Whole Hog Barbecue Championship

 October 3-4, 2014

Wide Open Bluegrass

Raleigh

In addition to the Championship, we'll also be hosting barbecue events on Friday and Saturday nights. We hope you can join us!

On Friday, October 3, from 5 to 9 p.m., Matthew Register of Southern Smoke BBQ will serve plates with smoked barbecue and sides. Chef Vivian Howard will be there, and the pork will be provided by Heritage Farms. Purchase Tickets

On Saturday, October 4, from 5 to 9 p.m., you have the rare opportunity to taste Eastern- and Western-style barbecue side by side, as Chefs Chip Stamey of Stamey's and Linwood Parker of White Swan will be serving up their versions of pit-cooked barbecue under the same tent, along with their distinct coleslaws and desserts.

Purchase Tickets

Town Hall Meeting hosted by Senator Brent Jackson

The Sampson County Friends of Agriculture is having a town hall meeting to be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Sampson County Community College in room 0-140.

Senator Brent Jackson will host this meeting focusing primarily on concerns expressed by farmers regarding the implementation of weight laws when transporting agricultural products or equipment. This meeting will allow the Highway Patrol to hear these concerns and provide the opportunity to discuss the laws regarding weight limits and how inspections are conducted in the field.

Targeting Excellence - NC Scholarship Event

     ....for students in food animal production

You are invited to take part in an exciting opportunity to raise funds for scholarships for students who have an interest in careers in the field of food animal production. You will also have the opportunity to interact with these students at the fundraising event.

Targeting Excellence events serve a purpose other than raising scholarship funds.  The events will create an environment where students can learn more about career opportunities in food animal production and spend face-to-face time with leaders of our industry. Read more about this program.

Join Targeting Excellence on October 9, 2014 at Drake Landing to lend your support. Special guest speaker for lunch with be Dean, Dr. Richard Linton of the NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Click here to register.

Peak-Season Soil Fee Period Announced

Growers are reminded to send in their soil samples to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Agronomic Services Lab by Nov. 25 at 6 pm to avoid upcoming peak-season fees.

Soil samples processed during the peak season of November 26 - March 31 will be assessed a $4 fee. During the fee period, sample drop-off times at the Eaddy Building will be between 6 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday.

Contact the Agronomic Services Division office at 919-733-2655 for questions regarding the peak-season soil testing fee, online sample submission, escrow accounts or the purchase of expedited shippers.

Transportation Plan

Last week, Gov. Pat McCrory unveiled a proposal to borrow more than $1 billion for transportation improvements that will focus mostly on rural projects. The improvements could begin in the next couple of years.

DOT compiled a draft list of 21 projects that is worth a combined $1.49 billion. The state might borrow a little more than $1 billion to pay for some of the projects, and several projects might ultimately be funded instead through the state's Strategic Transportation Investments program. The list includes mostly rural projects, along with urban loops in Fayetteville ($186.4 million) and Winston-Salem ($266.5 million).

Below is a list of the potential projects that have been included in the draft plan:

• N.C. 125, Martin County. $13.4 million.
• U.S. 158, Northampton County. $62 million.
• N.C. 43 connector, Craven County. $11.4 million.
• N.C. 24, Sampson and Duplin counties. $154.9 million.
• N.C. 42, Johnston County. $20.3 million.
• Booker Dairy Road, Johnston County. $9.4 million.
• Hunter Hill Road, Nash County. $7.8 million.
• U.S. 301, Nash County. $32.7 million.
• U.S. 401, Franklin and Wake counties. $65.6 million.
• Fayetteville Outer Loop, Cumberland and Robeson counties. $186.4 million.
• U.S. 311, Guilford County. $16.1 million.
• N.C. 119, Alamance County. $103.8 million.
• U.S. 220, Richmond County. $128.3 million.
• Winston-Salem loop, Forsyth County. $266.5 million.
• Derita Road, Cabarrus County. $12.4 million.
• U.S. 221, Ashe County. $76.1 million.
• U.S. 74 Shelby Bypass, Cleveland County. $179.7 million.
• N.C. 16, Catawba County. $55.5 million.
• N.C. 273, Gaston County. $21 million.
• U.S. 221, McDowell County. $42.2 million.
• N.C. 107, Jackson County. $19.7 million.

(Bruce Siceloff, THE NEWS & OBSERVER, 9/21/14).  

NCPC 2015 Award Nominations

We need your Help!

There are many outstanding people within the North Carolina pork industry. It is a goal of the NC Pork council, with the help of our members and others in the industry, to recognize the folks that represent our industry to the community at-large and are a positive force for the industry.

Below are three awards for which we are seeking nominations and a brief description. More detailed information is available on the nomination form.

Pork All-American

Outstanding Pork Producer

Hall of Fame

To find out more information regarding these awards as well as the application forms, please click here.

ALL NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY December 4, 1014.

**Note: If you have nominated someone previously who did not win, please resubmit a nomination form with updated information. We would like to consider them for 2015.**