|
|
|
Nash County Livestock News |
December 2025
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
(See following pages for more information)
December 1: Weigh-in for 4-H Steers (4-6pm)
December 16: Financial Strategies for Livestock Operations
December 18: Beef Marketing - Louisburg
December 19: Deadline for NC AgVentures Grant
January 9: Landowner Summit
January 13-15: American Forage and Grassland Conference - Asheville
January 21: Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Forum
January 23: NE District Beef Conference
January 26: Weigh-in for 4-H Swine, Goats, Sheep (4-7 pm)
January 27: Twin Counties Cattlemen's Meeting
|
|
|
|
|
|
High Path Avian Influenza reported in Wayne County
|
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh has positively identified High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI) in several Wayne County turkey flocks. The number of HPAI cases in the US has increased recently due to the seasonal presence of migratory birds. This strain of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but is highly contagious to other birds.
Commercial and backyard poultry producers should be vigilant about biosecurity measures to help stop the spread. Some of these practices include:
1. Wear shoe covers or clean boots each time you enter your birds’ pen. This will prevent tracking HPAI virus into the birds’ pen if it is present on your grounds.
2. Keep chickens, turkeys, quail, guineas and other poultry separate from waterfowl species (e.g. ducks). Waterfowl are known reservoirs for HPAI virus and can carry the virus without signs of illness.
3. Feed and water your birds in a protected area to prevent attracting any wild birds. The virus infects many species of birds and can be spread to your poultry through contact with birds carrying the virus on their feet or feathers..
4. If your birds are sick or dying, report it right away to your local veterinarian, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division, 919-707-3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System 919-733-3986.
More information on HPAI in general and an online listing of all N.C. cases since 2022 is at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/AvianInfluenza
|
|
|
|
|
Watch for Signs
of
Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) |
Several cases of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy were confirmed on November 9, 2025 by the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. All affected horses attended the 2025 WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event in Waco, Texas. There are no confirmed cases of EHV-1/EHM in North Carolina.
“I encourage all horse owners, veterinarians and event organizers to take this current outbreak seriously and implement procedures to prevent further spread of the virus,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends “If you suspect your horse has been exposed to EHV-1 infection, contact your veterinarian. We request that horses with confirmed EHM or that exhibit neurological signs are reported to the state veterinarian’s office at 919-707-3250.”
|
|
EHV-1 primarily affects the respiratory system of horses but can also cause severe neurological disease and death. Symptoms include fever, coughing, nasal discharge and loss of balance.
Classic clinical signs of EHM include fever, swelling/stocking up of the limbs, hindlimb weakness, and urine dribbling. Some horses are more severely affected and display behavior changes, signs of cranial nerve dysfunction, seizures, and inability to stand. The virus is transmitted through body fluids. It is highly contagious among horses but does not affect humans.
|
 |
www.equinediseasecc.org
|
|
|
|
|
NC AgVentures Grant Deadline - December 19
Nash and Edgecombe County farmers as well as local non-profits are eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant from NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program to develop agricultural projects which will increase farm profits. This is a great opportunity for someone with an established agricultural farm operation who is thinking of adding new crops, improving, or expanding their operation.
Please contact the Nash County Extension Office (252-459-9810) if you would like help with your application. Don't wait until the last minute! Only 250 applications will be accepted.
For more information, visit https://agventures.ces.ncsu.edu/grant-program/
|
|
|
|
|
4-H Livestock Projects
If your child plans on showing a steer, hog, sheep or goat at the Eastern Carolina 4-H Livestock Show and Sale, make sure to register on our new Showman App: https://go.ncsu.edu/2026eclssregistration
Steer Weigh-In is on Monday, December 1st from 4-6 pm
Swine, Sheep and Goat Weigh-In is on Monday, January 26 from 4-7 pm
For more information about the show including the schedule of required educational workshops, visit: https://nash.ces.ncsu.edu/4-h-livestock-program/
|
|
|
|
|
Profiting with
Precision:
Financial Strategies for Livestock Operations - December 16 |
 |
|
DATE: December 16, 2025 TIME: 9 am-3 pm
PLACE: East Carolina Agriculture & Education Center - 1175 Kingsboro Rd, Rocky Mount, NC
WHAT: Join us to learn how to fine-tune your livestock operation to maximize profits
HOW: Pre-register by December 10th at go.ncsu.edu/nelivestock
COST: $20/person with lunch included
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
NC FarmLink is a program of NC State Extension that connects farmers, landowners, and service providers across North Carolina to farm transition resources. Transitions are vulnerable times for farms, and NC FarmLink assists new and aspiring farmers looking to transition into farming, as well as older farmers with succession planning. NC FarmLink offers a variety of tools and resources, including the NC Farmland Opportunity Database, which can be used to help connect farm seekers and landowners. They also offer free consultations to farmers and landowners, which you can sign
up for below.
Request a No-Cost Farm Succession Consultation with NC FarmLink staff!
Request a No-Cost Land Access Consultation with NC FarmLink staff!
|
|
Nash County Inaugural Landowner Summit - January 9 |
Do you have questions about Farmland Preservation or Farm Succession Planning? Come to the Nash County Agriculture Center on Friday, January 9th for the first annual Landowner Summit. Topics to include:
To RSVP or for more information call
252-459-4116 Ext. 3
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Northeast District Beef Conference - January 23
|
NC Cooperative Extension and the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association are partnering to bring you a day filled with informative sessions, networking opportunities, a local farm tour and a free steak lunch. Extension Specialists from NC State University and the College of Veterinary Medicine will share their knowledge about the cattle industry, animal health practices, pasture management and weed control.
The workshop sessions will be held in the morning at the East Carolina Agriculture and Education Center. After lunch, we will head to Rose Hill Farm for a tour of their Angus operation.
COST: FREE but you must register at https://go.ncsu.edu/beefconference
|
|
|
|
|
Beef Cattle Marketing Dinner -
December 18
Area cattle producers are invited to participate in a Beef Cattle Marketing Dinner Meeting on Thursday, December 18th, at the Franklin County Plaza Conference room, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg (beside Tractor Supply).
The meeting will begin with a steak dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by the educational and informative programs. Updates on cattle trends and marketing information will be discussed.
|
|
Twin Counties Cattlemens Association - January 27
Our next regular meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 27th at the Nash County Ag Center (1006 Eastern Ave. Nashville). Dinner will be provided at 6:30 pm. Our speaker for the evening will be Will Hargett of East Carolina Stockyard at 7:00 pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Forum -
January 21
The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Forum will be held on January 21, 2026 at Nash Community College. Dr. Garey Fox, NC State University's Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will be the keynote speaker. In addition, a panel of growers and industry representatives will discuss current national and global issues affecting agriculture.
|
American Forage and Grassland Council's Annual Conference is in Asheville, NC in January
For more info visit: https://www.afgc.org/annual-conference/
|
|
|
|
|
|
For more information on any of these events, contact heather_glennon@ncsu.edu or call 252-459-9811
|
|
 |
|
|
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Click here to unsubscribe
By clicking unsubscribe above, you will unsubscribe from ALL electronic newsletters from this county office. If you would like to unsubscribe from specific mailings, please reply to this email and let us know what program you are no longer interested in receiving electronic communications from.
|
|
|
|
|
