Category Archives: Top Agriculture News
One year later, western North Carolina still recovers from Hurricane Helene
SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (NCN News) - It has been one year since the worst storm to ever hit North Carolina devastated the western part of the state.Hurricane Helene was not even on the list of storms to wor...
Sep 25, 2025
Russian sage: Not from Russia, but perfect for NC gardens
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerI planted some Russian Sage (Salvia yangii) decades ago. Alas, I can't remember when it faded into oblivion. It is really not native to Russia and hails from Central...
Sep 24, 2025
Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina a year ago. Some students never returned to school
By MAKIYA SEMINERA of The Associated Press and LAURA HACKETT and JOSE SANDOVAL of Blue Ridge Public Radio SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) - When 12-year-old Natalie Briggs visited the ruins of her home after Hur...
Sep 19, 2025
Red and black chokeberries thrive in North Carolina landscapes
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) are versatile shrubs native to North Carolina. I have seen many of the red varieties, ...
Sep 14, 2025
Bottlebrush blooms, fall color make Clethra a versatile shrub
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerI have many different species of plants in my landscape. However, I do not own a "Clethra alnifolia" or "sweet pepper bush" or "summersweet". I bet if I were to ask ...
Sep 07, 2025
Bottlebrush blooms, fall color make Clethra a versatile shrub
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have many different species of plants in my landscape. However, I do not own a "Clethra alnifolia" or "sweet pepper bush" or "summersweet". I bet if I were to ask...
Sep 07, 2025
Republican North Carolina state Sen. Bobby Hanig announces bid to unseat Democrat Don Davis in 2026
POWELLS POINT, N.C. (AP) - A coastal North Carolina legislator announced his bid on Wednesday for a U.S. House seat next year, looking to unseat Democratic incumbent Don Davis in what is now the state...
Sep 03, 2025
Some FEMA staff are put on leave after signing dissent letter
By GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Associated Press Some employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who signed a public letter of dissent earlier this week were put on administrative leave Tuesday ev...
Aug 27, 2025
Find zen in your garden with zinnias
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener My mother-in-law, Jean Reeves, was smart, hard-working, industrious, caring and pretty. She loved gardening, and taught her equally pretty daughters about vegetable...
Aug 24, 2025
Federal officials to take over inspections when troubled Boar's Head plant reopens
By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer Federal inspectors will assume direct oversight of a troubled Boar's Head deli meat plant when it reopens after last year's deadly listeria outbreak, U.S. Agriculture...
Aug 24, 2025