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

June 22, 2026

New World Screwworm

You have likely heard that the New World Screwworm has made it into the United States. It is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds. When the eggs hatch, they burrow down into healthy tissue. The females only mate once in their lifetime, which is what makes the sterile male fly breeding program successful. It is interesting to note that roughly 30% of the cattle cases involve the umbilical areas of newborn calves. Newborns are weak, and that wet umbilical cord is the perfect wound to attract them. 

Many states (including North Carolina) have tightened their import regulations from Texas, and it's likely that many more will follow suit. They are still allowing livestock movement, but have tighter windows on Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and even inspection upon arrival. In addition, USDA and Texas officials have set-up the following:

• An infested zone has been established
• Quarantines, animal movement controls, and surveillance in the infested zone
• Aerial and ground sterile fly release 
• Increased NWS surveillance targeting wildlife in this area
• Conducting targeted inspections and outreach in the infested zone

Visit www.screwworm.gov to learn more about the screwworm, see the infected areas, and more.

Another good source of information is https://cvm.ncsu.edu/news/new-world-screwworm-in-the-u-s-what-it-means-for-north-carolina/. 

If you suspect an outbreak of the New World Screwworm on your farm, your local veterinarian is your fastest resource. Again, it's critical to have an established relationship with a veterinarian, prior to actually needing one!  If you can't reach your local veterinarian, North Carolina farmers can call NCDA&CS Veterinary Division at (919) 707-3250. 

You can join the NCDA&CS email list here: Sign up to receive animal disease emails.

USDA Drought Assistance

As a livestock producer in Stokes County, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency's Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). Learn more at https://ncdisaster.ces.ncsu.edu/news/usda-drought-assistance-available-for-livestock-producers/

NC Hay Finder

With the current drought conditions throughout the state, now is a good time to list any hay resources for sale on the free NCHayfinder website.   

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about NCHayfinder.com

Feeder Calf Tel-O-Auction

Patrick county Virginia is organizing their next Feeder Calf Tel-O-Auction to be held on August 24. 

Calves must be:

• weaned by June 25 (60 days), but may take 45 days

• steers or heifers

• vaccinated and boostered with MLV respiratory and 7-way clostridial

• fed 1.5-2% of body weight with a high quality supplement

• sired by bulls meeting VQA requirements

• subject to grading by a VDACS grader

• tagged with a tag purchased from the Patrick Co. Extension Office

Owners must complete a processing map. 

Contact George Stovall, 276-694-3341, or gstovall@vt.edu to sign-up.  Click here for more information, or scan the QR code below. 

Virginia Wool Pool

The New River Valley Sheep Producers are planning to hold a Wool Pool on August 11th & 12th at Bottomley’s Warehouse located on Route 21 @ 10278 Elk Creek Pkwy, Elk Creek, VA 24326 from 8 to 5. There is a $0.10 per pound handling fee for all wool. In addition, volunteers are needed to help with record keeping, weighing, and baling, and lunch will be provided to workers. The payment price for the wool has not been determined. In addition, you may qualify for a payment from the Farm Service Agency of $0.40 per pound. Stay tuned for more information. 

Farm Service Agency Certification of Grazing Acres

In order to receive financial benefits through the Livestock Forage Disaster Assistance Program (LFP), perennial grasses must be recorded with the Farm Service Agency by July 15. You are encouraged to report your acreage as soon as possible. Call 336-593-8128 for more information.

Stokes County Fair

The Stokes County Fair Livestock entries are now open through showman.app. Entries are due by September 1. Shows are open to Junior Exhibitors ages 21 and under whoe reside in Stokes or a surrounding county. Each exhibitor may show a maximum of two breeding animals and two market animals (except swine, which only has market and is still limited to two). Exhibitors must enter showmanship for each species they wish to exhibit in. 

REMINDERS

Livestock Forage Program

Stokes County livestock producers may qualify for USDA Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) due to the severe drought conditions we are experiencing. Financial assistance is available to help offset grazing losses and supplemental feed costs. You must APPLY for those benefits through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in the old courthouse at 501 Main Street, Danbury; they aren't automatic. To be eligible, producers must have owned commercial beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, equine, and other qualifying species at least 60 days prior to the official drought designation on owned, or leased pastureland; calving records or other documentation is required. Appointments are recommended. 336-593-8128, extension 2. 

Livestock Culling and Drought Management

Most of us are overstocked for the early drought conditions that we have been experiencing. In addition, hay supplies are limited. Unfortunately, you should probably cull some livestock sooner rather than later. Learn more about ranking your stock to decide who to cull and who to keep on our website. 

In addition, you may come out ahead to allow your pastures to rest, while putting your stock in a sacrifice area and feeding hay (if you can find it), rather than damaging the root system of your plants, stressing those plants, compacting your soil, and putting your animals at increased risk for internal parasites. 

Livestock Rescue Training

• June 25 - Biosecurity in Animal Response - 9 AM-Noon, Forsyth Fire Department; biosecurity as it applies to farms and farm animals, emergency disaster sheltering (companion animals), and first responder called to emergency incidents involving animals. Topics will include an overview of biosecurity and principles, biosecurity best practices on farms (livestock and poultry) and companion animal shelters, and biosecurity and PPE recommendations for first responders. Intended audience: anyone who owns or works with domestic animals and emergency responders.

• June 25 - Co-Location Shelter Fundamentals - 1-5 PM, Forsyth Fire Department; This course will train volunteers and emergency response personnel on the legal responsibilities for companion animal sheltering during emergencies, essential skills needed to set up an emergency animal shelter and how to utilize the Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailer (CAMET) and Companion Animal Shelter Trailer (CAST). Training will be divided into a a lecture format and a hands-on exercise. 

• September 12 - Scenario Saturday: Applying Your Large Animal Rescue Skills, Northwoods Stable, Winston-Salem; This course focuses on applying large animal rescue techniques and skills. LAR scenarios may include, but are not limited to the following: ropes, knots and mechanical advantage concepts; lifting; dragging; extracting from enclosed areas; and applying LAR equipment & tools.

Strengthening Your Risk Management: Farm Insurance Coverage

As we move into a busier season, it is a prudent time to evaluate your operation's insurance strategy. A common and potentially costly oversight is assuming that a standard homeowners policy provides sufficient protection for agricultural activities. In most cases, it does not.

To ensure your livelihood is adequately protected, consider the following key areas of your risk management plan:

1. Liability and Operational Risks

Farm liability often requires specialized coverage beyond basic property insurance. Are you protected against the financial impact of:

• Livestock Liability: Accidents resulting from livestock escaping enclosures.

• Transit and Machinery: Collisions or incidents involving tractors and equipment on public roadways.

• Environmental Risks: Incidents of chemical or spray drift.

• General Perils: Theft, vandalism, fire, or weather-related damage (such as hail).

2. Equipment vs. Liability

It is important to distinguish between property coverage (which protects the physical asset) and liability coverage (which protects you in the event of a lawsuit). These may be structured as separate policies or endorsements; verify that both your machinery and your actions are covered.

3. Valuation: Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost

Review how your structures are insured. If a critical building—one essential to your daily operations—were lost, would an Actual Cash Value (ACV) settlement provide enough capital to rebuild?

• Actual Cash Value: Covers the value of the building minus depreciation.

• Replacement Cost: Covers the actual expense of constructing a new, similar building at current market rates.

Pro Tip: If you cannot maintain business continuity without a specific structure, transitioning that building to a Replacement Cost policy is often a vital investment.

We encourage you to schedule a review with your insurance agent to identify any gaps in your current coverage and ensure your farm remains resilient in the face of the unexpected.

Learn more in this video from the NC FarmLaw program. 

Quality Assurance Injection Tips/Protocols

• It is important to follow Quality Assurance principles and label directions when giving medications to livestock, but injections are even more critical to avoid damaging a meat product.

• Subcutaneous injections (i.e., under the skin) should be given in either the neck or elbow pocket (small livestock).

• All intramuscular injections should be given in the neck regardless of the animal or the type of injection; this includes estrus synchronization products.

• Whenever the label allows for either intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, the subcutaneous route should be used.

• Additionally, make sure to leave at least 4 inches between each injection and do not place one injection under another one

• Never give more than 10cc of product in one injection site.

Weed Control

Early summer is a good time to consider treating many perennial weeds, such as thistle, tall ironweed, silverleaf nightshade and horsenettle, as well as annuals such as amaranth (pigweed), Cocklebur, ragweed, perilla mint, and Jimson weed. Reach out if you need help with identification.

Record Keeping

Ensure that you are keeping accurate records on your herd or flock. That starts with identification, such as ear tagging, so that you can accurately identify animals. Meat inspectors sometimes ask for verification of the age of the animal before processing and that means detailed records. If you want your T-bones, you better document ages for all of your stock.

Annual Forage and Livestock Webinar Series

July 7, 3-4 pm EST 
Farm stewardship through succession and transition: Opportunities, tools, and strategies.Speaker: Dr. Noah Ranells, NC FarmLink (registration link).

August 19, 3-4 pm EST
Soil carbon and nitrogen in forage and grazing lands across North Carolina.Speaker: Dr. Alan Franzluebbers: USDA-ARS (registration link).

September 17, 3-4 pm EST
Strategies for weed management in tall fescue pastures.Speaker: Dr. Navdeep Godara, Crop & Soil Sciences, NC State University (registration link)

October 1, 3-4 pm EST
Considerations for establishing an optimal breeding and calving season in North Carolina.Speaker: Dr. Felipe Silva, Animal Sciences, NC State University (registration link)

Livestock Shows

Visit a list of upcoming dates and some important information for livestock shows. 

Forward This Email to a Friend

Calendar of Livestock Events

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

June 25 Pastured Pork Workshop, NC A&T State University

June 25 Biosecurity in Animal Response Training, 9 am - noon, Forsyth County Fire Department

June 25 Co-Location Shelter Fundamentals, 1-5 PM, Forsyth County Fire Department

June 27 Entry deadline for Yadkin-Davie Livestock Show

June 27-28 Twisters Livestock Show, Lenoir, NC

July 3 Office Closed for 4th of July

July 7, Farm Stewardship Through Succession & Transition Zoom, 3-4 PM

July 15 Final day to nominate animals for the NC State Fair Small Animal shows

July 15 Final day to report spring and summer crops to FSA (including grasses (pasture & hay)

July 27 Final entry deadline for the Yadkin-Davie Livestock shows

Aug. 1 Early entry deadline for the NC Jr. Beef Roundup

Aug 7-8 NC Jr. Beef Round-up, Fletcher

Aug 11-12 New River Valley Wool Pool, Elk Creek, VA, 8-5

Aug. 14-15 Yadkin-Davie 4-H Livestock Show, Yadkinville

Aug. 15-Sept. 15 Enter livestock in the NC State Fair

Aug. 19 Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in Forage and Grazing Lands Zoom, 3-4 PM

Aug. 24 Patrick Co. Feeder Calf Tel-O-Auction

Aug. 29 Fall Field Day, NC Angus Association, NCSU E. Carroll Joyner Beef Education Unit, Raleigh

Sept. 1 Stokes County Fair Livestock Entries due

Sept. 1 Carolina Classic Fair Livestock Entries due

Sept. 6-12 Mountain State Fair 

Sept. 7 Office Closed for Labor Day

Sept. 12 Scenario Saturday: Applying Your Large Animal Rescue Skills, 8 AM-4 PM, Northwoods Stable, Winston-Salem

Sept. 15 Final day to enter NC State Fair Livestock Shows

Sept. 15-19 Stokes County Fair

Sept. 17 Strategies for Weed Management in Tall Fescue Pastures Zoom, 3-4 PM

Oct. 1 Considerations for Establishing an Optimal Breeding and Calving Season in NC Zoom, 3-4 PM

Oct. 2-11 Carolina Classic Fair

Oct. 15-25 NC State Fair

**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.”


Click here to unsubscribe

NOTE: This link will unsubscribe you from ALL emails from N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center. To unsubscribe from one email list (ie, livestock) contact April Bowman, at awbowman@ncsu.edu, or 336-593-8179.