Davidson County Center
January News
RAFI Grants
RAFI (Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA) is opening their grant cycle for the 2019 Agricultural Reinvestment Fund (ARF) Grant Program. The ARF Grant program is funded through the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission that offers $9000 grants to individual farmers/producers and $11,000 grants for collaborative projects. Final application deadline is January 4, 2019.

Winter Forage Conference
Don't forget to register for the Winter Forage Conference. The conference will focus on "Effective Weed Management in Pastures and Hay Fields."

There are four dates/locations for you to choose from:
  • January 22 - Canton, NC
  • January 23 - Salisbury, NC
  • January 24 - Oxford, NC
  • January 25 - Kenansville, NC

Beekeeping School
Davidson County Beekeepers will be offering a Beekeeping School. The school will meet from 7-9 p.m. at the Extension Office (301 E. Center St., Lexington) on:
  • January 28
  • February 4
  • February 11
  • February 25
  • March 11
  • March 16 - Field Day from 2-4 p.m.

The cost is $45 per person or $35 each for a couple. Cost includes book and a one year membership in the NC State Beekeepers Association and the Davidson County Beekeepers Association.

Southern Farm Show
The Southern Farm Show will be held January 30 through February 1 at the NC State Fairgrounds. This is the largest agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia with over 400 exhibitors.

Business of Farming Series
Davidson County Extension along with Davidson County Community College Small Business Center will host a four-part series to help new & beginning farmers to treat their farm as a business. Pre-registration is required. The series is sponsored by Carolina Farm Credit.

Dates:
* January 31 - Accounting
* February 28 - Legal Issues
* March 28 - Taxes
* April 25 - Marketing

8th Annual Gardeners' Conference
The Davidson County Extension Master Gardeners will host the 8th Annual Gardener's Conference on February 7 in Welcome, NC. This conference is open to the public. Spaces fill up very quickly, so if you are interested in this conference, register now. Main speakers are Adrienne Roethling and Pam Beck.

Breakout sessions include: Insights on Pesticides, Life on the Nut Farm: A Guide to Chestnut Production, A Year of Growing Roses: Monthly Tasks, Watering Container Gardens: A Simple Drip System, and The Woody Ornamental Obsession.

Forage Recover Plan 2019
Management Strategies for Early & Late Plantings of Cool Season Forages
A wet fall delayed, and in some cases completely prevented, timely fall-plantings of cool-season annual and perennial forages in North Carolina. Areas that remained flooded for several days resulted in permanently damaged pastures that will require forages to be re-established and temporarily damaged pastures may need extra care to recover to its full potential.

Join us on February 13 for an afternoon session at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury, NC. The session will include: an update on forage variety plots for tall fescue, orchardgrass, ryegrass, alfalfa, and alfalfa-grass mixtures; establishment and weed management options for early and late plantings; and discussion of examples for establishment and maintenance of cool-season annual and perennial forages.

NC Cattlemen's & Dairy Conference
The 68th Annual NC Cattlemen's and Dairy Conference will be held February 21-23 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. It is a great opportunity to participate in workshops and network with other producers. Registration will be open soon.

Piedmont Regional Beef Conference
Join us for 7th Annual Piedmont Regional Beef Conference on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Guilford County Center in Greensboro, NC. This year’s conference will feature cattle handling expert, Dr. Ron Gill from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Dr. Deidre Harmon from NC State Extension.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn cattle handling and stockmanship skills, as well as fescue pasture establishment and renovation techniques through classroom and demonstration sessions. There will also be a trade show featuring many industry partners that offer feed, equipment, seed, fertilizer, cattle services, animal health, and more. Early registration is $15 or registration at the door is $20.

Big Dreams, Small Farms
The Big Dreams, Small Farms series is part of NC Farm School geared to beginning farmers. Each day will have a lecture in the morning, followed by a farm visit in the afternoon. Workshop locations will vary by topic. Registration is now open.

Dates:
* March 13 - Small Ruminants - Rowan County
* April 11 - Pastured Pork - Stanly County
* April 25 - Agritourism - Rowan County
* May 9 - Pastured Poultry - Davidson County
* May 23 - Small Fruit - Cabarrus County
* June 13 - Market Garden - Rowan County

Master Gardeners Provide Service To Extension
In December, Davidson County Cooperative Extension hosted its annual appreciation luncheon to thank our Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGV) for all the hard work they do. Master Gardeners are a vital part of many activities NC Cooperative Extension does. You will see EMGV hard at work around the Davidson County Agricultural building beautifying the space, as well as growing food in the research and demo gardens. EMGV’s not only know a thing or two about plants, they also know how to make their community a better, more vibrant place. EMGV’s work to help start-up community gardens, as well as assist with many community beatification and educational projects around the county. 

EMGV President (2018) Anice Griffin (Right) and newly elected EMGV Association President (2019) Linda Snider (Left).
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Upcoming Events:
Winter Forage Conferences - Effective Weed Management in Pastures & Hay Fields
* January 22 - Canton
* January 23 - Salisbury
* January 24 - Oxford
* January 25 - Mount Olive

Beekeeping School - Davidson County Extension Office
* January 28
* February 4
* February 11
* February 25
* March 11
* March 16 - Field Day from 2-4 p.m.

Southern Farm Show - NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC
* January 30
* January 31
* February 1

Business of Farming Series - Davidson County Extension Office
* January 31 - Accounting
* February 28 - Legal Issues
* March 28 - Taxes
* April 25 - Marketing

Forage Recovery Plan 2019 - Piedmont Research Station, Salisbury, NC
* February 13

NC Cattlemen's & Dairy Conference - Hickory Metro Convention Center
* February 21-13

* March 13 - Small Ruminants - Rowan County
* April 11 - Pastured Pork - Stanly County
* April 25 - Agritourism - Rowan County
* May 9 - Pastured Poultry - Davidson County
* May 23 - Small Fruit - Cabarrus County
* June 13 - Market Garden - Rowan County

Piedmont Regional Beef Conference - Guilford County Extension Office
* March 7

Farm Transitions - Davidson County Extension Office
* March 28