December 3, 2007



January 25, 2010

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At House of Raeford Farms, Inc., one of the top ten largest poultry processors in the nation, we provide chicken and turkey products to the foodservice, retail, and export markets. We are a family-owned and operated company based out of Rose Hill, North Carolina with additional facilities located in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. We take pride in our workforce which numbers over 6,000, and we are committed to protecting and maintaining the health and safety of our employees. House of Raeford: The one with Real taste

Washington NEWS

Tobacco Meets with Solicitor General: Tobacco industry lawyers met privately with Solicitor General Elena Kagan to discuss the government's lastest attempt to extract billions from the tobacco companies. Four cigarette makers that control nearly 90 percent of U.S. retail cigarette sales have until Feb. 19 to persuade the government not to go to the Supreme Court and ask the justices to step into a landmark 10-year-old racketeering lawsuit. In 2006, a judge ruled that the industry concealed the dangers of smoking for decades. Despite that finding, lower courts have said the government is not entitled to collect $280 billion in past profits or $14 billion for a national campaign to curb smoking. As part of any effort to convince the government that it should skip a trip to the Supreme Court, it is speculated that the tobacco companies may drop plans to ask the justices to overturn the ruling that the industry engaged in racketeering.

Legislative NEWS

Health Reform "Protection": Legislative Republican leaders unveiled a proposal Tuesday that they contend would "protect" state residents from Democratic health care reform proposals in Congress. They said they intend to push a bill during this year's legislative session that would declare that the federal government could not force state residents to buy health insurance. The bill has virtually no chance of passage this year because Democrats, who control both chambers, are unlikely to give the bill a hearing.

NC State Representative Selected to Replace Rand: North Carolina State Rep. Margaret Dickson has been elected to fill the unexpired term of former Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand. An executive committee of four Democrats living in Senate District 19 elected Dickson by a unanimous vote.

Campaign NEWS

US Supreme Court Ruling Will Affect NC Elections: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday giving businesses and unions more ability to influence federal elections also stands to increase their sway in NC for state and legislative elections. North Carolina has a law similar to a federal one that had barred corporations and unions from using money from their general treasuries to produce and run campaign ads to endorse or oppose a candidate. The state law, which also applies to insurance companies, now appears unenforceable given that a majority of the justices struck down the federal law on grounds of protecting political speech, State Board of Elections executive director Gary Bartlett said. "It will take several readings and meetings with different people to try to understand the full meaning of the decision," Bartlett said, but "it will certainly change the landscape in terms of who gives and the impact."

NC's Butterfield Endorses Lewis in Senate Bid: Democratic Rep. G.K. Butterfield has endorsed Chapel Hill attorney Ken Lewis in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

Justus Won’t Be Running: Rep. Carolyn Justus has announced that she won't be seeking re-election this year. Justus, R-Henderson, said she is ready to spend more time with her children after living out of her suitcase for years during legislative sessions. Henderson County commissioner Chuck McGrady said he is considering a bid to succeed Justus.

Fayetteville City Councilman to Run for Dickson's Seat: Fayetteville City Councilman Valencia Applewhite has announced plans to run for the House seat being vacated by Margaret Dickson, who will soon replace Tony Rand in the Senate.

Candidates for Senate: Sen. Tom Apodaca has announced that he is running for re-election this year for District 48, which represents Henderson, Polk, and part of Buncombe County. Fern Shubert announced that she will run for the Senate District 35. Shubert, a Republican, served in the House for two terms from 1995 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2002. She then served in the Senate until 2004. Shubert is seeking the seat now held by Republican Sen. Eddie Goodall, who has said he is not running for re-election. Republican Bill Rabon, a Brunswick County veterinarian, has announced plans to run for the Senate seat that represents District 8 and is now held by R.C. Soles, who has said he is not seeking re-election.

Goodall, Blackwood to Leave NC Legislature: Two Republicans lawmakers, Sen. Eddie Goodall and Rep. Curtis Blackwood, have decided not to run for re-election to the North Carolina General Assembly. Both Goodall and Blackwood are from Union County.

Commodity NEWS

FDA to Study Cigarette Ingredients: In June, tobacco companies must tell the FDA their formulas for the first time. Manufacturers also will have to turn over any studies they've done on the effects of the ingredients. The new information will help the FDA determine which ingredients might also make tobacco more harmful or addictive. It will also use the data to develop standards for tobacco products and could ban some ingredients or combinations.

Tobacco Production Up 3 Percent: U.S. all tobacco production for 2009 totaled 823 million pounds, 1 percent above the Oct. 1 forecast and up 3 percent from 2008. Flue cured tobacco production totaled 526 million pounds, 2 percent above the previous forecast and 5 percent greater than last year. Harvested area totaled 224,000 acres in 2009, slightly above the Oct. 1 forecast and a year ago. Acreage in North Carolina and Virginia increased from last year, while acreage decreased in all other flue cured States.

CBS to Air Story on Antibiotic Use in Livestock and Poultry: The CBS Evening News plans to air a story on antibiotic use in livestock and poultry production. For the story, CBS anchor Katie Couric visited Koch's Turkey Farm in Tamaqua, Pa. and is expected to include footage of Applegate Farms, a New Jersey producer of antibiotic-free, ready-to-eat foods including deli meats, bacon and hot dogs.

Business NEWS

House of Raeford Names VP and GM of Turkey Operations: The board of directors of Rose Hill, N.C.-based poultry processor House of Raeford Farms Inc. has appointed Robert A. "Bob" Wright as vice president and general manager, turkey operations. A 27-year veteran of the food industry, Wright most recently was chief operating officer of Pilgrim's Pride Inc.

Food Company Expanding NC Plant, Adding 500 Jobs: A national producer of prepared foods is expanding a North Carolina plant and plans to create 500 jobs. Reser's Fine Foods Inc. will create the jobs over the next five years at the Halifax Industrial Center in Halifax County. The Beaverton, Ore.-based company makes prepared salads, dips, side dishes and other products under a variety of brand names.

University NEWS

Head of NCSU's Animal Science Department Named: Dr. M. Todd See has been named head of the Animal Science Department in NCSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. A professor in the department since 2004, See had served as interim department head since July 2008. He currently serves as the liaison between N.C. State University and numerous commodity groups, including the North Carolina Pork Council, National Swine Improvement Federation, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council and National Swine Registry.

Nielsen and Oblinger Return to NCSU: Jim Oblinger, a former chancellor of North Carolina State University, and Larry Nielsen, a former provost, have rejoined the university's faculty. The pair resigned last year over their roles in the university's hiring of former state first lady Mary Easley. Each received a six-month leave to prepare to return to teaching. Oblinger began work a little more than two weeks ago at NCSU's building on the new North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. Nielsen, meanwhile, has carved out a more traditional role in the Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources. He has created a new course, Conservation of Natural Resources, that offers a broad look at conservation.

Dearmon Tapped to Lead Dept. of Communication Services: A 33-year veteran of multimedia communications at NCSU has been named interim head of the Dept. of Communication Services in N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Mark Dearmon, who has led the department’s multimedia team for 17 years, succeeds Dee Shore, who served as head of the department since 2004.

USDA NEWS

Web-Based Disaster Program Payment Calculator to Help Producers with Business Planning: USDA now has a web-based 2008 crop program payment calculator to help producers calculate the financial benefits they may receive under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program. The calculator is available at fsa.sure.

Tobacco Transition Program Payments: USDA announced that it will issuing more than $950 million in Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP) payments to quota holders and producers in 2010. Quota holders and producers can enter into successor-in-interest contracts beginning Jan. 19, 2010, which will enable them to receive lump-sum payments by selling their remaining four TTPP payments.

NCDA NEWS

Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council Named, Will Meet: The General Assembly adopted legislation creating the council last summer. The General Assembly charged the council to focus its work on four subjects: health and wellness, hunger and food access, economic development, and preservation of farmlands and water resources. Go to localfood/memberlist.htm for a complete list of members. The group will have its first meeting on Feb. 2 @2 p.m. at the NC State Fairgrounds, Martin Building.

People NEWS

Former Guilford County Senator Dies: Former Sen. Rachel Gray died Tuesday. She was 79. Gray, a Democrat, represented Guilford County from 1976 to 1984. Prior to that, she held a seat on the High Point City Council.

Mark Your Calendar

The N.C. Environmental Management Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. to gather comments on the proposed issuance of a federal discharge permit for the Blue Ridge Paper Products facility in Canton, Tuscola High School, 564 Tuscola Rd., Waynesville.

The Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m., Soundside Hall meeting room at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores. Contact: Jeff Hudson, 733-2578.

2010 NC Pork Conference will be held Feb. 4th-5th in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show. . For more information, please contact Ann Edmondson at NCPC by calling 919-781-0361 or you may email her at ann@.  You may also go to to register online.

The Fifth Annual Ag Development Forum will be held Thursday, Feb. 4 at the State Fairgrounds. The economic outlook for animal agriculture and federal policy issues will be the chief topics. Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler also will deliver his annual State of Agriculture address during the forum. Admission is free, and lunch will be provided. Registration is requested by Jan. 25. To register, go to agforum or call Christina Waggett at (919) 733-7125.

N.C. Pecan Growers Association’s meeting, workshop and orchard tour will be held Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Lenoir County Center, 1791 Highway 11/55 in Kinston. The event is open to anyone involved, or interested, in pecan farming. Cost is $15, and includes lunch. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For more info, contact Laurie Wood, NCDA&CS marketing specialist, at (910) 532-4208 or e-mail at laurie.wood@, or Bill Bunn, NCPGA president, at (919) 815-5764 or e-mail at carya@.

The Fourth Annual Agritourism Networking Association Winter Conference will be held Feb. 18 and 19 at the City Hotel and Bistro on Greenville Boulevard in Greenville. The conference is designed for agritourism entrepreneurs and others who may be interested in starting an agritourism venture. Early registration by Feb. 1 is $65 for ANA members and $75 for non-members. The registration fee increases to $85 after Feb.1. For more info go to agritourism.

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