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 throughout the state. 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 to maintain surveillance for bird flu in North Carolina. Bird owners with questions or who want to be sure their flock is free of bird flu can contact Dr. Sarah Mason or Jimmy Collie at (919) 733-7601.

North Carolina, Georgia and Florida will host a joint egg conference June 25-27 at King and Prince Golf and Beach Resort on St. Simons Island, Ga. Registration deadline is June 2. For more information, contact the Georgia Egg Association at (770) 932-4622.

The N.C. Pecan Growers Association will be hosting a Twi-Light Orchard Tour June 3 at Lake View Pecans in Bailey. The tour begins at 5 p.m. and will address various production, marketing and management topics with demonstrations in the orchard and pecan tree nursery. The event is free and pre-registration is not required. For more, contact Bill Bunn at (919) 815-5764 or e-mail at b.bunn@earthlink.net or Laurie Wood at (910) 532-4208 or laurie.wood@ncagr.gov.

The N.C. Percheron Horse Association will hold its annual Field Day on June 7 at 11 a.m. at Rolling Hills Percherons in Winston-Salem. Activities include hay making, draft horses under saddle, driving demonstrations with carts, 2-and 4-horse hitches, wagon rides, clogging and an appearance by guest of honor NASCAR legend Humpy Wheeler. The event is free. For more, contact Jeremy Hancock at (336) 399-3837.

An Eastern NC Hay Day will be held June 19 starting at 9:30 a.m. at King Farm on King’s Farm Road in Farmville. The event features hay making equipment and demonstrations on mowing, cutting, tedding, raking, baling and wrapping. An educational program focusing on lessons learned from the 2007 drought and using legumes as a nitrogen source will be held at 11 a.m. Lunch is provided. For more, contact Gerda Rhodes, extension agent, (252) 793-2163.

Boothill Farm in Chapel Hill will host Hunter shows the third Saturday in June, September, October and November beginning at 9 a.m. The rain date for the shows is the third Sunday. Fee is $10 per class. For more information, go to www.boothillfarm.com or call (919) 967-2994.

The Mid State Tractor Heritage Association will host its 2nd Annual Tractor Drive June 21 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Vintage John Deere Tractor Museum in Trinity. The drive will wind through Caraway Mountain west of Asheboro before returning to the museum. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the entry fee is $30. Participating tractors must be able to travel at least 10 miles per hour. Proceeds will benefit the Randolph County FFA Scholarship Fund. For more, go to www.midstatetractorheritage.org or call Doug Nixon at (336) 736-7103, Kelly Wicker at (336) 318-5109 or Todd Nance at (336) 465-0384.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro will host a series of sustainable agriculture workshop on Bread Wheat and Organic Production, June 26 from 4-7 p.m. The cost is $10.
Registration is required. For more information or to register, call (919) 513-0954, e-mail at cefs_info@ncsu.edu or go to www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

The Johnston County Horse Show Series features monthly horse shows starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield. A negative Coggins test is required for all horses. Cost is $7.50 per class. Following are upcoming show dates: June 28, Aug. 30, Oct. 25 and Nov. 22. Rain dates for all shows are the following day. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin, (919) 934-1344 or e-mail sileeno@ipass.net.

The Joyful Noise Open Horse Series will be held 4-T Stables in Lewisville June 28, July 26, Aug. 23, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 featuring English, Western and gaming divisions. The event includes youth, open and amateur classes. For more, contact Joyful Noise Farm at (336) 786-9130 or (336) 429-6240.

The Person County Saddle Club in Roxboro will host an open CCWHA horse show June 28 at 2 p.m. The show features halter, English, Western, pole and barrel classes. For more contact Rob Hall, (336) 599-4039 or go to www.ccwha.org.

The N.C. State Beekeepers Association will host its Summer Conference July 10-12 at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst. Workshop topics will focus on queen rearing, healing with honey, removing bees from structures, cooking with honey and more. A banquet will be held Friday evening and vendors will have bee-related items and equipment on display and for sale. For more, contact Charles Heatherly, (919) 859-6992 or e-mail at heath7@bellsouth.net.

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 identification 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.

The 15th annual Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair will be held Oct. 24-26 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 24 and 25, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. The event features fiber animals, workshops, demonstrations and vendors. Cost is $3. For more, contact Teri Gabic, (864) 468-4220 or Shirley Thobe, (828) 337-9032.