Friends of the Farm Breakfast This Friday June 19, 2009

This Friday, June 19, 2009 the Avery Agricultural advisory board is sponsoring the second Friends of the farm breakfast at the Altamont Methodist Church off of Camp Creek Rd in Altamont. The Breakfast will start at 6:00 am and the guest speaker is Dr. Gina Fernendez NC State small berry specialist. She will be discussing the opportunities in rasberry production. Some of the topics covered will be budget, production issues, pest management. There are many opportunities with rasberries and we are trying to get buyers and wholesalers interested in purchasing from our farmers.

We will also be discussing the farmland preservation program and enrolling interested farmers. This program is designed to protect farmland from nuisance law suits and other actions. We want to protect our farms and this program will. There are two types of programs a voluntary and enhanced program. For more information contact Jerry at 733-8270

FREE Fraser fir Plugs--Forest Service

The NC Forest Service (located in Crossnore) is distributing FREE Fraser fir plugs.
The plugs are from their top 5 single family plugs. They are 3 to 6 inch grade and are 1 year old greenhouse grown plugs. Jim Rideout stated they have an excess amount and will
give farms up to 5,000 FREE plugs. Please go by and see Jim.

Proper Methods for Pesticide Disposal

Proper methods for Pesticide Disposal


With the recent events concerning the occurrence at the Three lane convenience center, we feel that it is important to provide some more education concerning pesticide container, rinsate, and pesticide sprayer disposal. First and fore most there are only two sites in Avery County that will accept emptied, triple rinsed pesticide containers. They are the site on Three Mile, and the site in Linville. If you have old pesticide sprayers and or tanks, then you can contact our office and we can store these containers until the pesticide disposal day. However, a spray tank should be treated as a emptied pesticide container. This means the emptied container/spray tank must be tripled rinsed or jet rinsed before bringing it into the recycling center. If there are caked residues on the container it is not accepted for recycling.
Please take a look at the publication concerning the recycling of used pesticide containers. If you have a spray tank, please contact Jerry Moody at the Avery County Cooperative Extension Center at 828-733-8270.

Excess pesticide solution

Pesticide wastes are toxic and must be disposed of by the label. If you can not dispose of the excess pesticide wastes, then we can hold this material and keep it secured until the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program can help us. Improper disposal of excess pesticide spray mixture or rinsate is a violation of Federal Law.


NCDA&CS Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program

The Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program (PDAP) is a consumer services program in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The PDAP, part of the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, is a NON-REGULATORY program that provides cost-free assistance to farmers and homeowners. The goal of the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program is to assist these citizens of North Carolina by managing and supervising the safe collection and lawful disposal of banned, out-dated, or unwanted pesticides.
In 1976, the North Carolina Pesticide Board adopted regulations governing the disposal of pesticides. These regulations make it illegal in NC to dispose of hazardous waste (which includes pesticides) in sanitary landfills. As a result of this dilemma, the Department created the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program in 1980 through appropriations from the NC General Assembly.
With these appropriations, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program was created to provide an available, affordable, and environmentally acceptable mechanism in which any homeowner, farmer, or institution can properly dispose of unwanted or unusable pesticides.
This Program was created as a stewardship program to provide a much needed consumer service and was the first of it's kind in the entire United States. According to a recent EPA publication specifically on Pesticide Disposal Programs, there are now 33 States with permanent programs and 13 others working towards establishing permanent programs in their states. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture is proud to have been a national leader in establishing this highly regarded, ground-breaking, consumer services program for the entire Agricultural community.
In January 1997, the Program transitioned from collecting pesticides at farm and home sites to collecting them at designated sites on Pesticide Disposal Collection Days and at permanent Household Hazardous Waste sites.
Since its inception, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program has properly collected and disposed of over 1 million pounds of pesticides from North Carolina. In 1999, the Department sponsored 35 Single-day Collection Events. With the partnership of the NC Cooperative Extension Service, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program supervised the collection and disposal of 122,783 pounds and 39 drums of pesticide waste in 1999. Of this total, 19,404 pounds and 4 drums of Hurricane Floyd flood damaged pesticides were collected from 10 counties in eastern North Carolina. In 2002, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program safely supervised over 36 Collection Events and managed the regulated disposal of 148,201 pounds and 65 drums of pesticide waste. We continue to receive flood-damaged material from Hurricane Floyd at our Collection Days to this day.
Currently, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program also assists 9 counties with permanent HHW Programs and assists an additional 8 county-based single-day HHW Programs that are currently evaluating the possibility of establishing permanent HHW programs.
The Program's goal for the future is to assist and promote the establishment permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection sites in those counties without permanent facilities. In addition, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program also intends to conduct approximately 40 Collection Day events per year throughout the state in an attempt to have a Pesticide Collection Day in each county in the state at least once every other year.
The Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program promotes a safer and cleaner North Carolina environment by reducing the amount of pesticides that, without this program, could potentially contaminate the drinking water, groundwater, streams, rivers, and land across the state. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is proud to be a national leader with the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program. With the continued support granted by the NC General Assembly, the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program can continue to protect human health and the environment so that we will all have a safer place to live, and clean water to drink.

If April Showers bring May Flowers, What does May Showers Bring?

Normally May showers bring us headaches!! If you are like everyone else, you now have too much work and very little time to accomplish it.

The spring of 2009 will be remembered as one of the wettest. It has been very difficult to apply our spring BTA treatments and chemical mowing treatments. If you are behind in your work due to weather, please keep the following in mind when making spray decisions.

BTA

In previous field demonstrations where the material was applied at bud break, one week after bud break, 2 weeks after bud break, 3 weeks after bud break, and 4 weeks after bud break, it was observed that damage could be minimized through 2 weeks after bud break, However when we applied material after that the end result did not show a decrease of damage compared to not treating at all. With this being said, this week will be the end of that window and treatments after this will not be entirely effective.


Chemical Mowing

The spring window for applying 8 oz per acre of Roundup will also be closing this week. Normally the 17-20 would be the last days for applying 8 oz per acre. If your growth is out further than 1/4 inch -1/2 inch, think about reducing your rate to 4 oz per acre.


Always remember to calibrate your sprayer prior to applying. If you do not you can damage your trees. Also be sure that when chemical mowing don't allow your spray to overlap. If this occurs, you can double the actual rate of material that is applied.


If you have treated for BTA in the fall and have decided not to treat this spring, please let us know so we can follow your results in the summer.

Frost in the mountains

Message from Jeff Owen, Christmas Tree Specialist

While predicted ambient temperatures I've heard are around 30 F for tonight, frost pockets could be 5-10 degrees colder. Damage can start to show up in the mid twenties. Those who can irrigate may want to plan on doing so - before on-site temperatures reach 32 F. If they irrigate, they cannot just "ice up" the plants. The ice works as long as additional water is freezing onto it keeping it at a steady 32 degrees.The freezing water actually releases heat that keeps the plants above ambient temperature. Once the water is cut off, the ice can chill to ambient temperatures. Thus, once you start irrigating, you have to continue until localized temperatures are above freezing.

For those without adequate water to irrigate (or phytophthora root rot concerns) we have seen some benefit from row covers where they are not in direct contact with the seedling foliage. Row covers must be put on in late afternoon to trap the day's heat. They must be air tight. They need to come off before mid day tomorrow to avoid scalding injury.

Spring Insects

With the Spring window opened and in full swing, it is getting late to apply your BTA treatments.  The cones are out and many farms have an over abundance of cones.  We have seen aphids in the cones, so your choices are really limited in what you can spray and get good results.  If you choose dimethoate, please spend the extra money and add a masking agent to your spray.  We have been getting a lot of calls from the public concerning the smell of the sprays.  If  you want some help with scouting for your Twig aphids, please call us at the Avery County Cooperative Extension office at 828-733-8270

Marketing workshop March 19, 2009

Marketing Conference March 19, 2009

On March 19, 2009 NCCE will be hosting a marketing conference directed toward growers wanting to increase their sales potential. This meeting will bring together many different and diverse speakers that will enlighten all on how to market their Christmas Trees better. If your sales have been declining or you presently don't have a marketing plan this meeting will help you in developing your own plan. Please plan on attending. The meeting will be held at the Watauga County Cooperative Extension Conference Center located at 971 West King Street. The DEADLINE for Registration will March 13, 2009.

Purpose
This conference was designed to help the small and medium wholesale Christmas tree grower to develop or expand a buyer-focused marketing plan. Participants will learn ways to reach more customers as well as strategies to improve customer retention. Topics will address targeted niche marketing, proven strategies, advertising, Internet marketing, guerilla marketing, customer relations, public relations, and developing a plan. Several of these topics provide alternative marketing strategies that provide “more bang for your buck” as you involve the media or other stakeholders. Participants will receive a marketing resource notebook that includes the steps to build a marketing plan.

Why you need this meeting

* Didn’t sell enough trees
* Suffered October panic attacks
* Customers don’t come back
* You have more trees ready to sell this year than you did last year
* Want a better price for your trees
* Grower you always sold to doesn’t need to buy trees any more
* Your marketing efforts feel stale

Speakers

Gary Bullen, Extension Associate,Agricultural Economics, NCSU

John Dorner, Area Specialized Agent, Information Management, NCCES

Bill Glenn, Marketing Specialist,
Christmas Trees & Ornamental Plants
NCDA & CS

Linda Gragg, Executive Director, North Carolina Christmas Tree Association

Jeff Owen, Area Extension Forestry Specialist, Christmas Tree Production & Marketing, NCSU

Stacy Tomas, Extension Specialist, Sustainable Tourism, NCSU

Ross Williams, Assistant Director, Marketing Division, NCDA & CS

Agenda
9 – 9:30 AM — Registration & refreshments
Introductions & Welcome Meghan Baker, Watauga CES

Conference goals Jeff Owen & Bill Glenn

Developing your marketing plan Gary Bullen

Targeting wholesale niches Jeff Owen

Grower panel: Successful marketing strategies

Using your associations effectively Linda Gragg

Noon – 12:30 — Lunch

Using marketing tools to your best advantage, Ross Williams

How to market through the Internet, John Dorner

Word of mouth or foot in mouth? Attitude,

public relations, & capturing

the public’s attention. Bill Glenn

2:10 – 2:30 PM — Break

Guerrilla marketing techniques, Gary Bullen

Customer relations & customer service, Stacy Tomas

Grower panel: Keeping your customers

Following through with your own plan, Gary Bullen

Evaluation, Jerry Moody, Avery CES

Door prizes 4:30 PM — Adjourn

Registration

Name________________________________

Company_____________________________
Address______________________________

City/State/Zip_________________________
Phone number_________________________
E-mail (for follow-up evaluation)_________________________


$15 per person X # people = $_______

Make check payable to NC State University and mail to:
Jeff Owen
Extension Forestry
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759

You can also contact our office at 733-8270 for more information.

Commercial Applicator Pesticide Recertification

On Friday, February 20, 2009 Avery County Cooperative Extension Center, in conjunction with Mitchell County Cooperative Extension Center, will be hosting a Commercial Applicator Class.
The class will be held at Mayland Community College--Spruce Pine Campus, located in the Sam’s Auditorium beginning at 12:00 noon.

The following topics will be discussed:

Right of Way Herbicides and How to Use them 1 hour

Aquatic Herbicides and Aquatic Weeds Choices and Solutions 1 hour

Ornamental and Turf Insecticides Choices for Landscape Ornamentals 1 hour

Calibration: How to Calibrate your Sprayers and Spreaders 1 hour

We have requested credit hours in each sub-class:
2 hours -- Aquatic pesticide credit
2 hours -- Right of Way Pesticide credit
4 hours -- Ornamental and Turf Pesticide credit

For additional information please contact Jerry Moody at 733-8270.

Winter Christmas Tree Workshop

The Avery and Mitchell County Centers of NC Cooperative Extension will be holding their annual Christmas Tree Production Workshop on Friday, January 30, 2009, at the Sam's Center Auditorium on the campus of Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. The program will begin at 11:00 a.m. and a sponsored lunch will be provided. This year's program includes information from Dr. Kelly Ivors, NCSU Dept. of Plant Pathology, on Phytophthora root rot research trials using wood cellulose and from Dr. Jill Sidebottom, Mountain Conifer IPM Specialist, on 2008 insecticide trials. Other topics to be covered include: labor and housing regulations from the NC Department of Labor and marketing tips from Dr. Gary Bullen, NCSU Dept. of Agriculture and Resource Economics. Two hours of pesticide recertification credit will be available for categories L, N, O and X. To register, contact your local Cooperative Extension Center by January 23.


Contact:
Jerry Moody 828-733-8270
Jeffery Vance 828-688-4811

Event Location
Mayland Community College
Spruce Pine, NC

Grant Opportunities/ 2009 Western NC Ag Options Grant Workshop:

2009 WNC AgOptions GrantWNC AgOptions builds sustainable farming communities in our mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations. WNC AgOptions works in partnership with RAFI-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund and the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to provide grant funds to farmers in Western North Carolina. Farmers who demonstrate the economic viability of farms in Western North Carolina and who are interested in diversifying or expanding their operations to increase farm income and ensure the sustainability of the farm business should apply. WNC Ag Options gives awards to a variety of farm operations including: fruits & vegetables, livestock, nurseries, agri-tourism, beekeeping and value-added processing. Please complete the application and return it to Jerry Moody. The application deadline is January 23, 2009. If you need additional information or would like some guidance on the completion of the grant please contact Jerry Moody, County Extension Director.

Grant Workshop
The 2009 Western NC AgOptions grant cycle is rapidly approaching and the Avery County
Cooperative Extension Center is ready to assist interested applicants. Who should be interested
in applying for this grant? Farmers who demonstrate the economic viability of farms in Western
North Carolina. Support is provided to farmers who are diversifying of expanding their
operations to increase farm income and ensure the sustainability of the farm business. WNC
AgOptions gives awards to a variety of farm operations, including: fruits and vegetables,
livestock, nurseries, agri-tourism, beekeeping and value-added processing. How can the award be spent? Suitable expenses are those associated with the production and marketing of diversified farm enterprises and agri-tourism endeavors. Examples include, but are not limited to: seeds, fertilizer, plants, amendments, livestock, trainings, advertisements, packaging, fences, signage, facilities, supplies, tools, and specialized equipment. Items that cannot be funded by the award include: farm labor, farm debt, and expenses taht are dated outside of the grant period. How much is awarded? There are three levels of grants awarded. Amount of award can be: $3,000, $6,000, and $9,000. When are applications due? Proposals must be postmarked by January 23, 2009. The Avery County Cooperative Extension Center will be hosting a workshop, in order to better assist farmers interested in applying for the Western NC AgOptions grant. The workshop will be held on Monday, January 19, 2009 starting at 5:30pm located at the Avery Campus of Mayland Community College. County Extension Director, Jerry Moody, and Extension Agent, Adam Keener will be reviewing the grant application and assist farmers with completing the application. Anyone interested in diversifying, or expanding their operations is strongly encouraged to attend. There is no fee to apply for this grant or attend the workshop. All those interested in applying should register for the workshop by contacting the Avery County
Cooperative Extension Center at 828-733-8270.

Pesticide Board Tightens Rules for Keeping Records of Pesticide Use In North Carolina

Pesticide Board Tightens Rules for Keeping Records of Pesticide Use in North Carolina

RALEIGH — The N.C. Pesticide Board approved tighter standards for record-keeping by farmers and others in the state licensed to use pesticides covered under the Worker Protection Standards for Agricultural Pesticides at its meeting Tuesday.
The changes to the state’s pesticide rules will require licensed pesticide applicators to record the date and time each pesticide application was completed, and each application day must be a separate record. The records will also have to be kept for two years.
Previously, pesticide applicators were required to record only the date and approximate time that applications were made, and they had to keep the records for 30 days.
The new standards are aimed at increasing the protection of farm workers from pesticide exposure. The changes were mandated by legislation adopted by the General Assembly last year in response to a state task force’s recommendations.
If the rule changes are approved by the Rules Review Commission, they could take effect March 1.