Bucolic briefs
The N.C. Farm Bureau in partnership with N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is offering a N.C. Public Leadership Development Seminar Feb. 17 and 18 at the Farm Bureau Headquarters, 5301 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. The seminar will focus on understanding critical issues facing North Carolina in agriculture, education, the economy, healthcare and demographic changes, and understanding the political landscape. It will also touch on the opportunities, rules and regulations of appointed and elected officials. Cost is $150. For more, contact Curtis Hayes at 919-782-1705 or email at Curtis.hayes@ncfb.org.
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A Successful Small Farms Opportunities Conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 27 in Louisburg at a location to be determined. Topics include: Farm transition to others; retail marketing; managing your farm w/ Google Earth; building soil health for farm profit; Farmers Markets 101; beneficial insects; how to price your products; utilizing farm stays and weddings; hands-on mushroom production/marketing; alternative feeds for livestock; and sheep and goat production and marketing. For information, contact Martha Mobley, agricultural extension agent at 919-496-3344, email at martha_mobley@ncsu.edu, or go to www.FranklinCountyFarmFresh.com.
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The Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School will be held March 4 at the Person County Extension Center, 304 S. Morgan St., Roxboro. The program will focus on growing and marketing specialty crops and will include a farmer presentation on direct retail marketing on the farm, pesticide updates for asparagus, information on transitioning from community gardens to micro market gardens and research update on pawpaws. Cost is $25 for the first person of a family or business and $15 for each additional from the family or business. Pre-registration by Feb. 26 is needed to guarantee a seat and lunch. The preregistration form can be found at Granville.ces.ncsu.edu. For more information contact Carl Cantaluppi at 919-603-1350.
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The annual N.C. Pecan Growers Association workshop and orchard tour will be held March 5 at the Pitt County Agricultural Extension Office in Greenville. The event is open to anyone interested in pecan production. Contact Laurie Wood, with the NCPGA, at 910-532-2424 or email at ncpecan@gmail.com.
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The Virginia-Carolina Horse Festival will be held March 5 at the Olde Dominion Agriculture Complex in Chatham, Va. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Events include a parade of breeds, a barrel and poles demonstration, a mounted shooting demonstration, a kids area, horse product vendors and food. Visitors can find information related to horse care including bits and biting, nutrition and chiropractic care. The free event is open to the public, and is sponsored by Southern States and Virginia Horse Industry Board. For more information, call Kim Woods, Person County Cooperative Extension, at 336-599-1195.
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The 8th Annual Spring Farm Show hosted by the Sandhills Antique Equipment Club will be held March 18 & 19 at the Sandhills Farm Park in Lillington. Visitors will see antique tractors, farm equipment, classic cars and trucks, and hit & miss engines. There will be kids’ activities, a variety of vendors and demonstrations on pottery making, weaving, soap and tar making, corn and saw milling and blacksmithing. Admission is $5 for adults or $4 for military with ID. Kids 10 and under are admitted free. For more, contact Alvin McArtan at 910-984-4317 or Bill King at 910-514-0590.
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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).***
Beekeepers with bees for rent and growers interested in bee pollination services can post their information on the BeeLinked website at www.ncagr.gov/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.***
The N.C. Ag Finance Authority provides credit to agriculture in areas where financing is not available at reasonable rates and terms. The agency originates, services and finances farm loans, rural business loans, disaster loans and cotton gin loans. It also offers tax-exempt ag development bonds for agribusiness processing, ag-related manufacturing or ag waste disposal. For more about Ag Finance Authority programs or to request a loan application, call 919-790-3949 or email at RequestLoanInfo@ncagr.gov.***
