Heather Overton
A North Carolina native, Heather Overton started interning for the N.C. State Fair while finishing up her degree in Communications at N.C. State University. She then worked full time from 2000 to 2006 as a public information officer for the N.C. State Fair division. She returned to work for the agriculture department in July of 2013 in the Public Affairs division.
May is recognized as Mental Health Month
A recent report from the Government Accountability Office points to an increase in the number of people showing signs of anxiety or depression from 2019 to 2020; from 11% to 38%. No doubt COVID-19 has added extra stress to everyday
N.C. State Fair scholarship recipients selected for 2021-2022 school year.
25 college students were recently notified they received $1,000 scholarships through the N.C. State Fair Livestock Scholarship program. In addition, another student received the $1,500 Farm Credit Association of N.C. Premier Scholarship. In total, $27,500 was awarded for higher education
Phase 3 of IMPEC grants being offered. A total of $6 million available this round for projects aimed at Increasing Meat Production Efficiency and Capacity.
Summary: Independent meat and seafood processors have until May 14 to apply for Phase 3 of the Increasing Meat Production, Efficiency and Capacity grant program. A total of $6 million is available through the program, and can include value-added projects.
NCDA&CS launches farmworker quarantine reimbursement program for the 2021 growing season.
Summary: New NCDA&CS program will reimburse growers for food and lodging expenses for H2A farmworkers who must quarantine due to COVID-19. The $2 million in funding for the program comes through federal CARES Act money distributed to states. I am
NC poised to be a leader in bioenergy
In 2018, North Carolina produced its first natural gas. This gas came from pig farms. Eastern North Carolina is dotted with pig farms, with the state ranking second in the United States in the production of hogs. It is
Spring ushers in strawberry season
The recent cold temperatures kept strawberry growers busy frost protecting their plants, but it appears to have been successful. Fresh strawberries are starting to come in now in Eastern counties, with more expected over the next two weeks. Summary of
Regional Agronomists provide April crop updates
With a long, wet winter and now Easter behind us, field work and land preparation for the 2021 crop is in full swing. With the soils drying out over the past week, many acres have been tilled and/or burndown herbicides
Spring activities are under way or planned at farms across the state. Events and activities include pick-your-own strawberries, farm dinners, workshops, country stores, farm tours, yoga with llamas or goats, wine tastings, and more.
The spring agritourism season is getting under way now with a variety of activities planned at farms across the state. There’s no shortage of fun-on-the farm activities – pick-your own flowers and strawberries, farm-fresh foods and country stores, yoga with
Social media series introducing a farmer a week wraps up one-year run. More stories to come.
The department has reached the one-year mark on a social media series introducing followers to North Carolina farmers. It’s been a popular feature so we plan to continue it through July and will then launch a follow-up series introducing people
Women at Work
March is celebrated as National Women’s Month, a time to recognize the many accomplishments of women. There’s a common misconception that agriculture is a male-driven field. In North Carolina, there’s many trail-blazing women that are not only making their impact