Bucolic Briefs
The N.C. State Beekeepers Association will host its annual summer meeting July 9-11 at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro. The theme is Natural Beekeeping in the Face of Diseases and Pests. Workshop topics include discussions on various diseases and pests and how to control them, reducing honey bee stress, keeping bees without foundation or chemicals, natural queen rearing, bee venom therapy and more. In addition, there will be tours of an apple and grape orchards, and the expanded Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. For more, go to www.ncbeekeepers.org or contact Michelle Barry at (919) 363-5458.
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The Center for Environmental Farming Systems will offer a workshop on Farmscaping for Pest Management, July 15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., as part of its Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture education series. The cost is $20 and includes lunch.
The workshop will be held at the CEFS unit at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro. Contact CEFS at (919) 513-0954.
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The 30th Annual High Country Crank Up, an antique tractor and engine show sponsored by Carolina Fly Wheelers Inc., will be held July 23-25 at New Laurel Springs Church, U.S. Hwy. 421 South, Deep Gap. Hit & miss engines, tractor and model engines will be on display along with demonstrations of a wood lathe and corn meal grinding. Gates open at 9 a.m. daily. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and kids 12 and under are free. Three-day passes are $8, or $6 for Friday and Saturday. For more, contact Betty Hodges, (828) 264-4977 or go to www.oldengine.org/members/carolina.
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The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2010 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 9 a.m. July 27 prior to the National Pork Board Regional Strategic Vision Meeting at Sampson Community College in Clinton. The meeting will be held in Room 144 of the Occupational Building. All North Carolina pork producers are invited to attend.
Any producer who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and may participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more, contact the N.C. Pork Council, 2300 Rexwoods Drive, Suite 340, Raleigh, NC 27607 or call (919) 781-0361.
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The Franklin County Horse Farm Tour will be held Aug. 1 from 7:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. and will feature educational sessions at three farms. Lunch is provided. Cost is $10 per person. For more, contact Martha Mobley, extension agent, (919) 496-3344 or go to www.franklincountyfarmfresh.com.
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The NC/VA Egg Industry Conference and Mid-Atlantic Layer Management Workshop will be held Aug. 12-13 at Grandover Resort and Conference Center, Greensboro. For more, contact Keith Anderson, (919) 515-5527.
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The N.C. Goat and Sheep Producers Roundup III will be held Aug. 14 & 15 at the Cooperative Extension Center in Greensboro. The event features a two-day educational program and trade show, and a quality meat goat and sheep sale on Saturday. For more, contact Martha Mobley, extension agent, at www.franklincountyfarmfresh.com at (919) 496-3344 for information and to register.
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There will be an open horse show Sept. 12 starting at 1 p.m. at Biggerstaff Park Horse Complex in Dallas. For more, call Judy Yarbrough at (704) 400-1899.
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The Coastal Carolina Saddle Club will hold horse shows Sept. 12 and Oct. 10 beginning at 10 a.m. Rain dates are the following Sundays. Shows feature English, Western and gaming classes. For more, contact Linda Barker at (252) 560-3213.
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The Gaston County Saddle Club will host an open horse show Sept. 19 at Biggerstaff Park in Dallas. For more, contact Marlin Chappell at (704) 263-8366 or Diane Craig at (704) 732-2745 for a show-class sheet.
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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 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.
