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Food Processing and Manufacturing Initiative

Food Processing and
Manufacturing Initiative

NC food processing and manufacturing initiative feasiblity study released The agricultural resources, industrial capacity and research innovation assets present in North Carolina create opportunities to catalyze development of value-added food processing and manufacturing businesses, according to a joint NC State-NCDA&CS economic feasibity study released Jan. 12. One page summary of the Initiative View the Full Report

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Food Processing and Manufacturing Initiative

Food Processing and
Manufacturing Initiative

NC food processing and manufacturing initiative feasiblity study released The agricultural resources, industrial capacity and research innovation assets present in North Carolina create opportunities to catalyze development of value-added food processing and manufacturing businesses, according to a joint NC State-NCDA&CS economic feasibity study released Jan. 12. One page summary of the Initiative View the Full Report

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Grants Help Mountain
Region's Farms Succeed

WNC AgOptions intent to apply deadline Oct. 12; application deadline Nov. 16 MARSHALL — Mountain farms will soon benefit from N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission's recent funding of WNC Agricultural Options. With support from the Commission, WNC AgOptions will award area farmers a new round of $3,000 and $6,000 grants, for a total of $145,000. WNC AgOptions is accepting applications until November 16. WNC AgOptions, a program of N.C. Cooperative Extension and WNC Communities, continues its nine-year history of helping farmers diversify their businesses. "I am excited that the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission funded this program again this year," said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. "There is no doubt that agriculture in Western North Carolina has become stronger because of WNC AgOptions and we expect the 2013 program to continue with outstanding applications from farmers hoping to keep their farms strong in these ever-changing times." WNC AgOptions awards farmers who propose diversification projects that will help their businesses grow and succeed. The seed money offsets the risk of trying something new and gives farmers the chance to demonstrate new farming techniques and marketing tactics to the agricultural community. Applications are available at www.wncagoptions.org and at local Cooperative Extension Centers. Interested applicants should contact their local Extension Agents by October 12 to notify them that they intend to apply. The application postmark deadline is November 16. One recent WNC AgOptions recipient, Wildwood Herbal in Buncombe County, is harvesting tilapia from a new sustainably designed aquaponics system and will include fish in CSA shares this fall. Another 2012 recipient, David Hughes in Mitchell County, is transitioning entirely from tobacco to potatoes. He is thrilled with the results of his project, as soils in his county often produce at least twice the yield that is expected for potatoes. In part due to the publicity of her grant project, Donna Gains of High Mountain Meadows Farm in Clay County is already taking calls from customers requesting goat cheese even before the completion of her new creamery, due to open this fall. "The innovative ideas that farmers undertake, the opportunity to showcase these ideas to whole communities, and the proven and continuing success of the WNC AgOptions program are key reasons why our board chose to fund this great project for another year," said Bill Teague, Chairman of the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. Eligible farms are in: Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties as well as the Cherokee Indian Reservation. The WNC AgOptions steering committee strongly encourages eligible farmers who have never received grant funding to apply. The administrator of WNC AgOptions is WNC Communities, a non-profit organization that has roots as far back as 1947 and hands in the development of such influential regional projects as the N.C. Arboretum, the WNC Agricultural Center, and, most recently, the WNC Regional Livestock Center. WNC Communities is dedicated to providing a unique forum for leaders in western North Carolina to carry out innovative programs to improve the quality of life for rural communities and to enhance the agriculture economy. Members of the WNC AgOptions steering committee include: representatives from N.C. Cooperative Extension, N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services–Marketing Division, WNC Communities, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and other leaders in agribusiness. RAFI-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund manages a similar grant program for farmers in the Piedmont, Central and Coastal regions of North Carolina. For more information, see the following: WNC Agricultural Options: www.wncagoptions.org; N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers: www.ces.ncsu.edu; N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org; WNC Communities: www.wnccommunities.org.

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Free Soil Testing

Fall is the season for taking soil samples.   The Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Service will ship all samples brought to the office during the months of October and November.  The soil lab in Raleigh will usually run the samples within a couple of weeks during these two months.  Samples will be shipped each Friday.  The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services does not charge North Carolina residents for the testing service.  This service is available to gardeners, farmers, homeowners and anyone else wanting to test their soil.  It is recommended to test your soil every two years.  Taking a soil sample is easy and directions can be found on our website at http://cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu.  Soil test results can be viewed online at http://agronomy.agr.state.nc.us/NewPALS/GrowerLogin.aspx.  If you have questions about taking soils samples or understanding the results, you can call Keith Wood at 828-837-2210 or email at keith_wood@ncsu.edu. NC is one of the few states in the country that provides free soil sampling, although mailing them to Raleigh can cost as much as $3-4 per sample.  For the months of October and November, Cherokee County Cooperative Extension will provide shipping for all samples that are brought to the office. Soil sample boxes, information sheets and instructions can be picked up at the Extension Office Monday-Friday 8:00-12:00, 1:00-5:00.  The office is located at 40 Peachtree Street in downtown Murphy. We recommended that soils be tested every 2-3 years.  Samples will be shipped weekly and results can be expected within approximately two weeks from the shipping date.

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Daisy

Consumer Horticulture

Extension's Gardening Portal at NC State University provides access to a wealth of information, events and resources for gardeners in North Carolina.  Managed by the State Urban Horticulture Specialist and Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agents throughout the state, it is your doorway to guidance about successfully growing vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and ornamentals in your landscape.

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State Climate Office
of North Carolina

Our partners at the State Climate Office of North Carolina provide the most accurate climate information to the citizens of our state. Their website includes recent news from their Twitter feed, featured products, quick links, and a map of data from their ECONet weather stations. You can also view data from more than 1,000 Southeastern weather stations on their full CRONOS map or follow their blog.

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Hay and Forage Videos

Miguel S. Castillo with Extension Forage and Grassland Program has released some helpful videos on various forage topics.  Below is a list of videos that cover several topics such as “grazing stockpiled fescue MORE »

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Lawn Renovation Workshop

Everyone loves a lush, weed free, green grass lawn.  Cherokee County Extension will host a workshop to demonstrate practices you can do to acquire an aesthetically pleasing yard.  The Lawn Renovation Workshop will MORE »

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Free Shipping on Soil Samples

We are again offering free shipping on soil samples brought into our office in the months of September and October.  Come by our office first to pick up the sample boxes and information MORE »

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Sweet Potato Curing popular

Do you grow sweet potatoes?  Are they sweet or kinda bland?  Most people that grow sweet potatoes do not cure them or cure them incorrectly.  We are offering a seminar on the correct MORE »

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Lunch and Learn Series popular

Starting on October 6th, we will be offering a “Lunch and Learn” series on various home and farm topics.  The series will meet on each Thursday from October 6th thorough November 10th starting MORE »

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EVENTS View All
4-H STEM for 3rd-5th Grade Peachtree Elementary SchoolMon Oct 3, 2016
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Where:
Peachtree Elementary School, Murphy, NC 28906, USA
— 2 days away
Extreme Makeover Soft Skills Edition - Principles of Family and Human Services ClassWed Oct 5, 2016
7:30 AM - 10:00 AM Where:
Murphy High School, 234 High School Cir, Murphy, NC 28906, USA
— 4 days away
4-H STEM for 3rd-5th Grade Peachtree Elementary SchoolThu Oct 6, 2016
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Where:
Peachtree Elementary School, Murphy, NC 28906, USA
— 5 days away
Lunch and LearnThu Oct 6, 2016
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Where:
Cherokee County Courthouse Murphy Room 219
— 5 days away
Lunch and LearnThu Oct 13, 2016
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Where:
Cherokee County Courthouse Murphy Room 219
— 2 weeks away
Cherokee Co Mtn Crafters FestivalSat Oct 15 - Sat Oct 15, 2016 - ALL DAY Where:
Murphy High School Gymnasium
— 2 weeks away
4-H Rabbit ClubMon Oct 17, 2016
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Where:
Mountain Folk Center, Murphy, NC
— 2 weeks away
Lunch and LearnThu Oct 20, 2016
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Where:
Cherokee County Courthouse Murphy Room 219
— 3 weeks away
More Events