Forage Tips

Planting Pasture Forages Now: Best time of the Year

September

• Fertilize and lime cool-season grasses (Fescue, Orchardgrass)
• Now is the BEST time of year to plant cool-season grasses through Oct. 25th.
• Plant cool-season legumes such as ladino clover, red clover, alfalfa into tall fescue sods. Use insecticide.

Read the rest!

Friday, Sept. 15: Deadline for State Fair entries

The Fair is quickly approaching! Friday, September 15^th is the deadline to have entries into Raleigh. Dairy heifer and several of the sheep categories are still open and did not have to be nominated first. If you plan to enter hay in the Forage Contest, get those core samples pulled and mailed to the NCDA & CS forage lab asap. You also need to send in an entry form for the hay contest; also due by Sept. 15th. For entry forms/rules and regulations, go to the NC State Fair website or come by the office for a premium book in mid-August.

Updating Franklin County Hay Directory

We are updating the Hay Directory in the county since many of you may have quality hay to market, particularly horse quality hay. If you have excess hay to sell, contact me at 919-496-3344, or via email, Martha Mobley, and give the necessary information, such as type of hay, size of bales, your contact information, etc. We have numerous livestock and horse owners throughout the year request a free copy of this directory. You can submit what hay you have to market any time, since it is constantly updated on the ag marketing website, NC Farm Fresh. This site also has pasture land for lease, equipment for sale/rent, labor available, and much more. Check it out!

Having Buzzard Problems? 

Several local beef producers have inquired about legally controlling buzzards from attacking their animals, especially cows calving and newborn calves. Buzzards are a federally protected species of birds, and there is no season to hunt them. It is illegal to shoot, poison, etc. them. However, if buzzards are causing damage to animals on your property, you can apply for a Depredation Permit in order to legally shoot/kill the buzzards. The first step in obtaining a permit by contacting the USDA Damage Control Office. Their telephone number is (919) 786-4480. The wildlife biologist  will provide the property owner the written recommendation required for the permit and information on how to then precede to get the permit from the NC Wildlife Commission.

Women in Agriculture (WIA) Network Series to begin this Fall and Winter

I am so excited about a new program partnership that our local expanding WIA group will be establishing with the NC Agro-medicine network from East Carolina University. More details on dealing with stress and how to make our lives better; from dinner meal planning, to record-keeping, nutrition, budgeting, and much more will be highlighted.

Regional Livestock and Horse Farm Tours this Fall

Would you like to attend these following educational tour that my co-workers in their respective counties have planned? If so, email me and let me know if you would like a ride in the county van with me. However, you please go ahead and get registered with their contact, many are using Eventbrite. See the following attached flyers on each event.

Friday, September 22:– Nash County Horse Farm Tour;  Leaving the Franklin County Ag Center parking lot at 7:00 a.m.; returning around 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. See information for registration directly using Eventbrite. Contact 919-496-3344, Martha Mobley if you would like to ride in the County van. $15 fee which includes lunch, door prizes, etc.

Tuesday, October 10: Sampson Regional Beef Farm Tour: Leaving the Franklin County Ag Center’s parking lot at 6:00 a.m.; Return around 4:00-4:30 p.m. The event is free to attend but registration is required. Call the Sampson Cty. office at 910-592-7161 to register by 5:00 p.m. September 29, 2023. Contact 919-496-3344, Martha Mobley if you would like to ride in the County van.

Saturday, October 28: 4-County 4-H Regional Poultry Show and Sale (Auction)

Vance County Regional Farmers Market Building, Henderson; two breeds to show and sell:  Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and Cuckoo Maran. Show starts at: 3:30 p.m. followed by live auction. Call 919-496-3344 for more information.

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA)  3-day Conference/Farm Tours 

 William W. Dow Scholarship Fund for Beginning and BIPOC Farmers – Deadline to apply, Friday, Sept. 15^th

 Download the application and apply today to attend the region’s best Ag Conference, November 11- 13, 2023 in Durham and area.
A pioneer in organic agriculture, Bill Dow knew farmers need training, networking, and mentorship to grow a vibrant, sustainable local food system. Established in his honor, the Dow Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to beginning farmers and Black, Indigenous, and Farmers of Color of all experience levels to attend the Sustainable Agriculture Conference.

A full scholarship, valued at $750, provides an all-access conference pass with the option of lodging and travel reimbursement. The benefits of the scholarship continue after the conference! Each Dow Scholar becomes a CFSA member and can access our free technical services for an entire year, valued at over $4,250. If you have any questions about registration, contact  Marianna Spence, 919-542-2402.

Other Scholarships to attend CFSA conference!

The Food Animal Concerns Trust Scholarship is for livestock farmers and ranchers to attend the conference and covers up to $400 in registration reimbursement. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The NCAT & Frontline-to-Farm Veterans Scholarship offers up to $250 for military veterans who want to learn about sustainable livestock production and farm business. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.

Work Exchange Sign up to help CFSA staff at the conference for up to $105 off your ticket!

Deadlines are approaching, and some opportunities are first-come, first-served, so apply or sign up early to ensure you save the most on your conference registration!

Direct Marketing Meat Producers

Navigating the “New & Improved” MeatSuite – Learn the basics of MeatSuite, from log-in to submitting your products and profiles for listing on the site. We’ll cover some of the new features and make a recording of our click-by-click tour for you to watch again while working on your profile.

Tuesday, September 26th

7-9 p.m.

SARE Production Grants

Did you know there’s a grant available that allows farmers to test out new ideas, practices, or technology that would address a production or marketing challenge?

It’s called the Southern SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Producer Grant Program. This is a research grant program available to individuals or farmer groups to test out a sustainable agriculture idea using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, marketing initiative, or other technique. Typically, grant proposals open in September with final proposals due in November. Producer grants are paid by reimbursement of allowable project expenses for a maximum of $20,000 to individual farmers and $25,000 to farmer groups over two years. Learn more

Farm Hurricane Preparedness

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) has created a new webpage that compiles Hurricane Resources for Farmers that can be useful both for hurricane preparedness and after storm clean-up.

The last thing you need to worry about when a hurricane, tropical storm, or tropical depression is coming is where to look for help. Staff at CFSA has compiled a list of state and federal agencies and organizations to help those with farms in NC or SC prepare for and recover from storm damage.

As a livestock person, after a storm, please search your pastures for poisonous trees/limbs blown down… such as the Wild Cherry Tree and Red Maple Trees.. it is the WILTED leaves that are poisonous… mark those trees now and plan to remove then this winter.  

FACT’s Fall Webinars are Announced (Food Animal Concerns Trust)

Livestock producers, you may want to stay home and participate in these webinars. Everything from Farm Bill basics to employment law to adding value to your meat products to NRCS grants explained just to get us started. Register to receive any follow-up materials by going to the above weblink.

• September 14: Advocating for a More Humane Food System: Farmers &the 2023 Farm Bill
• September 19: Conservation Stewardship Program Practices for Grazing Lands
• September 28: Employment Law Basics
• October 5: Adding Value to Your Product Line
• October 10: Forming an LLC
• October 28: From the Cell to the Rail: The science of meat quality and yield
• November 1: Getting Your Farm Funded: Understanding FACT’s Fund a Farmer Grants

Brunch Farmers Market

Haven Farm, located at 8521 Buffaloe Rd., in Knightdale, NC, is seeking farm vendors for produce, meats, cheeses, food and more. Every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., October 14th -November 25th. How to Apply: Email Max Rivera . Cost for entry: $50 per event date.

For additional information concerning Animal Agriculture or Women in Ag Contact 919-496-3344, Martha Mobley, Extension Agent, Agriculture.