January 25, 2010
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
Campaign NEWS
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 reelection.
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.
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
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
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.
Commodity NEWS
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 www.fsa.usda.gov/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 www.ncagr.gov/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@ncpork.org. You may also go to
www.ncpork.org 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 www.ncagr.gov/agforum or call Christina Waggett at (919) 7337125.
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@ncagr.gov, or Bill Bunn, NCPGA president, at (919)
815-5764 or e-mail at carya@intrex.net.
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
www.ncagr.gov/agritourism.