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

July 1, 2026

Agent Thoughts/NC Farm Stress

I feel a little like "Chicken Little"; "the sky is falling". Between the new world screwworm, drought/ lack of hay (see alternative feed sources), longhorn tick and flies, and the heat, livestock farming can be a little depressing right now. On a bright note, cattle prices are still strong; cull your livestock sooner rather than later. (See the previous comment about a 61% hay loss.)

NC Agromedicine Institute provides several free services through the NC Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (NCFRSAN) for individuals and families in agriculture and support roles. The NC Farm Stress Helpline is available 24/7 at 844-325-3276 for mental health, financial, legal, farm safety and health, and more.  Your farm could receive free first aid kits, an AED, or more. In addition, they may have financial assistance for farmers who are caregivers for a loved one. 

Weed Control for July

• Watch for poisonous weeds. With grass lacking due to drought, livestock may graze weeds they don't normally touch. 

• Graze warm season or summer annual forages as cool season pasture growth slows down.

• Purchase cool-season forage seed needed for September seeding.

• Be watchful of nitrate and prussic acid poisoning of livestock grazing summer annuals during drought-damaged forages after rain and highly fertilized summer annuals.

• Crabgrass seems to be coming out fairly strong. While horticulturists consider this a weed, livestock owners should embrace and graze it! 

• Reach out if you need help with identification.

Meat Quality: from Pasture to Plate

This intensive workshop on Wednesday, August 26, features a full day of classroom instruction led by Dr. Jennifer Martin from Colorado State University and some of the field's top experts in nutrition, meat quality, and marketing. Learn how farm management and nutrition decision directly impact product quality. This workshop focuses on pork and lamb, but may be beneficial to other species. 

There will also be a pre-workshop tour on Tuesday, August 25 (for participants of the 26th only) that includes live animal evaluation followed by a meat cutting demonstration. Space is very limited. 

Both days are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be held at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Randolph County Center, 1880 US Hay 64E, Asheboro. 

This NC Choices’ training is part of the Meat Summit's national effort to strengthen local meat systems through focused supply chain conferences and summits. 

Youth Egg-Cellent Egg Competition

Youth who raise chickens are encouraged to participate in the Egg-cellent Egg competition. Youth submit half-dozen eggs of the same color, and size for exterior and interior judging, along with a supplemental educational activity. Cartons and air cell cards will be provided. There is a $15 entry fee. Youth completing supplemental portions, and submitting eggs will receive a T-shirt, ribbons, and possibly awards. 

• July 31, Registration deadline

• Aug 4, Orientation Zoom, 6 pm (will be recorded)

• Aug 18, Required Educational Zoom, 6 pm

• Aug 21, Payment Deadline ($15)

• TBD Sept 15 (or 16), Eggs Due to Stokes Cooperative Extension, 

• Sept. 17, Supplemental assignments due

Learn more at https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/news/2026-4-h-egg-cellent-egg-competition/. 

REMINDERS

New World Screwworm

Continue to monitor 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 (it's not too late)

• 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 and by BQA certified. 

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. Visit https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/news/2026-wool-pool/ 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. 

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

• 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.

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. 

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Calendar of Livestock Events

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

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 19 Photos and graphic designs due for Jr. Beef Round-up

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

July 31 Deadline to register for the 4-H Egg-Cellent Egg Contest

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.(25) 26 Pasture to Plate: Meat Quality, Asheboro, NC

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

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

Sept. 29 AgVentures Grant Overview (Save the Date), 7 p.m., Virtual

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

Oct. 2-11 Carolina Classic Fair

Oct. 8 AgVentures Grant Overview (Save the Date), 12 p.m., Virtual (attend only one)

Oct. 8 Stokes County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m. (Tentative due to Carolina Classic Fair)

Oct. 15-25 NC State Fair

Nov. 9 AgVentures Grant Overview (Save the Date), 6:30 p.m., Virtual (attend only one)

Nov. 12 Stokes County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 10 Stokes County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

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