Bucolic Briefs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency reminds North Carolina livestock producers of the availability of Livestock Gross Margin insurance for dairy cattle. LGM Dairy protects against loss of gross margin (market value of milk minus feed costs) on milk produced from dairy cows. The indemnity at the end of the 11-month insurance period is the difference between the gross margin guarantee and the actual gross margin (if positive).
The policy uses futures prices for corn, soybean meal and milk to determine expected and actual gross margin, and may be tailored to any size farming operation. LGM Diary is different from traditional options in that it is a bundled option covering the price of both milk and feed costs. Producers can sign up 12 times per year and insure up to 240,000 hundredweight per year. Although insurance purchases must be executed through insurance agents, producers may access all policy materials, including Premium Calculation Instructions, on the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov/livestock/. Sales are made from the time of posting on the RMA website on the last business Friday of the month until 8 p.m. the following evening. LGM-Dairy sales will resume with the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year.
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The Equestrian Exchange Consignment Sale will be held Sept. 1-5 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Volunteers can shop from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and consignors can shop from 1-9 p.m. Sept. 1. A preview sale for the public will be held from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 1. Cost is $7. Sept. 2 – Sept. 4, the sale is open to all with free admission from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sept. 5, volunteers shop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; consignors shop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the public shops from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more, go to www.EquestrianExchange.com or call Lynn Beeson, (336) 362-6248.
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The Historic Seventh Avenue District in Hendersonville will host the Organic Market at 7th Sept. 2-5 in conjunction with the N.C. Apple Festival. The market will be held in the historic train depot and will feature area farmers who farm organically or naturally. Products offered include traditional fruits and vegetables, jams, soaps and T-shirts. Vendors are still being accepted. Contact Tara Ledbetter, HSAD executive director, at (828) 674-3067 or go to the HSAD website at www.7thavehvl.com.
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The N.C. State University Cooperative Extension Service and the N.C. Cattlemen's Association will hold a Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers workshop Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WNC Regional Livestock Center in Canton. The deadline to register is Sept. 26 and the workshop will be limited to 20 participants to allow for small group, hands-on activities. Topics to be covered include low-stress cattle handling; proper techniques for vaccinating, deworming and eartagging; pasture management; calving, normal presentations and difficulties. Contact Dr. Jeannette Moore at Jeannette_Moore@ncsu.edu or April Shaeffer at (919) 515-4005 or April_Shaeffer@ncsu.edu for an application.
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The Carolina Paint Horse Club has announced its 2011 show schedule. Following is the schedule: the Fall Fling show, Sept. 17 at Colfax; and the Cardinal Classic, Oct. 15 and 16, at the WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher. For more information on shows, contact CPHC president Tony Honeycutt, (704) 792-2122 or go to www.thecarolinapainthorseclub.com.
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The 4th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival will be held Oct. 2 from 4-7 p.m. at the community park in Briar Chapel. The celebration of peppers includes food, beer and music and features area chefs creating appetizer–sized dishes using heirloom peppers. Admission is $20 in advance or $30 the day of the event. For more, go to www.theabundancefoundation.org.***
The 2011 Southeast NC Ag show, hosted by the Lumber River Old Iron Tractor Club, will be held Oct. 22 at the Southeastern Agricultural Center and Farmers Market in Lumberton. The event features antique tractor and equipment displays, food, arts and crafts, kids' games and events, tractor games, music, working horses, equipment demonstration and FFA displays. For more, contact Junior Callahan, (910) 840-0291 or Jerry Willoughby, (910) 648-6369.***
The North Carolina chapter of Re-Run, a non-profit organization that places ex-racehorses into adoptive homes, now has thoroughbred racehorses available for adoption. Thoroughbreds are versatile and do well in any number of disciplines including shows, events, fox hunting or pleasure riding, according to Elizabeth Macdonald with Re-Run. For more, go to www.rerun.org or contact Elizabeth Macdonald at hemacd@mindspring.com.
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