While much of the state was covered in ice this winter, Zack Brewer was wearing shorts and a T-shirt as he transplanted 2,300 young tomato plants into the ground at Sunny Slope Greenhouses in Bear Creek. Those plants are now 15 feet tall and tomatoes will be ready for harvest in a few weeks, offering consumers a taste of summer in the middle of spring. “A lot of people turn their noses up at greenhouse tomatoes at first,” said Brewer. …
Category: Agriculture
Vance Farmers Market Opening and More
VANCE COUNTY REGIONAL FARMERS MARKET OPENING DATE On Saturday, April 16, the Vance County Regional Farmers Market will open for the season! Initially the Market will operate on Saturdays only, but will add Wednesday hours in May. New vendors are welcome! Vendor Guidelines and an Application Form are available by calling the Vance County Extension Center (252-438-8188) or download from http://go.ncsu.edu/vcrfm. 2016 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION BOOKS I have a very limited supply of the 2016 Vegetable Crop Handbooks. They are …
New Vendors Sought for Vance County Regional Farmers Market
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market opens for the 2016 season on Saturday, April 16th, and new vendors are welcome. This first class facility, located at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson, offers covered sales space, electricity and restrooms. A part-time Manager works to promote the market through various channels including traditional media, social media, signage, community events and more. Vendors are also provided with display tables for their products. The Market will be open on Saturdays, 7:30 am to 1 …
NCDA&CS promoting N.C. livestock with new tag program
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has launched a tag program to promote livestock born and raised in North Carolina. The new Got to Be NC tag program uses special ear tags to identify N.C.-born-and-bred cattle, swine, sheep and goats. The voluntary program is a collaboration between the department’s Got to Be NC marketing program, Livestock Marketing Section and Veterinary Division. “Livestock production generates over $3.6 billion in farm income in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
AGRICULTURAL TAXES WORKSHOP IN WARRENTON March 28, 5:00 – 8 pm, dinner meeting. Registration is free. Presented by NCSU Extension Specialist Dr. Guido van der Hoeven. He will discuss tax issues related to agricultural businesses, including sales and income taxes. Register by March 23rd at http://www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75530 WORKSHOP: NAVIGATING THE USDA GAP AUDIT April 11, 9 am to 4 pm, Summerfield, NC (near Greensboro). $20 registration includes lunch. Register on-line at http://bit.ly/GAP-4-11 WEBINAR: ADDING VALUE TO LOCAL FOOD Mar 20, 12:30-1:30 pm. …
Topsoil and soil fertility tips for spring
Don’t play the guessing game with your garden vegetables or yard for the upcoming growing season. Soil testing for your spring plantings and yard maintenance gives you the information needed to maximize your efforts and boost garden yields. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agronomic Services Division encourages home and community gardeners and landscapers to submit soil samples during the non-busy season for faster turnaround times and with no peak-season fees. Soil samples will be analyzed free from …
VGCC Warren Campus hosts Agricultural Taxes workshop
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is inviting local farmers and budding entrepreneurs to a free workshop, entitled “Understanding Agricultural Business Taxes,” on Monday, March 28, at VGCC’s Warren County Campus in Warrenton. Dinner will be served starting at 5 p.m., with the presentation following from 5:30 until 8 p.m. The instructor will be North Carolina State University Extension Specialist Guido van der Hoeven. He will discuss tax issues in the specific context of agricultural businesses, including sales taxes, …
Be careful when burning debris in spring
The N.C. Forest Service is urging residents across the state to think safety and exercise caution during the spring fire season, which typically lasts from March to May. During the spring fire season, people do a lot of yard work that often includes burning leaves and yard debris. There are many factors to consider before doing any burning. “If you’re thinking about burning debris, contact your county forest ranger first,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The forest ranger can …
Small Farms Conference & Food Safety Class
There is still time to register for these two events coming up later this week! FOOD SAFETY FOR FARMERS MARKET VENDORS, FRI 2/26 This Friday, 9 to 10:30 am at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Learn valuable tips to insure that your farm products stay safe from field to table. Register by calling 252-438-8188 or e-mail paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu. SUCCESSFUL SMALL FARMS CONFERENCE, SAT 2/27 Come to Louisburg this Saturday (VGCC Franklin Campus) to learn about Pricing Your Farm Products, …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
2016 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION BOOKS I have a very limited supply of the 2016 Vegetable Crop Handbooks. They are available to commercial farmers on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep in mind that there are only minor changes from year to year, so if you have last year’s edition you may find that adequate. POST HARVEST HANDLING WORKSHOPS There are three opportunities across the state to attend this excellent workshop, including Apr 6 in Durham. Details at this link. LUNCH …
Time to submit wheat tissue samples for spring nitrogen needs
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reminds growers that properly timed spring nitrogen applications are essential to the growth and development of wheat. Assessing nitrogen needs now will optimize yield and economic return later, and is especially important for organic grain growers. To decide how much spring nitrogen to apply, growers should submit a wheat sampleto the NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division for plant tissue testing. “Tissue sampling should be done when wheat reaches Zadoks growth stage 30 (GS-30) …
NC Cooperative Extension Gardener Updates
GARDEN PATH NEWSLETTER Our latest issue available here. As usual, it contains great information on timely gardening tasks, our plant of the month, herb of the month, and much more! MASTER GARDENER SYMPOSIUM There is still time to register for “Backyard Gardening: Big Ideas for Small Spaces”! This year our symposium will be held on March 19th at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Registration required and all the details are available at http://go.ncsu.edu/vancegarden.
NCDA&CS accepting proposals for 2016 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Nonprofits and government agencies wishing to apply have until March 25. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. It is managed by the department and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the 2014 farm bill. “In 2015, we were able to award more than $1 million to fund 13 …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
FOOD SAFETY FOR FARMERS MARKET PRODUCE VENDORS If you sell produce at a local farmers market, please don’t miss this opportunity to learn about how to make sure your produce stays safe from farm to table. Registration required (call 252-438-8188). Take your pick of the following dates: Wed, Feb 17, 4:30 pm, Vance County Regional Farmers Market Fri, Feb 26, 9-10:30 am, Vance County Reginal Farmers Market FRANKLIN COUNTY SMALL FARMS CONFERENCEDon’t miss this unique learning opportunity! Get all the …
N.C. pecan growers to meet in Greenville March 5
The N.C. Pecan Growers Association will hold its annual conference March 5 at the Pitt County Cooperative Extension office in Greenville. The event is open to current pecan growers and those interested in learning more about pecan production in the state. The meeting includes workshops and an orchard tour. Dr. Lenny Wells, a pecan horticultural specialist at the University of Georgia, will discuss varieties and successful production practices. Other pecan production and business topics will be covered, including crop growth …
NCDA&CS to host workshops for farmers market managers March 4 and 18
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will host workshops for farmers market managers March 4 in Winston-Salem and March 18 in Mount Olive. “With more than 250 farmers markets across the state, it is easy for consumers to connect with local farmers in their community,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our farmers market workshops make it easy for local managers to learn best practices, share success stories and discover new resources to make their local markets even better.” …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
TOBACCO FLOAT BED WATER SAMPLES It’s time to submit water samples for your tobacco greenhouse float beds! The Vance/Warren offices of Cooperative Extension can deliver those samples for you, but please note the following: Call in advance so we can schedule the delivery. It’s critical that samples be delivered in a timely fashion, preferably within 24 hours of collection. Bring payment in form of check or money order ($5 per sample). For more info., visit this site. PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CLASSES …
2016 N.C. boll weevil assessment remains at $1 per acre
The board of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of North Carolina has set the 2016 boll weevil assessment at $1 per acre of cotton, keeping the fee the same for the third straight year. The fee supports the foundation’s efforts to monitor cotton acreage in North Carolina for any re-introduction of the boll weevil and to respond promptly with eradication treatments if necessary. “Cotton production tapered back last year from record 2014 numbers, with an average yield of 686 pounds …
2016 Grain Production Meeting Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The 2016 Grain Production Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 4:00PM-6:00PM at the Vance County Farmers Market (210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC). A sponsored meal will be provided after presentation from NCSU Specialists. Register online HERE or by calling your local Extension Office by 5:00PM Wednesday, January 27 to reserve your meal. Franklin County – (919) 496-3344 Granville County – (919) 603-1350 Vance County – (252) 438-8188 Warren County – (252) 257-3640
Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board meeting Thursday February 4th, 2016
Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 4th, 2 pm at the Farmers Market.