NCDA&CS Makes Changes to Agronomic Reporting

Beginning Nov. 1, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will no longer routinely mail out paper copies of agronomic reports. This policy will apply to reports for soil tests and nematode assays, as well as plant tissue, waste, solution and soilless media analyses.

Testing results can be easily accessed & downloaded. For more information you can can contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 or visit the NCDA&CS website.

RAFI Grants For Farmers Workshop

Agriculture producers in Alleghany County who are thinking of new ways to improve their farm income have an opportunity to discuss those ideas with organizations that can be of assistance with planning and funding. Cooperative Extension along with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) will host a “How to Apply” grant workshop for Alleghany County farmers on Monday, November 9th at 5:30 pm. The workshop will be held in the meeting room of the County Building at 90 South Main Street, located between the Kangaroo station and Medi-Home Care.

The Grants are for agriculture operations considering new or expanded production, processing, and marketing approaches for their enterprises. Supported by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the grant program is designed to keep farmers in farming and to maintain the agricultural economic base of North Carolina’s rural communities. Qualifying producers must be farmers (or farmer “groups”) actively engaged in full or part-time farming. Priority is given to projects providing opportunities for a new generation of farmers.

The grant program is designed to help farmers put their own ideas to work to develop new income sources. These cost-share grants can help reduce the risk of trying innovative and new ideas that can help sustain the bottom-line of the business. Some farmers may have ideas for improved methods of production, processing, or opening new markets, but are hesitant to shift operating costs or to borrow money to try new approaches. This is where this program can assist farm businesses. The maximum amount available to individual farmers is $10,000, and for collaborative farmer or community projects the amount is $30,000.

To RSVP for this workshop and/or for more information, contact David Isner at 336-372-5597.

Cut Flower Production Workshop

Are you interested in adding cut flower production to your operation? Are you currently growing cut flowers and looking for the latest production information? The NC Cooperative Extension Service, McDowell Center is offering a program on cut flower production for small growers.

The program will be held on Thursday, October 22nd, at 2:00 pm in the Extension Conference room, 60 East Court Street in Marion NC. Craig Adkins, Extension Area Specialized Agent - Commercial Horticulture will be speaking on all aspects of cut flower production including, site selection, species selection, fertilization, pest control and more. Meredith McKissick, of Sweet Earth Flower Farm will be speaking about her experience growing and marketing cut flowers. Meredith has experience growing flowers and marketing them at tailgate markets and for weddings and other events. She will also be talking about 3-5 different annual cuts that can be easily grown for each spring, summer, and fall.

This program is free, but pre-registration is required by calling the Extension Office at 828-652-8104 or by emailing Jane McDaniel at Jane_McDaniel@ncsu.edu by October 20th. For additional information please call 828-652-8104.

Christmas Tree Newsletter

The September Christmas Tree News is now available online. Click here to view.

4-H Zooms into National 4-H Week

National 4-H Week will take off with a speedy start on October 4th, as the 4-H emblem makes its debut appearance in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The well-known national icon will be featured on the 'TV panel' of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon at Kansas Speedway that day. The placement of the 4-H clover on the No. 24 Chevrolet was made possible through a generous donation by DuPont, sponsor of both the No. 24 team and of 4-H.
National 4-H Week is an annual celebration for the 100-year old youth development organization. The highlight of the week includes the highly anticipated, 4-H National Youth Science Day, which brings together millions of youth to participate in the National Science Experiment. This year's experiment, Biofuel Blast, will introduce youth to alternative energy. DuPont is a premier sponsor of 4-H National Youth Science Day and the Biofuel Blast National Science Experiment.

"The appearance of the 4-H emblem on Jeff Gordon's car in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is a wonderful salute to 4-H by DuPont, and an amazing way for us to begin National 4-H Week," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. "Now, millions of current 4-H'ers, 4-H alumni and racing fans alike can watch with excitement as the clover takes to the track for the first time."
The Kansas event is the third in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and the 1.5-mile track is the site of two of Gordon's 82 career victories in NASCAR's premier division.

"4-H has been a leader among youth development organizations, enriching the lives of millions of young people for more than100 years," said Gordon. "It is an honor to have such an iconic emblem featured on the DuPont Chevrolet and to provide such an exciting way to help the nation kick-off National 4-H Week."

4-H National Youth Science Day was created to spark an early youth interest in science education and to combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science in college and future careers. Participants in this year's National Science Experiment will learn how cellulose and sugars in plants - such as corn, switchgrass, sorghum and algae - can be converted into fuel, and how alternative energies can be used in their own communities. Youth will create their own biofuel through Biofuel Blast, lead discussions about what they've learned, and see how their small creations are a part of a larger, global discussion.

"Research into biofuels and bio-based materials is an important area for our company, and we are proud to sponsor 4-H in their extraordinary effort to help young people understand one of the most important issues facing our nation today," said James C. Borel, group vice president, DuPont Agriculture.

Currently, more than five million youth across the nation take part in 4-H science, engineering and technology (SET) year-long programming that introduce youth to new areas of interest and help them explore environmental and scientific issues. 4-H SET programming span from robotics, rocketry, and computer science, to agricultural science, GPS mapping and renewable energy.

According to a longitudinal study by Tufts University, youth who participate in 4-H programs are more likely to get better grades in school, to seek out science classes, to see themselves going to college, and to contribute positively in their communities. In addition, 4-H youth have been shown to better resist peer pressure and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

Open Youth Horse Show

The second Open Youth Horse Show of 2009 will be held on Saturday, September 12th. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m. and Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Click here for the Show Program which lists all the classes for the day.

The cost to participate in the show is $4 per class or $20 to show all day. Friday night (September 11th) there will be a show pre-registration as well as an open ring from 7 - 8:30 pm.

Fencing Clinic

The Ashe County Center is hosting a fencing clinic on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. This clinic will be held at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs.

Lewis Sapp, Territory Manager for Stay-Tuff Fence Manufacturing, will be providing his expertise on correct procedures for installing woven wire and Hi-tensile fencing. He can help with fencing projects from start to finish. He will have encing products and the latest tools on hand. There will also be a demonstration on flat and steep grades. If you have any questions, please contact the Research Station at 336-982-2501 or the Ashe Extension Office at (336) 846-5850.