December 3, 2007



October 10, 2011

Headquartered in Charlotte, Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy-services company engaged primarily in the distribution of natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural utility customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including more than 60,000 customers of municipal gas systems that are supplied with natural gas from Piedmont. Piedmont’s gas delivery system consists of more than 22,000 miles of distribution pipelines and 2,600 miles of transmission pipelines in its three-state service territory, and three on-system gas storage facilities that are used to help meet peak demand. Piedmont expanded operations into eastern North Carolina in 2003 with its acquisition of North Carolina Natural Gas and Eastern North Carolina Natural Gas from Progress Energy. Piedmont now provides clean-burning, efficient natural gas to more than 700,000 North Carolina customers from the mountains to the coast. Piedmont is proud to be a major energy supplier to agribusiness in North Carolina.

Washington NEWS

Chinese Currency Bill Set for Vote: Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and a bipartisan group of Senators cosponsored Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 U.S. to make changes to U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation. On Tuesday, the Senate voted on cloture on the bill by a vote of 62 – 38. A final Senate vote on the bill is expected next week.

Free Trade Agreements Set for Vote: The U.S. Senate and House plan to vote on the three free trade agreements on Wednesday, Oct. 12. The Colombia, Panama, and South Korea FTAs have been though Senate and House committees to ensure they’ll be ready for votes on Wednesday. The deals are expected to pass.

NC Ag Commissioner: Pending Free Trade Agreements will Impact North Carolina: N.C. Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler talks each week with Rhonda Garrison, Ag News Director with the Southern Farm Network, to discuss “Today’s Topic.” Click here for more.

Foxx named “Taxpayer Hero” by Citizens Against Government Waste: Taxpayer watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste has named Congresswoman Virginia Foxx a “Taxpayer Hero” for her record of voting to protect taxpayers, cut spending and to oppose wasteful government expenditures.  Foxx received a 98% score in the group’s ratings, which was the highest score in the N.C. congressional delegation.

Jones Supports Ag Transportation Bill: Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) has signed on as a cosponsor of a bill that clarifies Section 229(a)(1) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, which deals with the transportation of ag commodities and farm supplies. Currently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) only allows for the transportation of a single farm supply – anhydrous ammonia – from any distribution point to a local farm retailer or to the ultimate consumer. This severely hinders the flexibility farmers need during planting and harvesting seasons.  FMCSA has recognized the need for an exemption to their motor carrier regulations. This legislation will reinforce existing law by clarifying that a driver transporting farm supplies from source to retail, source to farm, and retail to farm is included in the Ag Hours-Of-Service exemption. 

Burr to Run for Whip: Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has plans to run for Republican Whip, a position currently held by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). Burr is now serving as Chief Deputy Whip and will have to campaign against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) for the post.

Animal Activism NEWS

It’s Shark Week for the Animal-Rights Lobby: PETA is known for many things, but good taste? Not one of them. The latest case in point: a billboard slated to go up in Sarasota that mocks a local man who was severely bitten in the thigh by a bull shark , landing him in intensive care. The ad features a shark gnawing on a human leg with the tagline, “Payback is hell. Go vegan.” For more of this story, click here.

Immigration NEWS

Free E-Verify Webinar: October Sessions Now Available: Get your questions about E-Verify answered in a free, state-of-the-art, live webinar. Visit USCIS’ Webinar Webpage for October 2011 sessions.

Immigrant Population at Record 40 Million in 2010: New Center for Immigration Studies' analysis of Census Bureau data shows the nation’s immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached 40 million in 2010, the highest number in American history. Nearly 14 million new immigrants (legal and illegal) settled in the country from 2000 to 2010, making it the highest decade of immigration in American history. The nation’s immigrant population has doubled since 1990, nearly tripled since 1980, and quadrupled since 1970 when it stood at 9.7 million. Overall the immigrant population grew 28 percent between 2000 and 2010. But it grew at more than twice the national rate in: Alabama (92%), South Carolina (88%), Tennessee (82%), Arkansas (79%), Kentucky (75%), North Carolina (67%), South Dakota (65%), Georgia (63%), Indiana (61%), Nevada (61%), Delaware (60%), Virginia (60%), and Oklahoma (57%). To read the entire report, go to .

Campaign NEWS

Another Challenger for Kissell: Rep. Larry Kissell (N.C.-8th) may have another challenger. State Rep. Fred Steen (R-N.C.) said he’s considering jumping in the growing field of Republican contenders for Kissell’s seat.

Republican Will Run for Buncombe House Seat: Republican Nathan Ramsey, former chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, announced his plans to run for the District 115 state seat now held by Democrat Patsy Keever. Ramsey operates a dairy farm and currently practices law. The district includes eastern Buncombe County and now leans more Republican since the new district lines removed Asheville from the district.

McCrory Will Announce Run in 2012: Republican Pat McCrory said he plans to announce his run for governor after the first of the year. McCrory said that campaigns have become too long and costly and wants to take the time to get to know North Carolinians.

Pittman to Replace Rep. Jeff Barnhart: Cabarrus County Republican leaders picked Larry Pittman to replace state Rep. Jeff Barnhart, who resigned his House seat at the end of the session earlier this year. Pittman lost to Barnhart in the 2010 primary. Pittman works for Snyder Packaging in Concord.

Meadows to Challenge Shuler: Mark Meadows, a Jackson County businessman, announced his run for the U.S. House seat currently held by Democrat Heath Shuler. Meadows, a Republican, currently serves on the state and local level as a member of the Republican Party Executive Committee.

Palin, Christie Not Running: Sarah Palin said she will not run for president. Palin said she can have more influence outside the race and will help constitutional conservatives claim seats around the U.S. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has laid rumors to rest with his announcement that he will not run for president either. Christie said that it’s not his time to run for the White House.

People NEWS

N.C. Tobacco Leader Dies: Charlie B. King, who served as secretary-treasurer of Tobacco Associates, died last week from cancer. Charlie grew up in southern Wake County on a tobacco farm.  He graduated with an engineering degree from NCSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and served for more than 30 years as an executive with Tobacco Associates.

N.C. Poultry Leaders Elected to National Chicken Council: Newly elected members of the National Chicken Council's Executive Committee and Board of Directors were announced at the trade association's annual conference last week. Several members from N.C. were elected. Don Taber, House of Raeford, Rose Hill, N.C., was elected to a one-year term on the Executive Committee. Elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors were: Joe DePippo, Hain Pure Protein Corporation, Brevard, N.C.; Robert Johnson, House of Raeford, Rose Hill, N.C..

D. Paul Lunn Named CVM Dean: Dr. D. Paul Lunn, professor of equine medicine and head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU, effective Feb. 15, 2012. Dr. Lunn is an expert in equine immunology and infectious disease. His lab researches equine influenza and equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). Dr. David Bristol, Associate Dean and Director of Academic Affairs, has been serving as the Interim Dean of the CVM since 2009.

Business NEWS

Sweet Potato Processor Gets Green Light From Commissioners: The Columbus County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution that could provide $115,000 for Nice Blends to relocate a sweet potato processing facility from New York to Whiteville. Nice Blends is already on schedule to begin manufacturing at the Southeastern Industrial Park soon but needs to make improvements to the facility to hire additional employees. The improvements are estimated to cost $230,000. State funds for a building reuse program administered by the North Carolina Rural Center could pay for half of those costs now that the commissioners have passed the resolution.

Hagan & McCain Introduce Bipartisan Foreign Earnings Reinvestment Act: U.S. Senators Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Foreign Earnings Reinvestment Act. The bill would trigger the flow of a trillion dollars back into the American economy by temporarily allowing companies to return profits earned overseas to the U.S. at a temporarily reduced tax rate. Under the current tax structure, if U.S. companies wish to bring overseas earnings back to the U.S., they must pay a 35 percent tax rate - one of the highest rates among industrialized countries. As a result, there is an estimated one trillion dollars trapped abroad that could be going to work in the U.S. economy. The bill offers American companies the chance to temporarily bring back overseas earnings to the U.S. at an effective rate of 8.75 percent. As an incentive to create jobs, the Foreign Earnings Reinvestment Act allows firms to further lower the tax rate they pay to 5.25 % if the companies grow their domestic payroll during 2012. Additionally, the bill discourages firms from reducing employment by including in a company's gross income calculation a $75,000 per full time position that is eliminated.

Environmental NEWS

Supreme Court Denies House of Raeford’s Appeal: House of Raeford’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court has been denied. The company faces federal charges of releasing untreated wastewater from a turkey processing facility in Raeford, N.C. into a municipal water system. House of Raeford had appealed because the company has already paid nearly $1 million in civil fines and penalties and argued that the federal charges equal double jeopardy. Because of the Supreme Court’s denial, the case can be heard in a N.C. federal district court.

Commodity NEWS

N.C. Receives Specialty Crop Grant: USDA awarded 55 specialty crop block grants to help strengthen the market for specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. NCDA&CS received $1,206,771.88.

McIntyre Announces Bill to Help N.C. Pork and Poultry Farmers: Congressman Mike McIntyre joined members of the U.S. House Ag Committee in announcing the introduction of bi-partisan legislation to help pork and poultry farmers. “Record high corn prices have North Carolina pork and poultry producers facing some challenging times. This legislation will help them, and I urge the Congress to quickly pass this important measure.” Specifically, the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) Flexibility Act would grant a partial waiver to the RFS to release pressure placed on corn prices from the demand in energy production. 

Eggs Set Drop: Commercial hatcheries set 183 million eggs, a 7 percent drop, for the week ending Oct. 1. USDA reported that average hatchability was 85 percent. Broiler growers placed 155 million chicks, a 9 percent drop. Cumulative placements dropped 2 percent to 6.55 billion from Jan. 2, 2011 through Oct. 1, 2011.

USDA NEWS

Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates: The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced interest rates for October 2011. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for October 2011 is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 in September 2011. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during October 2011 is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 in September 2011. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for October 2011 are as follows: 1.500 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 1.875 in September 2011; 2.125 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 2.500 in September 2011 and; 2.375 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 2.875 percent in September 2011. The maximum discount rate applicable for October 2011 for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program is 5 percent, unchanged from September 2011.

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To see all upcoming events - click here for the AgCalendar.

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