Bucolic Briefs
The Franklin County Extension Office will host a “Retail Ready for Local Food” workshop for specialty crop growers interested in selling to wholesale market outlets. The workshop will be held Jan. 24 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Extension Office, 103 S. Bickett Blvd. in Louisburg. The workshop is free, but registration is required by Jan. 17. Call the extension office at 919-496-3344 to register.
Identifying potential markets, identifying and building a partnership with buyers, getting all the details right, including packaging, labeling, pricing, supply and storage, delivery, payment terms and insurance will be covered. There will be a panel discussion with four local buyers with Prize of the Harvest in Oxford, The Harvest Restaurant in Oxford, Lowes Food in Raleigh and Foster-Caviness in Greensboro. The event offers an opportunity for growers and buyers to talk about local market crop needs.
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The 2014 Southern Farm Show returns to the N.C. State Fairgrounds Feb. 5-7, with more than 500 manufacturers and suppliers expected to showcase agricultural products and services. The show is adding an extra exhibit tent to accommodate 53 companies that were not part of last year’s show. The expansion mirrors the strong economic showing the ag industry is experiencing. Other activities include the Southern National Draft Horse Pull, working dog demonstrations, tractor pulls and continuing education classes for pesticide license holders. Admission and parking are free. A number of commodity meetings and special events will be held in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show. The N.C. Pork Conference will be held Feb. 6 at 9 a.m., and the N.C. Agricultural Development Forum will also be held Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. An annual fundraiser for the Tobacco Farm Life Museum will be held Feb. 7 at 8 a.m., followed by the annual meeting of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina at 10 a.m. The N.C. Soybean Producers Association Forum will also be held on Feb. 7. For more information, go to the show’s website at www.SouthernFarmShow.com.
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The N.C. State Beekeepers Association will host its spring meeting March 6-8 at the Wilmington Convention Center. The meeting will include a wide selection of beekeeping workshops for beginning beekeepers up to commercial operators. Go to www.ncbeekeepers.org for more.
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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 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.
