ALEXANDER COUNTY CENTER
September 2020
The Alexander County Center is now open to the public. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health of county employees, citizens who are sick or running a fever should not visit these facilities. Citizens who do visit are encouraged to wear a cloth face covering and maintain social distance of at least six feet.  The county still encourages business to be conducted via phone or email when possible, but realizes that in-person interaction is necessary in some cases.  Agents are still available, so please call them at 828-632-4451 or email.  For a list of email addresses click the following link:  https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/people/


We Need Your Help!

We need your help with programming! Help us determine which FCS programs should we be focusing on during this time and what you think the community needs by answering this quick survey. We greatly appreciate any feed back you can give us.
Unsolicited Seeds Received in the Mail from China - Do NOT Plant!

We have received phone calls from residents that have received packages from China labeled as containing earrings, but actually containing seeds. Do NOT....let us repeat DO NOT plant these seeds as they could be a pathway for the introduction of invasive species, insects and plant diseases.

North Carolina residents are not in violation of any regulations if they received these shipments, but they are the key to identifying and stopping future shipments. If you receive an unsolicited packet of seeds please go to the following link and complete the form:

Then place the package and contents in a zip-lock bag and take to your local N.C. Cooperative Extension Center.

If you have any questions please call the 
Alexander Center at 828-632-4451.



Please the a few minutes to answer this SURVEY to help us bring this program to Alexander County!
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Application Deadline 
Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.  Apply today for assistance.  The Farm Service Agency will be accepting applications until September 11.  For more information click the following link: Â https://www.farmers.gov/cfap


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Market Highlights for Cattle
Based on Tennessee weekly auction market price averages, steer and heifer prices were unevenly steady with instances of $4 lower to $4 higher compared to a week ago.  Slaughter cow prices were $2 to $4 higher while slaughter bull prices were steady to $1 higher compared to week ago prices. The feeder cattle market has been on a tear since the second week of April when the market lows were set during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.  Since April, the fall feeder cattle futures contracts have increased about $30 per hundredweight to their recent highs. However, the market has taken a little breather the past couple of weeks as feeder cattle futures prices have lost approximately $6 per hundredweight over that time period.  This price movement provides some semblance of normalcy as it relates to supply and demand of feeder cattle.  It would appear the market is attempting to find the longer-term supply and demand of feeder cattle compared to the short run shocks that seem to have become so common the past year.  Thus, one might expect that fundamentals will be the driver of the market moving forward unless another major shock hits the market.  The feeder cattle market could be moving into a time period of softer prices compared to the last month and a half.  This softer market will be driven by the fact that beef demand seasonally softens in the fall which results in lower fed cattle prices.  Softer prices do not mean a collapse in prices but rather a slight decline from the peak. It will be difficult to push prices higher than their recent peak moving through the end of the year as supplies of calves and feeder cattle appear to be ample at this time.  The fall calf market is looking to be flush across the nation. In the Southeast, the consistent moisture has resulted in good grass production which may mean producers hold calves a little longer which should result in slightly heavier calves.   Dr. Andrew Griffith





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