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Agricultural
USDA announces Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up
Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup, beginning on March 12 and ending on April 6. CRP has a 25-year legacy of successfully protecting the nation’s natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to rural commun...
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<p>Courtesy photo</p><p>Sampson County farmer Jay Sullivan, left, shakes hands with Darren Armstrong.</p>
Sullivan named president of Corn Growers Association of N.C.
Sampson County farmer Jay Sullivan was recently elected president of the Corn Growers Association of North Carolina at a Board of Directors meeting. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Joint Commodities Conference of Corn, Cotton, Small Grains and Soybean Producers at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Raleigh. Sullivan has served the past two years as vice president of the association. While serving in this capacity, he was chairman...
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Suggestions for pruning muscadine grape vines
Question : When is the best time to prune my muscadine grape vines? Answer: One of the biggest pruning chores for many during this time of the year is pruning grapevines. Due to the popularity of muscadines in this area many have vines in their home gardens. Muscadine grapes are native to the Southeastern United States and are a popular fruit throughout Eastern North Carolina. Muscadines are easier to grow than many other plants becaus...
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Growing fruit trees challenging yet rewarding
Question: What are the best fruit trees for our area? Answer: Growing fruit trees in the home garden or landscape can be a challenging yet rewarding activity. The idea of having a fruit tree that produces fresh fruit right in the backyard can be a rewarding hobby. Growing fruit trees can be a challenge because they commonly have disease and insect issues and let’s not forget about the unfavorable weather that can affect fruit production...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>Pictured, from left, are: Cloverbuds Kaylee Lackey, Kaylee Hall, Shane Kendall, Sarah White, Bethany Heath, Kendall Lanier and Marianna Sada-Romero.</p>
Local 4-H’ers participate in Toy and Hobby Share
The Sampson County Cooperative Extension Office could not have been more excited to have 10 Cloverbuds, 15 Juniors, and 2 Seniors at this year’s Toy and Hobby Share Competition. 4-H’ers from across the county participated in this yearly presentation contest with topics including knitting, Aliens, IPods, horses, hunting, and much more. Many 4-H’ers will continue to improve on their demonstrations to compete at the district contest in June. J...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>Carson Rose, right, an appraiser with AgCarolina Financial, presents a $500 check to Joey Eason, chief of the Newton Grove Fire and Rescue. Carson is a participant in AgCarolina&#8217;s STAR Program which contributes $500 to the employee&#8217;s selected non-profit organization, upon the employee contributing 50 hours plus to their chosen non-profit organization.</p>
AgCarolina appraiser presents check to N.G. Fire Department
Courtesy Photo Carson Rose, right, an appraiser with AgCarolina Financial, presents a $500 check to Joey Eason, chief of the Newton Grove Fire and Rescue. Carson is a participant in AgCarolina’s STAR Program which contributes $500 to the employee’s selected non-profit organization, upon the employee contributing 50 hours plus to their chosen non-profit organization.
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Murphy-Brown announces contracting program for 2012 grain sorghum production
WARSAW — Murphy-Brown LLC is expanding contracting opportunities for North Carolina farmers who grow grain sorghum for the 2012 growing season. The company has established eight delivery points at elevators and feed mills. After a successful pilot program in 2011, Murphy-Brown is looking to significantly expand grain sorghum contracting in 2012 in order to increase the amount of grain it purchases locally. Growers interested in 2012 sorghum...
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<p>Courtesy photo</p><p>Members of the Sampson County Board of Education recently recognized Liam Baker, a fourth grade student at Plain View Elementary, as the grand prize winner of a $75,000 college scholarship for his design of the winning art piece for Smithfield Packing Company. Above, Baker shows off his award winning work of art with his father, Shannon and mother Marla.</p>
Baker wins $75,000 scholarship in Smithfield art contest
Courtesy photo Members of the Sampson County Board of Education recently recognized Liam Baker, a fourth grade student at Plain View Elementary, as the grand prize winner of a $75,000 college scholarship for his design of the winning art piece for Smithfield Packing Company. Above, Baker shows off his award winning work of art with his father, Shannon and mother Marla.
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Putting color in your garden during winter
Question: How can I give a little color to my landscape during the winter months? Answer: Just because it’s wintertime does not mean that you have to do without color in your garden. There are a number of plants with winter interest that can be used to brighten up your landscape during an otherwise bare and colorless time. Listed are just a few plants to consider for bringing color into your winter garden. Camellias are a traditional ...
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Local farmers can start to consider summer grazing options
I’m sure it seems a bit odd to talk about summer grazing in January, but a good grazing plans means prior planning. We all know of the usual summer annual standbys, millet and sorghum-sudan, and to some degree crabgrass. I want to discuss a less popular but once widely used summer annual legume in this article — lespedeza. Annual lespedeza is adapted to most North Carolina soils with the exceptions of deep, dry sands. It tolerates low pH an...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>The Sampson Soil and Water District is now accepting applications for AgWRAP. The deadline is Feb. 3.</p>
AgWRAP applications being accepted until Feb. 3
The Sampson Soil and Water District is accepting applications for a new program called The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP). The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) was authorized through Session Law 2011-145. The program will be administered by the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts. AgWRAP received $1,000,000 in non-recurring funding ...
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Use caution when pruning your Crape Myrtles?
Question: What is the proper way to prune Crape Myrtles? Answer: Crape Myrtles are small trees that are commonly found throughout the Southern landscape. These popular flowering trees are often called the “lilac of the south.” Crape Myrtles have long panicles of flowers that show their bright white, pink, purple or red colors in the summer. If the showy flowers were not attractive enough, Crape Myrtles are multi-stemmed trees that have ...
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Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program recognizing 75 years
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) joins the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 SHOT-SHOW to announce the start of a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history. The event will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at t...
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NCDA&CS to host small-business workshop on preventing food recall
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. Food Safety and Defense Task Force are hosting a workshop Jan. 31 titled “Protecting Your Business, Preventing a Recall,” geared for small food businesses. Topics to be covered include the economics of food recalls, a retail company’s perspective about a food recall, how to communicate with the public and your customers if a recall is needed, common and avoidabl...
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What is the best way to get good soil samples?
Question: How can gardeners collect good soil samples for good results? Answer: Soil test reports provide information that is useful in making decisions about any needed lime and fertilizer. Because the test report is used in making these decisions, a gardener needs and expects reliable results. The reliability of the soil test, however, is no better than the sample submitted. To insure reliable and accurate soil test results, it is imp...
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