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.