Caldwell County Agline

Below is a list of up coming beef cattle events that will be close to Caldwell County. More details will follow. If you have a specific question about an event listed below please email me at Seth_nagy@ncsu.edu.

December 18, 2009, 1 pm	Butner Performance Tested Bull Sale, Granville County Livestock Arena
January 6, 2010	Shelby Area Beef Conference
January 7, 2010	Statesville Area Beef Conference
January 9, 2010 9:30 am	Mountain Area Beef Conference, Haywood County Agricultural Center, Waynesville
January 9, 2010, 1 pm	Waynesville Performance Tested Bull Sale, Haywood County Agricultural Center, Waynesville.
January 10, 2010	NC Environmental Stewardship Award Nominations Due. Go to http://www.nccattle.com for nomination information and to view last year’s winning packet
January 19, 2010	NC Forage and Grasslands Council Winter Conference. “Efficiently managing diverse grazing resources” featuring Dr. Fred Provenza (Utah State University), Nashville, NC
January 20, 2010	NC Forage and Grasslands Council Winter Conference. “Efficiently managing diverse grazing resources” featuring Dr. Fred Provenza (Utah State University), Monroe, NC
January 21, 2010	NC Forage and Grasslands Council Winter Conference. “Efficiently managing diverse grazing resources” featuring Dr. Fred Provenza (Utah State University), Fletcher, NC
February 19 and 20, 2010	NC Cattlemen’s Conference.  Hickory, NC.  Cattlemen’s College on Heifer Development and Marketing Programs, 9 am to noon on February 19.
May 8, 2010	CEFS Spring Festival, Center for Environmental Farming Systems Small Farm Unit, Goldsboro.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the approval of the EAZI-Breed CIDR Sheep Insert (progesterone solid matrix) for induction of estrus in ewes (sheep) during seasonal anestrus. This progesterone Controlled Intravaginal Drug Release (CIDR) is a steroid hormone that allows out-of-season breeding in sheep.

The data to support this approval were gathered in collaboration with the National Research Support Project\u20137 (NRSP-7), a USDA program intended to support the approval of new animal drugs for minor species of agricultural importance.

"Members of the U.S. sheep industry have long cited this type of product as their top priority need," said, Dr. Meg Oeller, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development.

EAZI-Breed CIDR Sheep Insert is manufactured by Pharmacia and Upjohn, a division of Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY.

Source: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine News, 11.16.09 Read FOI FDA official approval

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week USDA's intention to purchase $50 million of pork. The Department will seek the lowest overall costs by surveying potential suppliers and publicly inviting bids to assure contracts are awarded to responsible bidders.

The pork purchase will help farmers greatly reduce their sow herd in a market where production costs continue to exceed market value.

Each year, USDA purchases a variety of high-quality food products to support the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of natural disasters.

Government food experts focus on ensuring all purchased food is healthy and nutritious. Food items normally are required to be low in fat, sugar and sodium. The commodities must meet specified grade requirements and be USDA-certified to ensure they meet government standards of quality. USDA purchases only commodities produced in America.

December 3 & December 7, 2009: Two aquaculture tours to showcase aquaculture production and fee fishing will be offered on December 3 and December 7. On December 3, a tour of Grandfather Trout Farm, Banner Elk and Hump Mountain Trout Farm, Elk Park will take place. Grandfather Trout Farm is a fee fishing operation located near Boone. Hump Mountain Trout Farm is a fingerling and food fish producer located in Elk Park. Both of these facilities have been in operation for years.

On December 7, a tour of Creekside Carp & Catfish Lakes and Whitmar Lakes will take place. These facilities also have been operating for years. If you ever considered aquaculture as a business venture this is your chance to see some fish farms first hand. This is your chance to talk to the business owners. A van will be available for transportation and will leave Marion at 9:30am on both days. Return time scheduled for 4:00pm on December 3 and 3:30pm on December 7. You are welcome to drive to the facilities as well. Registration is required by December 1 and cost is $5.00. Make checks payable to McDowell County Center. Space is limited, call early. Call Cheryl Mitchell or Molly Sandfoss at 828-652-7874.

Dr. Shannon Davidson has joined the North Carolina State University Department of Animal Science and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.  She is looking forward to providing support, especially in the areas of dairy cattle nutrition and management, for dairymen in North Carolina and working with the North Carolina Dairy Advantage Program. 

Dr. Davidson grew up in Memphis, TN and went to the University of Kentucky where I was very active in the UK Dairy Club and earned a BS in Animal Science in 1998.  After graduation from UK, she came to NC State University as a graduate student under Dr. Brinton Hopkins and Dr. Lon Whitlow and earned a MS in Nutrition in 2001 and a PhD in Nutrition in 2006.  Her MS research at NCSU included investigating lactation performance and nitrogen efficiency responses to the quantity and quality of rumen undegradable protein in the diets of early lactation cows. 

For her PhD, she supplemented a methionine limited early lactation diet with rumen-protected forms of choline, betaine or methionine in order to evaluate the effects of these supplements on performance and metabolism.  During her course of studies at NCSU she was very involved with all of the Dairy research being conducted by Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Whitlow and have first-hand experience in research with calf and heifer rearing strategies as well as mycotoxin effects and potential treatments.  Dr. Davidson also participated in many Extension programs including the NC Dairy Producers' Conference and giving presentations at field days.  Since graduating from NCSU, she worked as an independent consultant in the feed industry.

Dr. Shannon Davidson's Contact Information:
Office: Room 117, Polk Hall, Main Campus, NCSU
Address: Department of Animal Science, Campus Box 7621, Raleigh, NC, 27695
Phone number: 919-515-4045
Fax: 919-515-2152
Email: Shannon_Davidson@ncsu.edu

County governments and nonprofit groups pursuing farmland preservation projects can apply for  funding assistance from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced.

Applications and guidelines for the 2010 funding cycle are available online at www.ncadfp.org or by calling (919) 733-7125. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 4.

"The General Assembly appropriated $2 million to the trust fund for the 2010 fiscal year, and we're looking forward to helping communities across the state work to preserve working farms and farmland," Troxler said.

The trust fund's purpose is to support projects that encourage the preservation of qualifying agricultural, horticultural and forest lands to foster the growth, development and sustainability of family farms.

Grants can be awarded to secure agricultural conservation easements on lands used for agricultural production; to support public and private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable agricultural, horticultural and forestland activities; and for the development of agricultural plans.

More information contact Dewitt Hardee, manager NCDA&CS Environmental Programs (919) 733-7125, ext. 256

The Rural Advancement Foundation International will hold a "how to apply" workshop in the Catawba County Extension Office on Thursday, November 19^th at 6pm for farmers interested in applying for our grant program. The program is managed by Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA)

As the "Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund (TCRF)". RAFI coordinates information workshops, accept applications, awards grants and monitors the results.  

Supported by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the grant program is designed to keep farmers in farming and to maintain the economic base of North Carolina's rural communities.  All farmers are eligible.  Priority is given to projects that provide opportunities for a new generation of farmers and to applicants who had tobacco income at the time of the Master Settlement Agreement. 

Eligibility: Qualifying producers must be farmers or farmer "groups" actively engaged in full or part-time farming in the Western Piedmont.  Western Piedmont counties include Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, Stokes, Rockingham, Wilkes, Yadkin, Forsyth, Guilford, Caldwell, Alexander, Iredell, Davie, Davidson, Rowan, Burke, Catawba, Rutherford, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly, Union, and Anson. 

Awards: The maximum amount available to individual farmers is $10,000 and $30,000 for collaborative farmer or community projects. Grant applications for the Western Piedmont Region are due January  13th, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.  The timeline for submitting grants in other NC regions can be seen at: ncfarmgrants.org 

"The TCRF is designed to help farmers put their own ideas to work to develop new income sources," said Jason Roehrig, RAFI Program Director. "Through cost-share grants, we can help reduce the risk of trying new ideas." Examples of past projects have included improved greenhouse vegetable production, supplies for pasture-raised livestock, expansion of nursery operations, farmer's market assistance and more. 

"We anticipate a large number of farmers benefitting from this unique opportunity," said William Upchurch, Executive Director of the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.  The ultimate impact is preservation of the family farm.  

Project Partners:

Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org

Established in 2000 by the NC General Assembly to manage funds that are part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Grants target farm areas that have historically depended upon tobacco income through farming or tobacco-related businesses.

William Upchurch
Executive Director
919-733-2160

Jeff Jennings
Program Officer 

RAFI-USA: www.rafiusa.org

Rural Advancement Foundation International Private non-profit that promotes sustainability for family farmers and communities.

Joe Schroeder
Field Coordinator (Western Piedmont)
919-323-7587 
joe@rafiusa.org

Jason Roehrig
Project Director
919-542-1396
Jason@rafiusa.org 

Interested farmers and representatives of agricultural cooperatives or associations may obtain applications at ncfarmgrants.org or by calling 919-542-1396 ext. 208.

As of August 13, 2007, twenty-seven states had meat inspection programs for products produced and sold within their states. State meat inspection standards must be "at least equal to" federal standards.

Most state inspection programs duplicate USDA standards. Yet despite the equality in standards (with USDA), state-inspected meat may not sell in interstate commerce.

Recently, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced it would publish proposed regulations to implement a new voluntary cooperative program under which selected state-inspected facilities would be eligible to ship meat and poultry products across state lines.

Currently the proposal is in a comment period. Comments must be received on or before Monday, November 16 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or by mail to FSIS Docket Room, USDA, FSIS, OPPD, Docket Clearance Unit, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Stop 5272, Beltsville, MD 20705. All comments must identify FSIS and the docket number FSIS-2008-0039.

The final results of the 2009 Iredell County, NC Corn Hybrid Demonstration for both silage and grain.

Thanks to all those who participated in the on-farm demonstration, especially McLain Farms for the work they provided in planting and harvesting.  Also appreciation is expressed to those seed corn company representatives who assisted in planting, conducting the field day, harvesting, and helping analyze the data.  
 

We hope this will be helpful in selecting hybrids that can improve grower profitability but remember that one year’s data in one location should not be the sole selection criteria.

 

Iredell Grain Results

Iredell Silage Results 

Link to official variety test (OVT) http://www.ncovt.com

Michael P. Miller, Extension Agent - Agriculture
Iredell County, NC

Interested in organic gardening or pursuing a career in sustainable agriculture? The WPCC Sustainable Agriculture Program and Burke County Cooperative Extension will host a workshop entitled “Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success in Sustainable Agriculture with Joel Salatin.” Events will include a panel discussion, farm projects tour, exhibits by area organizations involved in sustainable agriculture and a presentation by Joel Salatin. Salatin is the owner/operator of Polyface Farms in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. A third generation alternative farmer, Salatin carries his message of environmentally sustainable farming practices to audiences nationwide. Salatin’s farming methods have been profiled in the film Food, Inc. and in the book The Omnivore’s Dilemma by investigative journalist Michael Pollan. Salatin has written several books about farming including "You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise".

This free workshop will be held on Monday, November 16 from 1-5 P.M. at the Burke County Cooperative Extension Office in Morganton. Registration is from Noon to 1 P.M. and space is limited, so be sure and arrive early. For more information about this event or if you or your organization would like to have a free exhibitors table, please contact Chip Hope at chope@wpcc.edu or 828 448-3554 or Donna Teasley at donna_teasley@ncsu.edu or 828 439-4460.

This event is being held in conjunction with WPCC’s Fall Speakers Forum. This year, the theme is “Food for Thought: Reinventing Our Food System for a Healthier World”.  Speakers on international food issues will appear at Western Piedmont’s Leviton Auditorium from Monday, November 16 through Thursday, November 19. Joel Salatin, author and food activist Anna Lappé and Joel Bourne of National Geographic will speak at 7:15 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings respectively. Chip Hope, Coordinator of WPCC’s Sustainable Agriculture Program, will speak on Wednesday, November 18 at noon. For more information about the forum, contact Mary Charlotte Safford at msafford@wpcc.edu or 448-3539.

All events are free and open to the public. Sign Language Interpreters will be at each event. Western Piedmont complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make every effort to honor reasonable requests made by individuals with qualifying disabilities. Accommodations must be requested three (3) business days in advance of school events or activities through the Disability Access Office in room 103 Hildebrand Hall or call 828.448.3153.

Small food businesses can learn marketing and sales tactics at a workshop sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“The Secrets of Marketing and Sales Success: A Training and Networking Opportunity for Food Entrepreneurs” will take place Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Martin Building on the State Fairgrounds.

The workshop will cover a variety of topics, including market research, marketing to food service and retail establishments, and effective branding of food products. In addition, a panel of successful food entrepreneurs will talk about how they built their businesses.

The workshop costs $30, which covers materials and lunch. The deadline to register is Nov. 10, and space is limited. For a registration form, visit www.ncagr.gov/markets/agbizmarketing.htm, or call Annette Dunlap in the NCDA&CS Marketing Division at (919) 733-7887.

Come learn about the challenges and opportunities of growing hops, an exciting and new crop for Western NC!

Topics to be covered include:
• Site selection and soil fertility requirements
• Trellising systems and cover crops
• Disease, pest and weed management
• Economics and budgets

Current hops growers will be present to discuss their experiences!
Hops Production Meeting
Wednesday November 18 from 1—5 pm
Camp New Life at the Mountain Research Station, Waynesville, NC
Meeting fee is $5.  Payment accepted at the door. CASH ONLY!

The Rural Advancement Foundation International will host a “How to Apply” grant workshop for farmers in Guilford County at the Guilford County Extension office on Thursday Oct 29th at 6:30pm.  The grant is for new farm enterprises that demonstrate innovative opportunities in production, processing and marketing.

Awards: The maximum amount available to individual farmers is $10,000 and $30,000 for collaborative farmer or community projects. Grant applications for the Western Piedmont Region are due January 13th, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. The timeline for submitting grants in other NC regions can be seen at: ncfarmgrants.org

No reservations required. For directions, http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=contact

Looking for help with value-added agriculture?  The vast resources at http://www.ncmarketready.org can help.  This is North Carolina Cooperative Extension's latest tool to help NC farmers and citizens grow Agri-business in today's environment.  People in the State are hungry for local food.  This is a growing trend for NC agriculture. 

I am excited about how this value added program is progressing and maturing.  Dr. Blake Brown is providing great vision for project.  I encourage you to have a quick look at this amazing resource.  Some of the exciting topics include "Staring a Cooperative", "Farmers Markets", and "Enterprise Budgets" just to name a few.  

The produce industry will once again have an opportunity to learn, share, and network at the 24th Annual Southeast Vegetable and Fruit Expo. The conference will take place December 1-2, 2009 at the Embassy Suites, Kingston Plantation Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. People from all aspects of the produce business are encouraged to attend.

Keynote speaker for this year’s Expo will be Dr. Jim Rushing, Clemson University, speaking on “The importance of post harvest handling in the competitive market of produce sales today”.

The conference will consist of concurrent sessions. Participants will be free to move around to sessions that interest them the most. The program committees have worked very hard to design a program that is timely and topical, to meet the needs of attendees. A sampling of topics includes: tomatoes, cucurbits, nutrient management, food safety, crucifers, sustainable production, marketing, and small fruits.

To top it all off, an extensive trade show will be held during the two day exposition, allowing those involved in vegetables and fruits to learn about useful products and services as well as network with potential business contacts.

The Southeast Vegetable and Fruit Expo is sponsored by the N.C. Vegetable Growers Association and the South Carolina Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Association in cooperation with Clemson University, North Carolina A&T State University, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, SC Department of Agriculture, N.C. Farm Bureau, and N.C. State University.

For more information or to register, please contact Bonnie Holloman or Cathy Price at the N.C. Vegetable Growers' Association, (919) 334-0099 or email bhollom@bellsouth.net. You can also visit the web site at http://www.ncvga.com for a complete program.

Allan Thornton, Extension Associate, Horticulture Science, NC State

The 58 bulls at the Butner Bull Test were weighed and ultrasounded on October 20, 2009. Bulls at Butner will be weighed off test November 16 & 17.  At that time the two weights and heights will be averaged together to get the final weight and height.  The breeding soundness exam will be performed on November 17.  Below are the minimum requirements for a bull to make the test.

1. Average Daily Gain on test ratio of 85 or above within breed.
2. Adjusted 365-day weight ratio of 93 or above within breed.
3. Minimum adjusted 365-day frame score of 5.0 or above.
4. Pass Scrotal Circumference minimum of 32cm.
5. Pass Breeding Soundness Exam.
6. Pass a screening committee evaluation for physical soundness.
7. Disposition.

The Butner Bull Sale will be December 18, 2009 at the Granville County Livestock Arena.

FULL 84 Day Report

It is official.  The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, has been identified in North Carolina.  First detected about two weeks ago in the Winston-Salem area, there has been another report in the coastal plain region.  Originally found in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2001,  it is now established in many states across the country especially along the east coast. It is an easy traveler in things like motor homes. There is a long list of hosts, both ornamental and agricultural from maple and birch to pecan, peach, apple and cucumber. Adults emerge from overwintering about April. All instars have deep red eyes. Early nymphs are red, then almost black, and finally brown in color as adults. They are typical stink bugs in most ways and damage fruit and foliage with their feeding (proboscis) and saliva. There is a single generation in northern states. To add to their annoyance, they like to overwinter in protected places such as structures.  This is where you are most likely to first notice them.

For more information and images see the insect note:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note148/note148.html

Urban Horticulture Extension Specialist, Dr. Lucy Bradley has given the NCSU Extension Urban Horticulture website a face lift.  The site still looks very much the same.  However, the notable differences are it should load faster and be compatible with more web browsers.

Have a look at the new site and see if you notice the improvements.

 

http://www.ncstate-plants.net

 

The Avery County Cooperative Extension Center will be hosting a Pasture Management Field Day on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. A meal will be provided immediately after the workshop is completed. Please call the Avery County Cooperative Extension Center by Friday, October 16, 2009 to register. Please find the field day flyer linked below.

Below is a summary of the results from the October 6, 2009 NC Cattle Industry Assessment Referendum.  The vote must be a two/third majority to pass, consequently, the referendum did pass.

Counties reporting: 101
Counties reporting no votes: 21

Votes "for" - 839
Votes "against" - 306
Votes illegible - 3
Total votes - 1147

 More information is available at http://www.nccattle.com

To better serve woodland owners in North Carolina, NCSU Extension Forestry has created a new listserv "Woodland Owners Update". This service updates you directly through email on woodland owner events throughout the state. We also inform you on current and new publications as they come out. Informed landowners make the right decisions about their woodlands and we are dedicated to providing NC woodland owners the best information available.  If you would like to join Woodland Owners Update, please visit our website for more details and registration:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/list.html

A one-stop shop has been created to provide a comprehensive place for information about strawberries. this site will not have the strawberry advisories, management information, production notices, and weather, to marketing help. Special thanks to the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for its support of the development of this resource.

To learn more about this valuable resource. Watch the recorded webinar.

NC State University will be holding our annual open house on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students representing each of the academic colleges, as well faculty from many departments, will be available to answer the questions young adults and their parents have about educational opportunities at NC State.   Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the Open House by visiting http://www.ncsu.edu/openhouse