Category: Agriculture

RALEIGH – Franklin and Wake counties are the latest to come under quarantine rules restricting the movement of hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock and other ash materials after emerald ash borers were confirmed in both counties. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler signed an emergency quarantine order allowing the expansion. An emerald ash borer was found via the capture of a cerceris wasp in Franklin County. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Plant Industry Division had been monitoring sites in …

Cooperative Extension in Vance and Warren Counties announces that the biennial Master Gardener Training Class will begin on July 28th. Participants will learn all they need to know to join this pre-eminent volunteer program. Prospective volunteers will receive 40 hours of instruction in all aspects of horticulture, including trees, lawns, flowers, vegetables, fruits, pest management and much more. Upon successful completion, participants are then required to provide 40 hours of volunteer service on community projects. Past projects have included demonstration …

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from stores in Franklin, Gaston, Henderson and Wake counties for excessive price-scanning errors. The Standards Division conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of a business’ price-scanner system to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2 percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct …

Cooperative Extension in Vance and Warren Counties announces that the biennial Master Gardener Training Class will begin on July 28th. Participants will learn all they need to know to join this pre-eminent volunteer program. Prospective volunteers will receive 40 hours of instruction in all aspects of horticulture, including trees, lawns, flowers, vegetables, fruits, pest management and much more. Upon successful completion, participants are then required to provide 40 hours of volunteer service on community projects. Past projects have included demonstration …

This week at the market we will have fresh produce including blackberries, crowder peas, radishes, squash, cucumbers, red and white potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon,  onions, green beans, plums, apples, and peaches. We will also feature many handmade crafts such as textiles, soaps and artwork. Rounding out our variety of goods this week will be an assortment of plants including hanging baskets, herbs,  vegetable plants, as well as baked goods including pies, sweet breads, salsa, jellies, and rolls. …

June Issue of the Garden Path Newsletter Published by the Vance/Warren Extension Master Gardeners In this issue, lots of timely tips, plus information on weeds, herb gardening, the plant of the month, and much more! Here’s the link:  http://gardenpathnews.blogspot.com/2015/06/garden-path-newsletter-june-2015.html Fun Summer 4-H Activities for the Kids! 4-H in both Vance and Warren offer tons of opportunities You want find a more comprehensive schedule of fun, economical and educational activities for your kids, grands, neices, nephews, etc.! Here is the Warren County …

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market has some exciting activities planned as we get into “peak season”! This Saturday, June 20th, we will have live music provided by the Buggs Island Community Band, plus story time for the kids! Also this Saturday at 11 am we will have a free seminar on “Preventing Deer Damage in Your Garden”.  The excitement continues on Wednesday, June 24 when the Big Shopping Cart from the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services makes …

This week at the market we will have fresh produce including squash, cucumbers, red and white potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon,  onions, green beans, plums, apples, and peaches. We will also feature many handmade crafts such as textiles, soaps and artwork. Rounding out our variety of goods this week will be an assortment of plants including hanging baskets, herbs,  vegetable plants, as well as baked goods including pies, sweet breads and rolls. Note that availability is subject to …

RALEIGH – Blueberry growers across North Carolina are expecting a record crop as they start harvesting for the season, thanks to recent dry weather. “Too much rain at harvest can damage blueberries and ruin a crop,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Fortunately, the weather is cooperating and we are seeing some of the highest yields and best-tasting berries we’ve had in years.” North Carolina is the seventh-largest producer of blueberries in the nation. In 2012, the state grew 41 million …

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, June 4th, 2 pm. The meeting will be held at the Farmers Market in the classroom. The meeting is open to all. For more information, e-mail farmersmarket@vancecounty.org or call 252-438-8188.

PATIO GARDENING SEMINAR, SATURDAY, 5/23Come on out to the Vance County Regional Farmers Market this Saturday, 5/23 at noon for a short seminar on Patio Gardening! Taught by one of our Extension Master Gardener volunteers, you will learn all the tips and tricks to successfully growing vegetables in containers on your deck on patio. Feel free to bring a lunch, beverage provided.  REMEMBER TO TIP AND TOSS Scout your yard after a rain to look for any standing water. Mosquitos …

The Market is open Wednesdays & Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This Week at the Market JASM Farms will have fresh Vance County Strawberries, spring onions and radishes. Franklin Brothers Nursery and Harvey Hills Farms will have bedding plants, shrubs, herbs, planting vegetables and fruits, hanging baskets, and flowers. You can also get fresh eggs – chicken & duck – from Harvey Hills Farm! Ms. Ada’s Baked Goods will have sweet breads, jams, rolls, pies, and small cakes. The …

RALEIGH – Flowers and plants are almost always the perfect way to let someone know you are thinking of them, and with so many varieties grown in North Carolina, it is easy to find fresh, beautiful plants or flowers for any occasion, such as Mother’s Day – hint, hint. “North Carolina’s floriculture industry is as vibrant as the colorful plants and flowers grown in the state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We have more than 19 million square feet of …

RALEIGH – Cooks who love strawberries are encouraged to take part in the Strawberry Dessert Contest at the State Farmers Market on Thursday, May 14. The contest is one of the many activities planned for the 2015 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. Desserts containing raw eggs will not be judged. …

GARDEN PATH NEWSLETTER, LATEST EDITION Download our latest issue at the link below. You’ll find lots of great gardening information, timely tips, and much more! http://gardenpathnews.blogspot.com/2015/05/garden-path-newsletter-may-2015.html STRAWBERRY SEASON! I can think of nothing more tasty than a fresh NC grown strawberry, and the season has begun! We expect to have a good supply this Wednesday at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, and you will also find them at various farm stands around the area. Call me if you need …

Don’t miss this once every two year opportunity! Open to ALL! Come by theVance County Regional Farmers Market this Thursday, 4/23, 10 am to 2 pm to safely dispose of unneeded lawn and garden chemicals. We will accept ALL pesticides in original containers, including weed killers, insect killers, disease control products, etc. We will accept liquids, dusts, granules and baits. Remember, old products are an accident waiting to happen, and may have lost their effectiveness or been taken off the …