News

Dec 22, 2010

What happened to Ireland

Ireland has been in the news recently but not in a good way: The government has been on the verge of bankruptcy, and the rest of Europe may have to bail them out. What happened to this country, which only a few years ago had a very dynamic economy? N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden explains. 

Dec 21, 2010

Zublena named to lead N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Dr. Joe Zublena has been named associate dean for Extension in N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service effective immediately. Zublena, director of county operations for Cooperative Extension, has served as interim director of the organization since the May 1 retirement of past director Dr. Jon Ort. 

Dec 21, 2010

Another debt plan

The national debt is a major issue. Recently the heads of the U.S. president's fiscal commission issued a debt reduction plan. And another group has released yet another plan. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden highlights the major recommendations in this other plan. 

Dec 20, 2010

Forecasting the economic future

Everyone wants to have a crystal ball regarding the economy, but few of us have one. Economists are often asked to peer into the economic future. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains the techniques that economists use to do that. 

Dec 17, 2010

Being like Japan

One of the apparent fears of the Federal Reserve is that the U.S. economy today will be like the Japanese economy of the 1990s. What are the parallels, and what are the problems of copying the Japanese economy of 20 years ago? Dr. Mike Walden, an Extension economist with N.C. State University, responds. 

Dec 16, 2010

New state economic indicator

N.C. State University extension economist Mike Walden recently unveiled a new measure of the state economy meant to tell us where the state economy will be heading in the near future. In today's "Economic Perspective," he details this new leading indicator. 

Dec 15, 2010

ESP recognizes Cooperative Extension employees

N.C. Cooperative Extension employees were recognized during the annual meeting of Epsilon Sigma Phi’s Xi Chapter held in December. ESP is a professional development society for Cooperative Extension employees. 

Dec 15, 2010

Baked-in results

Many people watch the stock and other investment markets for clues to what might happen to the economy. "Baked-in results" is a term increasingly heard. N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden explains how investments can be "baked-in." 

Dec 14, 2010

Sherman releases vermiculture book

Rhonda Sherman, solid waste Cooperative Extension specialist in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, is co-editor of the first scientific book on vermicomposting. Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes, and Environmental Management was released this week by CRC Press. 

Dec 13, 2010

Team Broccoli: Project seeks East Coast broccoli industry

A North Carolina State University horticulturist is a member of a team of agricultural scientists that has embarked on what may be a decade-long effort to grow a $100 million broccoli industry on the East Coast.