Bucolic briefs

A Regional Hay Field Day will be held July 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Granville County Livestock Facility on Cannady Mill Road, near Oxford. Educational programs will focus on forage fertility requirements, storing hay, weeds, soil and forage sampling and forage differences. The event includes displays of new equipment on the market and types of summer forages, and a sponsored lunch. For more information contact bthe Franklin County Extension Center at 919-496-3344.

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The N.C. Sheep Producers Annual Field Day will be held July 11 starting at 9 a.m. at Clover C Farm in Bunn. Topics to be covered include farm operation from birth to sale, wool from sheep to shawl, ag cost-share programs through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, rotational grazing and solar power on the farm. The event is open to anyone interested in sheep production. The cost is $10 per person, or $20 for a family. For more, contact Alesia Moore, NCSPA secretary, at icreatememories@nc.rr.com or Carvel Cheves at carvel_c@yahoo.com.

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The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2016 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will be held Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. at the N.C. Farm Bureau Conference Center, 5301 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. The election will be held in conjunction with a N.C. Pork Council board of directors meeting and all N.C. pork producers are welcome to attend. Any producer, 18 or older, who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due can be considered as a delegate candidate and can participate in the election. Eligible producers are asked to bring a sales receipt with them proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more, contact the N.C. Pork Council at 919-781-0361 or 2300 Rexwoods Drive, Suite 340, Raleigh, NC 27607.

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The Equestrian Exchange Fall Tack Consignment sale will be held Sept. 3-7 at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The event features anything related to equestrian sports, tack for all disciplines of riding and barn supplies on consignment. Consignors drop off items Sept. 1 between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. and receive 75 percent of sale price. Volunteers shop before the public. A premier shopping night is Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost is $7 cash. Free open shopping is Sept. 4-6 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Monday Sept. 7 from noon to 7 p.m. Some items are discounted the final day of sale. Consignors pick up unsold items Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more 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 N.C. Simmental Association Fall Harvest Sale will be held Sept. 5 at the Shuffler Sale Facility in Union Grove. The sale will include bulls, cow/calf pairs and heifers. For more information, call Jennie Rucker at 336-468-1679 or email at ncsa@yadtel.net. To see an online listing, go to ncsimmental.com.

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The 74th Annual North Carolina Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival will be held Sept. 12 and 13 at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The festival features displays of gourds from around the world, workshops, a live auction at noon on Saturday, and vendors selling dried gourds, gourd seeds, gourd arts and crafts, books and other crafting supplies. There will also be competitions with prizes and ribbons awarded. Admission is $2 for adults and free for kids under 16, workshop students and N.C. Gourd Society members. For more details, including a list of workshops and information on how to enter a competition, go to www.ncgourdsociety.org/festival or contact Kate Mahony, festival and workshop chair, at 910-639-4577 or tolecat@nc.rr.com.

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Back Country Horsemen of Uwharrie will hold work days Sept. 19 and Nov. 14. The group meets at 9 a.m. in the Canebrake Horse Camp in the Badin Lake Recreation Area near Troy. The group also holds chapter meetings Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, and Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.  The meetings will be held at Best Foods Cafeteria, 220 E. 11th St., Siler City. Back Country Horsemen of Uwharrie is a non-profit organization and chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of North Carolina and America. The website is www.bchUwharrie.com. 

The Back Country Horsemen of Uwharrie works in alliance with other chapters across North Carolina, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service to ensure that forests will be available for equestrian use. Its main focus is on ensuring the Uwharrie National Forest will remain a place that can be enjoyed by all equestrian enthusiasts. Members of the BCHU volunteer their time and resources to maintain trails.

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As a way to help farmers and agricultural workers stay safe at work, the N.C. Department of Labor offers safety videos on a variety of topics through its YouTube channel. Video topics include: preventing green tobacco sickness, hazard communication, tobacco harvester safety, heat stress, migrant housing requirements, forklift safety, and information about the NCDOL’s Gold Star Growers program. The videos are in English and Spanish to increase understanding of safety hazards and preventing accidents. To learn more about the NCDOL and the Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau, go to www.nclabor.com or call 1-800-NC-LABOR (800-625-2267). NCDOL is also on Facebook and Twitter (@NCDOL).

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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.