NC Dept of Agriculture

COVID-19 Fund Helps Offset Quarantine Costs of H2A Workers

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Local farmers who employ H2A farmworkers can apply for some financial relief if any of those workers have to quarantine during the 2021 growing season.

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said Wednesday that his department has $2 million of federal COVID-19 funds that can be used to offset quarantine expenses.

“Farmworkers have always been critical to agriculture, but the pandemic has shown how essential a healthy workforce is to agriculture and our food supply,” Troxler said. “While it is a priority for all farmworkers to get vaccinated, this program will enable employers to safely quarantine workers who test positive for COVID-19 and hopefully minimize spread to their coworkers and others.” 

Under this program, employers that have farmworkers with valid H2A visas will be eligible for reimbursement of the cost of meals and lodging for the duration of the quarantine period, not to exceed the per diem rates for federal employees.  The employer on record for the farmworker with a valid H2A visa may submit reimbursement request on behalf of any farmworker requiring to be quarantined following a positive test for COVID-19, provided the employer covered the initial eligible expenses out-of-pocket on behalf of the farmworker. The program will be for expenses incurred from March 11, 2021 through the 2021 growing season.

The application period will open on April 14 and will continue through Dec. 15, 2021 or until program funds are exhausted. These funds are provided through CARES Act funding and subject to any changes to the federal legislation.  

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in serious and substantial impacts on the food supply chain, including migrant farm labor in North Carolina. The H2A program is a critical component in planting and harvesting of North Carolina commodities. This program will help offset the financial burden of quarantine accommodations for workers that test positive for COVID-19 in off-site locations.

Details regarding the NCDA&CS COVID-19 Farmworker Quarantine Reimbursement Program will be available at http://www.ncagr.gov/QuarantineReimbursementProgram.htm.  Please contact H2Acovidprogram2021@ncagr.gov with any questions regarding this program.

MAE Farm Owner Works Hard to Stay Small

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It’s sometimes a stretch for Mike Jones to be a farmer in Franklin County AND manage the farm’s retail outlet at the N.C. State Farmers Market, but it’s a family affair that pays off – for Jones and the customers who buy his pasture-raised meats.

Jones, owner of MAE Farm, was named the 2021 Small Farmer of the Year recently during the 35th annual Small Farms Week sponsored by N.C. A & T State University’s Cooperative Extension program. He’s always looking for ways to improve, but not necessarily looking to compete with large-scale farm operations. “I don’t have to be the biggest there is to be happy.”

He opened his space at the farmers market in 2007 with a card table, a cash box and one freezer. But the business has grown over the years, and now about half the weekly sales comes from other small farmers like himself. “We are your local supplier,” he told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. “I define ‘local’ as the state of North Carolina.”

Being named the Small Farmer of the Year is an honor that Jones shares with his wife, Suzanne, and his children. Working with family has been a blessing, he said. “I have a wife that bought into my goals and my dreams and my visions,” he said, adding that two of the children majored in business in college because the importance of the family business partnership made a “profound impact” on them.

William Landis, agriculture and small farms agent for Franklin and Warren counties, also was on show and said he and Jones were out at the farm just Tuesday checking on grass improvements in the pastures. Landis said Jones uses innovative pasture practices that help his farm stand out.

“When you decide to have a pasture-based system,” Jones said, “you’re at the mercy of the weather – droughts, flood, wind, heat.  And the soil itself is beat up by the impact of the animals being on the land.” It is critical to pay attention to soil health and do restoration work when needed. Plant roots stabilize the soil and also pick back up the nutrients that animals again consume, which creates an efficient recycling loop on the farm, Jones said.

A well-managed system can lower feed costs while directly affecting the bottom line, he said. Consumers notice improved flavor, he said. “They say, ‘Wow, this is different,’“ Jones said, when they compare his products to those that come from a big box store.

His operation may not be as efficient as larger facilities, but “the economic benefit is the end product. People really prefer the taste and texture of the meats I produce,” he said.

Salted fatback is one such item – it’s a MAE Farm specialty item that folks ask for.

Landis said one of the most exciting things about having Jones recognized for his work “sets a high bar and encourages people to get into the industry. He’s done a lot for agriculture in the region.”

Follow MAE Farm on Facebook or visit www.MAEFarmmeats.com.

Enjoy here the TownTalk Broadcast Audio with Mike Jones.

 

TownTalk 04-08-21 History Of Franklin Co. with Eric Medlin

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Although a native of Creedmoor and Granville County, when Eric Medlin was inspired by a professor at NC State to write a book on a local North Carolina county it wasn’t Granville that he chose to write about but Franklin County. His book, A History of Franklin County North Carolina, has recently been published by Acadia Publishing.

Medlin’s interest in history didn’t begin at the local level. He studied European history at both UNC and NC State. His interest in that particular area of history, however, would change. “Coming out of grad school I decided European History was not where I wanted to go,” Medlin said. He began to take weekend trips throughout North Carolina to visit county courthouses and became interested in the history of North Carolina’s counties. Medlin noted several reasons to write about Franklin County. One reason was because it had been forty years since a book on the county had been written, the beautiful churches in Louisburg and Laurel Mill. According to Medlin, “Franklin County captured my imagination.”

Medlin said the process of writing the first word to the moment it was submitted to the publisher took about a year. With access to the Franklin Times, diaries of families, and access to previous books Medlin was able to pull the book together fairly quickly. Weekends were used to take photographs and he spent numerous days at the state archives office gathering material for this book. “I have no writer’s block,” Medlin said about the writing process.

Medlin said the most difficult decision in writing the book was what to include and what not to include. Earlier books by E. H. Davis and T. H. Pearce focused on different areas of the country history and Medlin wanted to update those earlier works to include more about the post-World War II era including Civil Rights and county’s evolution through the 20th century. He also felt it important to talk about Louisburg writer and poet Edwin Wiley Fuller and Franklin County being the site of the last battle of the Tuscarora war.

When not writing Eric is a Professor of History at Wake Tech. Medlin’s next book project will focus on the history of the North Carolina Furniture industry.

“A History of Franklin County, North Carolina” can be purchased from any local bookseller and online.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Horse Owners – EEE Vaccine Reminder Spring 2021

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Area horse and donkey owners, take note: It’s time to start thinking about making sure your equines are vaccinated against a couple of mosquito-borne illnesses that often prove fatal to the animals that contract them.

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus are two illnesses that can be prevented with a simple vaccination.

“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler stated in a press release. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent.”

North Carolina reported nine recorded cases of EEE in 2020, a relatively high number, according to Troxler. “Horse owners need to act now to vaccinate their animals,” Troxler said.

State Veterinarian Dr. Doug Meckes recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.

Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

· Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear.

· Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.

“If your horses or other equine animals exhibit any symptoms of EEE or WNV, contact your veterinarian immediately,” Meckes said.

People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.

“It’s also a great time to make sure your animal is current on its rabies vaccination,” Troxler said. “In North Carolina, we see about five cases of rabies in livestock each year. Horses are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line.”

Franklin County Logo

New Franklin County Fire Marshal, Starts April 19

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New Franklin County Fire Marshal Press Release Courtesy of Franklin County

Franklin County, March 26, 2021: Franklin County has named Arthur Lee Evans, III (Trey) as County Fire Marshal effective April 19, 2021. Mr. Evans started his public safety career as a volunteer firefighter at Littleton Volunteer Fire Department. In 2012, he became a firefighter with the Town of Weldon in Halifax County. He spent six years with Weldon Fire Department and promoted up the ranks to Assistant Chief.

Mr. Evans obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Wesleyan College and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Coastal Carolina Community College. He has achieved numerous firefighter certifications, technical rescue, and fire certifications including Fire Officer III, Fire Inspector II and North Carolina Fire Arson Investigator. Mr. Evans and his wife Kaitlyn are long-time Franklin County residents.

“We are excited to have the position of the County Fire Marshal filled. Mr. Evans brings a lot of attributes and qualities that align well with the overall mission and services provided by the Office of Emergency Services,” said Emergency Services Director Hendrix Valenzuela.

The Fire Marshal’s Office is a division of Franklin County’s Office of Emergency Services. The Fire Marshal position was funded as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. County Manager Kim Denton said, “The position fills an important need as the County’s population continues to grow.” The Franklin County Fire Marshal will be responsible for conducting investigations, coordinating with other agencies and performing periodic inspections in occupied facilities as required by applicable State law.

MAE Farm, Mike and Susanne Jones; 2021 NC Small Farmer of the Year

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Mike Jones, owner of MAE Farm in Franklin County, was named 2021 Small Farmer of the Year during Wednesday’s segment of the weeklong virtual celebration of Small Farms Week.

Jones, along with his family and other supporters, waited for the announcement of the winner in the conference room at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Wednesday afternoon. As a lead-in to the announcement, participants viewed live feeds on Facebook Live from Louisburg and from Watauga County, where the other finalist is located.

Rosalind Dale, Extension administrator at N.C. A & T State University and associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences made her way to the room where Jones and his contingent waited to proclaim Jones the winner. He and wife Suzanne received matching jackets emblazoned with Small Farmer of the Year, a plaque and a check for $2,000.

MAE Farm sits on 73 acres of former tobacco land in Franklin County. Jones and his family produce pasture-raised pork and do business at the State Farmers Market.

“I’m very happy to be recognized for my contributions,” Jones said during the live broadcast. Local extension agent William Landis said Jones uses a variety of conservation techniques on the farm, as well as innovative practices like silvopasture (using forested land to graze animals) and rotating pastures and allowing multiple species to graze the same land.

“Mike deserves to be Small Farmer of the Year because he is innovative, focused on conservation and a great mentor,” Landis said during a video presentation that was shown before the winner was announced.

“My success has come from cooperative places,” he said in remarks after he was named the winner. “Many, many people have helped me…I wasn’t the best at anything,” he said, adding that he just kept trying and asked for help from those around him. He said cooperation with others is key to being successful.

MAE Farm comes from the first letters of their three children’s first names, he said. It’s easy to pronounce and easy to remember. He said he didn’t get into farming to be the biggest farm or to make the most money, but to have a nice, stable life.
“I wanted to be a farmer and a father,” he said. “And I got to do both.”

TownTalk 03-22-21 William Landis, Small Farms Week

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Small farmers make up about 80 percent of farmers in this area and provide the community with delicious produce and pasture-raised meats that consumers can find at local farmers’ markets. But small-scale farmers are not necessarily trying to compete with, or become, large-scale farmers, according to William Landis with Franklin County Extension Service.  He told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that small farmers who can find a niche product or a niche market can position themselves to be successful.

Landis is the small farms agent for Franklin and Warren counties. Part of his job is to help small farmers with resources to become as efficient and productive as possible. These days, with so much information available via the internet, it may be challenging for producers to make choices about how and what to grow on their farms.

“Come to us,” Landis said of cooperative extension services. “Bounce what you’ve heard off your local extension agent. We’re here to help you out,” he said. Many small farmers around here, he said, have full-time jobs off the farm and do their farm work when they get off work.

March 21-27 is Small Farms Week in North Carolina, thanks to the Cooperative Extension program at N.C. A&T State University. And a Franklin County farmer is in the running for Small Farmer of the Year.

Mike and Suzanne Jones run MAE Farm and they market their pasture-raised meats at the State Farmers Market. Jones has been a farmer since the early 2000’s, long before Landis became an extension agent. “It’s good to see that he’s finally getting recognized,” he said.

The winner will be announced on Mar. 24 during the virtual Small Farms conference.

Small Farms Week TownTalk Podcast

Selection criteria include how small farmers are engaged in the community, as well as innovative practices that are used on the farm, Landis said. Jones is involved with the local Farm Bureau and uses innovative pasture management practices like silvopasture – letting animals graze in forested areas – and rotational grazing of multiple species.

Landis said a small farm is one that has less than $250,000 a year in income. Advances in technology, from tractors with built-in GPS systems to the use of drones, have been helpful additions for producers. Other types of technology – like phone apps – are also being used to help boost the agritourism industry, Landis said. One such app is called Visit NC Farms. Producers load information about their farm and it’s accessible via the app. Agritourism is a growing trend and has helped small farmers weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Other online tools like MeatSuite can help consumers find locally sourced meats in their area, he added.

Franklin County, he said, is situated in a perfect spot to respond to the huge Raleigh-Durham market. “Within 30 minutes, you can be in Raleigh and deliver your product,” he said. The Raleigh-Durham market is one of the largest markets in the U.S., he said. Responding to the needs and wants of a market that size is what can put a small farmer on the road to success.

Right now, the Franklin County Farmers Market is located near the Carly C’s on Bickett Boulevard in Louisburg. It currently operates under a shelter on Fridays from 9 to noon, but Landis said there is some movement afoot to create a closed-in market.

Franklin County Sheriff

Nash County Pair Arrested 3-19-21 North of Louisburg on Drug-Related Charges

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— press release courtesy of Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

IRS

Tax Day for individuals extended to May 17: Treasury, IRS extend filing and payment deadline

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— press release courtesy of the IRS

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced (this week) that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

“This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to.”

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.

Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Filing Form 4868 gives taxpayers until October 15 to file their 2020 tax return but does not grant an extension of time to pay taxes due. Taxpayers should pay their federal income tax due by May 17, 2021, to avoid interest and penalties.

The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds associated with e-filed returns are issued within 21 days.

This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15. Taxes must be paid as taxpayers earn or receive income during the year, either through withholding or estimated tax payments. In general, estimated tax payments are made quarterly to the IRS by people whose income isn’t subject to income tax withholding, including self-employment income, interest, dividends, alimony or rental income. Most taxpayers automatically have their taxes withheld from their paychecks and submitted to the IRS by their employer.

State tax returns
The federal tax filing deadline postponement to May 17, 2021, only applies to individual federal income returns and tax (including tax on self-employment income) payments otherwise due April 15, 2021, not state tax payments or deposits or payments of any other type of federal tax. Taxpayers also will need to file income tax returns in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. State filing and payment deadlines vary and are not always the same as the federal filing deadline. The IRS urges taxpayers to check with their state tax agencies for those details.

Behavioral Health; It’s Time to Start Talking

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The Behavioral Health unit at Maria Parham Franklin in Louisburg offers resources for and treatment of a variety of health issues, from mild dementia in older adults to substance abuse and bipolar disorder.

For Jason Roberts, behavioral health director for the in-patient facility, people struggling with mental health problems need to know they aren’t alone in the battle they face. “How you start to heal,” Roberts told John C. Rose, “is you talk about it.” Someone who goes to hospital with a heart attack, for example, gets wraparound care and follow-up treatment to make sure good health is restored, he said during Wednesday’s Town Talk. Mental health also deserves that wraparound treatment and follow-up care. “That’s what we do here,” he added.

The facility has 13 beds for patients 55 years and older; there are 20 beds for adults 18-54, he added. The geriatric side mostly handles mild to moderate dementia patients; the majority of the adults are experiencing a dual diagnosis – a mental health disorder coupled with a substance use problem.

“We are meeting people at their most vulnerable,” Roberts explained. Most referrals are made through the local hospital emergency departments, he said. The “trauma-informed model of care” uses group therapy as part of treatment. “Sharing is a part of recovery,” Roberts said, adding that it “helps the patient know they’re not alone in what they’re going through.”

Podcast of Jason Roberts on TownTalk

Although relatively short stays are the norm – 5 to 7 days for adults and up to 14 days for those who are in the geriatric program – Roberts said the goal is crisis stabilization with a plan for follow-up care.

A team of providers work together to develop a swift medicine management plan of care and provide a range of treatments including individual sessions, group therapy and recreational therapy, all designed to help the patients interact with others and to reassure them they aren’t alone.

Roberts has been at Maria Parham Franklin for about one year, and said a goal for the immediate future is to continue to improve the follow-up, wraparound care that patients often need to be successful.

“For so long, we’ve looked at mental health and behavioral health as things we don’t talk about,” Roberts said. “That’s the crux of the issue — we don’t talk about it. We don’t talk about the reason people are going through what they’re going through. It’s important to talk about how you feel, because it’s how you start to heal,” he said.

The unit is looking to hire nurses, psychiatric technicians and a recreational therapist, Roberts said.  An “interview day” will be held on Mar. 29 and those interested in participating can schedule an interview, he added. There will be additional information on social media and traditional media outlets closer to the date. “We’re looking for some talent and anyone who has experience in the field,” he added.

To learn more, visit https://www.mariaparhamfranklin.com/services/behavioral-health.

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(Maria Parham is a paying advertising client of WIZS.  This is not a paid ad.)