The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will be hosting an informational meeting for all interested vendors on Thursday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the new Vance County Regional Farmers Market Building located at 210 Southpark Dr. just off of Beckford Drive in Henderson. The meeting will address market objectives, policies and procedures, opening date, the vendor application process and fees. The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will be open to the public on Wednesdays and …
Category: Agriculture
Got to Be NC Festival full of foodie fun May 16-18
RALEIGH — There will be no shortage of food options when the 2014 Got to Be NC Festival returns to the N.C. State Fairgrounds May 16-18. One of the biggest food attractions is the Got to Be NC Food, Wine & Beer Expo, featuring hundreds of products made in North Carolina. From meats and sauces to peanuts and snack items to wine and beer, food lovers will be able to sample everything and purchase their favorite items to take home. …
NC Cooperative Extension Update
It’s a busy time in the garden, and the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers have lots of timely information for you in their latest newsletter. You may download it from the following link: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/garden-path-MAY-2014.pdf
Rev up engine-powered fun at Got to Be NC Festival May 16-18
RALEIGH — The Got to Be NC Festival promises to be full of engine-powered fun May 16-18 at the State Fairgrounds. The festival features one of the largest antique tractor and farm equipment displays in the Southeast, with organizers expecting about 1,000 pieces this year. Visitors can talk to the owners, peek under the hoods and learn how these machines transformed agriculture in the 20th century. Tractor parades around the fairgrounds will put the display in motion daily at 1 …
Horse owners urged to vaccinate animals against mosquito-borne diseases
RALEIGH – It’s the beginning of mosquito season in North Carolina, which means it’s also time for equine owners to talk to their veterinarians about vaccinating animals against mosquito-borne diseases. West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis are endemic across North Carolina and can cause illness or death in equine, but can be prevented with a sequence of two vaccines. Last year, there were two reported cases of WNV and 13 cases of EEE, but veterinarians expect that the actual …
Greg’s Garden (May 5th, 2014)
First of all, we would like to apologize to our followers for the slight interruption to our bi-monthly newsletter. We had a family emergency and had to travel out of state for a short while. We hope to now be back onto our schedule of publishing this newsletter every 1st and 3rd Mondays from now through this coming fall harvest season. How Does Our Garden Grow? Well, on Feb. 7th we had this… And now we have this… When we started …
Family-friendly activities planned for Got to Be NC Festival
RALEIGH — From pig races and daily tractor parades to live music and fantastic fireworks, there is something for every member of the family at the 2014 Got to Be NC Festival. The annual celebration of agriculture returns to the N.C. State Fairgrounds May 16-18. Children will love exploring the Agri-Plaza and Kidz Corral between the Jim Graham and Expo buildings. They will have a chance to see baby chickens hatch, watch ducklings slip and slide in a pool, see …
N.C. Forest Service urges caution in woodland damage assessment
RALEIGH — The N.C. Forest Service encourages landowners and others to exercise caution when assessing damage to their woodlands and urban trees from recent storms. Landowners that are concerned about the health of their woodlands should seek advice from their county ranger. “Very often, woodlands that appear to have been severely damaged can recover. Landowners should be fully informed prior to making any significant decisions about their trees,” said David Lane, state forester. “Yard and urban trees that are damaged …
Dessert contest planned for Strawberry Day at State Farmers Market May 1
RALEIGH — Strawberry lovers are encouraged to take part in the Strawberry Dessert Contest at the State Farmers Market on Thursday, May 1. The contest is one of the many activities planned for the 2014 Strawberry Day at the market. Dishes will be judged on flavor, appearance, quality and creative use of strawberries. Recipes should include at least two cups of N.C. strawberries, and strawberries must be a main ingredient. All entries must be in disposable containers and include the …
N.C. strawberry growers expect strong season
RALEIGH – Despite a late cold snap, local strawberry growers are still expecting a strong season that will last into the first part of June. “It’s been a challenging winter season for strawberry growers, including a record freeze in early January and a late cold snap in April,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Fortunately, growers used a combination of row covers and irrigation to preserve the crop with minimal loss, and we are set for an outstanding season.” Several growers …
Pesticide Disposal Program hits milestone with 3 million pounds collected
RALEIGH – Last week the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program surpassed 3 million pounds collected since the program began in 1980. At a collection day in Nash County the program needed just 763.5 pounds to hit the 3 million pounds. Instead, residents dropped off 6,000 pounds for disposal. “North Carolina’s was the first pesticide disposal program in the nation,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Based on weight, pesticides are more expensive and more problematic …
Space still available for antique farm equipment at Got to Be NC Festival in May
RALEIGH — Festival organizers are still accepting applications from farm-equipment enthusiasts and tractor clubs for the farm display at the Got to Be NC Festival, May 16-18, at the State Fairgrounds. Tractors in working order also can participate in the daily tractor parade on the fairgrounds. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration forms are available online at www.gottobencfestival.com. “With about 1,000 machines, the festival is typically one of the largest showcases of antique farm equipment in the Southeast,” …
NC Cooperative Extension Garden Tips, plus Farmers Market news
GARDEN TIPS FROM THE 3/24 GARDEN SHOW ON WIZS 1. Till your garden soil when the soil is moist but not too wet, or you will cause compaction problems. 2. Cut back perennials before new growth starts. 3. Continue planting cool-season crops according to our planting guide: http://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-plantingguide/ 4. If you haven’t fertilized or seeded tall fescue, it may be best to wait until September. 5. Avoid burning tree debris from storms, instead consider shredding it to use for mulch, …
Vance County Regional Farmers Market Open House & More
From Vance County NC Cooperative Extension Office: Come to our Open House next Thursday, 4/3, 2 to 4 pm! You can find all the details on our website, as well as vendor guidelines and an application form. http://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/vance-county-regional-farmers-market/ Also note that we will be hiring a part-time market manager. Details are at the following link, second page: http://www.vancecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/currentopenings31.pdf
N.C. Department of Agriculture offers Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant proposals from nonprofits and government agencies through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The 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. Last year, the department awarded nearly $1.2 million to fund 17 projects across the state. The department expects to see increased funding …
Big Toy Day planned for Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market
COLFAX – “Toys” of all shapes and sizes will be on display at the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market during Big Toy Day March 29. The event features trucks, construction equipment, forestry equipment and medical vehicles. Visitors will have the chance to explore each machine and learn more about the professionals that use them. Big Toy Day is part of the North Carolina Science Festival, a two-week series of events showcasing science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The festival …
Got to Be NC Festival seeks antique tractors, vendors, musicians
RALEIGH — Space is still available for farm-equipment hobbyists, musicians and food vendors wanting to take part in the Got to Be NC Festival May 16-18 at the State Fairgrounds. Organizers are looking for collectors of antique tractors and farm equipment to join a display of more than 1,000 pieces of machinery. Tractors in working order also can participate in the daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. The festival also will host a …
Greg’s Garden – March 17th, 2014
Some Plants Are Up…Some Aren’t, Why??? When we planted in February our first 6 plots of our plot garden, we seeded Lettuce, Spinach, Bok Choy, Carrots, and Sugar Snap Peas. We have two plots that are showing a good growth of plants right now, the others are very small and sporadic seedlings. This is not cause for alarm due to the different germination tables to the various seed varieties. It is always a good practice to keep your seed packaging …
Vance County NC Cooperative Extension Updates
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: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/MARCH-2014.pdf 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 …
Greg’s Garden (March 4th, 2014)
The Plots Are Ready, Now What?First of all, we want to let our readers know that it is not too late to start your garden now. If you have an area in your back yard that is as small as 16 feet by 20 feet, you can have a plot garden with 4, 4 foot square plots. There is still plenty of time to get your plot ground prepared and the square plots built. If you want to have plants …