The March issue of our Garden Path newsletter is now available at the link below. It contains LOTS of timely tips, plus a variety of interesting garden-related articles. I hope you enjoy! Here’s the link:
VEGETABLE DISEASE PROJECTIONS FOR 2014
From NCSUs Dr. Lina Quesada-Ocampo, an article on what to expect for the coming season:
http://plantpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/02/what-to-expect-for-vegetable-diseases-in-2014/
RESOURCES FOR NEW FARMERS
From the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, some resources on business planning, credit, marketing and more.
http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/whatwedo/foodsystems/newfarmertoolbox.html
HESSIAN FLY INFO FOR WHEAT
Click the link below for a video update on this pest from Dr. Randy Weisz:
SOYBEAN VARIETY DATA
Unfortunately the green books are not yet available, but all the data is posted at the following link:
TOMMY BROOKS TO RETURN FOR 2014 GROWING SEASON!
Vance County will once again benefit from the expertise and experience of Mr. Tommy Brooks, who worked for years as the Granville County Field Crops Agent. He will be available to assist area farmers beginning March 17th. He’ll be working in Vance, Granville and Person Counties during the upcoming growing season.
AG HEALTH STUDY SURVEYS
For those of you who participate in this groundbreaking study that was started in the 1990’s, please be on the lookout for followup surveys in coming weeks. You may be contacted by mail or telephone. Please consider taking a few minutes to respond.
BURY A TRADITION
The Childhood Ag Safety Network reminds farmers as we begin another season to keep kids off tractors. Lots of information on keeping kids safe on the farm can be found at their website: http://www.childagsafety.org/
WEB VIDEO ON ROOT AND STEM ROTS IN SOYBEANS
Dr. Jim Dunphy of NCSU sent this link on management information for these soybean diseases.
NEW REGS REGARDING HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD
OSHA has implemented new regulations regarding labels and MSDSs for hazardous chemicals (excluding pesticides). Employers must provide training on the new standards to any workers who handle hazardous chemicals. More information can be found here:
BURLEY TOBACCO INFO.
The Burley production guides have not been updated since 2012. However, NCSU does have some recent data on varieties and sucker control that is available upon request.
In other news…
BOB ETHERIDGE TO SPEAK AT VANCE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR
Please come out to this great event on March 20th at Southern Vance High School. Bob Etheridge, Farm Service Agency Executive Director for North Carolina, will speak at 3:30 pm. There will also be dozens of community agencies on hand to share information about the many resources available to Vance County farmers and residents. More information available here:
VANCE COUNTY REGIONAL FARMERS MARKET OPEN HOUSE
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will open this spring! If you would like to tour this wonderful new facility, come to the Open House on Thursday, April 3rd from 2 to 4 pm. It’s located just off Beckford Dr., in the same development as the Social Security office.