NC Cooperative Extension Event and Program Updates


LOCAL SUPPER, MAY 24, WARRENTON
Our next monthly Local Supper will be held on May 24th, 6pm at the Warren County Armory. This month, we will be launching the Food/Farm Survey that was conceived of last fall through the Growing Local/Buying Local community workshops. The idea for the survey grew out of the Infrastructure and Marketing action groups, and will document the current state of farming and food production in Warren County, as well as identify areas for future growth. Attendees are invited to share a free, local meal, and to help prepare the survey for mailing, and brainstorm ways to share and use the results. The supper begins at 6pm with dinner, followed by the survey preparation and community discussion. The Local Suppers are sponsored by UNC’s SPARC and the Warren County EDC and are held at the Warren County Armory on Highway 158-Business on the fourth Thursday of every month. All area residents are encouraged to attend. RSVP’s are encouraged: (252) 257-0205.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Beekeeper meeting, June 11th, 7 pm, Vance County Extension Center
Pond Management Workshop, June 26th, Vance Granville Community College (details coming soon)
Forest Mapping Workshop, July 19th, 6:30 pm, Warren County Center.

NCSU PEST NEWS
Includes timely updates on cotton, corn, soybean and cucumber pests, plus much more.
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/pest_news.html

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS ON CANOLA, COVER CROPS, ORGANIC GRAINS AND MORE
http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/Upcomingevents.htm

PRECISION AG FIELD DAY
Farmers in North Carolina and southeastern Virginia will get that opportunity at a precision agriculture field day, set for Tuesday, June 19, at the Vernon James Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Plymouth, N.C.  Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m., followed by field tours, which run from 9 a.m. until ll:30 a.m , followed by lunch.  An indoor afternoon session will conclude the event.  Contact Carl Crozier, carl_crozier@ncsu.edu, 252-793-4428, ext. 134

KEEP AN EYE ON THE NEWS

Congress is working on the farm bill and the transportation bill, both of which will impact farmers in a big way.  Stay informed and let your opinions be known!

4-H SUMMER FUN SCHEDULES
Fun and low-cost summer activities for kids!
Vance:  http://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/?page=youth4h
Warren:  http://go.ncsu.edu/4hsummerfun2012

USDA PROGRAM SIGNUP (June 1 deadline)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson today reminded producers that enrollment for the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) ends on June 1, 2012.  Producers can make use of the electronic DCP (eDCP) automated website to sign up, or they can visit a nearby FSA county office to complete their 2012 DCP or ACRE enrollment form. eDCP saves time, reduces paperwork and speeds up contract processing. It is available to all producers who are eligible to participate in the DCP and ACRE programs and can be accessed at www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp. To access the service, producers must have an active USDA eAuthentication Level 2 account, which requires completing an online registration form at www.eauth.egov.usda.gov followed by a visit to the local USDA Service Center for identity verification.

CONGRATULATIONS TO A LOCAL FOREST LANDOWNER!
Preston Floyd of Vance County recently obtained certification for his property from the North Carolina Forest Stewardship Program.  There is a great article in today’s Daily Dispatch!  The Forest Stewardship Program helps landowners develop comprehensive management plans for their properties, and is open to all forest landowners (I believe the minimum acreage is twenty).  Kudos to Preston for his outstanding stewardship efforts!  And kudos to our local Forest Rangers, Brad Manring and Tyler Warren, for supporting Preston in his efforts!

FARMERS MARKETS OPEN
Please make a point to visit our farmers markets this summer.  Already our growers are bringing a great selection of wonderful produce!  Kate and I purchased brocolli and strawberries last Saturday that were out of this world!  We also picked up some transplants for our vegetable garden, and there was much more selection!  Here are the locations and hours:
Downtown Warrenton, Saturdays, 8 am to noon
Henderson YMCA, Wednesdays, 7:30 am to 1 pm
City of Henderson Operations Center, Saturdays, 8 am to noon (S. Beckford, across from the old Sonics).

TUNE INTO THE HOME & GARDEN SHOW, TUES, 4:30, WIZS AM 1450
Last weeks tips:
1. Check your garden after rains for water standing in rows. Open the ends of rows to let the water out.
2. Safe to plant annual flowers (e.g. marigolds, petunias, impatiens, etc.).
3. Soak okra seed in water overnight to help germination.
4. Stay out of the garden when vegetable leaves are wet. Contact with the wet leaves can spread disease.
5. Inspect vegetable plants closely and frequently for insect pests.
6. Inspect vegetable plants for disease and pick off affected foliage.
7. Plan a landscape project on paper before you make a plant purchase.
8. Fertilize bermuda, centipede, and zoysia this month.
9. Put up a rain gauge so you can tell how much rain your garden has received and record the amount and date in your garden journal
10. Use four or five layers of newspaper to make an effective mulch in the garden..

THE PRODUCE LADY NEWSLETTER
With timely tips on purchasing and utilizing fresh NC produce from your local farmer!
http://www.theproducelady.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/TPLenewsPDF_May12.pdf