Brandon Herring
Brandon joined the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in September of 2019 after more than 15 years as a reporter, anchor, photographer and producer in local TV news. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Growing up, Brandon spent many summers in tobacco fields helping on the family farm just east of Lumberton. He started out driving the tractor in front of the harvester at about age 7, and by the summers in college was cropping and racking tobacco. His father, cousin, mother and sister still keep the farm going. While they no longer grow tobacco, several other field crops remain, along with a peach orchard and roadside produce market.
N.C. military veteran helps others follow him into farming
The first week of March is “National Invest in Veterans Week” – an initiative launched in 2017 “to empower the public to invest in the veteran population.” Veterans make up about ten percent of owners in American agriculture, forestry and
NCDA&CS employees recognized for responding to COVID-19 uncertainties
Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler recently recognized 19 employees* with the department’s Excellence in Team Accomplishment Award. The employees work across two sections** of the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division. They are specifically either part of the Licensing, Certification
Even in winter, crews keep busy on agricultural research stations
A farmer’s work is never done, even in what’s sometimes called the “dead of winter.” The same is true for North Carolina’s agricultural research stations. They operate as working farms with a platform for agricultural research. So even if there’s
Rob Montague recognized as NCDA&CS Employee of the Year
Robert “Rob” Montague’s involvement in the local community and his commitment to respond to wildfire emergencies – plus many other local emergencies – are major reasons he was recently recognized as the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020
With “Black Cotton,” N.C. farmer works to revamp the impression of Black Americans in cotton
Julius Tillery is proud of his family’s history and his heritage of Black farmers in Northampton County, but he’s much more focused on the future than the past. He sees his company Black Cotton as a way to revamp the
Pandemic prompts installation of ‘air cleaning technology’ in fairgrounds buildings
Several buildings on the grounds of the N.C. State Fair and the N.C. Mountain State Fair/WNC Agricultural Center now have advanced technology added to their air filtration systems. The technology comes with new equipment that’s been installed with health and
More than ever, “Bob’s List” helps school nutrition programs feed children
As previously mentioned on this blog, the Food Distribution Division was busier than ever in 2020. An extra way the division provides food to schools has also been busier than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s called Bob’s List, and
Division recognized for keeping food safe and available during extraordinary times
Sometimes extraordinary actions are obvious – a passerby saving someone from a burning building or a stranger volunteering to donate a kidney to someone in need. The list of good deeds could be endless. However, sometimes you have to look
Mandatory auxin training will be different in 2021
Just like many things since March of 2020, changes are in store for North Carolina’s mandatory auxin herbicide training in the coming year. Instead of large in-person seminars, the training will be given through a screen, whether that be a
Food Distribution Division meets challenge of getting more food to more people
To say the NCDA&CS Food Distribution Division has had two monumental years may seem like a bit of exaggeration. The numbers make it clear though. Division director Gary Gay says the division has nearly doubled the amount of food its