Farming news
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1987 crop acreage down ten percent
North Carolina farmers planted 10
percent leas cropland this year than
in 1986 according to the North Caro
lina Agricultural Statistics Division
(formerly the North Carolina Crop
and Livestock Reporting Service).
Corn and soybeans showed the larg
est declines in acreage from a year
earlier. These findings were based on
surveys of farmers conducted in
June.
Soybean plantings are expected to
total 1.45 million acres, 15 percent
less than last year.
Com planted for all purposes in
North Carolina is estimated at 1.35
million acres, 16 percent below a
year earlier.
Wheat seedings last fall for harvest
this season totaled 490,000 acres,
down 7 percent from the previous
year.
Flue Cured Tobacco for harvest in
North Carolina is estimated at
216,000 acres, 4 percent more than in
1986.
Peaaut plantings in the State to
taled 150,000 acres, up 3 percent from
a year earlier
Cotton plantings are estimated at
90,000 acres, 10 percent more than
the previous year.
Sweet Potato plantings are ex
pected to total 36,000 acres, 3 percent
more than 1966 plantings.
TOBACCO PRODUCTION FORC
AST
UP 10 PERCENT
Flue cured tobacco Production in
North Carolina is forcast at 475.2 mil
lion pounds, up 10 percent from the
1966 crop, both acreage are expected
yield per acre are up.
Wheat Production in North Caro
lina is forcast at 18.0 million bush
hels, unchanged from the previous
forcast but 27 percent more than the
1966 crop of 14.3 millin bushels. Yield
per acre is expected to average 41
bushels compared with 31 bushels a
year earlier. The area for harvest is
estimated at 440,000 acres, down 4
percent from last year.
Apple Production in the State is
forecast at 400 million pounds, four
times the size of last year's freeze re
duced crop and the third largest crop
of record.
Apple Production in the State is
forecast at 400 million pounds, four
times the size of last year's freeze re
duced crop and the third largest crop
of record.
Peach Production in the Tar Heel
State is forcast at 30 million pounds-,
same as forecast a month earlier.
Harvest was about 35 percent com
pleted as of July 5.
1987 commercial pesticide license
exam schedules outlined by state
Pesticide license exams will be
given in Raleigh every third Wednes
day of each month and at various
County Agricultural Extension of
fices on the dates listed below. All ex
ams will begin at 1:00 p.m. Contact
Laura Kirk at (919) 733-3556 for an
appointment.
Third Wednesday in Raleigh: July
15, August 19, September 16, October
21, November 18, December 16.
North Carolina Department of Ag
ricultural Building (facing the Capi
tol Building) 1 West Edenton Street,
Third floor, Room 359.
Agricultural Extension Offices:
Lumberton (Roberson Co.) July 8,
O.P. Owens Agricultural Center,
Hwy. NC 711 & 72 W ? Greenville
(Pitt Co.) August 12, Pirt County Of
fice Bldg., 2nd Floor, 1717 . 5th Street.
Halifax (Halifax Co.) Sept. 9, Hal
ifax Extension Office, Agriculture
Ext. Service Office, Pittsylvania St.
(Courtland Sq.)
Golds boro (Wayne Co.) Oct. 14,
Wayne Center, Corner of George &
Chestnut Sts. (SE)
Clinton (Sampson Co.) Nov. 10,
Sampson Co. Office Building, 303 C.
East Rowan Street.
The above scheduled exam sched
uled exam dates do not include the
exams given at the end of the pesti
cide schools conducted by the North
Carolina Agricultural Extension
Service. A schedule of these schools
and training material may be ob
tained from John H. Wilson, NCSU,
51 Kilgore Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695.
Telephone (919) 737-3113.
Commissioner Graham announces
state increase in regulatory action
RALEIGH
?Agriculture Commissioner Jim
Graham today announced increased
regulatory action aimed at monitor
ing the 1987 tobacco crop for non-ap
proved pesticide use, particularly di
camba and 2,4-D. These chemicals
can be illegally used to cause prema
ture yellowing of green tobacco.
"Although we do not feel we have a
problem with pesticide misuse on to
bacco in North Carolina," stated
Commissioner Graham, "we want to
reassure our domestic customers of
the quality of our tobacco, and let our
farmers know that there is no room
for illegal pesticide use. Too much is
at stake."
NCDA Pesticide Section inspectors
have completed training in identifi
cation of green tobacco on which de
camba, 2,4-D and other non-approved
chemicals have been used to "yel
low" the tobacco. These inspectors
will travel in all of the tobacco-pro
ducing counties, visually inspecting
green tobacco for signs of pesticide
misuse. Samples will be taken and
analyzed by the pesticide residue lab
oratory in the NCDA Food and Drug
Protection Division.
These inspectors will also investi
gate suspected cases of pesticide
misuse based on complaints from
other farmers. People wanting to re
port suspected pesticide misuse on
tobacco can do so by calling the
NCDA Pesticide Section at 919-733
3556.
"Where we confirm pesticide mis
use on green tobacco," said Graham,
"NCDA will prosecute that grower to
the fullest extent of the law. We will
also turn our confirmed labortory re
sults over to Agricultural Stabiliza
tion and Conservation Service
(ASCS) for further action. A few
farmers should not be allowed to
jeopardize the livelihood of over
41,000 North Carolina tobacco grow
ers."
Growers who misuse chemicals on
their tobacco crop are subject to pe
nalties under the North Carolina Pes
ticide Law. The Pesticide Board may
assess a civil penalty of $500 for each
instance of willful misuse of a pesti
cide, and-or revoke the farmer's pes
ticide applicator certification, which
means loss of his license to purchase
agricultural chemicals he needs to
farm. The Pesticide Law also pro
vides for penalties up to $1,000 and SO
days in jail for misdemeanor viola
tions of nay provision of the law.
Flue-Cured Tobacco Stabilization
Corporation will also conduct sam
pling of cured tobacco on the ware
house floor Growers who have certi
fied to ASCS that they have not or will
not use non-approved chemicals on
their tobacco, and who are found to
do so, will be subject to fines of up to
$10,000, and imprisonment up to five
years, and loss of the privilege of sell
ing that tobacco under the price sup
port program.
Graham has also written to North
Carolina tobacco warehousemen,
pesticide dealers, and vocational ag
riculture teachers asking for their as
sistance in educational efforts aimed
at preventing pesticide misuse. Addi
tionally, he has written to officials of
all major domestic and export to
bacco companies assuring them of
the quality of North Carolina tobacco
and of his determination to use his
regulatory powers to prevent pesti
cide misuse on tobacco.
Perquimans County 4-H group to
participate in annual 4-H congress
By JU ANITA T. BAILEY
Home Economics Ext. Agent, 4-H
Perquimans County 4-H members
will be among some 900 Tar Heel
teenagers attending the 1967 North
Carolina 4-H Congress July 20-24 in
Raleigh.
The congress will be held on the
N.C. State University campus and
delegates wil reside in NCSU dormi
tories.
The congress officially opens Mon
day night with a flag ceremony, cit
izenship Gala, State 4-H Honor Club
tapping, and dance.
Finals in some 40 contests will be
held Tuesday to pick state winners
who will be honored at a banquet that
evening. A Beach Party and Dance
will follow.
Project exploration workshops are
scheduled all over the NCSU campus
on Wednesday morning. A pigpicking
lunch will take place at Pullen Park
where delegates wil donate 25 cents
each to Farm Aid. Four of the eight
districts will spend the afternoon at
the U.S. Olympic Festival while oth
ers will attend the 1987 premier per
formance bya the N.C. 4-H Perform
ing Arts Troupe. The districts will
switch schedules at night so all dele
gates attend the Olympics and see
the premier.
The Thursday program features a
mornig assembly where Governor
James G. Martin will be the keynote
speaker. Citizenship workshops,
election and installation of new offi
cers, the delegate banquet, and a
farewell concert -dance will conclude
the 1987 congress.
Perquimans County 4-H members,
ages 13 to 19, are eligible to attend,
according to Juanita T. Bailey, Home
Economics Extension Agent, 4-H.
Ayscue attends governor's school
Approximately 400 gifted and tal
ented high school students from
across the state of North Carolina ar
rived Sunday, June 21, on the campus
of St. Andrews Presbyterian College
in Laurinburg to begin the 10th ses
sion of Governor's School East.
The summer residential program
is designed to supplement the regular
secondary school curriculum. The
students will be given an opportunity
for intensive study and training in an
academic area or in the performing
arts. The Governor's School also pro
vides instruction to all students in ap
plied psychology and philosphy. In
addition to their academic art pur
suits, the students will publish a
yearbook and a weekly newspaper
Lewis B. Evans
AGENCY MANAGER
Pat Ward Jeff L Smith
AGENT AGENT
436-9636 426-7401
Church Street Ext.
Hertford, N.C.
form a student government associa
tion, and become involved in various
recreatinal activitites. Gail Smith,
chief consultant for the State Depart
ment of Public Instruction's acade
mically gifted program, serves as di
rector of Governor's School East.
Kathy Ayscue of Perquimans
County will be attending the 1987 ses
sion of the Governor's School East.
Pictured above Walker Rayburn is seen as he sheers one of his Iambs. This was a demonstra
tion done at the library for area youngsters on Friday. *
Americans working to own land*]
Although Americans have become
a nation of urban dwellers in the last
few generations, many of us have the
goal -to own a few acres of land that
we can call our own
This desire to get away from the
city but yet live close enough to enjoy
the many benefits a city offers has
put severe stress on farmland.
This has strained the ag sector se
verely in some areas. There are now
about as many "part-time" farmers
as there are full-time farmers, and
more in many areas of the country.
To the credit of both segments, they
have proven a powerful force when
working for the betterment of agri
culture.
It's also a blessing, since the inter
relationships between the rural and
urban components of the economy
have become increasingly complex
and vital to one another.
It takes cooperation from all sec
tors to enable farmers to supply the
food needs of this country aand those
of other nations
America's advancement has been
possible only because of agricul
ture's production w lich has fre^tj the
majority of the population to eiigAge
in other economic activities. Though
not actually producing food, our fciti
zenry still has a vested interest'^' it.
This is why issues such as' food
safety, nutrition, land use and agri
culture policies have become as relt^
vant to our "city" neighbors as [(Hey
have always been to the ag commu
nity
Ut*
Tips on sweetners and weight control
By JUANITA T. BAILEY
Home Economics Ext. Agent
If you have a case of the "chub
bies" and think you'll lose a few
pounds by using artificial sweeteners
and diet soft drinks, dream on. Re
cent studies tell us people who use
sugar substitutes are just as likely to
gain weight as to lose it.
Now theoretically, a person should
be able to lose, or avoid gaining about
seventeen pounds a year by substitu
tion a diet soft drink for its regular
counterpart. But statistics tell us the
percentage of obese Americans stays
pretty constant? in spite of sales fig
Exhibit set
The NC Agricultural Extension
Service and the NC Extension Home
makers Association will present
"Skills for Living" on Friday, August
14 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. and on Satur
day, August 15 from 10:00 a.m. -8:00
p.m at Southgate Mall in Elizabeth
City. Participating counties include:
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates,
Pasquotank and Perquimans.
Home Economics Extension
Agents from each of the above coun
ties will be on hand with exhibits on:
Kitchen Planning, Food Substitu
tions, Diet Analysis, Household
Smarts, Fashion Analysis and Op
tions, Stress Management, Toys for
Children, Window Treatments and
educational videos and computer
programs. The Extension Homemak
ers clubs will have exhibits on family
record keeping, membership and
county club activities and educatio
nal programs. Extension Home
maker members wil be on hand to an
swer any questions concerning their
organization and educational pro
grams. 4-H youth will also have an
exhibit on their cumulative and pro
ject book subject area.
Home Care Benefit Plan
? Covers expenses for Home Recuperation after hospital stay ? whether at your home or
with relatives of friends
? Benefits are payable in conjunction with the DRG System (Diagnostic Related Groups)
? the more severe the medical condition the more this plan will pay
? Pays up to *6,792 for one unit of coverage ? four units of coverage can be selected to
provide up to '27,168 for any one illness or injury
? Benefits are payable after only 1-3 days of hospital stay, depending on the DRG
? Covers all services for which your Home Health Care Provider is licensed to provide
including:
? Nursing Care ? RN, LVN or LPN
? Physical Theraph
? Occupational Tnerapy
? Speech Therapy
? Home Health Aide
? Medical-Social Services
? Homemaker Services
? Nutritionist Services
? Hosice Care
A 5? m - ? . Mk ...
A?ds Eye care...Prosthetic Dnip...Dental Care. including...Prescription Drugs...Physical...Hearing
ures that tell us the use of sugar sub
stitutes has tripled since 1975 and the
sale of diet soft drinks has increased
signficantly, too
So what's going on? Why haven't
artificial sweeteners been more ef
fective in helping us keep our weight
under control? Well one theory says
individuals need a specific number of
calories each day? and the body isn't
tricked by substitutions.
Another theory says artificial
sweeteners increase a person's appe
tite by prompting a craving for car
bohydrates.
Still another possible explanation
is that dieters apply their "saveil"
calories to extra helpings of fooH. I
So right now the evidence neSSer
proves nor disapproves th?? effective
ness of artificial sweeteners in
weight loss But we do know most
people won't lose weight unless ffiey
make important changes in theif gat
ing and exercise habits.
And contrary to popular beliefVjeat
ing a moderate amount of sugar isn't
harmful ?especially if you combine
it with a variety of foods that will pro
vide the nutrients you need each $i,v 4
WHEN YOU BUY
ANY OF SEVEN
GE EXCLUSIVE
DISPENSER
REFRIGERATORS
THAT DELIVER ;j
ICE CUBES OR
CRUSHED ICE *
THROUGH THE
DOOR.