Check out our website for information that you might have missed:
https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/

June 17, 2024

Forage Meetings

• Establishment of native warm-season grasses, Jason Smith, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, July 10, 2-3 pm. Registration link. 

• Graze 300 program, Bobby Clark, Virginia Tech, August 22, 3-4 pm. Registration link.

• The science behind organic soil amendments for pastures, Alex Woodley, NC State, September 19, 3-4 pm. Registration link. 

• Stockpiled tall fescue for winter grazing, Miguel Castillo, NC State, October 3, 3-4 pm. Registration link. 

Wool Resources

We have developed a shearing list and posted it on our website along with a list of veterinarians, farriers, livestock insurance and equipment for rent. It's a work in progress. There will be a Wool Pool in August in Virginia and we hope to provide collection and transportation from Stokes County. We should know more soon; save your wool. 

If you have wool, I would advise you to join a local Fiber Association (or two or three). 

• Piedmont Fibershed https://piedmontfibershed.org/events/

• BlueRidge Fiber Fest https://www.blueridgefiberfest.com/

• Southeast Animal Fiber Fest or SAFF https://saffsite.org/

• Carolina Fiberfest https://carolinafiberfest.org/

• NC Sheep Producers https://www.ncsheep.com/.

• Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival https://www.eventeny.com/events/2024-shenandoah-valley-fiber-festival-7827/

Flies

The flies are already bad, so I thought I would share this article on types and control for flies. https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/04/whats-the-buzz-on-cattle-flies/

• Read and follow label directions including withdrawal times before slaughter.

• Ticks are also a problem, so I would encourage you to use products that are also labeled for tick control. 

FAQ & Email Updates on Our Website

We have developed a Frequently Asked Questions section on our website. Visit it at https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-livestock-forage/frequently-asked-livestock-questions/. 

You can also access copies of previous email updates from our site at https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-livestock-forage/stokes-livestock-email-updates/. 

Sheep and Goat Health Field Day

Tuesday, August 13, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  Join Dr. Truman Sanner from Rocky Creek Veterinariy Services at Sunset Acres north of King to learn about parasites, vaccines, and how to draw blood for pregnancy and disease testing.

Please Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/sheepgoat24 by August 12.

Egg-Cellent Egg

Youth may submit up to 2 packs of 1/2 dozen eggs by September 17 to be judged on their quality at the annual Egg-Cellent Egg Judging Competition. Register at

https://go.ncsu.edu/2024eggcontest

** IMPORTANT DATES to remember: (Dates are subject to change)
August 2 - Registration Ends
August 6 at 5:30pm - Initial Training via zoom - Zoom will be recorded

August 22 - Egg-citing, In Depth Egg Training- Zoom will be recorded

August 23 - Registration fee is due to the Hoke County Office
September 18 - Eggs & supplemental portion submissions due 
October 3 at 5:30 pm - Winners announced on Zoom

Beef Reproduction Conference

The Applied Studies in Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Conference will be held September 4-5 at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. Visit https://beefrepro.org/arsbc/ to view the schedule and to register. Registration closes August 20th. 

American Lamb Board Climate Smart Grant Pasture Walk

Join us July 10 from 6-8 pm in Roxboro, NC for the American Lamb Board Climate Smart Grant Pasture Walk. This evening event will include a tour of a solar grazing site, discussion of plant identification and grazing behavior, and opportunities to participate as a producer in the American Lamb Board Climate Smart Grant.  Register at go.ncsu.edu/ALBPastureWalk

BQA Awards

2025 Beef Quality Assurance Producer Award Nomination Application. Funded by National Cattlemen's Beef Association and Cargill, the awards will honor those operations that recognize outstanding members of the beef industry in five categories: Cow Calf, Feedyard, Dairy, Educator and “Marketer”.

Is there a cow calf, dairy or feedyard operation in your state that exemplifies BQA principles? Be creative in how you might nominate a Marketer (in the past, a transportation company was nominated and won). Who will you nominate as BQA Educator? There are so many excellent choices!

Be descriptive with industry outreach and advocacy as well as BQA in action. Focus on specific strengths that make the operation or individual unique.

Winners will be celebrated at the 2025 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, Texas.  NCBA will cover airfare, three nights hotel, and registrations for two award winners per category. We will also cover one registration and one night hotel for the winning nominator. What a deal!

https://www.bqa.org/beef-quality-assurance-awards

REMINDERS

Poultry Management

Join us on Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stokes Extension Center at 700 Main Street, Danbury. Our Area Specialized Poultry Specialist, Jonas Asbill will join us via Zoom, as we review some best management practices in regards to caring for your flock. We'll cover nutritional requirements and housing considerations, as well as a basic overview on health and common poultry diseases.

Please register at https://go.ncsu.edu/StokesChickens24. 

Here are some resources related to caring for backyard chickens from NC State Extension. https://homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu/2022/04/starting-a-backyard-chicken-flock/. 

Dairy Goat Management for the Homesteader

Interested in raising dairy goats? Join Area Specialized Dairy Agent, Marti Day, via Zoom for a discussion about feeding your dairy goat. We will discuss nutrition, as well as visual hay analysis versus chemical analysis. In addition, we will also share information about milk quality, mastitis, and food safety.  Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/stokesdairy24. 

Frankly, North Carolina doesn't have a lot of research-based information on dairy goats, so I'm excited that we get to offer this course. In the meantime, check out this information from the University of Missouri https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g3990.  

Pasture Walk - Save the Date

We are planning a Pasture Walk on Tuesday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m.  We will discuss rotational grazing, cost-share assistance and other programs from Soil and Water Conservation, forage species, and more. 

I think it's worth mentioning that it's extremely difficult to meet the needs of a lactating female of any species, using our traditional Kentucky 31 type Fescue varieties. Come learn about some improved forage varieties at this pasture walk. You can also learn more about the nutritional needs of goats at the two aforementioned workshops. 

Got Questions?

We took our most frequently asked livestock questions and made a Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) page. Check it out. https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-livestock-forage/frequently-asked-livestock-questions/

Equipment Available for Rent

We have updated our list of equipment that is available for rent which includes 30 Tartar cattle panels on a tag along protable trailer and a hay moisture/temperature probe.

https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/05/tools-available-for-rent-for-livestock-producers/

Feeder Calf Sales

The 2024 Graded Feeder Calf Sale Dates have been released. All sales are on a Thursday: June 20, August 8, September 26, and November 14. Calves must be CONSIGNED and have a sale ear tag in them prior to bringing them to the sale, as well as be pre-weaned, and properly vaccinated. Visit https://www.norwoodfeedercalf.com/requirements.

August Tel-O-Auction Cattle Sale, Patrick County, Virginia

Patrick County, Virginia plans to hold a cattle Tel-O-Auction on August 19th. Interested producers should call the Patrick County Extension office at 276-3341 or 276-692-8289 (Kristy Hughes) before June 28. 

• June 28 Consignment Deadline; Order VQA tags at $1 each

• July 6 Cattle must be weaned

• July 8 Final date to administer the first round of shots by a BQA certified individual (Bovishield Gold 5, Ultrabac 7)

• August 5 Final date to administer the second round of shots by a BQA certified individual (Bovishileld Gold One Shot, Ultrabac 7)

2023-2024 NC Small Ruminant Improvement Program Webinar Recordings

Recordings from this year's webinar series can be found HERE

Carolina Meat and Value-Added Dairy Conference

The Carolina Meat Conference and Value-Added Dairy Conference is July 29-31 in Boone.

There are opportunities for scholarships, sponsorships, and volunteering at this conference. Visit https://www.carolinameatconference.com/ to learn more. 

NC Farm and Food Products Listing

NCDA&CS is releasing a weekly list of food and food products available for sale. You can apply to be added to the list and/or view the list on their site at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/marketing/nc-products-directory/agribusiness-products. 

Tips and Tidbits

You can submit soil samples for no fee April through November to the NCDA&CS Agronomic laboratory. Kits are available for free in our office.

Livestock Emergency Response Trainings

Visit the North Carolina Animal Emergency Response Working Group website/ NCAERWG to access the list of upcoming trainings and to register. Registration is required.

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Calendar of Livestock Events

June 20 Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

June 21-23 Showdown in the Foothills. Sheep & Goat Show, Lenoir (Caldwell Co.)

June 27-29 NC Sheep and Goat Roundup, Winston-Salem (so much more than "just" a show!!!)

July 4 Office Closed for Independence Day

July 10 Establishment of Native Warm Season Grasses, Zoom, 2-3 p.m.

July 10 American Lamb Board Climate Smart Grant Pasture Walk, Roxboro, 6-8 p.m.

July 13-14 Foothills Firecracker Showdown (Livestock Show), King, NC

July 16 Caring for Chickens, 6:30 p.m., Stokes Extension, 700 Main Street, Danbury

July 22 Dairy Goat Management, 6:30 p.m. Stokes Extension, 700 Main Street, Danbury

July 29-31 Carolina Meat Conference, Boone

August 2 Registration closes for the 4-H Egg-cellent Egg Conest. https://go.ncsu.edu/2024eggcontest

August 8 Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

August 9-10 NC Jr. Beef Roundup

August 13 Sheep and Goat Health Field Day, 6:30-8:30 p.m., King Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/sheepgoat24

Aug 22 Graze 300 Program, Zoom, 3-4 p.m.

September 4-5 Beef Reproductive Strategies Conference, Athens, GA; https://beefrepro.org/arsbc/

September 17 Egg-cellent Eggs due for 4-H Egg Judging Contest https://go.ncsu.edu/2024eggcontest

Sept 19 Organic Soil Amendments for Pastures, Zoom, 3-4 p.m.

September 24 Pasture Walk, 6:30 p.m. - Save the Date

September 26 Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

October 3 Stockpiled Tall Fescue for Winter Grazing, Zoom, 3-4 p.m.

November 14 Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

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