Tag Archive for: #nccooperativeextensiongranvile

Calling Citizen Scientists To Take Part In 2026 Pollinator Census Aug. 21, 22

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Got 15 minutes to spare next Friday or Saturday? Great!

Fifteen minutes is all it takes to take part in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

Organizers at the University of Georgia Extension Service have added states to the annual count of bees, butterflies, moths and other insects in an effort to get an idea about pollinator trends across the Southeast.

The Census will take place on Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22.

The local extension service will have guide sheets at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market to explain the process and how you can take part, according to Vance County  Agent Michael Ellington.

North Carolina submitted numbers for the 2023 census, along with Georgia and South Carolina; Florida came on board in 2024 and Alabama joined in 2025. This year’s count will include pollinator counts from Mississippi as well.

A total of 27,048 citizen scientists across the five states of GA, SC, FL, AL and NC counted 500,402 insect pollinators in 2025, according to information on the census website.

The setup is pretty simple: there’s a downloadable sheet to record your observations. All you need to do, really, is identify a plant in your yard or garden and watch it for 15 minutes, recording each time an insect land on that single plant.

Can’t tell a honey bee from a carpenter bee? No problem. The recording sheet has photos to help you tell the difference. Ditto for butterflies and moths.

To learn more about the Census, visit

https://gsepc.org/

For a focus on North Carolina participation, visit https://extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu/featured-programs-2/gsepcinnc/

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension “Winter Webinar” Series Discusses Small Ruminants

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If you’ve always wanted to learn about goats and sheep and what kind of care they need, join the N.C. Cooperative Extension for its “Winter Webinar” series.

There are five different webinars that will take place via Zoom, and each one discusses different aspects of the care and management of small ruminants.

The first webinar is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7; webinars will be held monthly through March. Each session has a unique registration link.

Register here: https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/categories/agriculture-food/animal-agriculture/

The sessions are listed below:

  • Nov. 7 – Goats 101 covers basic nutrition, health and management
  • Dec. 5 – Hoof health, prevention and treatment of common hoof issues
  • Jan. 9 – Opportunities with sheep and solar farms
  • Feb. 6 – Livestock guardian animals – considerations and challenges
  • Mar. 6 – Pasture management for small ruminants

Contact your local extension agent to learn more.

  • Vance County: 252.438.8188
  • Granville County: 919.603.1350
  • Warren County: 252.257.3640
  • Franklin County: 919.496.3344

Equine Nutrition Workshop May 3 At Granville Livestock Arena

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Area horse owners are invited to attend a workshop next week to learn more about what equines need to eat to maintain good health.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Granville livestock arena, 4200  Cannady Mill Rd.

Topics that will be discussed include understanding hay analyses and various supplements that are on the market to improve everything from a horse’s coat to strong hooves as well as reducing stress and improving gut health.

Feeding horses is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Just like people, different types of horses require different types of nutrition. Athletic horses that compete in events may require feed that is totally different from other equines that may be used for the occasional trail ride. Learn more about equine nutrition at the workshop, hosted by the cooperative extension agencies in Warren and Granville counties.

Registration is required by Sunday, May 1.

To register, CLICK HERE.

Or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-does-your-horse-really-need-tickets-292592440867

 

Fire Ant Quarantine Zone Grows To Include All Granville, Most Of Person

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As the imported red fire ant continues its march through North Carolina, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials are expanding the quarantine zone to include all of Granville, as well as portions of Person and Caswell counties, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

That means that residents and business owners in these counties will need to obtain a permit before moving plants, sod and related equipment into or through non-infested areas. Certificates can be obtained from a local plant protection specialist or by contacting the Plant Protection Section at 800-206-9333 or 919-707-3730.

Items requiring a permit include nursery stock, sod, soil, hay and straw, logs or pulpwood with soil, and soil-moving equipment, according to information from NCDA.  Also, the movement of any other products, items or infested materials that present a risk of spread from areas that have fire ants to non-infested areas is prohibited.

“Failure to obtain the needed inspections and certifications may result in the issuance of a stop-sale notice and rejection or destruction of the regulated article,” said Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS plant industry division.  “Fire ants can be harmful to humans and livestock. It is important we continue proactive efforts to slow down fire ant movement into non-infested areas of the state.”

Fire ants can be found in the majority of the state’s 100 counties; most recently, fire ants have been confirmed in Jackson and Madison counties in the western part of the state.

The imported fire ant was first identified in Brunswick County in 1957. As it spread and became established, it was recognized as an aggressive pest of farmlands, pastures, residential areas and wildlife, Foote said. The imported fire ant is considered to be a nuisance and a health concern to humans, livestock and wildlife due to its painful sting.

For a map of the quarantine area, visit  https://www.ncagr.gov/plantindustry/Plant/entomology/documents/Imported_Fire_Ant_2022_Quarantine_Expansion_Proposal.pdf

Local Extension Agent Shares Ways To Send Help To Areas Hit By Tornado, Wildfires

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The recent weather events in Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas and other Midwestern states have left devastation in their wake. Kim Woods, N.C. Cooperative extension livestock agent for Granville and Person counties shares a list of resources to help the ravaged areas rebuild.

“Many of you may have been wondering if there is anything that we in North Carolina can do to help our fellow ag folks in Kentucky and Tennessee after the devastating tornado outbreak in those states or the wildfires in Kansas,” Woods wrote in an email right before Christmas.

In Kentucky:

  • Donate money to the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation. All donations will be used to help local producers in need of farm supplies. These donations can be made by calling 859.278.0899 using the Paypal app at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=56JBAJJYC3RDQ.
  • Mail a check to: KY Cattlemen’s Foundation Attn: Tornado Relief 176 Pasadena Drive, Suite 4,  Lexington, KY 40503In Tennessee:
    • The Tennessee Farm Bureau established a fund to help farmers and ranchers who incurred damage to homes, farms or personal property.

    In Kansas:

    • The Kansas Livestock Association and the Kansas Livestock Foundation are assisting ranchers who were affected by fires and high winds across the state in mid-December. To provide monetary donations, click here. Donations may be tax deductible and 100 percent of all donations will be distributed to producers whose operations were damaged by the fires.