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

October 1, 2025

Bring your soil samples to the Extension Center by noon on October 14 and April will deliver them to the lab for free. Normally, you have to ship them yourself. The soil sample boxes are available in the hall outside our office from 8:30-5 Monday - Friday, as well as at LTD and DNE Supply in King. The paperwork can be completed online. Learn more on our website. 

October Cattlemen's Meeting

Join us at the Community Services Building at 700 Main Street Danbury, NC (behind River Street on Sheep Road Road) on October 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. to learn about Farm Insurance, including pasture, rangeland, forage, equipment and liability insurance. A meal will be served and a small fee charged for those that want to partake. Please RSVP for the cattlemen's meeting at https://go.ncsu.edu/scca. 
Email awbowman@ncsu.edu, or call 336-593-8179 with questions, or for assistance. 

If you are interested in receiving occasional text messages related specifically to cattle, create a new text message to 855-313-2479 with the word cattle (lower case) in the message.

Cattle Handling System

The cattle chute and attached palpation cage are on a wheel kit and all can be rented from the county for a fee (details to come). Check out this demonstration video. There are also cattle panels and a set of scales available for rent. IF you rent all three units, the cost is ONLY $50 for three days (half-day Friday, Saturday/Sunday, half-day Monday counts as three). Note that the chute and panels must be hauled separately. 

Learn more about cattle handling designs at https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/cattle-handling-safety-in-working-facilities.html.

Rabbit Processing Workshop

There will be a Rabbit Processing Workshop on Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.  It will be held at the Davidson County Extension Office, 301 E. Center St., Lexington, NC.  

Join us to learn how to process rabbits for consumption.  There will be a classroom portion and the opportunity for hands-on processing.

Space is limited and payment must be received PRIOR to the workshop to complete your registration and secure your space. Register online.
Cost:  $40

Make checks payable to:  Davidson County Livestock

Mail to:  Davidson County Livestock, Attn:  Sara Drake, 301 E. Center St., Lexington, NC 27292

Small Ruminant Field Day

Join us Saturday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville to learn about sheep genetics and data collection, estimated breeding values, real world scenarios of ram evaluation and parasite management. Sheep handling systems will also be on display. Our speaker will be Jake Thorne, Small Ruminant Specialist from Texas A&M University and Dr. Andrew Weaver, Small Ruminant Specialist from NC State University. 

REGISTER AT: https://go.ncsu.edu/fallfieldday25

Chainsaw Safety and Natural Disaster Farm Preparedness Workshop 

Join NC State Extension on November 14th and 15th at the Butner Beef Cattle Research Station in Granville County for a hands-on workshop designed to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge of chainsaw operation and preparing your farm/family/livestock for a natural disaster. The $40 registration fee covers lunch and snacks for both days. 

Below is a flyer with all the details, including registration information.  The event is limited to 20 participants, so please register early.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chainsaw-safety-natural-disaster-preparedness-for-farmers-tickets-1674783655999?msockid=13bf1f90ac7b6274043c0c1bad7963ce

Making Hay Versus Buying Hay

The majority of all livestock producers in Stokes County would be considered on the smaller end of the production scale, thus it makes sense to purchase hay rather than to make your own. "Hay production may no longer be the most efficient or profitable use of your time and resources", Carson Roberts, University of Missouri, Drovers Magazine, retrieved September 17, 2025. Here are 10 reasons you should quit making hay:

1. High equipment costs

2. Over-equipped farms

3. Haying takes time

4. Labor storages

5. Variable forage quality

6. Oversupply of hay

7. Haying removes nutrients

8. Soil degradation

9. Profitable alternatives

10. Cheap winter-feeding strategies

Learn more at https://www.drovers.com/news/beef-production/why-should-i-quit-making-hay. Remember to visit https://nchayfinder.com to locate potential sources for purchasing hay. Find someone that you can trust, and get an established contract with them. If they haven't tested their hay, you can learn more about doing that at https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-livestock-forage/forage-management-resources/forage-hay-testing/.

Poultry Survey

N.C. Cooperative Extension is working to improve the small flock programming offered across the state, including virtually, in person, and via publications. Please complete the following survey to help us determine what programming is needed so we can focus our efforts efficiently. We would love input from small flock producers!
Small Poultry Flock Programming Needs Assessment

October Tips

• NC State has put together a new resource for Fall Armyworm Control. NOTE: the ones at the bottom require a Pesticide License. 

• Fall Armyworms have been found in Forsyth County in September, so it's worth scouting your pastures by going out with a sweep net in the morning.

• Armyworms are best treated before they get 1/2" long, but we often don't see them until there is large spread damage. Visit https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/post/fall-armyworms-making-appearance-2024 for more management information. 

• Need help identifying Fall Armyworms? Visit https://ipm.missouri.edu/pestMonitoring/faw/identification.cfm

• Get your soil testing done soon. NCDA&CS will analyze samples for free from now until Thanksgiving. 

• If your soil pH is below a 6.0, apply lime as soon as possible (your soil test will tell you how much). It takes over six months for lime to act, so that is why your soil sample asks if you've applied any lime in the past year. 

• Since we finally got some rain, consider overseeing/re-seeding

• Oct/Nov can be a good time to spray perennial weeds like Dandelion, Red Sorrel, & Thistle

• Continue stockpiling your Fescue for late Fall/Winter strip grazing

• Continue to supplement animals with lower Body Condition Scores to get weight on them before cold weather. 

October Quality Assurance Tips

We often focus n protein, but energy is just as important when we talk about cattle health. 

2026 Forage and Grassland Council Conference in NC

The American Forage and Grassland Council annual meeting is being held in Asheville, NC at the Embassy Suites, January 12-15, 2026. View the agenda and register here. Topics include:

• drones in herbicide application

• pastureland ecology

• soil health

• forage quality and nutritive value

• your grazing journey

• local meat

• solar grazing

REMINDERS

4-H Poultry Show

It seems early to be talking about a poultry show that takes place in June, BUT we have to order our chicks in December, so we are beginning our marketing and recruitment now with a Q&A session on October 30 at 6:30 p.m.  Register to attend the webinar.

Important Dates to Know:

• October 30 @ 6:30 p.m. - Poultry Show Q&A

• December 12 - Registration deadline for 4-H Poultry Show

• January 2026 - All participants must enroll/reenroll in 4-H Online.

• January 2026 - Watch the required webinar recordings - Brooding, Nutrition/Housing, & Health

• February 6, 2926 - Chick Pick-up (TENTATIVE)

• June 1, 2026 - Project Record Books Due

• June 16, 2026 @ 10 a.m. - NCD 4-H Poultry & Rabbit Show - Location TBD

Beginner Homesteading Workshop Series

Join N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center from 6-7 p.m. on Thursdays, October 16 - November 6 for a Beginner Homesteader Workshop Series. You can attend from one to all four of the workshops. Workshops are held in the Community Services Center at 700 Main Street, Danbury (behind Riverstreet), off Sheep Rock Road. Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/stokeshomesteader. 

Small Ruminant Marketing

Learn about different marketing strategies to benefit your sheep or goat operation on Wednesday, October 29 from 1-5 p.m. at the Orange County Extension Center in Hillsborough. The cost is $10.  Register here. 

Annual Forage Webinar Series - The final Forage Webinar is October 8 from 3 to 4 pm 

• 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.

Do You Sell Hay? Add It to our Hay Directory - Hay dealers are encouraged 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 like "herbicide free", "organic", etc. 

2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales - The final 2025 Graded Feeder Calf Sales will be held 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.)

Flood Map

The Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network (FIMAN) provides real-time water levels and flood inundation products across North Carolina. This information is intended for flood preparedness and response. It's a neat tool to look at current water levels. Visit https://ncdisaster.ces.ncsu.edu/2025/09/flood-inundation-mapping-and-alert-network-shares-risk-information/ to learn more. 

Food Pantries "May" Accept Deer Donations

There "may" be opportunities to donate your deer to a local food pantry. The deer would need to be skinned, gutted, de-boned and placed in a cooler on ice with a tag number and delivered to Mitchell's Meat Processing in Walnut Cove for cutting now through January 3. Mitchell's can also accept deer after that date WITH a valid depredation permit number.  Indicate that the deer is for the food pantry and Mitchell's will handle the rest at no cost to you! This is dependent on funding and CWD regulations. Contact Mitchell's at 336-591-7420 or text 336-310-9538 with questions about deer processing. 

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Calendar of Livestock Events

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

Oct. 3-12 Carolina Classic Fair - https://carolinaclassicfair.com/livestock-schedule/

Oct. 6 NC Sheep Producers Chat - Value Added Wool Products, 8 p.m.

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

Oct. 9 Stokes County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 NC Angus Association Field Day, Roseboro (register by 10/6)

Oct. 11 NC Hereford Association Field Day, Monroe (scroll down)

Oct. 16-26 NC State Fair - https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/ncstatefair/livestock

Oct. 16 Beginner Homesteading Series, 6-7 p.m.; Stokes Extension; Food Preservation

Oct. 21 Durham and Orange County Mobile Poultry Processing Unit (MPU) workshop, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 Beginner Homesteading Series, 6-7 p.m.; Stokes Extension; Livestock

Oct. 25 Meat Rabbit Processing Workshop, Lexington, 9 - 12 noon

Oct. 29 Small Ruminant Marketing Workshop, HIllsborough, 1-5 p.m.

Oct. 30 Beginner Homesteading Series, 6-7 p.m.; Stokes Extension; Herbs

Nov. 6 Beginner Homesteading Series, 6-7 p.m.; Stokes Extension; Fruits/Veg. Production

Nov. 8 Sheep Field Day, Upper Piedmont Research Station, Reidsville, 9 - 4:30

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

Nov. 13 Stokes County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 14 & 15 Chainsaw and Disaster Safety Workshop, Butner

Dec. 6 Waynesville Bull Test Sale

Dec. 6 NC Sheep Producers Annual Meeting and Educational Program

Dec. 13 Butner Bull Test Sale

**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.

Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the  product label.

N.C. Cooperative Extension promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon one’s race; color; religion (including belief and non-belief); sex, including but not limited to pregnancy, childbirth or other related medical condition, parenting and sexual harassment; sexual orientation; actual or perceived gender identity; age; national origin; disability; veteran status; genetic information; or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

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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