North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 02/03/1998

It's Tuesday February 3rd. Tonight we see that is out of more states today we industry in North Carolina. Good evening everyone and welcome to this Tuesday edition of North Carolina damb. When you think about North Carolina State University two words may a media play pop into your head. Technology and agriculture.

But how about the arts. Our guest tonight is Alex Miller from NC State and he'll be here to tell us why the arts are now taking center stage at the university. Plus Derek long will highlight a critical need in our state that's often overlooked especially at this time of year. But we begin tonight with a story that could impact North Carolinians who drink milk or consume dairy products. North Carolina's dairy industry is disappearing at a dramatic rate. The number of dairy farms has decreased by nearly 90 percent during the past five decades with a 50 percent reduction in the number of licensed their herds occurring in the last 12 years alone. All this has occurred even as the demand for milk in North Carolina is on the rise. Bob Garner has more on this disturbing and complex story. We're seeing people that are saying either it's not worth it I'm just not going to work this hard for this small return or they're retiring and the kids are not following along or they're just not making it financially and they

have no choice but to sell. North Carolina's demand for milk may be increasing but that doesn't generally create a more attractive market for Tarheel dairy farmers. That's because the milk market is national in scale with North Carolina dairy men operating at a regional disadvantage. It just plain costs more to produce milk in this part of the country in the southeast we have to cope with very hot summers very humid summers which is a problem for cows in the West. They have a dry a climate so they have access to alfalfa that's produced under arrogated conditions which is a very good feed. So when you look across the country you see very different ways of producing milk and some of those ways have lower costs than than others. North Carolina dairy farmers are also facing the same kind of new costly waste management regulations that apply to corporate hog farms. Even though the largest dairy farm may have a few hundred cows as opposed to 12000 or more hogs.

The lower cost dairy industry that's emerging in the West tends to hold down prices on the National Milk market together with cutthroat competition in milk pricing among retailers. The federal pricing structure for milk is not high enough compared to the cost of dairy farming in our state. Norman Jordan the pleasures of the North Carolina dairy an association built fewer than a hundred pounds on the Chatham County Daily farm he operates with his father. We've seen our prices that we've received for our milk stay the same over the last 20 years almost while we've also watched our expenses increase the cost of equipment the cost of insurance and everything else. So we're all sort of on of the same gun our expenses are going up while our income is staying sign is forcing it's of us to do what we can to become more efficient. But ironically it is increased efficiency that is helping to drive down the number of North Carolina dairy farmers. Unfortunately dairy farmers are getting better and better and getting more milk at a cat house. So they're increasing the

production from their cows by two to three percent a year. So we need fewer cows every year. The average cow gives four times as much milk today as a cow did 50 years ago. That's why local milk production has largely been able to keep pace with growing demand in North Carolina. Even with a lot fewer cows and farms. But last year milk production fell 9 percent and the decline is expected to be in double digits this year a full 25 percent of North Carolina's milk is now being shipped in from other states. Jim Green is vice president and general manager of mailed a milk and ice cream in Newburgh. At least the cooperative that we purchased from had to import milk nine months out of the year. That is they couldn't supply the North Carolina market so they had to bring milk from Wisconsin New York Pennsylvania. We did not receive any from New Mexico. But I have heard of other dairies in the state that had to bring the fifth. The federal dairy pricing structure is even in

danger of being totally eliminated. But even if it's preserved and improved as North Carolina Agricultural officials are urging it may not do much good here. My expectation is even in the best situation we will stay where we are as far as farm prices are concerned I don't see any way we can hope for higher prices for producers in order to support the dairy industry and maintain a local supply of milk. In a worst case scenario we could see prices decline which of course would force more people out of business and make milk even scarcer. Thirteen southern states are now trying to organize a Southern dairy compact with the goal of establishing a regional support price for milk that reflects the higher cost of production in the southeast. The legislatures of North Carolina and two other states have already approved the compact but other states and Congress also have to approve before it could go into effect. A compact could be years away but mailed us supports the idea. It's the only milk processor in the state to do so. So we are supporting

something that will help stabilize milk prices so that we don't have these dramatic fluctuations up and down from month to month. The Southern dairy compact is one of the things is not perfect but I believe we're the only dairy processor to support that compact. But we see it the flaw this something will help stabilize prices and help the farmer survive. Having nearly doubled in size in the last five years Mayo is aiming to carve out a big niche among whatever dairy industry structure ends up remaining in North Carolina to help ensure its milk supply may old up by its 80 to 85 percent of its milk directly from individual farmers. The remaining 15 to 20 percent comes from the marketing co-ops that provide most of the other processor supply and who are having to go out of state to get milk to meet their obligations. Last October 50 percent of the milk mail bought from co-ops was imported. And the company paid $75000 extra in freight charges for the month.

We would much prefer to see North Carolina dairy farmers getting that money rather than the freight companies. So we have. Continued to make a commitment to our dairy farmers that they would be the best paid dairy farmers in the state of North Carolina and we've honored that commitment now for about 40 years. In 1997 our producers were paid an average of more than a dollar a hundredweight more than they would have received from one of the larger cooperatives. The one thing that appears certain is that whether a Southern dairy compact is formed or not the price of milk at the supermarket is going to be going up. They're going to go up. I don't think there's any question about that. The question will become how much will they go up. Will they go up a little now or will they go off a lot later whereas the dairy industry moves out of North Carolina and milk has to be brought in and that freight has to be paid to bring it in. The legislatures of the Southern states which have yet to approve the regional dairy

compact are expected to consider the necessary legislation during their spring 1998 sessions. Coming up why you should think of the arts when you think about the state. But first let's check in with Robin Miniato for a complete summary of today's statewide headlines. Hi Robin. Thanks Shanon good evening everyone. Topping our news it's a full nine months before voters take to the polls to vote. But already a substantial number of House and Senate candidates are guaranteed election in the state house nearly half or 54 out of the total 120 members will be uncontested this year after party primaries in the Senate about one third or 17 out of 50 seats in that chamber are going unchallenged. Two key legislators who are running unopposed are Senate president pro tem Mark bass night and House Speaker Harold Brooks-Baker. The governor's commission on juvenile crime and justice has unveiled its recommendations for revamping the state's juvenile justice system. The panel recommends creating a Department of Juvenile Justice which would combine several juvenile

programs already existing in state government. The commission also recommends subjecting parents to civil contempt charges in some cases opening juvenile hearings to the public. And there's a recommendation to ensure that the first court appearance be within five days for a juvenile charged with a felony. The recommendations now head to the General Assembly for consideration when they convene in May. Governor Hunt today finished up a two day trip to eastern North Carolina highlighting the concerns of rural residents and promoting his legislative agenda at a cabinet meeting open to the public at East Carolina University pledged to step up industrial recruiting in rural counties. The governor also addressed the controversy regarding his advocacy of transportation projects in his home county of Wilson argued that new road and highway construction stimulates economic development in rural areas and he chided reporters for writing stories about rural poverty and then criticizing efforts to build new roads. State legislators are considering a

proposal to build containment structures to hold hold the Oregon Inlet in place. Coastal Scientists say the idea is an interesting geological experiment but trying to contain the inlets shifting sands could open up a Pandora's box. One coastal geologist who has studied the inlet for 30 years says trying to stop the movement of the inlet is virtually impossible short of encasing the whole thing in concrete. Geologist Stanley Riggs says Oregon Inlet has migrated more than a mile south since it was first formed in 1846. Another winter storm is currently moving across the state bringing rain snow and high winds. A flood warning has been issued tonight for the coastal plains and the Outer Banks gale warnings have also been issued for the Outer Banks with 30 mile per hour winds expected weather services have issued flood watches for the Piedmont tonight. And a flash flood and winter weather advisories are in effect tonight through tomorrow for the mountains and the western region of the state. Four to six inches of snowfall is likely in the mountains

tomorrow. Rain is forecast for the rest of the state. Expect freezing high temperatures in the mountains while the rest of the state will range from the low to mid 40s to the low to mid 50s. In business news Blue Cross Blue Shield president can notice says that his company would be willing to set up a charitable healthcare trust as part of the plan to convert the insurance company to a for profit corporation. Otis spoke to a legislative Study Commission today about how the company plans to handle its conversions to a private firm in the event the Blue Cross does change to a for profit business. The charitable trust would sell stock to the public in order to raise money for charitable purposes. Now for a look at what happened on Wall Street today. From

now until March 6 North Carolina State University is featuring an entry in the exhibition on what many women consider one of their most essential items of clothing. The little black dress. Here to tell us more about this new exhibit and North Carolina State University's arts program in general is tonight's guest the new associate to the vice chancellor of the arts programs at NC State Alex Miller. And thank you so much for joining us tonight. My pleasure to be here. When people generally think of the state North Carolina State University they think technology cutting edge technology but perhaps the first thing that doesn't come to mind is the arts program.

Well you're right. But we want to change that. The reputation that in sea state has for technology for our agricultural programs is very well deserved. One of the best in the nation. What is a less well known thing is that we actually have one of the most wonderful and diverse arts programs of any institution of higher learning in North Carolina and we are very proud of it. Our music program our theater program the Gallery of Art and Design crafts center the list goes on and on and on. We provide opportunities for our students for the community for the campus in general to be enriched by the Arts at NC State. What do you think it is important for a large university like NC State to have a strong arts program. The arts are and should be essential to the education of every person and every citizen in our state. It's sort of a simple statement by George Bernard Shaw once said that you know we use a mirror to see our face. We use works of art to see our soul. And he's right and we think that our students and our citizens become

better students and better citizens when they examine themselves against the Mirror's that the arts provide the arts not only encourages to examine our lives to examine our roles in our society they also entertain as they amuse us. They enrich our lives and they provide part of the most essential legacy that we leave for our children. We have heard a lot in recent years about public funding cuts to the arts and how that has affected the public sector. How did the universities like nc state felt a pinch due to these cuts. Well that's an interesting question and many people will be surprised by this answer. Unlike many universities all of the arts programs in C state are actually financed by student fees. So when we say as we do in the division of student affairs which is where the arts programs at NC State are housed that we put students first. That's our motto. We really mean it. And in the arts programs we have a very good reason to mean it because it is those fees that in fact finance all of the arts programs at NC State.

I mentioned in an introduction that you all have a very interesting exhibit going on yes this this month and into March. And it all revolves around a program called us well we can't tell us what that's about. Well as I said we are so pleased and so happy about the wealth of opportunities that we have in the arts at NC State that we're putting on a gala to celebrate what we do and to celebrate the services that we provide to our students in the community. And it is a swell weekend. It will be held next weekend Friday through Sunday February the 6th through the 8th and everything about the arts will be on display on those three evenings Friday night center stage which is the professional presenting organization it in the state will host a wonderful concert by jazz singer Carol Sloane I hope you can join us on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon we'll have a performance of a world premier by John McElwee who is the director of Thompson theater in NC State and a well-known artist in our community entitled always Mademoiselle which details the life of Coco Chanel the

fashion maven of the 50s who is credited with having created the little black dress. She didn't really do it but she took the credit for it anyway. So those are some really big events that will occur but throughout all of those evenings we will have live music dancing. There will be dances by the dance program at NC State. Music Department jazz bands will be performing students will be playing piano. It's really a celebration of all of the arts and one of the fundamental aspects of this is built around the little black dress from sorrow to seduction. An exhibition of haute couture and and just a little black dress for the past hundred years. In fact it's subtitled from sorrow to seduction. It's an exhibition in our gallery of art and design that's been curated by John McElroy who is an expert on fashion and it should be a lot of fun. And on all three of those days we will have live modeling of go to does an exhibit like the little black dress does it broaden the definition of what people generally think of art.

Well that's an that's a very interesting question and the answer is yes. I think folks who are in the arts understand that that we can find art in all aspects of our life and to the extent that folks have an artistic temperament are engaged in designing the world in which we live whether it's the buildings that we work in the furniture that we sit in the clothes that we wear our lives are enriched on a daily basis. So when the artist someone with a keen artistic sense is able to apply that in an area like fashion we all benefit. We get to see it as we walk down the street and enjoy them. In every every day life. And that's what the arts are intended to do. They're not intended simply to be on display in museums. They are taught to infuse our culture with richness and beauty and joy every day. Well Alex Miller sounds like you've got a great program going at NC State and we thank you for sharing it with us. It's my pleasure. If you'd like more information on us well weekend events or the little black dress exhibit you can check out in sea states arts website at w w w

dot FISA dot in C S U dot edu slash arts slash. We've all seen over the past few weeks how bad weather can cause all sorts of problems for our state even requiring some areas to call a state of emergency. But in addition to problems like flooding these times of crisis can impact the very programs we depend on each day. That's certainly true for the American Red Cross which depends on volunteers to donate blood. No matter what. Tonight Derek long takes a behind the scenes look at this

program and the heroes who make it work. Where do you go to find a hero these days. I didn't have a clue. But that was the job I was sent to do to find out where the heroes are. I've been pounding the pavement for every turn just alone in the corner of the street. Another day. I could feel myself starting to slide into one of those you know no heroes. Fortunately the phone interrupted my spam. It was a call for help. The Red Cross had seen it needed like they wanted mine so ditching my melancholy mood when I headed in to lend a hand or in this case an arm there I met Susan McLean.

She gave me the lowdown on their operation and just why they needed my blood. We had to give blood going to be 17 or older white least 100 to him and be in good health. But unfortunately only 5 percent of the population donates nationally not here on a little bit higher than that 6 percent of our population. Yes we were the number one collecting region in the entire nation last year. We were the only ones to collect more than 300000 units. We could do a whole lot more. The need for blood is 365 days a year. What happens unfortunately as donations aren't that consistent. People typically around the holidays during the summer they get busy. They don't come in to give companies on having blood drives. Schools around. So the demand outweighs the supply. There is no substitution for human blood. The only way to make sure that there is a safe adequate blood supply is for people to get on a regular basis. Every unit of blood can be broken down into up to four different products. So you give blood one time and

you can touch up to four people's lives. That blood is broken down by clear and drawn out process in heart that is then distributed throughout local hospitals. We like to say that being in the city of medicine kind of has its price at times. Duke University Medical Center is one of the largest user blood in the nation. Blood is primarily used for cancer treatment. People think it car wrecks plane crashes and yes blood is needed for those type of things but cancer treatment is ongoing every day. Very high usage in the Carolinas region we need to collect twelve hundred units per day care out of region is based out of Charlotte North Carolina. We sort of over 100 hospitals we are everywhere are most in North Carolina when we have a little finger out into Tennessee South Carolina and Georgia. When I first started working for the Red Cross five years ago people were afraid of contracting AIDS. I think people have become more educated they realize you cannot get AIDS from giving blood.

It is a sterile process and needles are used once and they're destroyed. I think the fear now more is a fear of pain and fear of needles. And if anyone's ever had blood drawn at the doctor's office that is the sensation of donating blood and I can tell you it's pain free there is a little pitch but then. That's it. And you are literally exciting a life. I put up with that one little bit. Come in you're greeted by a volunteer to answer a long series of yes or no questions that are very important make sure the blood supply is safe and it is we have the safest blood supply ever. You come in and you have the money physically and she questions you to donate blood to the donation itself takes about 10 minutes and then we give you cookies them and soda and juice and baby for a few minutes before you go on with your day. You made it out but every 56 days which is every eight weeks. We asked people to try to commit to get of at least twice a year and ideally four times a year. The average blood donor only goes

one time a year. If every person who gave blood once a year would give twice. There would never be a blood shortage. I think a blood donor is someone who is just giving an hour of their time. But what they're doing is they are given the opportunity for a lifetime for someone else. You are literally a life saver for that person. And it might not be as dramatic as someone points someone from a burning building. But it's just as important and it's it's constant. It's it's every day. And when you give blood it's you can be inconvenient it takes your time it's you. You had to go out of your way a little bit. But that person at the other end of that person in the hospital who would not survive without the blood products I need you are here right. Well there it is.

My job is done. I discovered where the heroes are. They're here. They're all around. But more importantly I discovered that every day holds before us the opportunity for a moment of time. The potential for a simple act of giving and that Egypt has the power to act to make a difference. If you would like to be a blood donor call your local chapter of the American Red Cross or you can call 1 800 GIVE wife to find the donation site nearest you. Well that's all we have time for tonight. Have a great evening everyone. We'll see you again tomorrow night.