LXXXII-No. 3 March 2007 From the Ag Forum draws national ag leaders, congressional staff tractor Program focused on challenges of 2007 farm bill About 200 people joined Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler at the second annual Agricultural Development Forum at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh to hear from Washington insiders and national ag leaders about what to expect when Congress begins debating the 2007 farm bill. With so much riding on this year’s bill, interest by agriculture groups and farmers Steve Troxler was high. Commissioner Featured speakers at the February event included U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary The 2007 farm bill is on a Thomas Dorr, former U.S. Rep. and lot of people’s minds today as agricultural advocate Charles Stenholm, Congress is set to begin American Farm Bureau President Bob reviewing President Bush’s Stallman and Bill Steel, president of The proposal that was released in National Grange. Staff members from North late January. Carolina’s congresssional delegation also We were fortunate to have Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, center, talks with USDA Undersecretary answered questions and spoke about Thomas Dorr, left, and former Congressman Charles Stenholm, right, before the U.S. Agriculture Under- challenges they expect to see. start of the Agricultural Development Forum. secretary Thomas Dorr speak Dorr outlined highlights of the Bush America,” Dorr said. The intent of the Stallman noted the varied interest groups on the farm bill at our administration’s 2007 farm bill proposal, administration’s proposal is to make farm now vying for consideration and funding Agricultural Development which included proposals to increase fruit bill programs “more predictable, more in the bill among the challenges lawmakers Forum just a day after the and vegetable purchases for school meals, equitable, able to withstand review in trade face. “You have competing goals with proposal was released. The increase funding for conservation and ensure wise use of tax dollars.” conservation groups, hunger and nutrition timing couldn’t have been programs, increase specialty crops grants While several of the administration’s groups, rural development, etc. There are better. He highlighted some of and research, support development of recommendations could be beneficial to lots of issues people want to lay on the the goals and areas of focus alternative energy technology and provide North Carolina farmers, agricultural leaders farm bill,” Stallman said. of the administration’s financial support for beginning and young and congressional staff noted that finding Regional agricultural considerations proposal. In addition, we had farmers. the funds for all the programs will be a were also cited as a challenge because the presidents of the “The 2007 farm bill is an opportunity to challenge. recommendations that benefit farmers in American Farm Bureau and do something to reinvigorate rural American Farm Bureau President Bob The National Grange, as well (See Farm Bill, pg. 3) as former Texas congress- man and agricultural ad- Horse Events vocate Charles Stenholm, weigh in on challenges with Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, (919) 733-4845. the farm bill. March 3 .......... Horse Auction. Contact Mike Jennings, (703) 777-6975. March 9 & 10 SRA Rodeo. Contact Dennis Pruitt, (864) 809-2630. Some key points I gleaned March 16-18 .. NCHJA C Indoors. Contact Becca Mispel, (919) 556-7321. from Undersecretary Dorr’s March 22-25 .. Raleigh Indoor Spring Classic. Contact Becca Mispel, (919) 556-7321. presentation: March 29-31 .. Raleigh Spring Premier Benefit. Contact Ray Cloninger, (704) 483-5000. -- Money for programs will April 7&8 ....... Appaloosa Show. Contact Jim Vickers, (336) 998-3266. be tight; April 13-15 N.C. Arabian Show. Contact Rory Meacham, (919) 544-2817. Western N.C. Agricultural Center, Fletcher, (828) 687-1414. -- There will be a wider March 2-4 ...... Rodeo. Contact J.R. Drake, (828) 713-3006. range of groups interested in March 8 .......... Arden Horse Auction. Contact Gayna Woody, (828) 775-9708. farm bill policies than ever March 9 & 10 Southeast Mountain Horse Club Show. Contact Jim Mezzanotte, (704) 651-1223. before, each with its own March 11 ........ WNC Open Horse Show Circuit. Contact Doyle Enloe, (828) 697-8785. agenda; March 23 & 24 ........... Chunns Cove for Hospice Horse Show. Contact Bev Taylor, (828) 423-5560. --Money would be March 30 & earmarked for beginning, April 1 ............ Team Penning. Contact David King, (910) 322-1351. young and disadvantaged April 5 ............ Arden Horse Auction. Contact Gayna Woody, (828) 775-9708. farmers; April 7 ............ WNC Open Horse Show Circuit. Contact Doyle Enloe, (828) 697-8785. -- More focus on funding April 14 & 15 Paint Horse Show. Contact Sharon Church, (336) 667-8775. April 14 & 15 Dennis Reis Clinic. Contact Amber Stallins, (800) 732-8220. conservation programs to April 18-21 .... Bob King Cow Working Clinic. Contact Dottie Davis, (828) 891-4372. avoid international trade April 19 .......... Arden Horse Auction. Contact Gayna Woody, (828) 775-9708. issues involving subsidies; Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, Williamston, (252) 792-5111. -- A move to increase March funding for specialty-crop 10 & 11 ........... Spring Eastern Hunter Assoc. Horse Show. Contact Marlo King, (252) 527-3887. March 16-18 .. N.C. Barrel Bonanza March Show. Contact Fred Smith, (252) 527-3887. programs; March 23-25 .. Old Dominion Arabian Horse Show. Contact Maria Jenkins, (804) 590-2802. -- Focus resources on March 30 & developing alternative, April 1 ............ March Magic Dressage Horse Show. Contact Sue Smithson, (910) 693-1769. renewable energy. April 6 & 7 .... Spring Mix-Breed Sale. Contact Gerardo Rodriguez, (910) 977-8961. I was pleased by the April 7 & 8 .... CMN’s Riding for Miracles. Contact Barbara Davis, (252) 321-0648. April 13-15 .... SE Reining Horse Assn. Spring Celebration. Contact Jimmy Whitley, (919) 989-6971. proposal to target more April 19-22 .... East Coast Miniature Horse Show. Contact Bobby Bridges, (336) 655-5360. funding to young and (See Ag Forum, pg. 3) *Shows subject to change. Call before attending. ** More Horse Events in Bucolic Briefs. Page 2 AGRICULTURAL REVIEW March 2007 Agricultural Review Bucolic briefs 47,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $2,240.28 or 5 cents per copy. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division is looking DIVISIONS for small or large backyard or independent poultry flocks to test for avian influenza. A mini- Brian Long ........................................................ Editor Agronomic ............. Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise Andrea E. Ashby .................................... Mng. Editor Emergency Programs .... Dr. Marty Zaluski mum of 10 birds per flock would be tested by oral swabs four times each year at no cost to the Terri Allen ...................................... Advertising Mgr. Food Distribution ........................... Gary Gay owner. This program is designed to maintain surveillance for bird flu in North Carolina. If Food & Drug .............................. Joe Reardon Lisa Morgan .................................... Circulation Mgr. interested, contact Dr. Sarah Mason or Jimmy Collie at (919) 733-7601 to learn more. Human Resources ................... Ben Harward Jen Nixon .............................................. Assoc. Editor Marketing ....................................... Tom Slade *** Meat & Poultry Inspection Dr. Steve Wells The Duke Homestead State Historic Site is looking for farm equipment donations to pre- N.C. State Fair ........................ Wesley Wyatt serve and showcase the state’s tobacco heritage. The site is specifically looking for one home- AGRICULTURAL REVIEW (ISSN 07445466) Plant Industry ............................. Gene Cross made water tank used to take water to the field for use with tobacco hand planters, a riding is published monthly by the N.C. De- Property & Construction .... Kent Yelverton partment of Agriculture and Consumer Public Affairs .............................. Brian Long plow with two wheels and a seat for the farmer, a gang harrow with spiked teeth (equal to four Services, 2 W. Edenton St., Raleigh, Research Stations ........... Dr. Sandy Maddox combined spike teeth harrows) and open coulter plow used for breaking new ground. All dona- NC 27601. Second-class postage paid Standards .......................... Stephen Benjamin Statistics ............................................... Vacant tions are tax deductible. N.C. farmers have recently donated about 25 pieces to the site. For at Raleigh, N.C. Structural Pest & Pesticides ... Jim Burnette more information, contact Dale Coats, site manager, (919) 477-5498. POSTMASTER: Send address changes Veterinary ..................... Dr. David Marshall and classified advertising to *** AGRICULTURAL REVIEW, 1001 Mail The Rural Advancement Foundation International USA has produced two free farmer publi- Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001. Chief Deputy Commissioner: cations that focus on financing non-traditional farm-based operations and strategies for small- N. David Smith Jr. AGRICULTURAL REVIEW is printed scale farmers that are available online and through the mail. The two, The Farmer’s Guide to in interest of the farmers of the State and is sent free to residents upon written Assistant Commissioners: Agricultural Credit and Farmer and Lender Project: Strategies to Sustain Agriculture