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

July 1, 2025

July Tips

• Allow pastures that are less than 4" tall to rest and re-grow; don't overgraze! Leave growth to shade and protect roots

• Fescue re-growth is slower in July so monitor your height

• If grazing KY-31 Fescue, watch for signs of Fescue Toxicosis

• Ensure stock have access to minerals (consider feeding one with fly control)

• Keep plenty of fresh, cool water out for your stock (and your humans)

• Provide shade in all pastures (trees, portable shade structures, old trampolines on stilts, shade cloths (75% or lower), can all help)

• Graze warm season annuals if possible (millet, sorghum-sudangrass, or crabgrass)

• Feed hay If necessary to prevent over grazing, and to dilute Fescue Toxicosis

• Mow/spray weeds before they go to seed

• Continue to apply fly and tick control to stock

Consider mowing KY31 seedheads as the highest level of ergovaline (toxins). Toxicosis can interfere with mineral absorption so ensure that your stock have access to a good mineral. 

Annual Forage Webinar Series

Below is the scheduled for the annual Forage Webinar Series. All webinars will be from 3 to 4 pm in the dates indicated below:

• 7/15, Sting and sling: Management tactics for fire ants and fall armyworms, by Dr. Terri Billeinsen (NC State), register here.

• 8/20, USDA-NRCS Conservation planning and financial assistance on grazing lands, by Bill Moss (USDA-NRCS), register here.

• 9/17, Buying versus producing hay for livestock managers, by Dr. Charley Martinez (University of Tennessee), register here.

• 10/8, Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to frost-seed clovers in stockpiled tall fescue pastures, by Dr. Miguel Castillo and Seth Nagy (NC State University, NC Cooperative Extension), register here.

Emergency Response Training

Sometimes we have notice that a disaster (Hurricane) may be headed our way that could result in livestock emergencies, but other times we get no warning. No one expects their horse to get stuck in the hay manger, a calf to stick its head in a hollow tree, a cow to get cast in ditch, but it happens. Be prepared for these type of situations by training for them! If you don't use the Ropes, Knots & Mechanical Advantage training, I will give you your money back!  (oh, wait. It is a FREE training). What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Emergency Co-Location Shelter Fundamentals (for Humans and Pets)

July 29, ESF6 - Mass Care and Human Services/ESF11 - Agriculture and Natural Resources, Local Response Team at the Kernersville Fire Department, State 42, 1180 Highway 66 South, Kernersville, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes deployment expectations, considerations, and documentation. 

Ropes, Knots, & Mechanical Advantage for Large Animal Rescue (PEART 02)

September 24, Forsyth Cooperative Extension Center, 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

REMINDERS

Do You Sell Hay? Add It to our New Hay Directory

Hay dealers and encourage to create an account on our brand new NC Hay Finder Directory.  Visit https://www.nchayfinder.com/, and click Create a Listing, create your account, and then list your product. Photos (that match the listing) are encouraged. Avoid label claims. 

Trouble-Shooting Backyard Flocks

Join Poultry Specialists from NC State University on Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. to talk about health concerns for your poultry flock and more including: 

• dealing with cuts/peck marks
• egg bound chickens
• broody hens
• bumblefoot
• best disposal methods (trash/compost)
• zoonotic diseases
• biosecurity 

We will be meeting at the Stokes County Extension office at 700 Main Street Danbury (behind Riverstreet). Click here to learn more. 

Egg-Cellent Egg Judging Contest

Youth are encouraged to submit their "best" half-dozen eggs from their hens in the Egg-cellent Egg Judging Contest. Registration is due August 1. Visit https://go.ncsu.edu/2025eggcontest for more information. Youth must be enrolled in 4-H Online to participate and those that are not already enrolled can enroll online at https://4honline.com/.

There will be an orientation Zoom on August 5, an in-depth training Zoom on August 19, $15 payment is due by August 22 (to Hoke County) and then eggs for judging and your supplemental learning material will be due before September 17 (tentatively due to the Stokes office on the 15th). 

Wool Pool

The third annual Stokes County Wool Pool will be held on Tuesday, August 12. Save the date! More information will be forthcoming. Visit https://go.ncsu.edu/woolpool25 for more information about the Wool Pool process. 

Deer/Lamb Processing - Save the Date

Stokes County has a very large deer population that cause destruction of crops, fences, and vehicles. Over the next few months, expect information on how you can help to control the deer population. Save the date for a butchery/meat cutting workshop on August 21 from 6-9 p.m. in Boone OR August 28 in Lillington. Visit https://go.ncsu.edu/deerlambprocessing and add your contact information to be emailed when registration is available. 

2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales

The 2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales will be held 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.)

The Piedmont Fibershed (a 501c3) is having a Yarn Hall (think Town Hall) meeting on July 12 from 1-3 pm at 2053B Willow Springs Lane, Burlington to discuss the future of a shared maker space for crafters. RSVP using Eventbrite. This event will be repeated on Saturday, August 23 at the Sawtooth School in Winston-Salem. 

The Stokes County Arts Council is hosting a Potluck on Saturday, July 19 from 6-8 p.m. to celebrate the Fiber Arts Program. Visit https://stokesarts.square.site/ to learn more and to RSVP. 

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Calendar of Livestock Events

TODAY Create your listing with https://www.nchayfinder.com

July 15 NC State Fair Livestock Nominations, and Photos Due in Showorks

July 15 Deadline to turn in DNA for NC State Fair Livestock to the Extension Office, 700 Main Street, Danbury

July 15 Sting and sling: Management tactics for Fire Ants and Fall Armyworms Zoom, 3-4 pm

July 17 Troubleshooting Your Backyard Flock, 6:30 p.m., 700 Main Street, Danbury

July 29 Co-Location Shelter Fundamentals, Kernersville, 9-4

July 31 - Aug 2 NC 4-H Livestock Judging, Skillathon, and Quiz Bowl, NC State Campus

Aug 1 Registration deadline for the 4-H Egg-cellent Egg contest

Aug 4 Entry & Project Book deadline for Yadkin-Davie 4-H Livestock Show

Aug 8-10 NC Jr. Beef Roundup, Fletcher

Aug 12 Wool Pool (Save the Date) - https://go.ncsu.edu/woolpool25

Aug 15 Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

Aug 16 Yadkin-Davie 4-H Livestock Show

Aug 20 USDA-NRCS Conservation Planning and Financial Assistance on Grazing Lands Zoom, 3-4 pm

Aug. 21 Deer and Lamb Processing/Butchery Workshop, 6-9 p.m., Boone, https://go.ncsu.edu/deerlambprocessing

Aug. 25 Patrick County Feeder Calf Tel-O-Auction

Aug. 28 Deer and Lamb Processing/Butchery Workshop, 6-9 p.m., Lillington, https://go.ncsu.edu/deerlambprocessing

Aug. 31 Entry Deadline Stokes County Fair

Sept 1 Entry Deadline Carolina Classic Fair 

Sept 9 -13 Stokes County Fair

Sept 11 Stokes County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Sept 15 NC State Fair Livestock Entries Due

Sept 17 Buying Versus Producing Hay for Livestock Managers, Zoom, 3-4 pm

Sept 18 Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Ed, V and X Credits, 700 Main St. Danbury

Sept 24 Ropes, Knots, and Mechanical Advantage, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sept 25 Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

Oct. 3-12 Carolina Classic Fair

Oct. 8 Unmannned Aerial Vehicles to Frost-Seed Clovers in Stockpiled Fescue, Zoom, 3-4

Oct. 16-26 NC State Fair

Nov 13 Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood

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