Tag Archive for: #nccoopextension

NC Coop Extension

Register Now: ‘Backyard Ag’ Online Series for New Farmers

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

Living on a small farm is a dream shared by many, but the reality can be overwhelming. Those new to farming face the daunting tasks of building infrastructure, figuring out what to grow, negotiating tax and regulatory issues, estimating costs and much more.

Fortunately, N.C. Cooperative Extension has a seven-part online class that will put you on the path to success. This class series, called Backyard Ag: Taking it to the Next Level, is brought to you by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Centers of Person, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.

Class participants will learn about options for small acreages, government assistance programs, business planning, marketing, equipment basics and much more.

The series will begin on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at 1 p.m. The class will continue on alternate Wednesdays through February 24, 2021. Each class will be held on the Zoom video conference platform, which can be accessed from any internet-connected computer, tablet or smartphone.

Presenters will include local Ag Extension Agents, as well as representatives from other ag-related agencies. Registration is required and can be completed online at http://go.ncsu.edu/backyardag201.

4-H Chopped Challenge

Vance and Warren 4-H to Present Teen Cuisine Virtual Classes, ‘Chopped Challenge’

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Warren County Cooperative Extension

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Centers of Vance and Warren County present a 4-H Edition “Chopped Challenge” for youth ages 11-18. The 4-H Chopped Challenge will be held Tuesday, October 13 and 20, 2020.

Youth participants must complete Teen Cuisine virtual classes before advancing to the 4-H Chopped Challenge competition.

Teen Cuisine virtual classes will be offered September 8 – October 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. Registration is free and available through Eventbrite (click here). The deadline to register is September 1.

Prior to the start of class, each participant will receive a Teen Cuisine kit.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by Wednesday, September 2 to Vance or Warren County Cooperative Extension.

For more information, contact Vance Co. Cooperative Extension at (252) 438-8188, vance.ces.ncsu.edu, or Warren Co. Cooperative Extension at (252) 257-3640, warren.ces.ncsu.edu.

NC Coop Extension

N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers Offer Wildlife Management Seminars

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, NC Cooperative Extension 

North Carolina Cooperative Extension will host a series of free online seminars on the topic of wildlife management. This will be a six-week series scheduled at 1 p.m. each Friday from September 4 through October 9, 2020.

Wildlife on your land can offer various benefits, but also has the potential to create significant problems. Maximizing benefits while minimizing problems is simply a matter of implementing the right management practices. In this free online seminar series, representatives from various agencies will review the practices that help landowners meet their goals.

Topics and presenters include:

  • Sept. 4 – Fallow Vegetation and Native Plantings: Managing Habitat for Wildlife and Pollinators ~ Presenter is John Isenhour, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
  • Sept. 11 – Invasive Plant Control and Forest Management to Benefit Wildlife ~ Presenter is John Isenhour, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
  • Sept. 18 – Hunting Leases and Trespass Laws ~ Presenter is Andrew Brannan, NC State Extension
  • Sept. 25 – Coyote and Vulture Depredation Issues ~ Presenter is Jonathan Carreto, USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services
  • Oct. 2 – Beaver Management and Control ~ Presenter is Jonathan Carreto, USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services
  • Oct. 9 – Reducing Crop Damage From Deer ~ Presenters are Greg Batts and Jason Allen, NC Wildlife Resource Commission

To register for the series of seminars, visit http://go.ncsu.edu/wildlifemgmtseries and register via EventBrite. Links to the seminars will be emailed to registrants.

Complete details can be found at http://go.ncsu.edu/managewildlife. Details are also available by calling the NC Cooperative Extension County Center in your area:

Vance County – (252) 438-8188

Granville County – (919) 603-1350

Warren County – (252) 257-3640

Franklin County – (919) 496-3344

Person County – (336) 599-1195

NC Coop Extension

NC Cooperative Extension to Offer Backyard Agriculture 101 Online Workshop Series

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

Want to learn more about raising your own food, or about taking care of your small farm? NC Cooperative Extension will offer Backyard Ag 101, an eight-part online course to show you the basics.

This series is free and will be offered via the Zoom video conferencing platform. It will include topics such as vegetable gardening, managing backyard poultry, small fruit production, managing small woodlots, small-scale livestock & pasture management, landscape basics, and IPM (bugs, weeds, and plant diseases).

This is an 8-week series beginning Wednesday, April 15 and continuing each Wednesday through June 3 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The course will be taught by Agricultural Extension Agents from the Vance, Warren, Granville, and Person County offices.

To see the full schedule with dates and times and to register for this FREE series visit https://go.ncsu.edu/BackyardAg101. Please note that space is limited and registration is required.

If you have questions, please call 252-438-8188 or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.

NC Coop Extension to Offer Free Trip to Buster Sykes Farm

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

The best way to master the art and science of pruning fruit trees is to observe the proper technique from an expert. NC Cooperative Extension will provide that opportunity on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, through a field trip to the Buster Sykes Farm in Alamance County.

The Buster Sykes Farm contains a 300 plant orchard with apples, peaches, pears, plums, pawpaws, blackberries, grapes, figs and much more. Operated by the Alamance County Extension Center, it is meticulously maintained according to specifications developed by NCSU horticulturists. For anyone wanting to raise fruit crops, whether in the backyard or on a small farm, there is simply no better place in Piedmont North Carolina to learn about proper pruning and maintenance practices. Instruction will be provided by Mark Daniely, the Alamance County Extension Director who supervises the orchard.

There is no charge to participate, and transportation is provided. The trip will depart from the Warren County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at 7:45 a.m., returning around 2:45 p.m. There will be additional pick up points in Henderson and Oxford. Space is limited and registration is required.

For complete details and to register, call 252-257-3640 or visit https://go.ncsu.edu/fruitprunetour.

Join the ‘Maintain, Don’t Gain’ Holiday Weight Challenge!

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Warren County NC Cooperative Extension Center

The Warren County NC Cooperative Extension Center invites everyone to participate in the 13th annual Eat Smart, Move More, Maintain, Don’t Gain! Holiday Challenge held November 18 – December 31, 2019.

The challenge is a fun way to help individuals avoid holiday weight gain. Everyone can participate – whether they are looking to lose a few pounds, maintain their current weight or pick up new strategies to eat smart and to move more. And it is FREE to participate!

Individuals who are interested in meeting up face-to-face, joining a private Facebook page, and/or listserve will be entered for a drawing to be held on January 22, 2020.

If interested, please contact Crystal M. Smith, County Extension Director/Family Consumer Science at (252) 257-3640 or cmsmith2@ncsu.edu Registration (click here) is required on or by November 27, 2019.

NC Coop Extension

Pesticide Collection Day Scheduled for Warren, Surrounding Counties

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties

NC Cooperative Extension will offer a Pesticide Collection Day for residents in Warren and surrounding counties on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the NC Cooperative Extension office located at 158 Rafters Ln. in Warrenton, NC.

NC Cooperative Extension will offer this service in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The local site manager will be Matthew Place, Agricultural Extension Agent for Warren County.

Nearly all pesticide products will be accepted, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, etc. For liquid pesticide containers larger than 5 gallons or for unlabeled pesticides, please contact the NC Cooperative Extension office for information before bringing to the collection event. Although no gas cylinders will be accepted, assistance information can be provided.

For more information, contact Matthew Place at the NC Cooperative Extension office at (252) 257-3640.

VCRFM Memorial Garden

Join the Master Gardener Volunteers for a Fall Gardening Symposium

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties

Join the Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Vance/Warren Counties on Saturday, October 5, 2019, for their fall Gardening Symposium, which will be held in historic Warrenton, NC.

The symposium will feature Brie Arthur, author of The Foodscape Revolution. Brie studied Landscape Design and Horticulture at Purdue University and since has worked as a grower, propagator, author, and correspondent on the Growing A Greener World show on PBS. She has a passion for sustainable, local food production and will share advice on how to practice this in your own backyard, with an emphasis on native plants.

The presentation by Brie Arthur will take place at 1 p.m. in the Warren County Courthouse. Registration is $20 and may be submitted by downloading a registration form from https://go.ncsu.edu/foodscapewarren.

As a special bonus, the Master Gardener volunteers are partnering with Preservation Warrenton to offer a free walking tour of historic downtown starting at 10 a.m. that morning, which will highlight many fascinating stories from the town’s past. The tour will end in plenty of time for folks to enjoy downtown shopping and dining before heading over to the Courthouse for the 1 p.m. main event.

For more information, call the NC Cooperative Extension office for Warren County at 252-257-3640, or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.

NC Coop. Extension to Offer Two-Part High Tunnel Produce Learning Opportunity

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

Raising produce in high tunnels (essentially a greenhouse heated only by the sun) offers many advantages over field production, such as extending the growing season and providing better control over growing conditions. However, it also adds to the complexity for growers. Farmers and others who would like to learn more about them are invited to a two-part learning opportunity.

Part one is an evening workshop on Thursday, September 26 at the NC Cooperative Extension office in Warrenton. The workshop starts at 4 p.m. with an outdoor demonstration showing the principles of high tunnel construction.

Following the demonstration, there will be two classroom presentations addressing high tunnel management and funding options. Our special guest presenters include Dr. Sanjun Gu, Extension Specialist from NC A&T State University and Jerome Evans of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. A catered meal will be served.

Part two is a tour of local farms that have high tunnels in use. The tour will take place on Saturday, September 28, and will feature stops at two farms (one in Franklin County, another in Vance). The tour will convene at 8 a.m. at the NC Cooperative Extension office in Warrenton, returning by 12:30 p.m. Snacks will be provided, and the first 20 registrants will have the option to ride in provided transportation.

Registration is required for these free events, and participants may register for one or both parts. Get all the details including a downloadable flyer and on-line registration form by clicking here or call 252-257-3640.

This learning opportunity is made possible thanks to the generous support of AgCarolina Farm Credit.

NC Coop Extension

Register Now for the 2019 ‘Gardening for a Sustainable Future’ Symposium

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

The theme for the 2019 Vance County gardening symposium is “Gardening for a Sustainable Future” and will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019. This event, hosted by the Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Vance and Warren Counties, will take place at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

Presenters this year include Dr. Ashley Troth, Extension Agent in Durham County, Mark Weathington, Director of NC State University’s JC Raulston Arboretum, and Kit Flynn, Master Gardener volunteer emeritus and garden writer.

Register by Thursday, February 28 to receive the early bird registration rate of $30. Lunch and snacks are included in the registration cost. Complete details and the registration form are available at https://go.ncsu.edu/vancegarden or by calling 252-438-8188.