Controlling Weeds in a Drought Winter

The most important to remember in years of drought, such as in 2007 and forecasted for 2008, is to get the optimal production from pastures and hayfields as possible. One of the ways to do that is to control weeds. While many grass varieties do not have a high tolerance to drought conditions, many varieties of weeds do! These weeds will continue to grow without water and compete with grasses for nutrition and what little water is available, sometimes killing out grass stands. If you have weed problems, NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. When livestock and equine do not have adequate amounts of grass, they will start eating that green stuff that is in the pasture whether it’s trees or even weeds. Many of these weeds can be toxic to livestock and equine, given they eat the right amounts or eat the plant at the right stage of growth. Controlling weeds, not only gives the grass you have a chance to survive but will keep your animals healthy. The right time to start controlling winter annual weeds is IMMEDIATELY. They are growing at the same time as cool season grasses and need controlling.

Winter annuals weeds include: wild garlic, chickweed, henbit, Carolina geranium, horseweed, dandelion, curly dock, buttercup and thistles. If you wish to control these chemically, Cimarron Max, Crossbow, Curtail, ForeFront R&P and Grazon P+D are good options because they all contain 2,4D which means you will get little yellowing and stunting of cool season grasses. See chemical labels for grazing restrictions and application rates.

Should you wish to control these weeds biologically, pasturing goats is the best option. Goats are a browser and not a grazer, meaning they’d rather eat weeds, briars and brambles instead of grass. For this reason you can graze goats and hayfields without grass loss and with other varieties of livestock without grazing competition.

Hay Program to end April 1

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds livestock producers that the state's Emergency Hay Program will end April 1.

Since late December, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been selling hay at six locations across the state to help owners of cattle, horses, sheep and goats meet their animals winter feeding needs. The department announced last month that the program would begin scaling back, with a goal of ending on April 1.

With the recent rains across the state and warmer weather on its way, we are optimistic that this program won t be necessary anymore, Troxler said. However, if something like a late snowstorm happens that causes a spike in hay demand, we will act quickly to help.

Hay is being sold on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following NCDA&CS locations: Mountain Research Station, Waynesville, (828) 456-3943; Upper Mountain Research Station, Laurel Springs, (336) 982-2501; Piedmont Research Station, Salisbury, (704) 278-2624; Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, Colfax, (336) 605-9157; Caswell Research Farm, Kinston, (252) 208-3361; and Oxford Tobacco Research Station, Oxford, (919) 693-2483.

Livestock owners may purchase up to eight large bales and 60 small bales per day. Limits are subject to change depending on supply and demand.

In December, the Council of State unanimously authorized the department to use up to $3.5 million to purchase and transport hay to North Carolina, where it could be resold to farmers for the cost of the hay and transportation.

As of mid-March, the Emergency Hay Program had spent about $478,000 and brought more than 2,400 tons of hay into North Carolina from several states and Canada.

Troxler said the conclusion of the Emergency Hay Program will not affect the department s Ag and Equine Partners Program, which provides transportation cost-share assistance to N.C. livestock producers who purchase hay from outside the state. For information, contact the NCDA&CS Hay Alert hotline toll free at (866) 506-6222 or log on to www.ncagr.com/hayalert.

Multiflora Rose Control Cost Share Extends Deadline

The Watauga Multiflora Rose Committee has decided to extend the deadline for application to the Watauga Multiflora Rose Control Program to March 1, 2008. This deadline extension will provide an opportunity for landowners and operators to control the noxious weed that is over taking farmland in Watauga County.

The Watauga Multiflora Rose Control Program is designed as a cost share program to help offset the expense accrued in reclaiming grassland. Applications must be for land that is in Watauga County, however landowners/operators do not have to live in Watauga to get funding. First priority will be given to land currently used as farm land (grazing, hay fields, Christmas trees, nurseries, horticulture, etc), however property owners who do not own farmland are still encouraged to apply.

Applicants for the program must be willing to reclaim land after suppressing stands of Multiflora Rose in a ground cover of their choice (grass, Christmas trees, timber, etc).

Persons interested in the program or wanting more information should contact the Watauga Cooperative Extension Office, 828.264.3061, for an application. The Watauga Multiflora Rose Control Program is a joint effort with the Watauga Board of County Commissioners, Cooperative Extension, Watauga Farm Bureau, Soil & Water Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation Service and USDA Farm Service Agency.

2008 VA & NC Grasslands Council Conferences

Building Robust Grazing Systems: Drought Proofing Your Pastures

January 23, 2008
Southern Livestock Center
Oxford, NC

1:00 pm Registration

1:30 pm Managing Pastures for Drought-Sue Ellen Johnson, NCSU and Chris Teutsch, Southern Piedmont AREC

2:15 pm Forage Species for Robust Grazing Systems-Ben Tracy, Virginia Tech Break and visit sponsors

3:00 pm Break and visit with sponsors

3:30 pm Stocking Rate: Getting it Right- Ed Rayburn, WVU

4:15 pm Drought Tolerant Grazing Systems for Grass Finished Beef-Mac Baldwin, Baldwin Family Farms, Yanceyville, NC

5:00 pm Grazing Lands Conservation- Lane Price, Assistant State Conservationist for Technology, NRCS, Raleigh, NC

5:15 pm Cost Effective Watering Systems- Jim Green, Professor Emeritus NCSU.

5:30 pm Dinner and visit sponsors

6:30 pm Cost Effective Fencing Systems-Lewis Sapp, Stay Tuff Fence Manufacturing, Winston-Salem, NC

6:50 pm Conserved Forage, Crop Residues, and Byproducts as a Component of Drought Management Strategy-Matt Poore, NCSU

7:30 pm Complete survey and adjourn

If you plan on attending, please contact Kim Burge, 919-552-9111 or e-mail Kim@nccattle.com

Emergency Hay Supplies Available

The NCDA has announced that emergency hay supplies are currently in transit to North Carolina and are available for pick up at six locations (for a complete list of pickup sites, please click here). Large and small square bales are available. Large square bales measure 3' x 3' x 8', weight around 800 pounds and are $60 per bale. Prices for small square bales have not yet been announced. Individuals purchasing bales are limited to 4 large bales or 20 small bales per day, however limits may be adjusted based on supply and demand. The closest pickup location to Watauga is the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs. To contact UMRS, please call (336) 982-2501.

BioPryn Testing Lab Opens in NC

Rocky Creek Veterinary Services, Olin, NC, are now offering BioPRYN livestock pregnancy testing services. Rocky Creek is located less than one mile from Harward Brother's Livestock Market in Turnersburg, NC and they are receiving samples via mail or on-site drop off. To mail samples, simply package following BioPRYN mailing instructions and address to:

Rocky Creek Veterinary Services
178 Holstein Lane
Olin, NC 28660.

If you have any questions, you can contact Rocky Creek directly at 704/546-2210.

Watauga 4-H Livestock Competes at State Fair

The Watauga 4-H Livestock Club traveled to Raleigh on October 26th and 27th to compete in the NC State Fair Skillathon and Judging Competitions. Pictured from left to right: Callie Birdsell (coach), Titus Mough, Andrew Critcher, Ethan Critcher, Daniel Brown and Amanda Munday.

The Watauga Junior Team (Amanda Munday, Titus Mough and Andrew Critcher) placed 3rd Overall in Skillathon, 5th Overall in Goat Judging and 3rd Overall in Cattle Judging. Individually, Andrew Critcher placed 15th and Daniel Brown placed 10th in Skillathon, with Andrew Citcher placing 13th in Cattle Judging and Amanda Munday placing 14th in Goat Judging.

Corn Stover Hay

Watauga is receiving another load of corn stover hay later this week (Thursday or Friday). If you were not able to get a roll off the load last week, please get in touch with the Watauga Cooperative Extension Office, 828-264-3061, to reserve yours. The bales are on a "first come, first served" basis and are limited to one to two per producer. This is joint effort between Cooperative Extension and the NC Department of Agriculture.

Prices for Corn Stover Delivery

I have recently talked with folks at the NCDA and we have prices available for direct shipment of corn stover hay to Boone and surrounding areas! Remember that if you are interested in purchasing corn stover, you need to act fast! The hay is located in Whitakers, NC and is owned by Joel and Jean Boseman (252) 904-1055. Bales are 5x5, net wrapped, weigh 1200 lbs and are $12/bale. Don Justus Trucking, 800-446-6617, is available and hauls 34 bales at a time. The following are costs of hay plus delivery to various locations:

• Boone: $33/bale
• Lenoir: $31.75/bale
• Hickory: $30.12/bale
• Taylorsville: $29.55/bale

Keep in mind that $12 of the cost goes to the Bosemans and the rest is paid directly to the trucker. Also, half of the transportation is eligible for cost-share in the NCDA's Golden Hay Relief program. If you think you'll need corn stover to help extend your hay, please contact the Boseman's and Justus Trucking NOW! If you don't have adequate area to get a tractor-trailer turned around in or don't need all 34 bales, please let me know and we'll get something worked out, 828-264-3061.

Out-of-State Hay Transportation Cost Share

Troxler announced that the department has established the Ag Partners Hay Relief Program to help farmers with the cost of moving hay purchased outside North Carolina.

The department has received a total of $11,000 in donations from Carolina Farm Credit, Cape Fear Farm Credit and East Carolina Farm Credit for the Ag Partners Hay Relief Program. The department hopes to secure additional funding for the program, Troxler said.

Beginning Wednesday, the cost-share program will reimburse farmers 50 cents per mile, up to $300, for a load of hay move from out of state. Reimbursements will be made on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available.

For information about this program, call the Hay Alert toll-free hotline at 1-866-506-6222.

Farmers can participate in both the Golden Hay and the Ag Partners relief programs.

In-State Transportation Cost Share for Hay

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced two programs that will help drought-stricken livestock producers with the cost of transporting hay to their farms.

The Golden Hay Relief Program is made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The Ag Partners Hay Relief Program is funded by $11,000 in donations from farm credit associations across the state.

The drought has caused an estimated $80 million in losses of hay, pasture and forage in our state. We are working feverishly to cope with this hay emergency and prevent a mass exodus of livestock farmers, Troxler said. Corn and soybean growers have shown an eagerness to help livestock producers. These transportation cost-share programs will make it more cost-effective for crop farmers to help livestock farmers keep their animals alive through the winter.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will use the Golden LEAF grant to help livestock producers pay for transportation of hay and alternative feeds, such as cornstalks and soybean hay, purchased in North Carolina and trucked to their farms.

The Golden LEAF Foundation will provide emergency transportation assistance to move an estimated 300,000 bales of forage from Eastern N.C. growers to livestock owners around the state so that these farms can stay in business, said Rick Holder, chairman of Golden LEAF s Board of Directors. The project will benefit growers with a market for crops badly damaged from the drought and provide opportunities for N.C. trucking operations.

Valeria Lee, president of Golden LEAF, said: The project s urgency stems from the threat of North Carolina losing additional farming operations and jobs if livestock operations close. Typically livestock operators grow their own feed, but this year, due to extreme drought conditions, farmers must transport hay and alternative feeds from Eastern North Carolina to sustain herds through the winter months.

To use the program, livestock producers must submit an application to the NCDA&CS. The reimbursement amount will be determined by dividing the $500,000 by the amount of money requested by farmers in approved applications. Farmers will be reimbursed for a percentage of their transportation costs, not to exceed 50 percent.

Applications will be available starting Monday, Sept. 17. Farmers can download an application and eligibility criteria from the NCDA&CS Hay Alert Web site. They also can request an application by calling toll free 1-866-506-6222 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Hay Alert site and hotline also help farmers find hay and transportation.

Application deadline is Dec. 31. Troxler said the department anticipates mailing reimbursement checks to farmers in February.