistance did not come through for agriculture. As a farmer, it’s gut wrenching to hear these stories and realize it could be you facing the loss of your livelihood and everything you have worked hard for. We heard from farmers whose land washed away down to the bedrock; thousands of Christmas trees, apples trees and nursery stock washed away in a matter of minutes; and silt and sand burying productive farmland. I have said many times since Helene hit that recovery is going to be a long road and hearing some of the stories only reinforced that and the need for disaster assistance now. We know many growers in Western N.C. produce specialty crops with limited federal insurance options. 1 have requested over S 1 billion in disaster assistance that would include money for farm losses statewide this year, in that request is S3 57.36 million to cover unmsurcd crop losses from Helene and S 1 74 million to cover 25% of crop losses in non-Helene counties. 1 know that is a big ask in the face of many other needs in Western N.C., but we stand to lose a number of farmers without some assistance to help them get their feet back on the ground. I am hopeful that the legislature will direct meaningful funding to help offset some of these monumental agricultural losses.