News

Dec 5, 2012

Guaranteeing jobs

Jobs continue to be the country’s number one economic concern. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden discusses a bold but simple plan another economist has offered for increasing jobs. 

Dec 5, 2012

CEFS report describes conservation practices for hog production

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) has released a new report entitled Conservation Practices in Outdoor Hog Production Systems: Findings and Recommendations from the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. 

Dec 4, 2012

N.C. State scientists work to stop the spread of boxwood blight

Since colonial days, the boxwood has been an important part of American gardens and landscapes. Research from N.C. State University is designed to help keep it that way, in spite of the threat to the plant posed by a disease new to the United States. 

Dec 4, 2012

Where do we go from here?

The country has voted, and now the discussion is about the public issues to be addressed in the upcoming years. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden is asked to use his crystal ball to predict those key issues and debates. 

Dec 3, 2012

13th worm conference attracts 120

Rhonda Sherman's vermiculture conference attracted 120 people this year from around the U.S. and five other countries. 

Dec 3, 2012

Defining tax changes

Tax reform may be on the agenda of both our new national- and state-elected office holders. When someone talks about changing taxes, are they only talking about changing tax rates? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Nov 30, 2012

CALS students enhance State Fair gardens

For the second year, Barbara Fair’s landscape students from N.C. State University’s horticultural science department have played a role enhancing the State Fair’s flower and garden area, while learning valuable skills that will help them professionally. 

Nov 30, 2012

Student gives top presentation

Jennifer A. Kimball, a doctoral student in the turfgrass breeding and genetics program, gave a first place presentation during the joint annual meeting of the Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America in late October in Cincinnati. 

Nov 30, 2012

Jon Brandt, Agricultural and Resource Economics head, dies unexpectedly

Dr. Jon Brandt, head of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, died unexpectedly at his home Monday, Nov. 26. He was 65. 

Nov 30, 2012

Will we fall off the fiscal cliff?

Will we fall off the fiscal cliff? Now that the election is over, Washington’s attention has turned to something called the fiscal cliff. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden describes what it is and why it matters. “Well, there’s been a lot of discussion on this … . It’s really the result of a failure of the Congress and the president last year (2011) to reach a budget deal. So what they did is they said, ‘Look, we’re going to set up a trap in some sense. If we don’t reach a budget deal in another year, we’re going to … have a lot of bad things really happen quickly, and that’s going to give us motivation to really get to a deal. “And so what these bad things will be if, at the end of 2012, a deal’s not reached is several taxes will go up, hitting virtually everyone in the country, as well as federal spending will go down. “Now we can debate whether, long run, that’s what we want to have happen in the federal government -- and some say that’s exactly what we want to have happen -- but what concerns economists is the suddenness of this and the size of the changes will be all at once, and that’s the where the term cliff comes from. “And many, many economic analysts shows that if we did see this happen -- that is, the increase in tax rates combined with the cut federal spending -- we would see the economy shrink at least for a quarter, at least for the first three months of 2013. Unemployment would go up. … More people would be put out of work. And of course no one wants that to happen. “So, this is why many think that a compromise will eventually be reached. A deal will be reached, but obviously we’ll have to wait and see.”