Bucolic briefs
The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2017 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1 p.m., Aug. 3. The election will be in conjunction with a N.C. Pork Council board of directors meeting at the N.C. Biotechnology Center, 15 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park. All N.C. pork producers are invited to attend. Any N.C. producer, 18 or older, who has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. Eligible producers are encouraged to bring a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information, contact the N.C. Pork Council, at 919-781-0361, 2300 Rexwoods Drive, Suite 340, Raleigh.
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The 21st Annual Franklin County Horse Farm Tour will be held Aug. 5 with educational stops at three new Franklin County equine facilities. The tour begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension parking lot in Louisburg and concludes around 2 p.m. The cost is a $5 recommended donation for lunch. To register, contact extension agent Martha Mobley at 919-496-3344 or email at Martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.***
There will be a networking event Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. with German pickle and canned vegetable companies at the Dunhill Hotel in Charlotte, as part of a larger business trip for these companies. This free event provides an opportunity to meet and network with senior representatives and gain valuable insights and contacts in the German market. A dinner buffet is included. This is organized by enviacon international on behalf of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture. For more information, contact Matthias Beier at +49-30-814-8841-25 or by email at beier@enviacon.com.***
The Equestrian Exchange Fall Tack Sale will be held Sept. 1-5 at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Anyone can buy and consign anything related to equestrian sports, tack for all disciplines of riding and barn supplies. Consignors will drop off items Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. A special premiere shopping night will be held Sept. 1 from 5-9 p.m. Cost is $10 for the premiere event. Hours for Sept. 2-4 is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sept. 5 from noon to 7 p.m. Admission is free for all other days of sales. Consignors will pick up unsold items Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Consignors earn 75 percent of sale price. Unsold items may be donated to nonprofit equestrian groups. Volunteers will shop before the public. For more details, go to www.EquestrianExchange.com.***
The N.C. Simmental Association Fall Harvest Sale featuring bulls, cow/calf pairs, bred cows, bred heifers, open heifers and quality embryo lots will be held Sept. 3 at noon at the Shuffler Sale Facility in Union Grove. Purebred Simmental, SimAngus and some Simmental-influenced commercial cattle will be available. Cattlemen can also bid online through DV Auction if they are unable to attend the sale. Contact the NCSA at 336-468-1679 or by email at ncsa@yadtel.net for a sale catalog, or view one online at www.ncsimmental.com.***
The 75th Annual North Carolina Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival will be held Sept. 10-11 at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds in 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, special gourd workshops, gourd art and crafts, a gourd crafting table for kids, and auction on Saturday and items for sale. There will be competitions in a number of categories with ribbons and prizes awarded to the winners. For information on how to enter the competitions, go to www.ncgourdsociety.org/festival, or call 919-696-0744 for more information.***
The Lincoln County Apple Festival will be held Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Lincolnton. The free event features crafts, food, entertainment and the county’s signature crop -- apples. For more information, go to the festival’s website at www.lincolncountyapplefestival.com/***
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.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.***
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.***
