North Carolina

Cotton Acres Projected to Slide Again in 2026 as Economic Pressures Mount

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:02:53 GMT

The U.S. cotton industry is bracing for another year of contraction as a “perfect storm” of high production costs, sluggish global demand, and stiff competition from alternative crops pushes producers to rethink their acreage.

According to the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) 45th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey , U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.0 million cotton acres this spring, a 3.2% decline from 2025. While a 3% dip might seem modest in isolation, it follows a massive 17% reduction in acreage last year, signaling a sustained and sobering period of tough economic times for the industry.

And considering cotton producers lost, on average, more than $300 per acre last year, another year of declining acreage comes as little surprise to those in the industry, as some fear if the economist situation doesn’t change for cotton, more producers could exit farming in 2026.

The Economic Squeeze: Why the Shift?

In a recent interview on AgriTalk with host Chip Flory, NCC President and CEO Dr. Gary Adams highlighted the mounting pressure on farm balance sheets.

“Times are tough,” Adams says. “Prices have been declining and costs of production have continued to stay at high levels. It really is starting to mount up on producers in terms of the balance sheet for their farming operations.”

The survey reflects a strategic shift across the Cotton Belt. With cotton prices struggling to compete with the current markets for corn and soybeans, many growers are opting for crops with lower overhead.

“In a lot of cases, they’re looking at soybeans as an alternative, in part because of its lower cost of production than what you see in cotton,” Adams notes. This “flight to safety” is a direct response to the high-risk, high-reward nature of cotton in an era of volatile input prices.

Farmers Are Walking Away From Cotton

For Charles Williams, a farmer in Crawfordsville, Ark., he’s seen what multiple years of losses can do to an industry. Cotton is a cornerstone crop in his area, with the infrastructure reliant upon that single crop. But growing cotton also comes with specialized, expensive equipment that’s become almost too costly to own, especially with today’s cotton prices.

“We’ll continue to plant some cotton, at least as much as we did last year,” he says. “Our production last year is half of what it historically is, so we’ll be 50% to 60%, maybe 65% of what we historically plant with cotton,” he says.

Because these farmers have cotton equipment to pay for, equipment that can only do one thing, which is pick cotton, walking away isn’t an easy choice. Williams also is an owner of a gin. So, he says he’s only planting enough cotton to justify the equipment and the gin, but not any more than that. Why? He simply can’t afford to.

Inside the Survey: A Coast-to-Coast Breakdown of 2026 Intentions

The NCC’s annual survey, a massive data-collection effort mailed to producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt in January, provides a granular look at how farmers are shifting their strategies. And when you break it down by region, it shows where the most severe economic pressures could be.

Mid-South: The Sharpest Decline

The Mid-South is bracing for the most dramatic shift, with total intentions down 20.6% to 1.2 million acres.

Arkansas & Missouri: These states are seeing the steepest cuts, with Arkansas down 30.3% and Missouri down 25.0%.
The Outlier: Louisiana stands against the trend, with growers expecting to plant 17.1% more cotton.

Southeast: A Broad Pullback

Respondents in the Southeast indicated a 4.9% decline in total acreage, falling to 1.6 million acres, with more of a shift toward corn and soybeans.

Georgia: Growers expect to reduce acreage by 3.6% to 805,000 acres—a historic low. This marks only the fourth time in 30 years that Georgia has dipped below the 1.1-million-acre threshold.
Significant Drops: Virginia leads the decline at 17.9%, followed by South Carolina (10.5%) and North Carolina (6.0%).

Southwest: A Patchwork of Growth

Bucking the national trend, Southwest growers intend to plant 1.6% more cotton.

Kansas & Oklahoma: Kansas is looking at a 9.6% increase at the expense of wheat and soybeans, while Oklahoma is charging ahead with a 15.7% increase.
Texas: The nation’s largest producer remains relatively flat with a 0.4% increase. However, internal shifts are happening: West Texas is reporting a slight uptick, while the Blacklands region intends to pivot toward sorghum.

The West: Upland Down, ELS Up

In the West, the story is a tale of two cottons. While Upland cotton acreage is expected to decline by 7.2%, with New Mexico seeing a sharp 17.6% drop. Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton is seeing a resurgence.

Looking Ahead: A New Safety Net With Long-Term Gains vs. Short-Term Pain

Despite the projected acreage drop, Adams points to several reasons for long-term optimism rooted in the latest Farm Bill provisions. The industry is just beginning to see the “heavy lifting” done by recent legislative wins, though the timing of the relief remains a challenge for growers facing immediate bills.

Key improvements to the safety net, according to Adams, include:

Reference Price Hikes: A 14% increase in reference prices for seed cotton under Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) programs.
Enhanced Insurance: Significant improvements to the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), including an increase in the premium subsidy to 80%.
Program Synergy: For the first time, growers can utilize these area-wide insurance products alongside PLC enrollment, providing a multi-layered defense against market drops.

“The combination of those two programs for 2026 and beyond will give growers better risk management, better price support, and a better safety net under them,” Adams explains.

However, there is a catch: the lag in payment distribution. Growers must navigate the 2026 planting season and its associated expenses before the support from the 2025 crop arrives this October.

Reclaiming the Market: “Plant, Not Plastic”

To combat the acreage slide and sagging prices, the NCC is aggressively pursuing new legislative and promotional avenues to bolster domestic and global demand.

The first is the “Buy American Cotton Act,” a proposal to offer tax credits to brands and retailers that document the use of U.S.-grown cotton.

“We purchase roughly 20 million bale equivalents of cotton textile products... but only about 4 million bales of that is actually U.S. cotton,” Adams says. The act aims to incentivize “dirt to shirt” production within the U.S., potentially reshoring a textile industry that has largely moved overseas.

The industry is also leaning into the sustainability movement with its “Plant, Not Plastic” campaign. This initiative targets the growing consumer concern over microplastics found in synthetic fibers like polyester.

“Cotton is a healthy alternative,” Adams says. He noted that the industry’s message is gaining traction at the highest levels, even reaching the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission, which recently highlighted the need for more study on the health impacts of synthetic microfibers.

Looking Ahead: The Path to Recovery for Cotton

While the 2026 outlook remains cautious, the industry is betting on a combination of legislative support and consumer education to turn the tide. By focusing on “nearshoring” opportunities in the Western Hemisphere and emphasizing cotton’s natural advantages over synthetics, the NCC hopes to create a more resilient market for the years to come.

The goal is to build demand at hone while changing behavior of brands and retailers. If they start using U.S. cotton instead of polyester or cotton from another country, there is hope for the future of cotton demand.

Why Machinery Pete Sees Used Tractor Values Coming on Strong, Plus Weekend Auctions To Watch

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:28:38 GMT

“Finding its footing” is the tag line Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson uses to describe the current state of the tractor segment in the farm equipment auction world.

Pete is seeing value stabilization come into play after the used tractor class weathered a major drop in auction pricing last fall. It’s a boomerang effect on the heels of an aggressive push of used late-model tractors to auction by equipment dealers at the end of 2024. By proactively managing inventories last year, Pete says, dealers now are in a better inventory position and used tractor prices are bouncing back.

“The number of auctions through the [end] of September was up 14.5% versus last year, too,” Pete says. “I think that’s going to increase through the end of the year into early ‘26, just with the way the winds are blowing. Even though the number of auctions is up, we’re finding this footing because of what dealers did last year on this newer late model stuff.”

Pete’s Pick of the Week shows used tractor prices are on the upswing:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Witcher Auctions two-day consignment sale in Arkansas last week, a like-new, full factory warrantied 2022 Massey Ferguson 4710 tractor with a loader (with only 5 operating hours!) sold for $45,495. That’s the highest price Pete has recorded in 2025 for a used 4710.

“There was a note on the Massey, and it just said, you know, the dude had bought it and then just, just didn’t use it,” Pete says. “And you know, it sounds funny – a two-year-old tractor with five hours on it – but I do run across those situations a fair amount more [often].”

A pair of tractors sold in a recent Big Iron online auction also caught Pete’s eye:

(Big Iron Auctions)

A 2024 John Deere 8R250 with 1,897 hours on it sold for $185,500. Pete says that’s the highest auction price all-time for a 8R250 with over 1,500 hours.

(Big Iron Auctions)

And a 2023 John Deere 6R155 4WD model with 693 hours sold for $167,500.

Upcoming Auctions

On Saturday, October 11 in North Carolina, Rich & Rich Auctioneers is hosting a “Carolina Red Dealer Inventory Reduction” sale that brings together machinery inventories from Case IH dealers, B&S Enterprises and Carolina Agri Power. Pete is keeping tabs on a low-hour, low-profile Farmall 105 A loader tractor featured in that sale.

Another notable sale Pete thinks may be worth your attention is also taking place on Saturday: the James R. Cash Auctions & Real Estate Jernigan Farms equipment auction near Springfield, Tenn. Pete is watching a John Deere 8130 tractor and a Claas LEXION 670 walker combine in that sale.

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Machinery Pete Goes Deep on Retro Farm Equipment With Pick of the Week

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:47:31 GMT

Whether it’s an old John Deere combine that grandpa ran for decades or a shiny orange Allis-Chalmers tractor that’s been in the family for generations, vintage farm equipment is a big draw on the auction circuit. The appeal of classic machinery is equal parts nostalgia, old-school craftsmanship and practicality.

This week’s Pete’s “Pick of the Week” selection is a pair of notable classic iron deals:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Rich & Rich Auctioneers sale in North Carolina, a narrow-front Farmall 806 tractor sold for a remarkable $16,000. That’s almost $10,000 over the average auction price, although Pete does mention that two similar 806s (one a rare front-assist model) sold for over $24,000 in recent months.

At the same Tar Heel State auction, a 1988 International Harvester 4586 four-wheel drive tractor sold for $24,250, which Pete says is the second-highest auction price of all time.

And most people that have been to a farm equipment auction know there are all sorts of machinery types that land on the docket apart from your usual mix of tractors, combines and sprayers.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Richie Bros Auction in Tennessee, a 1923 Ford Model T Snowmobile farm truck, which Pete called a “quirky unit” due to it having front skis and rear tracks, sold for $30,000.

And a pre-1920s (Pete wasn’t sure on the exact year) Buckeye 1081 Traction Ditcher sold for $10,500 in St. Charles, Mich., last Tuesday.

Oct. 1 Auction

Pete says the Kiko Auctions “Clean Late Model Equipment” sale in Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 1, has a solid mix of heavy construction and farm equipment from Case IH, John Deere and New Holland available to bid on. You can check that sale out here.

Used Farm Equipment Swindle Alert: BBB Warns Virtual Vendor Vehicle Scams on the Rise

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:49:31 GMT

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning used equipment buyers nationwide about another sophisticated scam involving used farm equipment.

This particular grift, according to a press release from BBB, involved a fake online heavy equipment retailer impersonating a legitimate Missouri dealership, Cook Equipment & Trucking (Marble Hill, Mo.).

Buyers from across the U.S., some even from as far away as California and Arizona, reported losing a total of $223,000 after attempting to purchase heavy equipment and farm machinery through fraudulent websites and Facebook Marketplace ads.

Related: Essential Advice for Safely Buying Used Farm Machinery

Victims say they were “ghosted” after wiring money for equipment that never arrived. The BBB does not say whether the victims were able to dispute the fraudulent charges and claw back the proceeds from the scammers.

The reported fraudulent transactions include:

$45,000 for a skid steer loader from a buyer in Oak Hills, Calif.
$32,000 for an excavator from a buyer in Hancock, Mich.
$29,500 for a trailer from a buyer in Amanda, Ohio
$29,000 for a trailer from a buyer in Greenville, N.C.
$28,000 for a skid steer loader from a buyer in Eastman, Wis.
$31,000 for an excavator from a buyer in Des Moines, Iowa.
$29,000 for a skid steer from a buyer in Blue, Ariz.

BBB says the real Cook Equipment & Trucking, a small business operating since 2010, confirmed it has no website and is not affiliated with any online sales. The impersonators registered three fake websites, the most recent on July 14, and continue to run deceptive ads on social media.

“Those shopping for heavy equipment and farm machinery online should do their due diligence so they don’t fall victim to a virtual vehicle vendor scam,” says Michelle L. Corey, president and CEO, BBB St. Louis. “If an item is priced well below market value, that’s a red flag.”

To avoid getting swept up in an online virtual vehicle vendor scam the Better Business Bureau offers these tips:

Research the business at bbb.org or call 888-996-3887
Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true
Verify the website and contact the business directly
Read all terms and understand refund policies
Use a credit card for added protection
Report scams to BBB Scam Tracker, your state attorney general, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center , and notify the social media platform where the fraud was discovered

To learn more about how to avoid online fraud in the used equipment auction world, check out BBB’s 2024 study on virtual vehicle vendor scams.

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Specialty Crop Organizations Push for AEWR Transparency

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:19:04 GMT

Specialty crop groups in five states have come together to file a freedom of information request with the USDA to better understand how the agency calculates the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) that determines the minimum wages in each state for the H-2A guestworker program.

The effort is led by the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission (NCSC) and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), whose members have faced sharp increases in AEWR in the last few years.

Chris Butts, executive vice president of GFVGA, says Georgia growers have seen a total of 31% in increases in AEWR during the last three years. And Michelle Grainger, executive director of NCSC, says growers in her state have seen an 18% rise in AEWR in the last three years.

“Any way you look at it and slice it, this has been a very challenging situation, and as our growers are continually faced with economic pressures for all their other input costs, to have over 40% of their balance sheets tied up in labor and not be able to know what that labor cost is going to be until mid-November, it’s hard to run a business that way as their first workers typically arrive in early February to the farm,” she says. “To not have transparency of how the [AEWR] algorithm is utilized to create a budget on what feels like very arbitrary rates that are sprinkled across the nation at different regions that don’t even make sense. Enough is enough.”

Butts says changes to Georgia’s immigration policy in the 2010s means specialty crop growers in the state utilize the H-2A program exclusively to meet labor needs.

“In the southeast, there is no fruit and vegetable production without the H-2A program because there is no other labor pool there,” he says. “A Vidalia onion is touched by hand six times during the planting through the harvest — the same for blueberry production, citrus production. Our growing industries are reliant on [H-2A labor], and until we develop technology for mechanization and automation to help our workers become efficient, we’re relying on this program.”

Granger agrees, noting sweetpotatoes are a labor-intensive crop, so mechanization is not a possibility for her growers.

“Any sweetpotato grower cannot have fresh sweetpotatoes on the market without hand-harvesting,” she says. “We also utilize labor to transplant. The crop that we have is labor-intensive from the moment we start growing seed, whether that be in the greenhouse or in a bedding field, to the moment it almost hits the truck on a case that’s going retail, food service, a consumer’s plate, etc.”

So far, the organizations that have signed on to the coalition include:

Alabama Farmers Federation
Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association
Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association
Georgia Agribusiness Council
Georgia Berry Exchange
Georgia Farm Bureau
Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
Georgia Green Industry Association
Georgia Peach Council
Georgia Pecan Growers Association
Georgia Watermelon Association
International Fresh Produce Association
National Council of Agricultural Employers
North Carolina Apple Growers Association
North Carolina Chamber
North Carolina Christmas Tree Association
North Carolina Farm Bureau
North Carolina Growers Association
North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association
North Carolina Strawberry Association
North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
North Carolina Tomato Growers Association
North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association
North Carolina Watermelon Association
Michigan Asparagus Association
South Carolina Farm Bureau
South Carolina Peach Council
South Carolina Small Fruit Growers Association
Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina

Granger and Butts say the coalition has communicated with representatives in Washington, D.C., to voice concerns about the rising AEWR rate and possibilities for ag labor reform. Granger says the diversity of the specialty crops helps drive home the need for changes.

“Our elected officials, regardless of what side of the aisle they may sit on, appreciate the value of agriculture and they appreciate that North Carolina is a state that has a lot of specialty crops,” she says. “Our coalition, when we filed — it has since grown — it was 30 organizations representing five states and 13 unique different crops, as well as eight different state and national member advocacy groups. That diversity really excited our representatives in Congress, because it gave them something more to talk about.”

Granger says a great way for those in the fresh produce industry to help communicate the coalition’s concerns is quite simple. Communicate with elected officials and community members about the vital role that agriculture has in this country.

“There’s a lot of people that we interact with, who don’t quite grasp how reliant we are on labor,” she says. “Not all of these people are not that terribly far removed from agriculture. I’m constantly amazed, but I patiently provide information and education on how uneducated the American consumer is today about what it takes to have fresh food, quality food, safe food and affordable food on their plate. It doesn’t magically just show up at the grocery store.”

Butts says another way for those in the fresh produce industry can help elevate this cause is to get involved.

“If they’re not a member of that state or local organization that signs on the support coalition, join your organization and support them,” he says. “Then ask your regional organization, ‘What are you doing for these efforts, and how can we participate?’”

How To Bid On A Charity Tractor to Raise Money for Hurricane Victims, Plus Pete’s Pick of the Week

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:09:00 GMT

Farmers across the U.S. have stepped up to the plate big time after Hurricane Helene tore through the Blue Ridge Mountains. From a squad of farmer-drone operators banding together to drop supplies to farmers helping other farmers complete harvest, it’s a great reminder that nobody rallies the troops like American farmers.

Machinery Pete highlighted yet another opportunity to help out during his weekly “ AgriTalk ” segment with host Chip Flory.

At the Nov. 9 Justice Farm & Construction Equipment Auction in Louisberg, N.C, auctioneer Jason Aycock is selling his personal farm tractor and donating 100% of the proceeds directly to farmers affected by the hurricane. The Allis-Chalmers 8070 four-wheel-drive has 9,332 operating hours and like-new rear tires. You can place a bid here .

Allis-Chalmers 8070

(Jason Aycock)

“There’s no money coming off of this in any way, shape or form, it’s all going to help farmers and ranchers in need,” Petersen told Flory. “It’s on proxy bid until Saturday [November] the 9th. In addition to the winning sale price, they’ve also set up 20 lots on proxy bid where you can just contribute, whether it’s 10 bucks, 50 bucks or whatever from your heart.”

Check out Monday’s AgDay segment on the charity tractor auction:

Pete’s Picks of the Week
Farmers helping other farmers during a time of need will always take the lead story spot.

It’s also worth mentioning Machinery Pete highlighted some interesting recent used tractor sales on “AgriTalk.”

During an online auction based in Atlanta, Ind., by Polk Auction Company, several restored John Deere tractors sold for notable prices:

A rare John Deere 4620 factory front-wheel assist sold for $75,000, breaking the previous record of $56,000 that Machinery Pete says had stood firm for a decade.

A John Deere 7520 four-wheel-drive, with 3,566 hours, sold for $45,000, a new record price.

A near record-setting sale for a 1972 diesel powershift John Deere 4000, which went for $77,000.

A John Deere 4320 with 2,545 hours sold for $59,000, one of the highest prices on record for that model.

These sales further highlight a strong market for used John Deere tractors, and there is even more interest among collectors and investors in rare and restored models, Machinery Pete says.

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Newly Renovated Greensboro Facility Opens As Headquarters of Syngenta Crop Protection

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:15:52 GMT

Syngenta is swinging the doors open on its newly renovated Greensboro, North Carolina facility - the headquarters of Syngenta Crop Protection.

The location, known as the company’s Swing Road campus, spans 70 acres and houses 17 structures for a total of more than 470,000 sq. ft. Nearly half of that square footage is new or renovated.

Syngenta’s newly renovated Greensboro facility

(Syngenta / Cristian Garnier)

Here’s a breakdown of what some of that space is allocated to:

85,624 sq. ft. in new offices
100,456 sq. ft. in renovated laboratory space
35,933 sq. ft. in new laboratory space

“Farmers all over the world must feed, clothe and fuel more people than ever before,” said Vern Hawkins, president of Syngenta Crop Protection North America. “The Greensboro-area team does important work helping American farmers protect their crops sustainably. This team remains committed to living and working in the Triad, and supporting community organizations that benefit our friends and neighbors.”

This project has been in the works since 2020 when Syngenta began re-evaluating the space, and the says it’s been a collaboration among city, county, state and company leaders.

“The grand opening of Syngenta’s North America crop protection headquarters is a testament to the strength and potential of Greensboro as a hub for innovation,” said Greensboro Chamber of Commerce president & CEO Brent Christensen. “Syngenta has long been a pillar of our community, and this state-of-the-art facility solidifies their commitment to the region and positions us as a leader in the agricultural technology sector. We’re excited to see how this investment in cutting-edge technology and talent will drive growth and collaboration, both locally and globally.”

Want a Slice of Nostalgia? Try Road Tripping to Andy Griffith's Real Hometown Now Known as Mayberry

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 18:21:08 GMT

The Andy Griffith Show provided viewers with a slice of nostalgia for eight seasons. Reruns of the show help the popular television series still gain fans today. And if you’re looking to take a step back in time to visit Mayberry, a town in North Carolina can make those dreams come true.

“The connection is Andy was born and raised here. And so you get a lot of Mayberry fans looking for Mayberry,” says Mike Cockerham, owner of Mayberry Squad Car Tours.

Andy Griffith actually grew up in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, but many people just refer to it as Mayberry since that’s the place Andy lived on the long running tv show. For at least a couple of decades, there really wasn’t much of Mayberry that you could find in Mt. Airy, save some common street and place names. When more tourists began coming here in the late 90s and early 2000s, Cockerham had an idea.

“I’m an old car nut been restoring and fixing up cars since I was a teenager, and so I said, ‘Hey I’m going to get me one of those old Ford Galexies like they used on the show and fix it up like a squad car and drive people around town in it,’” says Cockerham.

That’s how the Mayberry Squad Car Tours were born. Mike has restored several old Ford Galaxies now, making them appear just like the ones Andy and Barney used to patrol Mayberry.

“We start at Wally’s filling station here that’s our home office, and we leave here and go out to our granite quarry, it’s about a mile out of town,” says Cockerham. “Mt. Airy is known as the Granite City. That’s our official nickname.”

Mike and his drivers are known to let the siren wail as they make the run through Mt. Airy’s streets, a tour that takes you past places like the Snappy Lunch and other iconic stores from the show. You go by Andy’s old school where Andy first began to sing and perform, a place that today brings many visitors to snap a picture with Andy and Opie. But back at Mike’s headquarters is a real gem, a place that appears strait from your tv set.

“It’s a recreation of the courthouse, yeah it’s pretty close, it’s just a recreation that’s free and people come in and take pictures,” he says.

The inside of the building is a perfect replica of Andy’s sheriff’s office, complete with the jail cells that held folks like Otis. Plus, he’s recreated many other buildings and scenes often seen on the show. It’s a place where people enjoy spending time, remembering the story lines and laughing about some of their favorite episodes. Although it’s been decades since the show was produced, the people just keep coming.

“People say it’s going to die out, but I’ve not seen any indication of that, in fact we see a lot of young folks that are into the show,” says Cockerham.

If you’re looking to visit Mayberry, there’s a lot more to do. You can check out all the sites and plan your stay online.

You can also hear and see more American Countryside travels online, possibly sparking more trip ideas to experience the best of rural America.

How One North Carolina Family Turned an Old Tobacco Farm into a Blooming AgriTourism Business

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:53:53 GMT

Art Johnson’s farm has been in the family about a century now. What was once a tobacco farm in Kernersville, North Carloina, is now a thriving agritourism business.

“My grandfather Ash Johnson purchased the property in 1925 and moved from the other side of Kernersville to here,” says Art Johnson, owner of Dewberry Farm . “It was about 86 acres. It was a basic tobacco farm.”

Art didn’t grow up on the farm, but was nearby and always loved coming here to hunt and fish, and perhaps someday make it a place he could call home. That dream came true in his adult years when he was able acquire some of the farm acreage and build a home. He married his wife, Wendy, and they hosted weddings on their property.

“And then one day, Wendy was reading through a magazine and saw a tulip farm up in Virginia and she says that sounds like a great idea,” adds Johnson

Art wasn’t against the idea, but he wasn’t sold on it either.

“I thought it would be cool, but how much hard work is that,” says Johnson.

Tulips became the goal for the farm, but there was another crop to be planted first—sunflowers. That you-pick business went well, so next up at Dewberry Farm was the dream to grow tulips.

They planted 42,000 bulbs that first year, 50,000 the next. It took about 12 days with 12 people to plant them all. They invested in a planter the next year which still requires labor but increases the pace. They plant new bulbs by Thanksgiving every year to insure the best and most beautiful crop. Today they plant over 100,000 bulbs they get from Holland.

“You need a premium bulb, a mature bulb, that’s been grown and cared for properly and so we’re wanting that one bloom per bulb and so we get about a 98% bloom ratio,” he says.

They have up to 1,000 people per day visit the farm on the weekends this tie of year. They use a timed ticket system to insure not too many people show up at one time and everyone gets to enjoy the farm and the tulips. They also have you pick sunflowers in the summer.

Art’s dad will turn 99 this year. He is amazed that so many people come to this place he’s known for almost a century.

“But as time goes on and he sees how consistent we are with the number of people we get in here and how well we do with the crops, he’s just amazed. He wishes his parents could see what we did with an ol’ poor tobacco farm,” says Johnson.

The tulip season lasts about three weeks each Spring at Dewberry Farm, bringing people of all ages to this family operation, growing a crop that delights those who visit.

To hear more from Andrew’s travels, watch more American Countryside features .

Campbell Soup Shifting Canadian Production to U.S.

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:14:23 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- Campbell Soup Co. is closing its lone Canadian factory in Toronto and shifting production to three existing facilities in the U.S., the latest symbolic victory for the Trump administration’s effort to bolster domestic manufacturing.

The move will result in 380 job cuts in Canada, with factories in North Carolina, Ohio and Texas picking up the slack, Campbell said Wednesday. But it won’t translate to many new U.S. jobs. Existing workers will handle the increased soup volume, meaning employment gains will be “minimal,” according to a company spokesman.

Campbell, based in Camden, New Jersey, has been cutting costs as it grapples with a prolonged sales slump. Consumers have increasingly turned away from canned soup, often perceived as overly processed. The company, which makes Goldfish crackers, agreed last month to buy chip and pretzel producer Snyder’s-Lance Inc. for about $4.9 billion as salty snacks have shown strong growth.

Campbell is already more U.S.-focused than many food giants, generating more than 80 percent of its revenue in its home country. Chief Executive Officer Denise Morrison was a member of President Trump’s manufacturing council and was present during an early meeting when he complimented the company’s soup. Morrison was later part of an exodus of executives who resigned from the council, which was then disbanded.

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.