Quick hits: WNC farms are disappearing, but 'poultry power' is not

Western N.C. farms are disappearing

"Western North Carolina lost more than 1,700 tobacco farms between 2002 and 2007, and the region as a whole lost farms at a higher rate than the state," says the Citizen-Times.

"That's according to the 2007 Agriculture Census recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an analysis done by Charlie Jackson, executive director of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project in Asheville. While the news is striking, it's not all grim.

" 'The fact that over 1,700 farmers stopped growing tobacco but the region only lost less than 700 farms means that most former tobacco farmers are growing other things,' Jackson said. 'There are opportunities for farmers to make the transition from tobacco.' ..."

Poultry power coming to N.C.

"A company that generates electricity by burning poultry litter plans to build a $150 million plant that will employ 100 workers in Montgomery County," according to the News & Record.

"Fibrowatt, a Pennsylvania company, said Tuesday it will build the plant on 140 acres near Biscoe, off Interstate 73/74, about 50 miles south of Greensboro.

"Fibrowatt will be the largest industrial project in Montgomery County history, said Judy Stevens, executive director of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. ...

"The company built its first U.S. plant in Minnesota. The plants burn poultry litter, which is manure from chickens or turkeys along with the bedding, usually wood shavings.

"Fibrowatt found out about Montgomery County more than three years ago when a local poultry grower met Fibrowatt officials at a meeting in Delaware, Stevens said, where they told him they were interested in building three plants in North Carolina.

"After talks began, researchers at N.C. State mapped the parts of North Carolina with the heaviest concentration of poultry farms.

"Montgomery, Stanley and Moore counties had the highest concentration in central North Carolina, Stevens said. ..."

(Chickens photo from trainingreference.com)

Quick hits: Mountains-to-Sea trail gets aid and college students are (happy to work with) pigs

Mountains-to-Sea Trail gains land in three counties

"North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail grew a bit in the past two months," says the AP.

"In December and January, the trail acquired land in Guilford, Orange and Johnston counties. Trail executive director Kate Dixon says the acquisitions are especially helpful because groups have been working hard to acquire land in the heavily populated Triangle and Triad areas.

"The acquisitions are 250 acres in Guilford County; 65 acres in Orange; and 330 acres in Johnston.

"The trail is a state park that eventually will stretch about 1,000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks. About half the trail is completed. ..."

At this college, students toil in pig sty

"At most colleges, a new semester starts with students buying books, getting ready for new classes and attending a party or two," says the AP.

"But at Warren Wilson College, a small liberal arts college in North Carolina's mountains, some students also welcomed a litter of eight piglets.

"Warren Wilson requires each of its 900 students to work on campus; for some, it's on the college's farm.

"Between 300 and 600 piglets are born each year to 25 sows at Warren Wilson's farm. About 25 students work on the farm, where about 10,000 pounds of naturally raised meat worth about $150,000 is produced each year. Meat is sold by students and some is used in the college dining hall. ..."

(Photo from Warren Wilson's website)

Quick hits: I've got some good news, and some bad news ...

Some items found while scanning the web today ...

Seafood festival wins regional award
"The North Carolina Seafood Festival [pictured] held annually in Morehead City has been recognized for the designs that covered posters and T-shirts during its 20th anniversary," according to a news release.

"The North Carolina/South Carolina Association of Festivals and Events awarded the Seafood Festival first place in T-shirt design and second place in poster design for last year's event.

" 'We are truly grateful to receive these coveted awards and many thanks to our poster and T-shirt artist, Anna B. Cordes,' said Seafood Festival Executive Director Stephanie McIntyre. ..."

N.C. tops nation in farm losses
"North Carolina may soon have to decide between progress and loss of a way of life," according to the Dunn Daily Record.

"For the past two years, the state has won a title it may not want to keep - Tops in Farm Loss. North Carolina lost 1,000 farms in 2005, tying Florida and Tennessee for first place in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2004 it wasn't even a tie; with a loss of 3,000 farms, North Carolina lost hands down.

"Director of Public Affairs for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Conservation Services Brian Long said the title is one the state would like to lose, and soon.

" 'North Carolina had 54,000 farms in 2002 and at the end of 2005 we were down to 48,000,' he said. 'That is a 6,000 farm loss over a period of just six years and we've got to take steps now to stop it. It's been one of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler's main priorities in recent years.' ..."