Source:  NCDA&CS, 4/7/11
 

The N.C. Board of Agriculture will meet Wednesday, April 13, at 3:30 p.m. in the Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds. The meeting is open to the public.

The following items will be on the agenda:
• The board will consider a request from Sanderson Farms for exemption from the state inspection fee on animal feed. State law requires manufacturers of animal feed to register their products with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and pay a fee of 12 cents per ton. The law allows exemption from the fee for companies that manufacture feed for use by their contract growers. Sanderson Farms manufactures feed for growers who raise poultry for the company.

• The board will consider a request by the N.C. Farm Bureau, N.C. State Grange and N.C. Agricultural Foundation to conduct a referendum to continue Nickels for Know-How, which provides funding for agricultural research. If the board approves the referendum, farmers will be able to vote on whether to continue assessing themselves 15 cents per ton of commercial feed and fertilizer they purchase.

• The board will consider a request from the N.C. Small Grain Growers Association to conduct  referendum on continuing a half-percent assessment on sales of canola for six years. The assessment supports research and development efforts for the crop.

The Board of Agriculture is a policy-making body that adopts regulations for many of the programs administered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Its 10 members are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.