Category: Agriculture

The spring newsletter is here:  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/spring2013.pdf REMINDERS Tobacco Associates Export Referendum, Jan 23, County Extension Center. Soybean/Weed Control Meeting, Jan 31, 6 pm, Epsom Fire Dept. (must register). Corn/Sorghum Production Meeting, Feb 21, 6 pm, Franklin County Extension Center (must register). Respirator Fit Testing, Feb 4, 8am to noon, Vance County Extension Center (must obtain appointment). CURING BARN CERTIFICATION TRAINING, FEB 15 As part of the GAPs requirements, growers will need to have their curing barns certified. We will provide …

RALEIGH — Flue-cured tobacco growers in North Carolina will vote Jan. 23 on whether to continue an assessment to fund export promotion and expansion activities by Tobacco Associates Inc. The amount of the assessment would be no more than one-fifth of 1 cent per pound of flue-cured tobacco sold. The assessment would be in effect for the 2013 through 2015 marketing years. Voting will take place at N.C. Cooperative Extension offices in counties where flue-cured tobacco is grown. Any tobacco …

From Paul McKenzie:  Due to low registration, the produce safety meeting for Thursday, 1/17 has been cancelled. We will send out a notice if we decide to reschedule. If you were planning to register, but had not yet done so, please let me know as that will help me gauge interest for a possible future meeting. Sorry for any inconvenience.

RALEIGH — The economic and policy outlook for North Carolina agriculture will be on the agenda at the eighth annual Ag Development ForumThursday, Jan. 31, at the State Fairgrounds. The forum will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Holshouser Building. Dr. Nick Piggott, an agricultural economist at N.C. State University, will be the keynote speaker. The forum also will feature Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s annual State of Agriculture address, and representatives of N.C. agribusinesses will share …

MUSCADINE GRAPE WORKSHOP January 25, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m., Registration Fee: $10. Sponsored by Center for Environmental Farming Systems near Goldsboro. Featured Speaker: Dr. Sara Spayd, NCSU Department of Horticulture and Linda Hall, A Secret Garden Winery.  This workshop will cover the basics of Muscadine Grape production.Registration Forms at: http://go.ncsu.edu/muscadine. GRANVILLE COUNTY COGGIN’S CLINICS FOR HORSE OWNERS Feb 2, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Flat River Vet Feb 8, 2-4 pm, Large Animal Vet Services Feb 9, 8:30 am to …

You can download our next newsletter at the link below. It contains dates for upcoming production meeting, respirator fit testing, pesticide recertification classes, and much more! http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/spring2013.pdf Produce Safety Workshop/Intro to GAP.  Please be sure to take a look at the workshop details at the following link:http://go.ncsu.edu/GVsafeproduce This workshop will cover lots of important information for anyone who sells produce. We will also go over the basics of becoming GAP certified.

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking input from residents in Caswell, Currituck, Granville, Rockingham and Warren counties concerning treatment options for the non-native, highly destructive gypsy moth. Field monitoring activities conducted by the department in 2012 determined that reproducing populations of the gypsy moth exist in these counties and represent a threat to hardwood trees. Residents in or near the proposed treatment areas have been sent notices by mail. The following meetings are scheduled: …

SOYBEAN MEETINGJan 31, 6 pm, Epsom Fire Dept. Call Franklin County Extension to register (919-496-3344). CORN/SORGHUM MEETINGFeb 21, 6 pm, location TBD. PESTICIDE CREDIT OPPORTUNITIESJan 10, 9 am, Warren County Extension Center (all classes except P&V). Private applicators may attend to receive their X credits. Training schedule for V credit classes, plus additional opportunities for X credits, will be posted by the end of the week. TOBACCO ASSOCIATES EXPORT PROMOTION REFERENDUMJan 23 at your County Extension Center AG CENSUSPlease fill …

RALEIGH — N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the release today of long-awaited federal food safety rules represents an opportunity for farmers, packers, food companies, government and the public to work together to improve food safety in America. The proposed rules announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration emphasize measures that farmers and produce packers should take to prevent the contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables. The rules also include preventive measures for the manufacturing of food products. “The …

RALEIGH–The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has placed Haywood County wood products under quarantine due to a recent detection of thousand cankers disease in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “This marks the first time the disease has been detected in the state, and by placing restrictions on a variety of plant material and wood products, we hope to keep the disease from spreading into other counties,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Something as simple as moving firewood …

Did you realize you can plant peas in January? For a complete planting guide, visit this link:http://cals.ncsu.edu/hort_sci/extension/documents/AG-756.pdf Also, don’t forget about our Master Gardener Open House this Saturday (10 am at the Vance office, 2 pm at the Warren office). Our Master Gardener volunteer training class will be held on Tuesday mornings beginning in late January. If you are interested but can’t make it to the Open House, just let me know and I’ll send an application packet. Here is …

TOBACCO SHORT COURSEJan 28 through Feb 1. Applications due to the County Ag Agent by Jan 2. BUILDING A SPECIALTY CROP FARM ENTERPRISE SCHOOLPeople who are interested in learning how to properly transition into farming by creating a business plan, as well as learning from current growers, are invited to attend a series of training sessions, sponsored by the Granville County Extension Service. This six-week program will train beginning and transitioning farmers to operate small-scale successful specialty crop farms.  A …

RALEIGH — Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging North Carolina farmers to “speak up” for their livelihood by taking part in the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the census is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches and the people who operate them. “The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in North Carolina,” Troxler said. “It’s a chance for …

Grants Available to Farmers Farmers who derive at least 50% of their income from farming may qualify for grants of up to $8,000.  The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Project is now accepting applications for innovative farm projects designed to increase farm income.  It is funded exclusively by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the program is administered by Chatham County based Rural Advancement Foundation, International (RAFI).  Projects must be completed in 2013 and farmers must be willing to share what …

RALEIGH – From the White House to your house, N.C. Christmas tree growers have something for everyone. A 19-foot Fraser fir left Peak Farms in Jefferson Saturday destined for Washington, D.C., as the official 2012 White House Christmas Tree. Additional trees from Cool Springs Nursery in Banner Elk were also chosen for the residence of the vice president. “This is the first time the White House tree and vice president’s tree have come from the same state,” said Agriculture Commissioner …

RALEIGH — Seventeen organizations have been selected to receive 22 specialty-crop grants, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced. North Carolina’s specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass and sod, and nursery and greenhouse crops. Grant proposals were submitted by nonprofit organizations, commodity groups, government agencies and universities. The selected projects ranged from promoting N.C. sweet potatoes and blueberries to developing organic farming and growing a hops industry in North Carolina. “We …

FORESTRY TOURLast call for the Forestry Tour to be held next Thursday, 11/8. Please meet at the Warren County Extension Center around 8:45 for a 9 am departure. We will be touring the International Paper mill in Ridgeway, then making a field stop to learn about reforestation methods. Please register by Monday if you have not already done so. VANCE FARM-CITY BREAKFAST BANQUETYou’re invited to this great event on Nov 16th! Registration required, details at the following link:http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FarmCityinvitation2012-1.pdf VOLUNTARY AG …

Click the following link to download our latest issue, one of our finest to date!http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/TGP-Nov-2012.pdf (Information is intended for residents of Vance and Warren Counties in NC and may not apply to other areas) Paul McKenzie, NC Cooperative Extension

RALEIGH — The following settlement agreements were recently approved by the N.C. Structural Pest Control Committee: Camillius C. Lay, a former assistant department head for the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation in Pendleton, S.C., agreed to pay $1,000 for performing structural pesticide work in North Carolina without a license. Tim Brown, owner of State-Line Exterminating in Portland, Tenn., agreed to pay $600 for performing structural pesticide work in North Carolina under the name of a licensee for a another …