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Cooperative Extension in Warren & Franklin Counties is hosting a Farm Business Webinar Series. The sessions will be held online through zoom from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on the following days:
- October 1 - Present Use Value
- October 8 - Record Keeping/Quickbooks
- October 15 - Risk Management
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NC Cooperative Extension in Granville, Vance, Franklin, Warren, and Person Counties are sponsoring a series of on-line seminars on Wildlife Management for landowners and farmers. The dates and topics are:
- October 2 – Beaver Management and Control – Jonathan Carreto, USDA Wildlife Services
- October 9 – Reducing Crop Damage From Deer – Greg Batts and Jason Allen, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
All sessions will start at 1:00 pm. To register via Eventbrite, go to http://go.ncsu.edu/wildlifemgmtseries. The zoom link will be emailed to registered participants prior to each session.
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Business Assistance For Farmers Workshop |
Agricultural businesses have been hit particularly hard through the pandemic. The state of North Carolina has provided funding to your local Small Business Center to provide valuable resources that most businesses can not afford now due to low cash flow. Martha Larson, Director of the DCCC Small Business Center, will facilitate a discussion regarding programs, specifically to support businesses during this pandemic. Martha will discuss loans and other funding opportunities for agriculture businesses. Included in this presentation will be a checklist of things to be considered during the changes taking place this year. Join Martha to discover how your agricultural business can be supported and recover from COVID-19.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Sheep & Goat Webinar Series |
Are you considering raising sheep or goats? Have you recently gotten sheep or goats and need to learn more? N.C. Cooperative Extension will be offering an online series for new and beginning producers.
- During this introductory session, you will learn the difference between sheep and goats and their purposes. We will discuss meat vs dairy vs fiber and which one may be the right fit for your operation.
- If you plan to raise livestock, you need to have appropriate fencing and facilities. It will look different on every farm, but there are some basics you must consider. We will discuss pasture layout, fencing, and working facilities.
- Knowing what and how much to feed your animal is paramount to helping to keep them healthy. Nutrient requirements change based on the animals’ stage of production. Join us for this session to gain an understanding of how to feed your animal to its potential.
The series will be offered through Zoom. All sessions will be from 6:30-7:30 p.m. EST. Registration for each event is separate. Click on the above links to register for the sessions you want to participate in.
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AgVentures Grant Opens Soon |
NC AgVentures is an Extension program that provides grants to North Carolina independent family farms for new and innovative agricultural project ideas which will increase farm profits. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their operation.
Applications will be open on October 15. The deadline to apply is December 18. Grant awards are up to $8000.
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FACT Fund-a-Farmer Grants |
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) Fund-a-Farmer Grant will open on October 1. Grants of up to $2500 will be awarded to eligible livestock and poultry farmers for projects that help them improve pasture, expand animal welfare, and/or build capacity of their operations.
View Past Grant Projects that were funded here.
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USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus - CFAP #2 |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will use funds being made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and CARES Act to support row crops, livestock, specialty crops, dairy, aquaculture and many additional commodities. USDA has incorporated improvements in CFAP 2 based from stakeholder engagement and public feedback to better meet the needs of impacted farmers and ranchers.
Producers can apply for CFAP 2 at USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices. This program provides financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Producers will be compensated for ongoing market disruptions and assisted with the associated marketing costs.
Applying for Assistance
Producers can apply for assistance beginning Sept. 21, 2020. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 11, 2020.
Additional information and application forms can be found at farmers.gov/cfap. Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested. All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap/apply. For existing FSA customers, including those who participated in CFAP 1, many documents are likely already on file. Producers should check with FSA county office to see if any of the forms need to be updated.
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NC Farm School Accepting Applications |
North Carolina Farm School (NCFS) is a unique entrepreneurial program for new and transitioning farmers with the mission of increasing the number of successful farmers in North Carolina.
The classroom sessions do not teach you subject matter such as how to raise a goat, or how to grow flowers, but instead teach you business skills like goal setting, marketing, and more. The Field Days allow you to see how others manage their businesses.
At this time, we are planning to host the program in person adhering to all safety protocols to ensure the health of all those attending. How the program will proceed will be based on County, State, and University guidelines at the time the program is delivered. We will make options available to those desiring to attend based on their comfort level providing they are from the piedmont region of NC.
The classroom sessions will be held from 6 PM - 9 PM on Tuesdays (February 2, 16, March 2, 16, April 6, May 4 and 18) at the Rowan Extension Center at 2727 Old Concord Road, Salisbury, NC 28146. Snacks will be provided. Field days will be held on Thursdays (February 25, March 25, April 15, and May 13) from 9 AM - 3 PM and meeting locations will vary. Lunch will be provided. Graduation is June 10 at 6 PM.
Space is limited so don't delay in applying.
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Nature Adventures with NC 4-H Camps |
Calling all teachers, home school families, and individuals looking for fun, engaging and educational virtual learning opportunities this fall!
Are you looking for great educational content aligned with state teaching standards to spice up your child or classroom's virtual learning this fall? Then check out our series focused on North Carolina ecology and the natural sciences. Join us for all programs, or pick and choose what works for your fall teaching objectives and schedule.
Can't make the live event? Be sure to register for the recording to use at your own pace.
Programs are provided for FREE to schools, teachers, and families and will include hands-on activities. All programs are aligned with NC Standard Course of Study teaching standards and are presented live over Zoom for 45 minutes on the designated date and time by our trained professional Environmental Educators. If you can't make the live event, recordings will be made available to fit your schedule.
Program Schedule:
Beaver Pond Exploration - October 1, 2020 at 9 am
Pine Forest Ecosystems - October 14, 2020 at 9 am
Stories in the Stars Astronomy - October 27, 2020 at 1 pm
Nature Crafts on November 9 - 1 pm
Outdoor Survival Skills - November 20 at 9 am
Sharks Teeth and Fossils - December 8 at 9 am
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Pantry Pests Could Take Advantage of Stored Food During Pandemic |
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reasonable to try and make fewer trips to the supermarket in order to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. Additionally, a reduction in the availability of many everyday items might prompt the desire to stockpile food in the event of future shortages. Both of these scenarios require a reliance on packaged, processed goods which, unfortunately, are vulnerable to invasion by stored product pests.
Stored product pests are often referred to as ‘pantry pests’ with beetles being the most widespread pantry invader and moths a close second. Initial signs of pantry pest invasion may include beetles crawling in and around food or food storage areas, moths flying throughout the dwelling, or caterpillars crawling on counters and walls. Adult beetles and moths or larvae moving about in packaged foods is also a clear sign of a pantry pest infestation. Luckily, the solutions for eradication are straightforward and easy to execute.
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First & Last Frost Dates:
Interactive Map & Chart
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There is both an interactive map and chart formats to tell you the average first and last frost dates for North Carolina.
For Davidson County, the average first fall freeze date is October 28 and the average last spring freeze date is April 7.
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Virtual Turfgrass Field Days |
Several virtual turf grass field days have taken place over the last couple of months. They feature research updates from NC State Extension turfgrass researchers.If you missed them, you can view the recordings here. |
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Financial Resources for COVID Relief for NC Agribusinesses |
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Feel free to share this newsletter with others you think may be interested in our events! You can stay up to date on what is happening at the NC Cooperative Extension, Davidson County Center by completing the online form to receive email updates.
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- Present Use Value - October 1, 10 a.m.
- Record Keeping/Quickbooks - October 8, 10 a.m.
- Risk Management - October 15, 10 a.m.
- Beaver Management and Control – October 2, 1 p.m.
- Reducing Crop Damage From Deer – October 9, 1 p.m.
Sheep & Goat Webinar Series
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