Bucolic briefs
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, 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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Two regional agritourism mini-conferences will be held in March. Following are the dates and locations: March 14 at The Fork Farm in Stanly County and March 28 at St. Paul Mountain Vineyard in Henderson County. For more information on either event, contact Martha Glass, agritourism manager, 919-707-3120.
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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 pre-registration is required to guarantee a 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@ncsu.edu.
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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will host two workshops focusing on growing local farmers markets in North Carolina. The one-day classes, geared toward market managers and their board members, are scheduled for Smithfield and Fletcher. Following are the dates: March 8 at the Johnston County Cooperative Extension office in Smithfield and March 13 at the Virginia Boone Building at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. The workshops will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each cost $20, and covers materials and lunch. Pre-registration is required.
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The 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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