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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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HeadlinesThis week's Pigskin Pickin' results The Gurley House is ready to make cherished memories Wayne Community joins national Technician Education Program Rosewood coaches prep for deployment johnston county agribusiness newsletter Reclaim long-distance charges through tax refund Drought irrigation help is available online Football: Despite 26-6 loss at Dixon, Bulddogs have reason for hope Football: Late-game defense not enough to help Eagles conquer Wildcats Volleyball: Lady Eagles earn one win in three-game week Volleyball: Bulldogs open season with loss against Eastern Wayne Cooper warns against e-greeting viruses Rosewood's Best named Wayne Co. Teacher of the Year Photos Obituaries Doris F. Parker, Barbara W. Parrish, Ellaphair W. Stallings, Paulette Mitchell, Barbara J. Everette Movies Halloween Local Showtimes
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johnston county agribusiness newsletter5 September 2007
SEPTEMBER AGRIBUSINESS BREAKFAST MEETING
The next Johnston County Agribusiness Breakfast Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 6 at 7:30 a.m. at Parkside Café, located at 2176 US Highway 70-A in Pine Level. Harold Keen, Co-Chair of Johnston County’s newly established Blue Ribbon Committee on Growth and Finances, will discuss the purpose of the committee and highlight their recommendations for the County Commissioners. The 39 member committee was set up this year by Johnston County Commissioners to address the ramifications of continuing growth in our county. Everyone is invited. Please call the Extension Center at 989-5380 if you plan to attend.
CORN TESTING
Corn yields and quality are expected to vary widely from field to field this year. Producers are advised to have corn, which will be stored in grain bins this year, tested for Aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a byproduct of the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can be harmful to both humans and livestock. This free test allows farmers to have their corn tested to avoid unnecessary contamination of feeds and food. A 5 to 10 pound sample of shelled corn is required for the analysis. Producers may leave samples at the Cooperative Extension Center on Highway 210 in Smithfield or deliver them directly to Constable Laboratory, 4000 Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh.
DROUGHT DAMAGED CROP UTILIZATION FIELD DAY
Due to hay and forage shortages along with extended drought conditions across the region, one of the best options for livestock feed this year may be baling corn stover and soybeans for hay. NC Cooperative Extension Service and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture are conducting field days for farmers and agricultural professionals to learn more about how to bale and feed these alternative feeds. The Center For Environmental Farming Systems (Cherry Farm) in Goldsboro will host a field day on Friday, September 7 from 10 AM until 12 noon. There will be a demonstration of mowing and baling of corn stover and drought damaged soybeans.
Topics covered include Sampling for nitrates, Relative forage quality/protein supplementation, Mowing effect on bale condition, Storage considerations - weathering of stover bales, Net wrapping vs twine, Silage wrapping soybean haylage, and dollar value of stover as feed. Baling demonstrations, feeding guidelines, equipment displays, and more will be featured. Call the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Center at 919-989-5380 if you plan to attend.
SMALL GRAINS & CANOLA PRODUCTION MEETING
This production update for Small Grains producers and introduction to growing Canola for bio-fuel production meeting will be held on Monday, September 24th at 6:30 PM at the Agricultural Center on Highway 210 in Smithfield.
Record high wheat futures prices have renewed interest in growing small grains. Will the good times last another year? Topics include variety selection, efficient fertilization, weed control, and insect management.
Is growing canola practical? A proposed plan for building small scale bio-diesel facilities along major interstate highways such as I-95 and I-40 will be revealed at this meeting. Farmers in Johnston and the surrounding area will be needed to grow canola and other high oil crops to supply the anticipated demand.
2 Hours of Pesticide Continuing Education (Recertification) Credits will be offered to Private Applicators (farmers), Dealers, and Commercial Applicators licensed in codes N,O,D, or X
A sponsored meal will be served, so pre-registration is required by calling the Extension Center at 989-5380.
COTTON INSECT UPDATES
We are now past the last effective bloom date, so any significant rainfall would help fill out existing bolls. Another consequence will be that plants will put on new growth and cause defoliation problems. Unless some unexpected insect problems arise and persist, NCSU’s last cotton insect update for this year will be Friday, August 31, 2007. See current and archived issues of the North Carolina Pest News on the World Wide Web at: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/pest_news.html .
DROUGHT MANAGEMENT
NC Cooperative Extension has educational resources to assist with drought management. Please visit the NC Cooperative Extension Drought Information website (www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster/drought) for information to assist with the current drought. On this website you can find information on topics such as cotton, livestock, alternative livestock feed, baling of crop residue, nitrate management, nursery crops, gardens, landscapes, turfgrass, and others. You can also contact the Johnston County Extension Center (www.johnston.ces.ncsu.edu) at (919) 989-5380 for assistance from Extension Agents.
HAY, PASTURE, & CATTLE
Johnston County livestock producers are facing poor pasture conditions, reduced drinking water supplies, and a critical hay shortage. These conditions make it vital for producers to develop a plan now to provide adequate forage and hay through the fall and winter. Getting through this drought with a high quality cattle herd in good condition will also take careful planning. Cooperative Extension is prepared to help farmers develop drought and animal management plans and strategies to survive these conditions. Contact Cooperative Extension at 989-5380 to obtain help. Call (919) 989-5380 or come by for more information.
Private Applicator Safety Training (recertification)
A Private Applicator (Farmer) Safety Training class will be conducted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 at 7 PM. The 2 hour recertification update will be held at the Agricultural Center on Highway 210 in Smithfield. Farmers who need 2 hours of Code V Safety Training in order to renew pesticide licenses in 2007 are invited to attend. Only farmers licensed as Private Pesticide Applicators can receive credit for attending. FAMACHA Training – May 15
FAMAHA is a method of predicting internal pest (worm) loads in goats and sheep. The training will be held at the farm of Rebecca Prow on Buffalo Road, Selma. The training will begin at 4:00 PM, May 15, with a presentation, then move to a hands-on work out. At the conclusion, attendees will receive materials and a certification to help with home herd management.
There is a nominal charge for the training to cover a meal and materials. Limited space is available so contact Ron Hughes at the Extension Office, (919) 989-5380, if you plan to attend.
CUSTOM BALERS NEEDED
In a cooperative effort to help North Carolina's drought-stressed cattle producers, the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association has been asked to help compile a list of custom balers across the state who would be interested in harvesting alternative feed sources (corn stover and soybean fodder). Crop producers usually do not have baling equipment and even if they do, many need to focus on running combines. Timing is critical if these alternative crops are to be used. The crop residues need to be baled soon after combining. Many custom balers are also hay sellers and dealers and may be without a significant source of income this year.
Are you interested in baling corn stover and soybean fodder, or know someone? If so, please forward your name or their name and contact information to me or NC Cattleman's Association. Please send all contact information, including email address and a per bale charge if available, to Bundy Plyler at bundy@nccattle.com or Ron Hughes at ronald_hughes@ncsu.edu (copy both)
NCDA Commissioner Troxler wants to use this list in conjunction with the department's Hay Alert website www.agr.state.nc.us/HayAlert/. Ideally, the list would include custom balers who would be available and have some feel for the charges on a per bale basis.
Time is of the essence, and we hope this opportunity can help both hay harvestors/sellers and livestock producers. We want to compile the list by September 5. NCDA is working out the hauling logistics.
The N. C. Cattlemen's Association appreciates the efforts of the state's livestock community, as well as the efforts by the Commissioner and his staff. We are very concerned that a third of the state's cattle producers are in a serious situation.
BALING CORNSTALKS FOR HAY WORKSHOP
RALEIGH – Eastern North Carolina farmers can learn about baling cornstalks for animal feed at a workshop Friday, September 7, from 10 a.m. to noon in Goldsboro. The workshop is free.
The workshop will be at Cherry Research Farm’s property on Claridge Nursery Road, next to the N.C. Forest Service building.
“The drought has lowered yields for many corn and soybean farmers, but baling cornstalks and soybean plants for hay gives growers another marketable option,” said Don Nicholson, regional agronomist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “With the drought severely damaging hay supplies in the state, the need for alternative forages could be high this year.”
The workshop will include demonstrations and informational talks. A livestock specialist with N.C. Cooperative Extension will discuss the nutritional value of baled corn and soybean fodder. The workshop also will cover topics such as whether baling these crops will affect crop insurance; the importance of testing for nitrates and aflatoxin; pesticide residues on soybean plants; and how to safely move baled forage to prevent the spread of noxious weeds and fire ants.
For more information about the workshop, contact Nicholson at (919) 498-0504 or don.nicholson@ncmail.net, or the Cherry Research Farm at (919) 731-3270. Directions
From eastbound U.S. 70, turn left onto Claridge Nursery Road. Go one mile and turn right onto the farm path beside the N.C. Forest Service building. Follow the signs to the workshop.
From westbound U.S. 70, turn right onto Claridge Nursery Road. Go one mile and turn right onto the farm path beside the N.C. Forest Service building. Follow the signs.
From Wilson and Kenly on N.C. 581 South, turn left onto Claridge Nursery Road. Go about 2.5 miles and turn left onto the farm path just before the N.C. Forest Service building. Follow the signs.
Don’t Let Your Labor Down
The farming community all over the United States is worried about labor. Where will future workers come from? How long will they stay? What can I do to keep them? How can I compete with the larger corporations’ salaries? The only way to keep good workers is to know what they are looking for in a job.
There are three things that employees want. The first is a job that is exciting or challenging. Workers want to have a chance to show what they can do, and to feel important. Second, is a need to have great people to work with. Employees will spend more time at work than with their families, so they want an environment that is friendly. Third, is the opportunity to grow. The chance to move up in a company or expand their knowledge will keep more employees.
A simple way to retain employees is to ask them questions about their work. What challenges do they have to face at work? How can their workday be improved? What frustrates them the most about their work? If they ran the business, what would they do to improve it? Listen to the answers they give. In many cases, a small change in the routine could have a positive impact on the workers.
A job that has flexible hours is more appealing then a pay raise for many workers. Find out more about their culture and how to fit your job demands into their lives so that the two can balance well. If they can leave early to see their kids play soccer for school, that would go a long way towards improving their relationship at work.
Many businesses wait until it is too late to ask employees why they are leaving. Exit interviews are not the answer to keeping employees happy. You need to do Retention Interviews, that are geared to the new workers after about 3-4 months, to find out why they are staying with the company. This will tell you up front what is going well and what improvements need to be made.
The longer an employee works for you the more likely they will stay with you. For more information on keeping employees happy, read Gary Stern’s article entitled “Create a Winning Employee Retention Strategy”. It can be found at http://smallbusinessreview.com.
For more information on labor and other labor issues, contact Amie Newsome, with the Cooperative Extension Service, at 919-989-5380 or by e-mail at amie_newsome@ncsu.edu.
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