Volume 21 | Issue 9
Deadline extended to apply for 2018-2019 hurricane disaster relief program
$79.6 million program focuses on losses suffered from Hurricanes Florence, Michael, Dorian
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has extended its deadline to Dec. 31 to apply for a $79.6 million USDA grant for poultry, livestock and plasticulture producers and woodland owners in 90 counties who suffered losses in 2018-2019 from Hurricanes Florence, Michael and Dorian.

This program will offer direct payments to eligible poultry/livestock and plasticulture producers. Assistance will only involve losses associated with these hurricanes that were not covered under other USDA disaster programs.

It will also offer technical and financial assistance to woodland owners in the emergency-declared counties that were affected by these hurricanes. Comprehensive forest management plans will be offered to those landowners in order to assess the storm impacts to their woodlands and identify beneficial management recommendations.

“We are quickly approaching the original Oct. 1 deadline. In order to give affected producers more time to gather their information, we decided to extend the deadline to Dec. 31,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. 

Poultry/livestock and plasticulture producers will need a current and completed NC Substitute W9 form ready to scan into the application. Additionally, growers are encouraged to research and gather any evidence of poultry/swine structure damage and any damage evidence for plasticulture and greenhouses from those specific storms. They should be prepared to scan documents into the application for consideration of payment.

Details about the “Woodland Recovery” program are available by contacting a local N.C. Forest Service County Ranger’s office. A list of contacts can be found at https://www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts/contacts_main.htm

"Eligibility requirements differ significantly between the agricultural and forestry categories,” Troxler said. “I would encourage farmers and forest owners who think they may be eligible to check the online links for the agricultural applications or contact their local N.C. Forest Service County Ranger Office.”

For more information, including links to the poultry/livestock and plasticulture applications, visit www.ncagr.gov/agdisasterprogram or call 1-919-707-3362.
Pork Checkoff is busting myths about pig farming
You may have heard the term "When Pigs Fly," but does it mean what you think? Former pig farmer Eric Stonestreet is bringing out out the Rural Dictionary to teach us a few things about life on the modern farm. Learn more at https://go.pork.org/mythbusting.
Please like and share these videos when you see them on your social channels!
NC State is hosting Food Animal Innovation Summit
The Food Animal Innovation Summit will gather state, national and international food animal agriculture experts from allied industry, academia, students and government to exchange ideas and solutions to the primary concerns for animal agriculture today.

The Summit (Sept. 21-23) features three conferences: Carolina Feed Industry Fall Conference, Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium, and the Precision Animal Systems Symposium. These three events are designed to encourage discussion around sustainable food animal management, from the field to the feed bunk and beyond.

More information, including the agenda, speakers, lodging, and registration options are on the website. For people who wish to attend more than one of these events, discounted registrations are available.
ONE-DAY Pork Conference to be held Nov. 18
REGISTER NOW for our one-day conference! Space is limited, so register early.
Sponsor an animal at the State Fair
You can sponsor an animal at the 2021 NC State Fair Junior Livestock Shows. Sponsors will be recognized during that animal's class. These sponsorships help ensure youth participants will receive prize monies this year. The deadline to sponsor animals has been extended to Sept. 20.

2021 Sale of Champions

Each year, the top animals in the junior livestock shows at the N.C. State Fair are auctioned off in an event called the Sale of Champions. This year, the event will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, in the Jim Graham Building. The North Carolina Pork Council coordinates with other industry partners to ensure that the winning pigs get the highest bids. We are always looking for new partners in this effort.

If you are interested in joining the NC Pork Council at the Sale of Champions, contact Jen@ncpork.org.
REPORT SICK PIGS
TO THE STATE VET
919-707-3250