Elongate Hemlock Scale

The Elongate Hemlock Scale is showing up again in many fields. Well, it really hasn't gone anywhere but growers do not normally notice it until the white wool masses start forming. Now is an easy time to be out scouting to see if you have EHS or to check and see how well your control measures have worked. Give me a call if you need help scouting for this insect.

Transitioning the Farm to the Next Generation

This workshops will be offered at annual Winter Meeting & Trade Show
sponsored by the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association (NCCTA)
held in Boone NC on March 4, 2011.

This seminar will assist Christmas tree producers with their estate planning and transfer needs. It is sponsored by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and will be delivered by Brett Crosby of Custom Ag Solutions on Friday, March 4, 2011.

Christmas Tree Promotion Order Comment Period Extended

USDA is reopening the comment period an additional 15 days to allow interested persons more time to review the proposed rule, perform a complete analysis, and submit written content. Instructions for filing comments to the proposal are in the proposed rule. They may be filed by email or sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Comments must be received by March 9, 2011. Interested persons may submit written comments on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to the Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0244, Room 0632–S, Washington, DC 20250–0244; fax: (202) 205–2800.

Christmas Tree Marketing Conference

This conference is designed to help the small and medium Christmas tree grower to develop or expand wholesale and retail marketing plans. Participants will learn ways to reach more customers as well as strategies to improve customer retention. Topics will address collaborative marketing successes, using trade shows effectively, international marketing, using social media, value-added products, building customer relationships, and using pre-sale programs to beat the competition. Several of these topics provide alternative marketing strategies that provide “more bang for your buck” as you involve the media or other stakeholders. Participants will go home with current information and a packet of tools to further plan their 2011 marketing strategies.

The conference is set for February 18, at the Watauga County Extension Center in Boone.
The cost is $15.00 which includes handouts and lunch. To register contact your local county extension center.

WNC Ag Options

The WNC Agricultural Options program recently awarded six community groups and 47 farmers grants totaling $326,000 to assist them in farm diversification and joint marketing and distribution efforts.

This year's community grant recipients are creating cohesion, infrastructure and marketing for local products. Individual recipients are improving such diverse operations as a 75-acre kale, turnips and collards farm in Cherokee County, a new dairy in Madison County, a micro-greens venture in Watauga County, and a canned bamboo shoots business in McDowell County.

For a full list of recipients, see http://www.wncagoptions.org/home/424-2011-program-background

Since 2003, N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has supported WNC AgOptions, a N.C. Cooperative Extension program that provides resources directly to farmers diversifying or expanding their operations. "We have been a strong supporter of the WNC AgOptions program because we know western farmers appreciate the funding and know how to put it into action," said Bill Teague, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission Acting Chairman. "These farmers have a wide variety of innovative ideas and we expect successful outcomes from which other farmers can learn."

The program has worked in partnership with RAFI-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund since 2008. RAFI-USA was also included in the $18.4 million Family Farm Innovation Fund last summer, which provided an additional $100,000 for WNC farmers this year.

While WNC AgOptions has given 300 individual grants to farm businesses since 2004, the community grant program is still in its infancy. The WNC AgOptions steering committee established the program last summer to encourage groups of farmers to solve logistical challenges in the local agricultural system, which the committee identified as the main barrier in boosting farm income.

Community groups received varying amounts totaling $92,000. Grantees are: Avery County Farmers Tailgate Marketing Association, Jackson County Christmas Tree Association, Mountain Cattle Alliance, Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center, Watauga County Farmers Market and Southern Appalachian Family Farms.

The community group grantees, which collectively impact at least 3,500 farmers, will:

· Build a distribution center and retail center to serve farmers in at least six counties and consumers in four major metropolitan areas;

· Create energy, unity and awareness of local foods shopping, Christmas tree sales and cooperative farm marketing;

· Establish a system for small and medium-sized cattle farmers to use a portable corral unit, which will facilitate meeting Beef Quality Assurance program standards to increase profits;

· Secure a permanent site for the mountain region's oldest and largest tailgate market, opening up additional space for vendors and creative marketing and educational opportunities.

Three individual farm businesses received $9,000 grants, 25 received $6,000 and 19 received $3,000. Projects increase the economic sustainability of farm businesses as well as provide demonstration to other transitioning farmers. This year's recipients will:

· Continue their family's multiple-generation tradition of farming with such ventures as wine-grape vineyards and wineries;

· Transition a 75-acre greens operation from wholesale markets to direct sales to individuals and grocery stores with the purchase of a translicer;

· Diversify a meat and vegetable operation with the addition of a dairy for 50 head of Holstein and Jersey cattle;

· Sell goat milk under North Carolina Milk for Pet Food Use Guidelines with the addition of certified milking facilities/parlors;

· Expand or add unique poultry selections such as duck, turkey and quail to their farm operations with the purchase of processing equipment;

· Build a farm store to sell several farmers' products on a well-travelled highway in Weaverville where no stand currently exists;

· Revive foods traditional to the Cherokee Indian Reservation, including crawfish and canned wild greens;

· Improve a hydroponic farm's greenhouse heating and irrigation system, increasing the business' bottom line;

· Establish a Black Perigord and Burgundy truffle operation in inoculated Filbert and Oak trees, which are expected to eventually gross between $17,500 to $35,000 annually;

· Demonstrate a unique terraced growing system for raspberries.

The ultimate goal of WNC AgOptions is to protect mountain farmland by assisting the longevity of farm enterprises.

"The sustainability of the agricultural industry in Western North Carolina is dependent upon the innovation of farmers and their willingness to try new things," said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. "This region is a leader in agriculture innovation, and I believe that the WNC AgOptions program has played a very important role in providing farmers with educational tools and financial resources they have needed to take their wonderful ideas and turn them into reality."

For more information, see the following websites: N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers: www.ces.ncsu.edu; Family Farm Innovation Fund: www.ncruralcenter.org; Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, RAFI-USA: www.ncfarmgrants.org; N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org.

Avery/Mitchell Winter Christmas Tree and Ornamental Update

Annual production meeting for Avery and Mitchell County Christmas tree and ornamental producers. Program includes information on Emerald Ash Borer, New Scale Problems in Christmas Trees, Estate Tax Update, New Plants for Mountain Nurseries and Results From 09-10 Algae Study. The meeting will be held at Mayland Community Colleges, Sam's Center Auditorium on Friday January 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served and two hours of pesticide recertification credit will be available. To register for the event call the Mitchell County Center at 688-4811.