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

May 1, 2025

Stokes County Cattlemen's Association

The May Cattlemen's meeting will be held on Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stokes County Extension Office at 700 Main Street Danbury. Sonja Lankford, Stokes County Schools, will be talking about the Student Internship program and will feature two of our own, President, Dwayne Livengood, and intern Maddie Childers. A meal will be served. Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/scca. This will be our last meeting until the fall. You can access the March meeting minutes here and a draft agenda here. 

Tick and Fly Control

The ticks are already out in abundance. Maybe they like dry weather. A tick of particular concern in Stokes County is the Asian Longhorned Tick. Severe tick infestations can cause anemia and ultimately death in unhealthy stock, but, they can also transmit diseases not only to the livestock host, but the diseases can also be passed through to unborn fetuses. In addition, they can transmit, Theileria orientalis Ikeda, a debilitating disease of cattle linked to anemia and abortion. Learn more at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/asian-longhorned-tick. 

Learn about other ticks and tick-borne diseases at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/ticks-and-tick-borne-diseases

Read about insecticides to use on dairy and beef animals on page 146, poultry on page 149, communities (barns, pastures, etc.) on page 153,  of the Ag Chemicals Manual at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/north-carolina-agricultural-chemicals-manual/insect-control 

May Tips

• Seed warm-season forages (crabgrass, pearl millet, teff). Visit https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/planting-guide-for-forage-crops-in-north-carolina for planting depths and rate. 

• If a surplus of forage is available in pastures, and seedheads are emerging, use some of the pastures for hay/haylage production

• Limit mowing and grazing to 3 inches or higher

• Apply nitrogen to warm-season grass pastures

• Apply phosphorus and potassium to hayfields after the first harvest according to soil test recommendations. Typically 15 pounds of phosphate and 40 pounds of potash per ton of hay. 

• Scout for weeds and apply herbicide applications for warm-season weeds

• Consider where water and shade are in pastures with sun and heat

Bull Test

The Rules/Regulations and all forms for bull nomination can be viewed at:  https://beef.ces.ncsu.edu/beef-bull-test/.

New for 2025:

• We will utilize the Vytelle SENSE system at the Waynesville Bull Test to measure individual feed intake.

• This will allow us to monitor eating behavior and to calculate relative feed efficiency. Butner’s Vytelle SENSE system will be ready for 2026.

• The Waynesville Bull Test will feature bull videos and an online bidding platform to increase buyer access to the bull offering.

• Both stations will move to an 84-day test (this will not alter the delivery or sale dates).

• Butner will feature a new sale date of December 13, 2025.

• The Butner and Waynesville sales will feature an elite group of commercial heifers from some of the area’s top herds. Stay tuned for more details.

The nomination form is on the website above. Please contact April Bowman, 336-593-8179 or awbowman@ncsu.edu if you need help. 

Summer Annual Forages

Summer annuals used in this area include crabgrass, pearl millet, sudangrass, sorghum X sudangrass hybrids, and even teff.  Planting of these species can occur as soon as soil temperatures reach 65^oF and continue through mid-summer.  In ideal growing conditions these grasses can be available to graze within 35-45 days from planting. For the latest on planting dates, and rates, visit https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/planting-guide-for-forage-crops-in-north-carolina. 

When to Consider Summer Annual Forage Grasses

Typically, we want a strong perennial forage on our farms. However, annuals can be great when we are looking for increased rate of gain, to help dilute the effects of fescue toxicosis from grazing KY 31, or to provide cover over an area that was used too heavily in the winter. 

Below are 5 practical situations from the Alliance for Grassland Renewal in which considering summer annual forage grasses just makes sense.

1. As an Emergency Forage Crop – when forage supplies are low and a quick growing forage option is needed
2. In a Double-Cropping System – summer annual grasses are a great option to provide temporary cover and use of land after an early crop or between cropping seasons.
3. When “Salvage-Crops” are needed – This is an effective method to make use of fertilizer that has been applied to a summer row crop that has failed. 
4. During Pasture Renovation – Summer annual grasses are a great way to provide grazeable or harvestable forage material while working on preparing and/or repairing the land with a complete pasture renovation.  This is very common practice when using the spray-smother-spray technique when renovating tall fescue land.
5. In an Annual Rotation Forage System – This is highly successful when using crabgrass in rotation with annual ryegrass.

"A general guideline from Southern Forages (5^th edition) for rotationally grazing summer annual forage grasses is to begin grazing when forage material is between 20-24 inches, cease grazing at 8-10 inches, and allow for at least 10-20 days rest and recovery. Expected average daily gains for these species can be from 1.5 to 2.0 lbs/day under good grazing management. Pure stands of summer annual grasses are most efficiently managed when stripped grazed, allowing access to a small area of the field usually no more than 2-3 days worth of material and moving quickly across the field, or limit grazed, allowing limited access to the field for a specific period of time (i.e. hours per day or alternate days) and then returning to a perennial pasture or feeding area for the majority of the day."

https://grasslandrenewal.org/2025/04/15/effectively-using-summer-annual-grasses/?mc_cid=b732fe8117&mc_eid=c07166f59c

Vaccinations

Talk to your veterinarian about which vaccinations are recommended for your livestock and when to give them. Many diseases are preventable including Tetanus, Rabies, Blackleg (cattle), Clostridium perfringens (sheep and goats), Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) (equine). Both EEE and WNV are spread by mosquitoes. You can help reduce exposure by eliminating standing water, stalling horses at night, using insect screens, turning lights off after dusk, and using insect repellants (for stock and humans).

Learn more about vaccinations:

• Sheep and Goats:  https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/vaccinating-goats-against-enterotoxemia-and-tetanus-is-it-necessary 

• Equine: https://sampson.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/03/equine-vaccinations/ and https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vth/services/equine-field-service/equine-vaccination-guidelines/

• Cattle: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g2104

REMINDERS

Small Ruminant Production and Management Workshop

Wednesday, May 14, 8 a.m. 

N.C. A&T State University Farm Pavilion

3020 McConnell Rd Greensboro

There will be a hands-on workshop on Parasite Management, health, nutrition, and profitability. Register at bit.ly/3QiYFUx

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

NEW! We are aware of 10-15 acres of pasture around Big Dan Lake that will be coming up for rent. Contact awbowman@ncsu.edu, or 336-593-8179 if you're interested. 

2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales

The 2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales will be held 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.)

Livestock Showmanship Clinic

There will be a livestock showmanship clinic on June 10 and 11 at the King American Legion. The cost is $20 per species. Register by May 25 and receive a t-shirt. Learn more and register here. 

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Calendar of Livestock Events

May 3 Springfield Angus Complete Dispersal Sale, Louisburg, 10 a.m. https://cci.auction/orgs/98/auctions/4982

May 5 Poultry Processing Workshop, 9:30 - 3:30 - South Stokes High School; https://go.ncsu.edu/stokesmputraining

May 8 Stokes County Cattlemen's Association Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Stokes County Extension, 700 Main Street Danbury; Learn about internship opportunities; RSVP at https://go.ncsu.edu/scca.  

May 9 Cattle Repro. School, 9 am - 5 pm, Upper Piedmont Research Station, Reidsville

May 10 Poultry Processing Workshop, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Alamance Community College

May 14 Small Ruminant Production Workshop, 8 - 3:30, NC A&T State University

May 23 Last Day of School

May 28 Office Closed for Memorial 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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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC State University will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Please direct accommodation requests to: Matt Lenhardt, matt_lenhardt@ncsu.edu or 336-593-8179. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least {10} days before the event.”


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