The overall number of farms in North Carolina declined 2 percent in the most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture - to 52,913 in 2007, compared with the previous count in 2002. But the number of small producers (or "agri-preneurs"), on plots up to 9 acres, jumped 25 percent, to about 5,000.

On July 21, the NC Cooperative Extension Service unveiled The Ten-Percent Campaign, a new website that encourages consumption of locally-grown food. The campaign asks all NC consumers to spend at least 10% of their food budgets locally and provides information on where to obtain local foods.

The Supreme Court lifted a nationwide ban on the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa seeds, despite claims that they might harm the environment. In a 7 to 1 vote, the court reversed a federal appeals court ruling that prohibited Monsanto from selling alfalfa seeds that are resistant to the popular weed killer Roundup.

The following bills relating to alternative dispute resolution were introduced by the 111st U.S. Congress. The session will last from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. Click here to read a list of the bills that passed.