Bucolic Briefs
The N.C. Small Grain Growers Association opened an office at 3822 Bland Road in Raleigh to better serve the needs of farmers across the state. The association formed in 1986 to help its members with research, education, promotion and marketing for the small grain industry. The association is producing short, educational videos that can help farmers with crop production challenges. The videos can be viewed online at ncsmallgrains.com. In addition, for the 2013 crop season, the association has funded more than $600,000 for research and education on small grain crops.
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Beekeepers with bees for rent and growers interested in bee pollination services can post their information on the BeeLinked website at www.ncagr.com/beelinked. The site is hosted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. State University Apiculture Program. Anyone interested in listing their information can do so by filling out an online Submit Your Ad form on the BeeLinked page or by contacting NCDA&CS at 919-233-8214 or by email at NCHoneybee@ncagr.gov, or call NCSU at 919-515-1660. The NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division regulates the movement of agricultural or related items capable of spreading harmful insects, diseases and other pests. Beekeepers participating in this program will be required to comply with all honey and bee industry regulations.
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The Granville County Extension Service is hosting "Building a Specialty Crop Farm Enterprise," a six-class series that aims to help people interested in transitioning into farming. Each three-hour class will focus on a business-planning topic. Four of the six sessions will end with discussions with a grower who is currently engaged in a small farm enterprise. Sessions are held on Tuesdays for the following dates: Feb. 5, Feb. 19, March 5, March 19, April 9 and April 23.
The business-planning seminars will give farmers the tools to create a viable business plan for a small-scale specialty crop enterprise. Cost is $100 and includes lunch at each session, a business plan manual and an informational notebook. For more information or registration form, go to http://granville.ces.ncsu.edu/spotlight/building-a-specialty-crop-farm-enterprise-school or contact Carl Cantaluppi at 919-603-1350 or carl_cantaluppi@ncsu.edu.
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A two-year program aimed at helping farmers manage deer and reduce crop loss from damage caused by deer is seeking farmers interested in enrolling farmland in 2013. For two weeks in the fall deer hunting season, the N.C. Wildlife Federation will lease land from row crop farmers and recruit sportsmen. Hunters will harvest deer according to a property-specific plan with excess venison donated to charity. N.C. Hunters for the Hungry will process donated deer. If you want to learn more about how to enroll your land, there will be two town hall meetings held in Eastern North Carolina. The following are dates, locations and contacts: Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Onslow County Multipurpose Complex in Jacksonville for farmers in Onslow, Jones and Pender counties. Contact Nita Walton, 910-455-5873; and Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Carolina Agriculture Center in Rocky Mount for farmers in Edgecombe, Wilson and Pitt counties. Contact Art Bradley, 252-641-7815.
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The 4th Annual Organic Commodities and Livestock Conference will be held Feb. 14 and 15. On-farm workshops will be held Feb. 14 at Lindale Dairy in Snow Camp and at Hocutt Farms, an organic vegetable farm, in Sims. The conference will be held in the Brown Auditorium & Industry Center at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount. The conference features workshops on organic grain varieties, organic tobacco production, holistic vet care, soil fertility and organic disease management. The conference is $35 and the deadline to register is Feb. 4. For more, go to www.carolinafarmstewards.org/oclc/ or call Amy Armbruster at 919-542-2402.
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The N.C. Pecan Growers Association its hosting is annual educational meeting and orchard visit Feb. 16 at LuMil Vineyard in Dublin. The meeting will cover such topics as marketing, crop management and production practices. Meeting cost is $20 and includes lunch. For more, contact Laurie Wood, executive secretary, NCPGA, 919-385-4570 or email at ncpecan@gmail.com.
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The 7th Annual Agritourism Networking Association Winter Conference will be held Feb. 21 and 22 at the Courtyard Marriott at Carolina Beach. Participants can visit seven farms in the coastal area from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 21. In addition to the winter conference, four mini-conferences will be held regionally. Following are dates and locations: Jan. 17 at the Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Ag Center in Williamston; Feb. 28 at Oak Haven Farm in Rockingham County; March 14 at The Fork Farm in Stanly County; and March 28 at St. Paul Mountain Vineyard in Henderson County. For more information on any of the events, contact Martha Glass, agritourism manager, 919-707-3120.
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The Equestrian Exchange Tack Consignment Sale will be held Feb. 21-25 at the Cabarrus Arena Event Center in Concord. Buy or consign anything related to equestrian sport and tack for all riding disciplines. New bar code tagging allows consignor to view sales remotely. Consignors drop off items Feb. 20 and pick up items Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days. A premier shopping night open to the public will be held Feb. 21 from 5-9 p.m. Cost is $7. Free shopping Feb. 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Feb. 24 from noon to 6 p.m. Consignors earn 75 percent and can donate unsold items to nonprofit equestrian organizations. For more information or to purchase a ticket to the premier night sale, go to www.EquestrianExchange.com or contact Lynn Beeson at 336-362-6248 or Tanya Wright at 540-977-1950.
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The Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School will be held March 1 at the Person County Extension Center in Roxboro. The school will feature presentations by Brianne McAlister of High Rock Farm in Gibsonville, which produces pecans, hybrid chestnuts, blackberries and raspberries for a number of value-added products; Greg Carter of Deep Woods Mushrooms in Horse Shoe, which produces and sells Shitake mushrooms; and Carl Cantaluppi, with Granville County Cooperative Extension. Cantaluppi will provide an update on asparagus and rhubarb research. The cost of the one-day school is $25 for the first person of a family or a business and $15 for each additional family member or business associate. Cost includes lunch and preregistration is required to guarantee an seat and lunch. For a pre-registration form and school program, go to www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/NPSpecCropSchool2013.pdf or contact Cantaluppi at 919-603-1350 or carl_cantaluppi@ncasu.edu.
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Piedmont Saddle Club in Colfax will open its lighted arena every Friday night from 5-9 p.m. for horse riders. The cost is $10 per horse and equine owners must provide proof of Coggins testing and sign a waiver. The events are open to the public. Contact info@piedmontsaddleclub.org for more information.
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The North Carolina chapter of Re-Run, a nonprofit 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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