News and Updates
A Primer on Media Bias in North Carolina
Media bias in North Carolina’s legacy outlets manifests as a subtle yet consistent tilt toward anti-agriculture narratives, often at the expense of farming perspectives. This primer explores how such bias plays out in coverage of environmental regulation, labor unions, and energy generation, particularly in the least unionized state in the U.S. (with just 2.4% union membership). These…
Takeaways of the NC Chamber’s Ag Allies Conference
Friends, This week, I had the pleasure of attending the NC Chamber’s Ag Allies Conference in Raleigh. If you’ve never made time to attend this event, you’re missing out on a year’s worth of industry perspective in a few hours. Ray Starling, Sarah Grace Lee, and the whole NC Chamber team put together a top-notch…
Honoring Community One Year After Helene
Friends, Honoring Community One Year After Helene This weekend marks one year since Hurricane Helene, but I hesitate to classify it as an ‘anniversary’ because there isn’t anything to celebrate when we remember the devastating storm that tore through the Southeastern U.S. Our friends in western North Carolina (WNC) do not need a rehash of the event…
Understanding the USDA Block Grant for Hurricane Helene Relief
Friends, Understanding the USDA Block Grant for Hurricane Helene Relief At a recent industry meeting I attended, the USDA block grant for Hurricane Helene relief was a key topic of discussion. Producers had seen the announcement of the $221.2 million grant to North Carolina and expressed appreciation for the assistance. My favorite question of the day came…
Remembering and Honoring
Friends, Remembering and Honoring Before diving into this week’s updates, we pause to reflect on two events of deep significance. We remember September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed our nation and the world. We honor the brave men and women who responded with courage, and we remain grateful for their lasting example of…
Agricultural Labor Policy Update
Friends, As we ventured out last week for Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) took two positive steps toward reshaping the agricultural policy landscape. Here are some key insights and relevant links from The Packer that we found helpful for putting all of the news in context. 1. Court Vacates 2023 AEWR RuleA recent…