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

December 1, 2025

December Cattlemen's Meeting

Join us the second Thursday of December, the 11, at 6:30 p.m. for our next Cattlemen's Meeting.  We will have a festive Holiday meal at 6:30 p.m, to be followed by fellowship. Please register at https://go.ncsu.edu/scca, by calling 336-593-8179, or emailing awbowman@ncsu.edu. 

Also, we have raffle tickets for a shotgun to benefit the three high school FFA programs.  

2026 National Cattle Conference

TODAY ONLY! Monday Dec. 1, save $150 off any Full Registration for CattleCon 2026!  Use promo code "CYBERMONDAY".  The National Cattle Conference Is February 3-5, 2026 in Nashville, TN. 

Small Grain Referendum

Thursday, December 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Small Grain Referendum will be held at the Stokes County Extension Center at 700 Main Street (the Old Danbury School). Any North Carolina farmer who is a grower of small grain (wheat, oats, rye, barley, grain sorghum and canola/rape seed) and is over the age of 18 may vote. A “Yes” indicates a vote in favor of continuing the state assessment program on small grain. “No” indicates a vote against continuing the state assessment on small grain.  Learn more at: https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/2025/11/nc-small-grain-growers-assessment-referendum-2/. 

NC Sheep Producers Annual Meeting and Educational Program

When: Saturday, December 6
Where: Randolph County Agricultural Center (Asheboro, NC)
More information and register HERE

REGISTRATION CLOSES TODAY, December 1!

NC Cattlemen's Meeting

Join us for the NC Cattle Conference, presented by Piedmont Custom Meats, the premier cattle industry event of the year, February 20-21, 2026, at the Hickory Metro Center.Event Highlights:

• Expert Speakers on market trends, animal health, and sustainability
• Trade Show & Exhibits featuring innovative products and services
• Networking & Social Events to build valuable connections
• Youth Programs & Auctions supporting the next generation of cattle industry leaders  

Register to Attend

December Tips

• Continue grazing stockpiled Fescue by allocating 1-3 days of supply at a time.

• Limit overgrazing by providing hay

• If it turns wet, limit grazing to prevent pugging (hoof damage to sod)

• It's not too late to try bale grazing. 

  • Identify areas that bale grazing can help increase organic matter and soil health (where there is bare ground, broomstraw or weeds?)

  • Set out bales of hay when it's not muddy

  • Fence the bales out with temporary electric fencing

  • Allow access to a few bales at a time (as needed, similar to strip grazing)

• Benefits include:

  • using the tractor once to feed multiple days

  • increase soil fertility

  • actually reduces labor and time

• Order your clover for frost seeding in late February or early March

• Ensure your livestock have enough energy to stay warm when temperatures drop 

• Increase forage intake to help animals generate heat

• If your hay test shows that your hay is lacking in Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), and/or your animals have higher energy needs from late pregnancy, early lactation, extreme cold, supplement with additional energy from corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, etc. 

• Ensure access to clean, unfrozen water (break ice at least twice a day)

• Provide windbreaks with a shed, a dense hedgerow, trees, or even round bales

• Ensure any bedding (straw, shavings, etc.) is dry and deep

• Pay special attention to newborns, older/aged animals, chronically thin animals

• See more cold weather tips here

Pond Management

Does your pond have algae bloom in the summer? Check out the new Pond Management Calendar for ways to improve your pond health. https://haywood.ces.ncsu.edu/farm-pond-management/north-carolina-farm-pond-management-calendar/

Do You Need a Pesticide License?

Visit this decision tree to decide. Most of you will NOT unless you are spraying for others, or want to use a restricted use pesticide. Most of our pasture/hay herbicides are NOT restricted use. The "good" insecticides for controlling Fall Armyworm are restricted use. 

The spring 2026 Pesticide Safety Schools are for those seeking initial licensing in one or more pesticide subcategories. To register for a Pesticide Safety School, please go online.

To prepare for the class and exams more thoroughly, participants are encouraged to pre-order their pesticide manuals well in advance of the school by visiting the Pesticide Safety Education page. Please allow 7-10 business days for the manuals to arrive and read them before attending a Pesticide Safety School. Any questions about obtaining a license can be directed to the Pesticide Safety Education Program by emailing pesticide-edu@ncsu.edu or calling 919-515-3113.

Spring 2026 Pesticide Safety School Dates

Our spring 2026 Pesticide Safety Schools are now available. All schools are in-person with the exception of the Pesticide License Exam Prep: Live, Online, Interactive, which offers live training through Zoom.

Exams are administered at the in-person Pesticide Safety Schools by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) on day two from 1:00-5:00 p.m. The exam session is available to all Pesticide Safety School registrants. A few days before the school dates, registrants will receive an email with the exam registration link and a special code to register for the exam(s). Exam fees are separate and must be paid to the NCDA&CS Pesticide Inspector at the exam location by check or money order. For exam-related questions, please contact the NCDA&CS at 984-236-4594 or visit their webpage.

• PESTICIDE LICENSE EXAM PREP: LIVE, ONLINE, INTERACTIVE –  JAN. 7-8
  **A computer and webcam are required for this online school. Registrants will receive a Zoom link a few days before the school dates to access the exam-prep session. Attendees must contact the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to schedule an online or in-person exam session.

• GREENSBORO, NC – APRIL 15-16
  Guilford County Agricultural Center
  3309 Burlington Road
  Greensboro, NC 27405

There are many more courses, but Greensboro will be the closest for most of you. 

REMINDERS

Wool Poster Contest

This contest invites participants to submit a digital poster that showcases an innovative use, a fresh twist on an existing product, or a new method of processing coarse wool. The goal: spark practical solutions and elevate the value of this miracle fiber. Entries due January 1. 

Top Prize: $1,000 + Networking Opportunities

For full guidelines, inspiration, and entry instructions, visit https://www.sheepusa.org/reimagine-wool-digital-poster-contest

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is back. Reminder to all Livestock Producers (not just poultry folks) to review and enforce biosecurity protocols to protect their stock and our state's poultry industry. Please see NCDA&CS Current HPAI Status for a full listing of positive premises during this outbreak. For more information about HPAI, please Poultry Extension's Educational Resources Page.

AgVentures Grants are Back!

NC AgVentures, a NC State Extension program provides grants to NC farmers who are thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their farm operation. (This grant is not for farm start-up costs or homesteads.) The FINAL submission deadline to apply is 6 p.m. December 19th, 2025. You are required to work with N.C. Cooperative Extension to submit this grant and are highly encouraged to submit your rough draft to N.C. Cooperative Extension at least two weeks in advance to allow them to offer feedback and comments. For additional information visit their webpage: ncagventures.org. 

Cattle Producer Webinars

NC State Extension is excited to share a series of upcoming educational opportunities:

December 16 – 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM- Market Dynamics and Price Protection (Offered online and in person – includes a report on the Beef/Dairy Research Project)

These programs are part of the Dairy Winter Management Series, designed to reach a broader audience across both beef and dairy sectors. You can also find the full details, registration information, AND recordings on the Dairy Portal:  http://go.ncsu.edu/readext?1097980

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. Visit https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/rental-equipment/ to learn more. 

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. 

FYI

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

50th Annual Union County Bull & Heifer Sale

Saturday, December 6, Noon at the Simpson Event Center in Monroe. 

Soil Health Institute

Join the NC Soil Health Institute for their Annual Meeting December 5 at Juneberry Ridge in Norwood.  

Dan Kittredge from the Bionutrient Institute is going to share his work on the connection between soil health and nutrient density in food, which will be great knowledge for everyone, but especially farms that are marketing directly to consumers.

To register and view the agenda please visit https://www.ncsoilhealth.org/annual-meeting

FACT's FACT's Fund-a-Farmer grants are now OPEN!

The deadline to apply is Saturday January 3, 2026 @11:59pm ET

Grant awardees are announced at the end of February 2026 with fund dispersal the 2nd week in March. Projects should be completed by June 1, 2027

We have two different Fund-a-Farmer grant opportunities again this season:

You can apply for both!

Fund-a-Farmer Welfare Improvement Grants up to $3,500 each

Here is a list of questions with scoring criteria.

One Fund-a-Farmer Systems Change and Innovation Grant for up to $10,000.

Here is a list of questions with scoring criteria.

You can apply for either grant or both. If you are lucky enough to be awarded both grants, you will only receive funding for one. Learn more about each grant type on FACT's grant page

Piedmont Fibershed Resource Directory

The Piedmont Fibershed has an online fiber resource directory. Connect with other fiber farmers, weavers, spinners, knitters, dyers, mill owners, and makers. Visit https://www.piedmontfibershed.org/fibershed-resource-directory

Help Control the Deer Population!

Stokes County is over-populated with deer. South Stokes FFA is doing a 50/50 pot for the biggest doe killed in Stokes, Rockingham, Surry, or Forsyth Counties on December 19 and 20th. Weigh-in at Mitchell's Butchery. Call/text 336-971-8755 before you head to weigh-in. Tickets are $15 and must be purcahsed by December 18th from a South Stokes FFA member or at https://biggest-doe-contest-sshs-ffa-and-alumni.cheddarup.com. 

All month long you can also donate your deer to a local food pantry. Mitchell's can now accept whole deer. All deer need a tag number and should be 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

Dec. 4 Small Grain Referendum, 8:30-5; Stokes County Extension, 700 Main Street Danbury

Dec. 5 NC Agventures Due to April for editing. ncagventures.org.

Dec. 6 Union County Bull and Heifer Sale

Dec. 6 Waynesville Bull Test Sale

Dec. 6 NC Sheep Producers Annual Meeting and Educational Program - Save the Date!

Dec. 11 Stokes County Cattlemen's Association Holiday Meal, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 Last day to wean calves for Jan 26 Patrick County Tel-O-Auction

Dec. 13 Butner Bull Test Sale

Dec 16 – 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM- Market Dynamics and Price Protection (Offered online and in person – includes a report on the Beef/Dairy Research Project), http://go.ncsu.edu/readext?1097980

Dec 18 - Deadline to purchase Doe Hunt Tickets

Dec 19-20 - Doe Hunt

Dec. 19 - FINAL AgVentures grant submission deadline ncagventures.org.

Dec 21 - Scholarship deadline for American Forage and Grassland Conference

Dec 23-26 Extension Office Closed for Christmas

Jan 1 Wool Poster Design Deadline

Jan 1 Extension Office Closed for New Year's

Jan 8 Stokes County Cattlemen's Association Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Jan 12- 15 American Forage and Grassland Conference, Asheville

Jan 19 Extension Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan 26 Patrick County Feeder Calf Tel-O-Auction

Feb 3-5 National Cattle Convention, Nashville, TN

Feb 20-21 North Carolina Cattle Conference, Hickory, NC

**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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