Bucolic Briefs
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division is looking for small or large backyard or independent poultry flocks to test for avian influenza. A minimum of 10 birds per flock would be tested by oral swabs four times each year at no cost to the owner. This program is designed to maintain surveillance for bird flu in North Carolina. If interested, contact Dr. Sarah Mason or Jimmy Collie at (919) 733-7601.
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The Small Business Center at the A-B Tech campus in Enka will host a series of classes about starting a food business. Following are dates and classes: Feb. 1, 6-9 p.m., Starting a Food Business 101; Feb. 8, 6-9 p.m., Regulatory Compliance for Food Based Companies; Feb. 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Marketing Jams, Jellies and Other Food Products; Feb. 22, 6-9 p.m., Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Packaging. All the courses are free. For more, call Jill Sparks, (828) 254-1921, ext. 5849.
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The Southeastern Horseshoers on Education will hold its annual awards banquet Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Troutmans Restaurant on U.S. 601 near N.C. 49 in Concord. For more, contact Marcus Pierce, (704) 753-4576 or e-mail at Dpierce926@aol.com.
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The N.C. Meat Goat Association will hold its annual meeting Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield. The meeting will feature a number of workshops including one on American Boar Goat Association Standards. A young wether sale will be held in the afternoon. Cost is $15 for adults, free for kids under 19. Lunch is provided. For more, contact Todd McLeod at 336-241-2245 or 336-626-6670.
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The 19th Annual N.C. Aquaculture Development Conference will be held Feb. 7-10 at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel in Atlantic Beach. The conference features self-guided tours of two aquaculture operations and workshops and updates on a variety of aquaculture topics. An optional short course on aquaculture recirculation technology by Dr. Tom Losordo and Dennis Delong of N.C. State University will be held Feb. 7 and 8. Cost for the conference is $95 before Jan. 31 or $125 after that date. The cost of short course and conference is $250. For more or to register, go to www.ncaquaculture.com or call (866) 462-2838.
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The Person County Saddle Club will host a Coggins and horse vaccination clinic Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. at the club at 3814 Edwin Robertson Road, Roxboro. Brunswick stew will also be available. For more, contact Rob Hall, (336) 599-4039.
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A workshop on legal liability and safe food handling practices will be held Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Center in Winston-Salem. Program topics include Good Agricultural Practices for Raw Produce Handling, Getting the Right Liability Insurance Coverage and Avoiding Liability Lawsuits. Cost is $15 and includes lunch. For more, contact Annette Dunlap at (919) 515-5969 or annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu.
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Following is a list of upcoming Johnston County horse events: Johnston County Schooling Show, Feb. 17, 10 a.m.; Johnston County Horse Show Series, March 17 & 18 and April 21 & 22. All events will be held at the Johnston County Arena in Smithfield. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin at (919) 934-1344 or e-mail at sileeno@ipass.net.
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A workshop on selling to food service and retail establishments will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center in Fayetteville. This workshop is geared for farmers and extension staff from Virginia and North and South Carolina. Cost is $12 for government employees or $25 for others. For more, contact Annette Dunlap at (919) 515-5969 or annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu.
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The 56th Annual N.C. Dairy Conference and associated industry meetings will be held Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Holiday Inn in Salisbury. The N.C. Dairy Producers Association begins at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28. Keynote speaker is Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. For more or to register, contact Dr. Donald Pritchard, N.C. State University, (919) 515-8805.
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The N.C. Horse Council recently elected the following officers: Bob Sanford, president; John Thompson, secretary; Tom Bennett, treasurer; Lorraine Price, vice president-East; Myra Daniel, vice president-Central; and Bill Parton, vice president-West.
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The Green Industry Council of North Carolina recently named Sheryl Bynum as its new executive director. Bynum previously served as president and also director of economic development of the Apex Chamber of Commerce. She serves on advisory boards with BB&T Bank and Wake Tech Business and Industry, and is a Rotarian.
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The Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops Schools will be held March 2 at the Person County Cooperative Extension Center in Roxboro. The school will focus on growing and marketing specialty crops, and will include guest presentations by specialty farmers and a presentation on drip irrigation. Cost is $25 and includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. For more, contact Carl Cantaluppi at (919) 603-1350 or e-mail at carl_cantaluppi@ncsu.edu.
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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages livestock producers to register their farms with the NCFarmID program. NCFarmID is a voluntary program to register farms for a national number as a way to protect livestock in the event of a disease outbreak. For more, contact NCDA&CS at (919)-715-2951 or go to www.NCFarmID.com.
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The N.C. Beekeepers Association will host a joint meeting with the South Carolina Beekeepers Association March 2 and 3 at the Union County Agri-Services Center in Monroe. The theme of the meeting is small hive beetle, and features guest speakers, workshops and a trade show. For more or to register, contact Charles Heatherly at (919) 859-6995, e-mail at heath7@bellsouth.net or go to www.ncbeekeepers.org/meeting.
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The Equestrian Exchange Consignment Sale will be held March 16-18 at the National Guard Armory in Greensboro. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 16 & 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18. Equestrian-related items including show attire, saddles and tack, barn items, horse trailers, etc. can be dropped off March 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Call (336) 643-3773 for more information or go to www.EquestrianExchange.com.
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Piedmont Biofuels in Moncure offers free tours of its co-op biodiesel plant every Sunday at 1 p.m. and will also provide private tours to farmers or agricultural professionals throughout the week with prior notice. The group will provide free on-farm workshops with its trailer-mounted mobile processor to N.C. farmers who can guarantee a minimum attendance of 15 or more agricultural workers. Piedmont Biofuels' goal is to provide accurate information to the general public and agricultural workers on the production and use of biodiesel in their personal vehicles and tractors. Piedmont Biofuels Cooperative is located in Moncure, NC, on the Moncure-Pittsboro Road. For more information, go to www.biofuels.coop or give call (919) 321-8260.
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Nationally recognized trainer Bryan Neubert will hold a horsemanship and colt-starting clinic April 12-15 at the Piedmont Stable Club facilities in Greensboro. Neubert offers a soft technique for working with horses. For more information contact Michele McLaughlin at (919) 934-1344 or e-mail at sileeno@ipass.net.
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The 6th Annual Rusty Pistons Antique Show will be held April 27-29 in Marshville. The event features hundreds of antique tractors, new tractor and lawn mower dealers, hit & miss engines, crafts, kiddie and teen tractor pulls, music, food and kids activities. For more, contact Reid Helms, (704) 624-6105.
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