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

March 12, 2025

Spring To-Do List for Equine

• Schedule spring vaccinations: You want the boosters to be effective before the mosquitoes flush, as many diseases are shared through these pests.

• Do a Fecal Egg Count (FEC) as the spring grass flush hits to determine IF you need to deworm

• Coggins Testing (required for any travel)

• Do Body Condition Scoring

• Inspect Your Tack for fit and wear

• Inspect Your Trailer (tires, welds, lights, brakes, floor)

• Inspect and repair fences

• Make a summer fly control plan

(Adapted from Emi Bigford, Montgomery County Cooperative Extension, March/April 2025 Livestock News)

Cool-Season Forage Management

It's time to apply Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium to your cool-season grasses. Hay fields need 15 lbs per acre of phosphate, and 40 lbs per acre of potash for every ton of hay you made last year (assuming that your field had adequate fertilization before you made hay). Soil testing will be free again after April 1 and we have kits outside our office door at 700 Main Street Danbury.  Nitrogen rates are recommended based on the type of forage you are growing and NOT based on your soil report. It's 120 lbs per acre for fescue, but we recommend splitting that into a spring and an end of the summer application so 60 lbs per acre now. Your soil pH should be at least 6.0 (or higher), your Phosphorus (P-I) and Potassium (K-I) indexes at least 50, and your Calcium and Magnesium at least 25. Let me know if you need help reading your report or picking a fertilizer. See our Soil Testing Resources for additional tips. 

As spring green-up happens, start grazing when forages are at least 6" tall. Remember to feed a High-Magnesium mineral to prevent grass tetany. Plant oats, cereal rye, ryegrass, improved varieties of Sericea Lespedeza (not common), triticale, or wheat in any bare areas. Fescue and Orchardgrass "may" be planted in March as well, but we typically see better germination in the fall (IF we can get moisture). We just get too hot, too fast in the Spring for it to get good root establishment in the spring. 

Youth from South Stokes participated in the Regional Cattle Handling Contest on Monday, March 10 at the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville.  The team representing South Stokes FFA placed first! Congratulations to Peggy Bryant, Bethany Fie, and Caleb Mitchell. Their team will advance to state competition in May. The Stokes County Cattlemen's team of Nate Bowman, Maddie Childress, and Georgia Turrentine placed fourth in the competition. They are pictured with the team mascot, Truman. Thank you to Carl Mitchell and Dwayne Livengood for hosting practices for the teams. 

The North Carolina Beef Field Day will be held on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville. This is a free event and lunch will be provided Please RSVP at https://go.ncsu.edu/2025beefdayattendee. 

You are all invited to the 24th Annual Farmer Appreciation dinner at North Stokes High School on Thursday, April 10th. Food (Barbecue, chicken and all of the fixings) will be served from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  The auction and raffle drawings will take place at 7:30 p.m. There will also be entertainment in the gymnasium. We hope to see you there! 

On April 29, we are hosting a Zoom on Cattle Electronic Identification Tag Laws & Cattle Market Trends beginning at 6:30 p.m. Register online at https://go.ncsu.edu/eid. Neil Bowman, NCDA&CS Livestock Marketing will talk about livestock marketing, and electronic identification tags, and Bryan Sullivan, Market Reporter for Livestock, Poultry and Grain Market News Division with USDA will both be speaking. Bryan will demonstrate how to find current market prices on the dashboard https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/. 

Looking for Pasture!

We have several producers looking for pasture and hayfields. If you or anyone you know have land for rent, please let me know. Details help:

• type of forage

• type of fencing (if applicable)

• water source (if applicable)

• shelter (if applicable)

• Preferred Contact Information

Look at the calendar below for more upcoming events! 

REMINDERS

MeatSuite 

The MeatSuite webinar recordings are linked below. Funding for our tools, research, and outreach was made possible by the following: (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service and from the North East & South East Extension Risk Management, and Southern Agriculture Research and Education.

• Marketing Tips for MeatSuite Success & New Processor Directory 

• MeatSuite: Consumer Friendly Bulk & Bundle Builder Tool 

• MeatSuite: Meat Price Calculator & Price Reports 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

More HPAI detected in Eastern NC
Reminder to all poultry folks to review and enforce biosecurity protocols to protect their flocks and our state's poultry industry.  

For more information about HPAI, please see our Educational Resources Page 

Forage Management

Extension professionals (with approval) can now see Soil Test Results in the PALS system. Let April know if you need help with your results at awbowman@ncsu.edu, or 336-593-8179. The current turn around time is two weeks for results. Samples will be free again April 1 - Thanksgiving. Hayfields typically need annual fertilizer because we are removing nutrients from the soil. Each ton of hay will remove approximately 40 lbs of nitrogen, 15 lbs of phosphate and 40 lbs of potash.

It's never too early to scout for weeds; if the number of weeds warrant an herbicide, you want to spray when we have had at least three days of 60 degree weather, and have 60+ temperatures for a few days after spraying. Make sure the herbicide selected is labeled on the type of forage you are treating and is effective against the species present. READ THE LABEL.

2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales

The 2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales will be held March 20, June 26, August 15, September 25, and November 13 at the Stanly County Livestock Market in Norwood. Visit https://www.norwoodfeedercalf.com/ for more information. Take note of the sale requirements, and tag request including a set double vaccination protocol, and weaning schedule. 

FYI

(These are not Extension Sponsored events, but we thought they were worth sharing.)

Pasture Poultry and Bird Flu: How to avoid it and what to expect if you get it.

March 13, 2025 1pm ET via Zoom

Bird flu is a threat for everyone who raises poultry. While previous outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) had a much greater impact on large poultry producers, the current outbreak is hitting just as many small flocks as large ones. This webinar will provide information on steps pasture-based poultry producers can take to avoid becoming infected. We will hear from Dr. Tyler McAlpin from USDA who will share important resources and information. We will also be joined by Marty Thomas discussing what happens when your flock does become infected based on his experience at his own farm. Don’t be left in the dark on Bird Flu and know your rights if your birds do become infected.

Presenters: Steve Roach (FACT), Madeleine Kleven (FACT), Marty Thomas (Kakadoodle Farm), Dr Tyler McAlpin (USDA) and Mike Badger (APPPA)

Mitchell's Meat Processing has implemented USDA Remote Grading for Prime, Choice, and Select beef grades to allow you more marketing options for your beef. Grading is $10 or $40 for grading and labelling.  

Small Ruminant Fecal Egg Counting

On April 5th, Muddy Dog Vet. Clinic in Mayodan will be hosting a fecal egg counting class from 10 am - 1 pm. Participants may bring up to 15 fecal samples from sheep and/or goats. The cost is $35 and you should register by calling 336-627-9600. 

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Calendar of Livestock Events

Mar. 13 Stokes County Cattlemen's Association, 6:30 p.m., S. Stokes High School

Mar. 14 Early entry deadline for Clover Classic (April 5-6)

Mar. 21 & 22 N.C. Hereford Annual Meeting and Sale, Statesville

Mar. 28 Deadline to apply for NCSU Youth Livestock Science Camp

Mar. 29 NC Beef Field Day, Reidsville, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Mar. 31 Deadline to apply for NCSU Youth Vet. Science Camp

April 1 Soil Samples free at NCDA&CS Agronomic Lab

April 5-6 Clover Classic 4-H Livestock Show, Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

April 10 Farmer Appreciation, North Stokes High School 5:30-7:30 p.m.

April 15 Piedmont Regional Forage Conference, Yadkinville, 8:30 a.m.

April 18 Office Closed for Easter Holiday

April 15 Beef Quality Assurance Training, Yadkinville, 3:30 p.m.

April 29 Livestock Market News Update and Electronic Identification Virtual meeting, 6:30 p.m.

May 5 Save the Date: Spring Mobile Poultry Processing Unit Training (during the day)

**Disclaimer: The use of brand names and/or any mention or listing of specific commercial products or services herein is solely for educational purposes and does not imply endorsement by NC State University or our partners, nor discrimination against similar brands, products or services not mentioned.

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