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November 2011

Nov 30, 2011

N.C. State, Monsanto celebrate $500,000 fund for Plant Breeding and Advanced Analytics Fellows program

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and Monsanto Company announced today a $500,000 grant to train the next generation of plant breeding professionals. 

Nov 30, 2011

Public poinsettia open house set for Sunday

Nearly 100 different cultivars of poinsettias will be on display from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday Dec. 4 at N.C. State University's JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. Stop by to see the 9' tall poinsettia tree, enjoy poinsettia gardens and decorated poinsettias and help decide which poinsettias are North Carolina's favorites. 

Nov 30, 2011

Operation Twist

The Federal Reserve’s policies are always of interest, because they play such a key role in the economy. Recently the Fed ended one program called QE2 and began a new one termed Operation Twist. What have they stopped doing and what are they now doing instead? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Nov 29, 2011

ESP presents awards at annual meeting

North Carolina’s Xi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi professional development society presented awards to Extension professionals at its annual meeting in Raleigh Nov. 17. Award winners, along with a description from their nominations, are listed here. 

Nov 29, 2011

Unfilled jobs

There are a reported 3.2 million job openings in the country. With the total number of unemployed people at 14 million, we might think these openings wouldn’t last long. But they have. N.C. State University economists points out the possible reasons. 

Nov 28, 2011

Former CALS alumni group president receives national FFA honor

Richard H. Brooks, a three-term president of N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Alumni and Friends Society, received the American FFA Degree during the 84th National FFA Convention, held Oct. 21-23 in Indianapolis. The award is given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment. 

Nov 28, 2011

A changed consumer

A couple of years ago, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden said the recession we were experiencing was going to change consumer habits: out would be the heavy borrowing and spending, and in would be saving and frugality. Was he right? 

Nov 25, 2011

YOU DECIDE: Should you buy local?

The buy local movement seeks to keep money in the U.S., creating jobs. But there are tradeoffs. Mike Walden discusses. 

Nov 25, 2011

Trends in the state labor market

The last job report for North Carolina was challenging. The state lost more than 20,000 jobs, and cuts were made in both the private and public sectors. The state unemployment rate climbed to 10.5 percent. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what's going on. 

Nov 24, 2011

Debate over multipliers

One of the factors involved in the debate about the president’s proposed jobs plan is how the money will flow through the economy. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden discusses that factor.