April ISSUE | 2021

Video Resources for WNC Hemp Growers

NC State University hosted regional hemp events across the state earlier this year. The recordings of the grower spotlights as well as research updates are now online through the NCSU Hemp Portal :

USDA Expands Pandemic Response for Producers

The USDA is expanding their pandemic response including:
  • $6 Billion to expand help and assistance to more producers (includes money for resilient food system infrastructure)
  • $500 million for existing programs - The USDA has reduced the required match and increased the amount of money for Local Food Promotion/Farmers Market Promotion, Beginner Farmer, Nutrition, and Rural Development Programs. It could be a good year to apply for funds!
  • Reopening CFAP-2 to reach more underserved producers.

Full details are available here.
Soil Health Monthly Workshop Series

Join soil researchers from NC State University and the NC Department of Agriculture to take a closer look at the fascinating soil web that producers depend upon. Learn how to manage soil health to ensure sustainable production for various crops.

These online workshops take place from 6pm - 7pm on the dates below. Workshops are free but you must register in advance. Full details available here.

May 18 – Soil Health -What is it? Can it help me?

June 15 – What does it mean for soil to be biologically active?

July 20 – Soil health management for high tunnels.

August 17 – The benefits of cover crops for soil health – an NRCS perspective.
Bridging the GAP: Approaches for Treating Preharvest Agricultural Water On-Farm 

Fruit and vegetable growers are continually assessing their operations to determine where they can limit risk and increase productivity. As a result, many have expressed interest in learning more about how on-farm preharvest water treatment systems work and how they may fit within their current setup. 

Come for two ½ day virtual sessions with extension specialists across the Southeast to learn about different approaches to treating water on-farm, how to implement these systems to meet requirements of the Produce Safety Rule, and how to verify that the system is operating as intended.

When & Where
May 18th, 2021 - 1pm-5pm
May 19th, 2021 - 1pm-5pm
The course will be delivered by Zoom.

Cost & Registration
Registration is $15 (includes shipping/all materials)

Registration link:

Registration deadline is May 4, 2021
Questions? Contact Laura Strawn (Lstrawn@vt.edu)
or Ashlee Skinner (skinnerashlee3@ufl.edu)
Assessing Freeze Damage

Farmers in WNC have experienced yet another late spring freeze. While most small farms don't have the water resources to rely upon for overhead irrigation for frost protection, many rely upon woven row covers which only protect crops to temperatures around 28-degrees. Unfortunately neither option can completely rule out frost damage. The best prevention for crop damage is to plant a variety of cultivars and plant species to ensure that if one crop or cultivar is damaged, there remain other plantings that will continue to grow and be productive.

How do you assess your crops to see if they've been damaged? Leaves and growth tips will show signs of brown, scorched-looking plant tissue that is easy to differentiate from healthy growth. Young plants are more susceptible to heavy frost damage compared to established and mature crops. This is also where careful variety selection - choosing a blend of early, mid and late producing crops is wise.

Assessing fruit plants can be more difficult, as different species flower at different rates. For example, apple blooms will often mature at different rates, meaning that if some flowers appear frost damaged, there may be younger flower buds yet to have opened that will flower and later fruit for you. Flowers that are fully open are most susceptible to damage in species of strawberry, grapes, and blueberries. Younger flowers still in the bud stage can tolerate much lower temperatures.

Frost damage can appear very dramatic immediately following the freeze event. Taking a breath and allowing a few days to see how the plant responds can reveal the true severity of the damage. Damaged flowers and fruits will appear brown, and you can cut flowers or fruits in half to assess if the plant embryo has been damaged. Healthy plant tissue will appear green while dark tissue indicated damaged fruits or flowers.

To learn more about specific temperatures and crop damage, as well as prevention measures, visit:
Buncombe County Seeks Input for COVID Relief Funds

Buncombe County Commissioners are seeking community input on funding priorities for the federal recovery funds that will be coming to the county. As part of the American Rescue Plan, Buncombe County is slated to receive about $50 million in federal Recovery Funding to directly address COVID response efforts and peripheral economic fallout from the pandemic. If you have ideas for how these funds can assist our community, please take this brief survey to help identify areas of need. The deadline to respond is May 14.

What projects qualify for funding?
Please note, the County is still awaiting specific guidance from the federal government about the leeway for using Recovery Funding for general economic needs associated with the pandemic. Commissioners want to be intentional about using Recovery Funding for initiatives that correlate to the Buncombe County 2025 Strategic Plan, are equitable, and will be able to be completed by the end of 2024, the established deadline to exhaust Recovery Funding.

Below are general guidelines for how Recovery Funding can be used. Please keep these in mind when taking the survey:
·        To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts.
·        To provide a premium pay to eligible employees for essential work 
·        To address certain revenue reductions
·        To make infrastructure investments in water, sewer, broadband
 
Beyond meeting the above criteria, project ideas will be evaluated by County staff to make sure it meets some or all of the following criteria:
·        In line with County strategic plan priorities. 
·        Balance between community-focused projects & initiatives that build County government capacity.
·        Equitable outcomes and support for populations most affected by COVID-19. 
·        Partnership and collaboration across organizations and governments.
·        Leverages other funding sources.
·        One-time expenditures rather than ongoing operational costs.
·        Timeframes in line with December 2024 deadline to spend funds.
 
Share your ideas - take the survey HERE
Fruit Growers Weed Management Survey

Fruit growers across the state are asked to participate in a short survey to guide NCSU weed specialists in developing practical weed management for all types of production systems. Grower information will be beneficial in helping us identify current weed issues and management practices in blueberry, grape and strawberry, which will help lead to future research. To participate in the survey, please follow the link below for each small fruit grown by May 7, 2021. 

Grape Growers (Muscadine and Wine) - https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5drD7h90TNJZl8W

For questions about this study, please contact Kira (klchalou@ncsu.edu) or Dr. Jennings (kmjennin@ncsu.edu).
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.