Farming Coverage

Regenerative farming taking root in Mount Olive

An old soil-rich farming practice called regenerative farming is making a comeback and having a positive impact on a family farm in Mount Olive.

Regenerative farming: Old soil-focused practice saves Mount Olive family farm

An old soil-rich farming practice called regenerative farming is making a comeback and having a positive impact on a family farm in Mount Olive.

Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter

Local farmers up early to protect crops from cold temperatures

Monday morning, farmers here at Page Farms are protecting their crops from these cold temperatures.

Warmer weather stunts local food supply

The El Niño climate pattern has caused above normal temperatures throughout the 2023-2024 winter season.

Derrah Getter, 2024 CBC-UNC Diversity Fellow

Transforming food systems with insect farms

British company Entocycle is exploring the potential of feeding livestock bugs instead of grains to address the climate crisis

Edgecombe County nonprofit creates community through grant funding

Hill Family Farm is one of the few spaces where people can gather in Edgecombe County for events that connect them with the community.

Heidi Kirk, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Troxler: NC farms under threat from rapid growth

North Carolina could lose as much as a fifth of its farmland to development by 2040. That was the warning Thursday from state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, who said the state needs to do more to preserve farmland now.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

National security, food security or knee-jerk reaction? WRAL Investigates push to protect NC farmland from foreign buyers

Federal and state lawmakers are debating legislation that would keep some foreign countries from buying farmland in the United States. The laws also aim to protect land near U.S. military bases.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL Investigates reporter

How NC farmers could be hurt by proposed legislation to fight national security risks

Approximately 790,000 acres of North Carolina farmland are foreign-owned. WRAL Investigates why proposed legislation to prevent national security risks from countries like China, Russia, and North Korea could potentially hurt farmers.

It's apple season. Here's where to get the pick of the crop

Whether you prefer to pick, sample or celebrate, it's apple season in North Carolina

Tandra Wilkerson, WRAL contributor

9 ways to enjoy autumn in the Triangle

Here are the best ways to enjoy autumn in the Triangle - suitable for all ages with options for rain or shine.

Nakya Carter, WRAL contributor

Intense heat in July affecting state's agricultural industry, farmers say

Intense heat throughout the month of July has made things particularly difficult for farmers at the State Farmers Market, increasing the risk of damage to their corn crops.

Eric Miller, WRAL anchor/reporter

Recent heat impact on agricultural industry

Farmers at the State Farmer's Market told Eric Miller the weather has been particularly tough on corn and okra this year.

NC could be on pace to lose 1.4 million acres of farmland by 2040

According to the National Farmland Trust, which conducted a study on states at risk of losing farmland, Texas is The only other state close to losing that much farmland.

Dairy farmers dealing with extreme heat try to keep the milk flowing

On Monday, we saw a tier of heat that's dangerous for people and animals. Those hot temperatures can be a big problem for dairy cows.

Eric Miller, WRAL multmedia journalist

California law imposes new limits on pork producers in NC

A recent decision by the United States Supreme Court could impact pig farmers in North Carolina. The court upheld a California law that bans the sale of pork in California from farms that confine pregnant pigs in gestation crates.

Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter

Juneteenth panel of Black farmers focuses on keeping farming in the family

A special Juneteenth gathering in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) highlighted the need for more black farmers. A panel of growers came to discuss the need to inspire more generations of young black growers.

Juneteenth farmers panel discusses future of Black growers and their families

A special "Juneteenth" gathering in the Research Triangle Park highlighted the need for more Black farmers. A panel of growers came to discuss the need to inspire more generations of young Black growers.

Rick Armstrong, WRAL Enterprise Multimedia Journalist

Farm bill, loosening wetlands protections, clears NC House

The bill says state regulators can't adopt more stringent protections than federal law. Combined with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, it may open millions of acres to development.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Orange County farm helps refugee families plant new roots

A farm in Orange County is helping refugees from Burma make their home here in North Carolina.

'A new life:' North Carolina soil provides food, life, work to refugee farmers from Asia

A farm in Orange County is helping refugees from Burma make their home here in North Carolina.

Renee Chou, WRAL anchor

NC lawmakers vote to ban China, Russia from buying up farmland

Banning China and other US enemies from buying up farmland, or property near military bases, is an idea gaining popularity in numerous states including North Carolina.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Researchers face pressure to modify crops under extreme weather

In a world many scientists say is facing the worsening effects of climate change, researchers are under mounting pressure to modify crops.

NC farm bill tinkers with hog waste, water rules

The bill, likely to move this week, also forbids surprise inspections at veterinary clinics, offers new protections for trout streams and requires schools to offer muscadine juice.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Moore County peach farmers worry that on-and-off cold temps could hurt crop

The on-and-off cold spells going on right now in North Carolina are particularly dangerous for some crops.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter