News and Updates
What is the big deal with the Chevron deference?
Today we’re talking about the pair of Supreme Court cases getting the most attention from the agricultural community this year: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce.Both may undo what’s known as Chevron deference, a legal doctrine long pilloried in conservative circles that stems from the high court’s 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council.…
Read MoreUnmasking Bill Graham: A Distorted Image and Real Threat to North Carolina Agriculture
You may have seen that trial lawyer Bill Graham is running for governor – and running campaign ads. We generally don’t get involved in this stage of the election process when each party is sorting out its candidates for the main ticket next year. But when a candidate speaks about agriculture, we pay attention. And…
Read MoreLivestock Hall of Fame ceremony honors long-time farm families
On this Veterans Day, we salute the men and women of our Military who served at home and overseas in harm’s way so that we can enjoy the freedoms provided under the US Constitution. We extend a BIG THANK YOU for your service. We pray for the safety and welfare of those in active duty in an increasingly…
Read MoreWorld Events and Local Impacts
It goes without saying that recent events have gripped a torn and war-weary world. For the first time in our history, The US House of Representatives removed its Speaker, bringing the entire Congress to a screeching halt. North Carolina’s Rep. Patrick McHenry was named Speaker Pro Tempore to reorganize the majority and elect a new…
Read MoreMore Inconvenient Truths: Bias and Pay-to-Play Journalism
Recently, Raleigh’s News & Observer ran a rather lengthy Op-Ed authored by Samantha Gasson, who owns a small family livestock farm in Northwest Durham County. It is well written, and like any good farmer, she is promoting sales as the newspaper hot-linked to her farm’s webpage, which allows the online visitor to order expensive pasture-raised…
Read MoreMore Inconvenient Truth: The need for sound energy policy for North Carolina
The sustainability and profitability of farming and agribusiness depend on a consistent, affordable, and robust energy supply. Higher energy costs significantly affect rural businesses and citizens more than their urban/suburban peers. For example, I am told that a cotton picker, depending on age, can burn 12 to 24 gallons of diesel fuel PER HOUR. They…
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