Caldwell County Agline

(WASHINGTON, June 10, 2009) – The prospective U.S. Agricultural Health Study with over 50,000 farmers recently found that exposure to certain pesticides incurs twice the risk of developing an abnormal blood condition called MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) compared to individuals in the general population. The disorder, characterized by an abnormal level of a plasma protein, requires lifelong monitoring as it is considered pre-cancerous for its risk of developing into multiple myeloma, a painful cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. The study will appear in the June 18 issue of Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology.  

“Previously, inconclusive evidence has linked agricultural work to an increased multiple myeloma risk. Our study is the first to show an association between pesticide exposure and an excess prevalence of MGUS. This finding is particularly important given that we recently found in a large prospective cancer screening study that virtually all multiple myeloma patients are preceded by an MGUS state,” said lead author Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, of the National Cancer Institute. “As several million Americans use pesticides, it’s important that the risks of developing MGUS from the use of pesticides is known,” said senior study author Michael Alavanja, Dr.P.H. 

A cohort of 678 individuals licensed to apply restricted-use pesticides were assessed for MGUS prevalence via a blood draw. Their median age was 60 years (range 30-94 years) and all lived in either Iowa or North Carolina. Participants also completed questionnaires providing comprehensive occupational exposure information for a wide range of pesticides, including information such as mean annual days of use of the individual pesticides, years of use, use of personal protective equipment while applying pesticides, and pesticide application methods. Information on smoking and alcohol use, cancer history of first-degree relatives, and other basic demographic and health data was also obtained. Individuals with prior histories of lymphoproliferative malignancies (such as multiple myeloma or lymphoma) were excluded. Cancer incidence and mortality were monitored annually and, after five years, follow-up interviews were conducted to update the participants’ occupational exposures, medical histories, and lifestyle factors. 

For comparison, data was obtained from a large MGUS-screening study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, and the results from the pesticide-applicator group were compared with the assessments of 9,469 men from the general population of Olmsted County, Minnesota. The two groups were similar in terms of age, race, and educational attainment. Due to the low prevalence of women among the pesticide applicators, women were excluded from analysis.  

In the pesticide-applicator group, no MGUS cases were observed among those who were less than 50 years of age, but the prevalence of MGUS in those greater than 50 was 6.8%. Compared to the Minnesota men of comparable age, the MGUS prevalence was 1.9-fold higher among pesticide applicators.  

The researchers also evaluated the potential association between MGUS prevalence and 50 specific pesticides for which usage data was known. Of the chemicals studied, a significantly increased risk of MGUS was observed among users of dieldrin (an insecticide), carbon-tetrachloride/carbon disulfide (a fumigant mixture), and chlorothalonil (a fungicide). The MGUS risk for these agents was 5.6-fold, 3.9-fold, and 2.4-fold, respectively. Several other insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides were associated with MGUS, but not significantly. “Our findings are intriguing. If replicated in a larger sample from our study and other large studies, further work should be focused on a better understanding of the molecular basis of MGUS and multiple myeloma. Ultimately, this will result in the identification of novel molecular targets involved in the progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma and in the development of targeted therapies,” said lead author Ola Landgren, MD, PhD. 

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The American Society of Hematology (www.hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. In September, ASH launched Blood: The Vital Connection (www.bloodthevitalconnection.org), a credible online resource addressing bleeding and clotting disorders, anemia, and cancer. It provides hematologist-approved information about these common blood conditions including risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment options.

The economic outlook for agriculture will be the focus of the 2009 Ag Development Forum on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the State Fairgrounds.

Economist Michael Walden of N.C. State University will be the featured speaker at the forum, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Holshouser Building. Walden will offer insights on how the economy will affect agriculture in North Carolina and the United States this year.

The forum also will feature a panel of experts talking about the credit outlook for farmers. In addition, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will deliver his first-ever State of Agriculture address.

Farmers, agribusiness professionals and others interested in farm policy are invited. Admission is free, and lunch will be provided. Registration is requested. To register, go to www.ncagr.gov/agforum.

The forum is sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Carolina Farm Credit and Cape Fear Farm Credit.

June 8th, 2009 @ 9:00 AM - June 11th, 2009 @ 12:30 PM - Valle Crucis, NC

Designed for beginning gardeners or those who would like to switch to organic methods. Topics include garden planning, seed starting, companion planting, how to attract beneficial bugs, pest management, soil tests and amendments, composting and vermi-composting, growing herbs, landscape planning and edible landscaping. Held at the ASU Sustainable Development Farm in Valle Crucis, 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Monday, June 8th through Thursday, June 11th. Cost is $20.00 for all 4 days. Reserve your spot by paying in advance, NC Cooperative Extension, 971 West. King St., Boone. For more information call 264-3061.

Event Location
Appalachian State University Sustainable Development Farm
Valle Crucis, NC

May 28th, 2009 @ 6:30 PM
Sugar Grove, NC
The class will cover foot trimming and care for the grazing season. It will also cover de-worming and management of parasites. Please call the Extension office at 264-3061 to register.

Event Location
2478 Bethel Road
Sugar Grove, NC 28679

Contact
Eddy Labus at Watauga County Cooperative Extension - (828) 264-3061

On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, NC Cooperative Extension will offer a free, full-day workshop on what preparations should be made by growers who plan to start a vineyard in our mountain region. While wine grapes are a crop of great interest to many, they are also beset by issues such as spring freezes, economically-damaging diseases, and other potential problems. Successfully managing these problems requires proper planning and actions long before the first vine is planted. This workshop will bring-together some of the best authorities in the southeast on the subjects of vineyard planning and management, with presentations geared toward helping local growers make smart decisions about whether wine grapes are a good fit for their own farms.

The workshop begins at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, June 2, and will be held at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center, located at 252 Poplar Grove Rd. in Boone. There is no charge for the workshop, but pre-registration is required. To register, call the Watauga County Cooperative Extension office at (828) 264-3061.

Speakers will include Norm Oches, Director of the Appalachian Center for Mountain Winegrowing; John Havlin, Professor, Department of Soil Science, NC State University; Sara Spayd, Extension Viticulture Specialist/Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University; Dr. Turner Sutton, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, NC State University; and Dr. Hannah Burrack, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, NC State University. Topics to be covered include Soils, Site-Evaluation, Cultivar Selection, Planting, Vine Management Concerns, Grapevine Diseases, and Vineyard Pest Management. Extension Agents Richard Boylan (Watauga/Ashe) and Adam Keeener (Avery) will moderate the discussions, and be on-hand to give local examples of working with growers who are beginning High Country Vineyards. A full schedule for the day follows:

• 8:30 - 9:00 Check-in - Moderator: Richard Boylan
• 9:00 - 9:15 Welcome and Housekeeping - Richard Boylan, Area Specialized Cooperative Extension Agent, West District, Watauga Center, Boone, NC
• 9:15 - 10:00 Opportunities and Challenges for High Elevation Vineyards in NC - Norm Oches, Director, Appalachian Center for Mountain Winegrowing, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
• 10:00-11:00 Soil and Site: Evaluation and Management Issues - John Havlin, Professor, Department of Soil Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
• 11:00-11:15 Break
• 11:15-12:15 Cultivar Selection, Planting and Vine Management Concerns - Sara Spayd, Extension Viticulture Specialist/Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
  
• 12:15 - 1:30 Lunch on your own
• 1:30 - 2:30 Grapevines Diseases - Dr. Turner Sutton, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
  
• 2:30 - 3:30 Vineyard Pest Management 101 - Dr. Hannah Burrack, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
• 3:30 -   Question and answer session all speakers 

The Butner Beef Cattle Field Lab, NC A&T, Upper Piedmont Research Station, Tidewater Research Station and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems will be holding a cattle sale at 11:00 am on Saturday June 6, 2009 at the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville, NC. 

The sale will consist of 37 registered Angus, 15 halfblood Braunvieh heifers and 84 commercial females.  They will be available for viewing  at the sale site on Friday June 5.

Most don't give grass a second thought. Maybe we think about it when the lawn needs mowing. There is probably some level of conscientiousness while we enjoy a round of golf, or watch a ball game. But, this is just the icing on the cake. Our civilization would be unrecognizable without the gift of grass.

Grass supplies the human race with 70% of our total daily calories. The major cereal grasses are corn, wheat, and rice. Most of the time these grains are processed into flour for breads, cakes, crackers, breakfast cereal, and pasta. However, we also consume other grasses. Oatmeal is just grass seed smashed between two rollers. Cane sugar and molasses come from the juice of tropical grasses.

So, why am I writing about grass? Because right now it is in full display. Look along any roadside, meadow, or small grain field. Grass is flowering. It does not shout “look at me” with bright gaudy colors. It whispers en masse, with seed heads swaying in the breeze. But, soon these will be gone. The roadsides will be mowed, the meadows swathed, and the wheat fields harvested. We will wait for next year and like always, the grass will flower again, giving us its bounty. Grass is nature's meekest plant, giving us our daily bread and asking little in return.

According to NC Department of Agriculture statistics, Caldwell County grows enough wheat to bake 840,000 loaves of bread, harvests enough hay to make 21,500 large round bales, and combines enough corn to ship 75 fully loaded tractor trailers.

There will be a program Tuesday June 9th at Weaver Labs, NCSU Campus in Raleigh on crops mazes.  GPS offers many advantages for making crop mazes.

One of the most significant is the ability to greatly reduce the time required to layout a maze in the field.  In this workshop, you will learn how to take a maze design from concept to layout. The morning session will focus on designing the maze and fitting the design in the field. Participants will have access to a computer with all the necessary software tools and will be guided through the process. The afternoon session will feature taking the designs from the office computer and locating points and paths in the maze with hand held computers and GPS receivers. Several types of GPS receivers will be available to allow the participant to judge which will work best for the kind of maze they want to do. A sample maze will be created based on the designs created.

More information.
 

Several new pesticide record-keeping rules went into effect May 1 following approval by the N.C. Pesticide Board. The new rules involve recording the ending time of applications, the recording of daily applications and how long growers must maintain records.

The changes reflect recommendations of the 2008 Governor's Task Force on Preventing Agricultural Pesticide Exposure and implement the requirements of Senate Bill 847.

Growers making applications that fall under the scope of the federal Worker
Protection Standard must now add the actual "end time" of application to the
records under the change. This is in addition to the "time of the application" that is required to be posted before the application takes place under the current WPS regulations.

Also each day of application must be recorded as a separate application record. After application information has been displayed for the appropriate time (30 days after the restricted-entry period expires), the application information must now be maintained for a period of two years.This coincides with the USDA Requirements for Restricted-Use Pesticides.

Also effective May 1, aerial applicators must record the year, month, date and time of day when each pesticide application was completed for every pesticide application. Additionally, each day of aerial applications must be recorded as a separate record. The commercial ground applicators regulation addressing the same issues for restricted-use pesticides became effective April 1.

Revised record keeping forms may be downloaded from the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division's Web page, www.ncagr.gov/SPCAP/pesticides/Cmfo.htm, or from your local Cooperative Extension Service. Applicators requiring assistance with these or any pesticide regulation, may contact the NCDA&CS Pesticide Section at (919) 733-3556 for help.

The Watauga County Cooperative Extension and the Watauga County Cattlemen\u2019s Association are sponsoring an educational program on"Chute Side Beef Quality Assurance" on Tuesday, May 12 at High Country Farm (Claud Austin\u2019s farm), 321 Johnson Street in Boone. Dr. Jim Turner, Extension Livestock Specialist, and Eddy Labus, Extension Agent, will be doing the program. There will be a registration fee of $7 per person, which includes dinner. Registration will begin at 6 p.m.

Directions:

Turn off of Hwy. 321 onto Deerfield Road. Turn right on Mary Street (just before Watauga Medical Center). Go to the stop sign, and turn right on W. Virginia Street. W. Virginia Street turns into Johnson Street. Continue to the end of the street.

NCSU's 9th Annual Vermiculture Conference will be held on June 4-5 in Durham, NC. This is the only training on commercial vermicomposting in the U.S. The country's top researchers and worm growers presenting at the conference are flying in from Hawaii, California, Canada, and New York. They will cover vermicomposting technologies, vermicompost effects on plant growth and disease suppression, marketing products, and using vermicompost and tea. Detailed info is at www.bae.ncsu.edu/workshops/worms09 Early registration ends on May 21.

The latest information on swine flue can be found at the Center for Disease Control's website (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu).  An informational brochure has also been developed to help answer questions.  This is available in PDF for at (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/pdf/brochure.pdf)

Basic Swine Flu Facts:

(From the National Pork Producers Council)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

• People cannot get the hybrid influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
• There are no food safety issues related to the hybrid flu that has been identified, according to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
• Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the hybrid flu had contact with hogs. "This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs."
• The hybrid virus never has been identified in hogs in the United States or anywhere in the world.
• The hybrid virus is contagious and is spreading by human-to-human transmission.

RALEIGH - Interest in buying locally grown fruits, vegetables and meats continues to grow as consumers look to support local growers and find foods that haven't traveled very far from the field to the table.

To tap into this growing trend, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is ramping up its efforts to help shoppers find locally grown farm products in their area through promotions and updates of the department's NCFarmFresh.com Web site.

The Web site is as a tool where consumers can search for retail farms, roadside stands, farmers markets, community-supported agriculture operations, nurseries, retail garden centers and similar outlets in their area that sell directly to the public. Listings can be searched by the type of commodity being sold, by county or by region.

NCFarmFresh.com has been active for around five years and lists more than 1,000 farms, 119 certified roadside stands and 116 farmers markets. The site has traditionally focused on fruits and vegetables, nursery products and Christmas trees; however, farmers who sell meat and dairy products can now sign up to be listed.

"Farmers who market their products directly to consumers are encouraged to sign up now so they won't miss this marketing opportunity," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "As our marketing efforts draw more and more shoppers to the Web site looking for farms in their communities that sell direct, this will be a simple and easy way for farmers to promote their products and potentially increase their sales. Best of all, it is free and easy to do."

The department will soon launch a statewide advertising campaign encouraging consumers to use the Web site to find local vendors. The campaign is being funded by special grants from the Golden Leaf Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as cooperative funding from commodity associations.

Farmers can register their farms by logging on to NCFarmFresh.com and following the links on the home page. They may also contact NCDA&CS at (919) 733-7887 for more information or assistance. Farmers interested in joining the Goodness Grows in North Carolina program or becoming a certified roadside stand can also contact the department at the number above. 

 

Lunch (sponsored meal): 12 noon

Highlights: strawberry tunnel research, plant material considerations for tunnels, strawberry breeding research, biological mite management.

NCSU's 9th Annual Vermiculture Conference will be held on June 4 - 5, 2009 in Durham, North Carolina. Website: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/workshops/worms09/  The country's leading vermiculture researchers will present the latest research on the effects of worm castings and tea on plant growth and disease suppression, and seasoned worm growers will share their personal expertise.

Who should come: worm growers, farmers, composters, nursery owners, greenhouse growers, soil blenders, orchard owners, entrepreneurs, livestock operators, extension agents, solid waste managers, landscapers, consultants, food service managers, etc.

For details regarding location, hotel recommendations, and registration fees, please visit our website at http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/workshops/worms09/

For questions about the conference, contact Rhonda Sherman at rhonda_sherman@ncsu.edu or 919-515-6770.

Learn how to dehorn, castrate, move cattle, and properly give injections to cattle at the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) chute side meeting.  The program will take place May 12 at 5:30 pm in Watauga County.  The tentative meeting agenda is:

• Introduction - Bryan Blinson
  
• Animal Handling - Eddy Labus
• Working facility design - Dr. Jim Turner
  
• Castration and dehorning - Dr. Mark Alley
  
• Syringe and needle selection - Dr. Mark Alley
  

For more information please contact the Caldwell Extension Center.

Learn how to reduce pesticide spray drift and earn two hours of pesticide continuing education credits for G H L N O D X categories.  The training will be held at the Caldwell County Public Library and Agricultural Resource Center located at 120 Hospital Ave in Lenoir.  The program will start at 10:00 am. 

For a full list of all approve classes Google "ncda pesticide calendar" or go to www.agr.state.nc.us/aspzine/str-pest/pesticides/PesticideCalendar/calendar.asp

 

With demand for fuel wood rising as the biomass energy market expands, North Carolina’s family woodland owners are well-placed to enhance their assets, reduce overhead and maybe even turn a profit. Every woodland produces so-called “trash trees” – tree species that are not in high demand for construction or furniture markets. But rising needs for wood-fueled energy by utilities and manufacturers, and the increase in facilities that use wood for heat, have increased the value of the trees. According to Robert Bardon, Forestry Department Extension leader and associate professor at N.C. State University, “The biomass energy markets are just getting started, but we want the state’s landowners to be prepared to take advantage of the economic opportunities ahead. The result will be good for individual landowners, forest health and safety.” Proper woodland management to harvest trees, preserve wildlife, reduce forest fire risk and reduce disease, pests and invasive species always required harvesting the trees. But now landowners may receive value or reduce management overhead as energy markets grow.

Event Location
120 Hospital Ave NE
lenoir, NC 28645

Contact
Seth Nagy at (828) 757-1291

A pesticide disposal day will be held Wednesday, May 6 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Caldwell Ag Center / Public Library. This will provide an opportunity for farmers, gardeners, and homeowners to dispose of any unwanted pesticides (insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, etc.) free of charge. The collection is only for labeled pesticides, other house hold hazardous waste will not be accepted. If containers are leaking or fragile, place them in a five gallon bucket with absorbent material such as cat litter or sawdust. Do not transport pesticides in the front of a truck or car. If you have containers larger than five gallons or if you have questions about this collection, please call the Caldwell Extension Center.

More Information

Event Location
120 Hospital Ave NE
lenoir, NC 28645

Contact
Seth Nagy at (828) 757-1291

Learn to raise fish.  On May 4, Molly Sandfoss will teach workshop attendees how to successfully raise fish in a pond.  There is a $5 registration cost for the workshop, or $7 for couples.  Please register by by calling 828-652-7874. Make checks payable and mail to McDowell Extension Service, 60 E Court St., Marion, NC 28752.  The workshop will be held at the McDowell County Extension Center.  For additional information contact Cheryl Mitchell at (828) 652-7874.

May 5th  at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury, NC, small grain growers will have an opportunity to view numerous research plots and to interact with agents, specialists, and other farmers. This is an excellent chance to learn the latest information about small grain production in the piedmont.

 Registration starts at 4:00,  field tours 4:30, and dinner will be at 6:30.

The agenda includes:

• Wheat variety review
• Planting wheat before soybean harvest: 5 year results
• Syngenta insecticide/fungicide system vs IPM
• Stagonospora thresholds research
• Advances in hard wheat breeding

Presenters will include; Jack Bacheler, Christina Cowger, David Marshall, Paul Murphy, Randy Weisz.

 Contact seth_nagy@ncsu.edu the Caldwell County Extension Center if you would like to attend.
 

The Alexander County Spring Goat Show is scheduled for Saturday May 2, 2009.  The youth showmanship show and wether show is open to all youth in NC.  After the youth show will be the will be the ABGA sanctioned show.  The entry forms and class listings are available at the Alexander County website.  If you have any questions please contact Allison Brown (allison_brown@ncsu.edu or 828-632-4451).

Learning from experience can be very expensive for woodland owners when it comes to selling trees from their woodlands. Selling trees is usually once- or twice-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Years of growth and value are accumulated in mature trees, and the combined annual income from all those years is frequently marketed in a single transaction. When and how the trees are sold can influence how much money one makes, their overall financial plans, the cost of planting new trees, and other management objectives. Too much is at stake for woodland owners to sell trees without an understanding of the selling process.

The process of buying and selling trees involves a woodland owner, a timber buyer, a logger, and a mill (manufacturer). A consulting forester may also be involved in this process as a representative of the woodland owner.  The raw materials that supply the manufacturer are obtained through a network of buyers who purchase standing trees, referred to as stumpage, from private woodland owners.  Buyers can work directly for a mill, for wood suppliers, for loggers, or for timber brokers. Buyers may be paid a salary or a commission, or they may receive part of the timber brokers' profits. Timber brokers buy and resell trees, making their income from profits.  The buyer represents the interest of their employer in the sale while the woodland owner represents his or her own interest.  If the woodland owner prefers they may hirer a consulting forester to represent the woodland owner\u2019s interest in the sale.

Standing trees are sold either "per-unit" or "lump sum."  A per-unit sale is one in which the buyer and the woodland owner, or their representative, negotiate a price per unit of harvested trees, and the buyer pays for the trees after they are cut and the volume is determined. Per-unit trees are sold either by product class or at a blended average price for all products. Product classes describe the type of products that the logs can be used for.  Product classes include poles and pilings, veneer or ply-logs, sawtimber, chip-n-saw, and pulpwood. Woodland owners own per-unit trees until they are cut and payment is received. Woodland owners continue to assume most of the risks associated with owning the trees, including damage caused by acts of nature, and theft.

A lump sum sale is one in which the buyer and woodland owner agree on a total price for the standing trees within a defined area of sale, and the seller receives payment before the harvest begins. In this method the buyer, upon purchasing the standing trees, assumes the ownership risks.  Lump sum sales are often done through "sealed-bids" sales. A lump sum, sealed bid, sale is conducted in which multiple buyers participate and each buyer submits an offer for the standing trees.  The offers are submitted as sealed bids in which each buyer does not know what the other buyer is offering.  It is this competition for the trees that usually result in a higher offer than auctions or negotiated sales.

Demand for specific timber products varies widely over time and across geographic areas. Prices also vary widely. Factors such as quality, size, volume per acre, total volume, logging conditions, distance to market, accessibility, number of competing buyers and general market conditions affect the price of individual sales of standing trees. When selling trees it is important for woodland owners to seek assistance to ensure maximizing the return on their investment.

Consulting foresters, can alert landowners to favorable market conditions, evaluate the trees to determine if they are ready for sale, and handle sale transactions profitably, while protecting future value and productivity of the forest. Experts show that woodland owners who seek assistance in managing and selling trees can receive as much as 28% more for their trees than if they did not use technical assistance. In almost all cases sellers are well advised to obtain an appraisal of the volume and value of any trees prior to sale. Consulting foresters provide appraisal and marketing assistance for a fee. To verify if a forester is registered as a consultant in North Carolina, contact the North Carolina Board of Registration for Foresters at 919-847-5441 or online at http://www.ncbrf.org. Once you select a qualified forester, you should sign a contract. Include a list of services to be performed and specify who will perform them, when they will be performed, and how the forester will be paid for those services.

The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, also called the NC Forest Service, can also provide a limited amount of free technical woodland management advice and assistance to landowners upon request. Price information and educational information regarding marketing of trees and woodland management can be found on Extension Forestry's website, http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry or by contacting your local county Cooperative Extension office. Links to lists of consultants and buyers of trees are also available through the website and NC Forest Service offices.

You need not sell trees frequently to sell them successfully, but selling trees can be a mysterious and complex process. Remember that a single sale may be your only chance to cash in on the many years of annual income accumulated in a mature stand of trees.  A single mistake can result in the loss of a significant amount of your investment.  Remember that there are many variables affecting the value of trees. To increase a sellers return from woodland management, it is important that they seek professional forestry advice. For more in depth information on marketing and selling trees read the publication "Timber Sales: A Planning Guide For Landowners (AG-640)" (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/pdf/ag/ag640.pdf)

Robert Bardon, PhD. robert_bardon@ncsu.edu, Assistant Dean of Extension and Engagement, College of Natural Resources, NC State University, Raleigh, NC.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds equine owners that now is the best time to vaccinate their horses, donkeys and mules against West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis.

State Veterinarian Dr. David Marshall said these diseases are now endemic to North Carolina, but they are easily preventable.

"We haven't had a lot of cases of EEE or West Nile the past few years, but the disease cycle ebbs and flows in our state," Marshall said. "Horse owners should not let down their guard. They should continue to vaccinate against these diseases, and take other precautions to minimize standing water that would allow mosquitoes to breed."

In 2008, North Carolina had 12 reported cases of EEE in horses, and 11 of them were fatal. It is estimated there are as many as four unreported cases of EEE for every one that is reported.

Horse owners should talk with their veterinarians to determine the best time to start the vaccination process for EEE and West Nile virus. Both vaccinations initially require two shots, 30 days apart, for horses that have no prior vaccination history. Neither vaccination fully protects the animal until several weeks after the second shot, so it is best to vaccinate as early in the mosquito season as possible.

Marshall recommends a booster shot of each vaccine be given every six months in North Carolina because of the extended active mosquito season.

Symptoms of WNV in horses can include loss of appetite and depression, fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, convulsions, impaired vision or hyper-excitability.

Symptoms of EEE, also known as "equine sleeping sickness," include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death.

People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the virus to other horses, birds or people through contact.

The Town of Hildebran will be hosting a Farmer's Market in the parking lot of the Town Hall located at 202 South Center Street Hildebran, N. C. beginning May 28, 2009.  The hours will be from 8 am to 12 pm each Thursday through the end of October.

The East Burke Senior Center is also located on this property. All farmers must be members of the Farmers Market Association in Burke County or a neighboring county and adhere to Farmer's Market Guidelines and Rules.

For more information contact Donna Teasley at Burke County Extension Center 828-439-4460.