North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

’Tis the season! Friday, Where The Food Comes From brings you to the tiny town of Newland, North Carolina to meet humble Christmas tree farmer Larry Smith. For 40 years, Larry had a dream, to be the American farmer who provided the spectacular Christmas tree that is the centerpiece of the Blue Room and the heart of the annual White House Christmas decor. His dream finally came true, and Where The Food Comes From was there for the special moment. https://lnkd.in/eFxQX89b Catch this Christmas story on our YouTube channel or Friday night at 10:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on RFD-TV! #Christmas #christmas2024 #christmastree #ChristmasSpecial #ChristmasShow North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Maximizing Community Connections: A Key to Farm Profitability For North Carolina farmers, leveraging social media and professional platforms like Linkdeln are essential tools for building relationships and growing a profitable farm business. Take Marvin Frink and Tanisha, owners of Briarwood Cattle Farm in Red Springs, NC, as an example. They’re using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Linkdeln to share their farm story and connect with their community. Here’s why this matters: Bridging the gap between the farm and the table, giving your community—and even your professional network—insight into the value your farm brings. By also using LinkedIn, you can expand your reach to include business partners, investors, and collaborators. 📌Today’s Tip I shared with the Rooted in NC Community: 1️⃣ Use Facebook and Instagram to post updates about daily farm life, events, or seasonal products. 2️⃣ Share behind-the-scenes moments to build trust and relatability. 3️⃣ Utilize LinkedIn to keep your professional audience informed about grants, collaborations, and big wins for your farm. Want to see how Marvin and Tanisha are doing it? Visit their page: [briarwoodcattlefarm.com] Let’s connect! I’m here to support your farm’s success, message me, and let’s talk strategy. Also, a special thanks to Linda Gerron who has been an incredible mentor to me. I am so proud of the community we are building! #ncfarm #nccattle #cattlefarmer #agriculture #agribusiness #cattle #agmarketing #veteranowned #northcarolina #visitncfarms #gottobenc #marketing #businestips #community

SPECCX is actively looking for watermelon farmers to join our marketplace. Are you a grower or know a farmer growing watermelons? We have grocers looking to secure forward contracts for 2025 now! Please sign-up through our website: speccx.com or send them our way. Ellie Watson Beth M. Sarah Emery Botwinick, MBA National Watermelon Association #watermelons #nwawatermelon #gawatermelons #mswatermelons

Farmer to Farmer Webinar: Navigating Federal Farm Recovery Programs Offered by FSA and NRCS The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is facilitating a farmer learning cohort to focus on Helene recovery. This series of webinars will allow farmers to share experiences, learn from one another about navigating recovery resources, and document learnings for fellow farmers and future needs. The first webinar—Thursday, Nov. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.—will focus on programs by Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Farmer presenters include Mary Carroll Dodd of Red Scout Farm in Black Mountain, NC, and Danielle Hutchison of TendWell Farm in Old Fort, NC. Participation in the webinars is free, but registration is required. Appalachian Grown certified farms will be compensated for their time to attend. Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/ecdUmkkR

FEMA has Extended the Deadline to apply for Helene assistance: Homeowners and renters in the in the eligible 39 counties in Western North Carolina looking to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance after Tropical Storm Helene has been extended to Jan. 7, 2025. Individual Assistance includes financial assistance for serious needs, displacement, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses. More information available: https://lnkd.in/eDQS2EJ5 #WNC #WNCStrong #HurricaneHelene #WNCRecovery #GottoBeNC #NCAgriculture

Our Market News recently expanded its collection and distribution of price and production cost information for organic agricultural products by adding organic milk, cattle, grains and feedstuffs, and fertilizer to its list of published reports. Organic products are included among the hundreds of agricultural products for which AMS Market News publishes market information. This data promotes market transparency and helps farmers and businesses make informed business decisions – resulting in a fairer and more competitive marketplace for all participants. https://bit.ly/4f9hWlK

Hurricane Helene caused overwhelming devastation in portions of AgSouth Farm Credit’s region of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. To support customers in immediate need of financial assistance, AgSouth made an early payment of 2024 patronage funds to stockholders totaling $30 million, which were dispersed in October. AgSouth is also donating a combined $250,000 to statewide relief efforts. $50,000 each to organizations that are directly assisting farmers – WNC Communities Foundation, SC Advocates for Agriculture, and Weathered but Strong GA Hurricane Relief Fund. As well as $50,000 each to organizations that are providing assistance directly to rural communities – Baptist on Mission and Samaritan’s Purse. Learn more about these efforts in our latest blog: https://hubs.ly/Q02Y7XNS0. #FarmCredit #FarmerStrong

Oyster farming plays a vital role in North Carolina’s coastal economy, generating $31.7 million in 2022 and creating over 280 jobs. The industry is expected to hit $100 million by 2030, thanks to its environmental and community benefits. Watching the process from seed to shucking my first oyster on the farm was an exciting experience, made even better by the gorgeous weather! Take a tour with colleagues along North Carolina’s oyster trail— it’s a fun, educational outing with fresh oysters on the shell. Many thanks to Ghost Fleet Oyster Co.! For more details, visit. https://lnkd.in/eskXDQ9Q https://lnkd.in/eVmrYSz6 #Agritourism #GotToBeNC #OysterFarming #Agriculture #NCOysterMonth

We’re #hiring a new Farmland Preservation Coordinator in Wake County, North Carolina. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Join the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and NC State Extension for a farm-focused gathering to understand resources available post-Helene and work together to rebuild WNC Agriculture. Date: Monday, Nov. 18 Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Location: N.C. Cooperative Extension, Haywood County Center 589 Raccoon Road Waynesville, NC 28786 Throughout the day, there will be one-on-one relief assistance sessions, breakout room discussions, relaxation activities, and the event will end with a local farm-to-table dinner. All farmers, regardless of Helene impacts, are welcome to join and learn about available resources, as well as contribute to recovery discussions. There are a limited number of gas cards available to further support farmer attendance. This event is sponsored by Empowering Mountain Food Systems (EMFS), a project of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), and N.C. Cooperative Extension. For more information, and to RSVP, click here: https://lnkd.in/enj9fDpr