The state commissioners of agriculture, Steve Troxler, speak at the Farm-City Day held at the Knox Farm in Cleveland. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

The state commissioners of agriculture, Steve Troxler, speaking at the Farm-City Day held at the Knox Farm in Cleveland. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Robert Knox, Sr received an award for the Knox family for operating a family farm since 1758 from James Cowden. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Ben Knox speaks to the Farm City Day crowd about the history of the Knox Hill Farm that has been a businee farm since 1758. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

By Lee Ann Sides Garrett

news@salisburypost.com

"Buy North Carolina products." That was the main topic of N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler's appearance at the Knox family farm on Friday.

Troxler spoke as part of Rowan County Farm-City Day, a day to bring farmers and the people they feed together to promote the importance of agriculture.

The event is part of National Farm-City Week, which runs through Thanksgiving.

Troxler stressed the importance of buying locally grown food products as a way of keeping the state economy strong.

"Even if we don't have gasoline," Troxler said, "we can always walk if we have a food supply to keep us nourished."

Troxler says problems with the economy and vegetable recalls have hurt farmers this year. The tainted tomato scare cost producers more than $200 million.

"Fuel, pesticide, everything went up this year," Troxler said. "Imports of food products have amplified the problem."

Troxler says the North Carolina food supply was always safe, despite FDA warnings about eating tomatoes and jalape–o peppers.

"Got to be NC" food labels are now being placed on locally grown produce, and consumers should look for the label, Troxler says.

Troxler spoke before more than 120 people and congratulated the Knox family for holding onto their farm for more than 250 years. Troxler presented a plaque to Robert Knox. Ben Knox discussed how the farm has been modernized.

"We use GPS technology to grid soil samples and for precision application of fertilizer," Ben Knox said.

Production awards were presented to local growers. Tom Hall received an award for C&H Grain for the 2007 corn production winner in Rowan with 246.62 bushels per acre. His partner is Darryl Corriher.

The Rowe McNeely Animal Science Award was presented to Rebekah Moore.

Troxler congratulated Rowan County for forming the state's first Voluntary Agricultural District Program. James Cowden with the Rowan County Agricultural Extension Office said as of Friday, the program had 10,363 acres pledged to remain as farmland.

"North Carolina leads the nation in the disappearance of farmland," Troxler said. "It's almost as if we're becoming one big city from Charlotte to Raleigh."

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