AGRICULTURAL REVIEW Page 1 LXXXIII- No. 1 January 2008 From the 2007 Census of Agriculture getting under way tractor Farmers across America are getting the calendar year. Completed forms are due Feb. opportunity to make their voices heard and 4. Producers can return their forms by mail. help shape the future of agriculture by com- For the fi rst time, they also have the option pleting the 2007 Census of Agriculture. of fi lling out the census online using a secure Conducted every fi ve years by the U.S. Web site. Instructions for submitting data on- Department of Agriculture, the census is a line will be included with the census form. complete count of the nation’s farms and the “We’re committed to making this census people who operate them. The census looks the best count ever. It’s about the future of at land ownership, operator characteristics, agriculture and rural communities in our production practices, income and expendi- state,” said Herb Vanderberry, director of Steve Troxler tures and other topics. It provides the only USDA’s NASS offi ce in Raleigh. Commissioner source of uniform, comprehensive agricul- “Regardless of how large or small their operation is or what kinds of products they In my role as Agricul- tural data for every county in America. produce, North Carolina farmers will help ture Commissioner it is im- “The Census of Agriculture provides in- themselves and their communities by fi lling portant for me to listen to formation that is not available anywhere else out the Census of Agriculture and returning the concerns of farmers and – information that benefi ts agricultural pro- it promptly.” ag groups and to listen to ducers and their communities in many ways,” For more information about the Census of ideas about how to help our said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Trox- Agriculture, contact the NASS North Caro- industry remain strong, ler. “Policy makers, community planners, The USDA National Agricultural Statis- lina Field Offi ce at (800) 437-8451 or log on Two upcoming activi- companies and farmers all use census data tics Service was scheduled to mail out cen- to www.agcensus.usda.gov. ties are taking place to give to make a variety of important decisions. sus forms Dec. 28 to collect data for the 2007 farmers a chance to stand up and be heard and to provide NCDA&CS raises reimbursement limits for programs updates and insight into critical farm legislation. On Jan. 31, the N.C. De- helping farmers with hay-transportation costs partment of Agriculture and In response to the rising cost of hay shipments, the N.C. Depart- long as funding is available. Consumer Services will be ment of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently increased the “The money from the Council of State augments $50,000 in private hosting the annual Agricul- reimbursement limits for two programs aimed at helping drought- donations our department previously obtained,” Agriculture Commis- ture Development Forum stricken livestock owners with the cost of moving hay to their farms. sioner Steve Troxler said. “Through this public-private partnership, at the State Fairgrounds in The Ag and Equine Partners hay relief programs help owners of North Carolina is helping its livestock owners cope with the drought Raleigh in conjunction with cattle, sheep, goats and horses with the cost of moving hay purchased and feed animals this winter. I am thankful to Governor Easley, my the Southern Farm Show. outside North Carolina. (See page 4 for more details on the Equine fellow Council of State members and the companies and organiza- We are still fi nalizing Partners program.) tions that have stepped up to help our farmers with this challenge.” details as this paper goes to The programs will reimburse livestock owners up to $500 for a For information about applying for assistance from Ag Partners press, but the program will load of hay moved from out of state. Livestock owners may seek or Equine Partners, call the department’s Hay Alert hotline at 1-866- focus on the latest on the cost-share funds for up to three loads. The new limits apply to hay 506-6222 or log on to www.ncagr.com/hayalert. Farm Bill debate in Con- hauled since Dec. 4, the day the Council of State approved $250,000 The department will continue to seek private support for the pro- gress, agricultural econom- in emergency funds for the cost-share programs. grams, Troxler said. Businesses and organizations interested in con- ics as related to biofuels Reimbursement had been limited to $300 for a single load of hay. tributing to Ag Partners or Equine Partners may contact Chrissy Lu- and farmland preservation, Reimbursements will be made on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis as cas at (919) 733-7125 or [email protected]. and an agricultural outlook for 2008. This will be a good op- Horse Events portunity for farmers to Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, (919) 733-4845. hear more about important Jan. 5 ................... Stallion Exposition. Contact Aaron Maye, (919) 612-1309. issues that affect their busi- Jan. 12 ................. ASAC Academy. Contact Kathy Humphries, (919) 691-0438. ness, ask questions and Jan. 12 & 13 ........ Roping. Contact Tom Shelton, (336) 629-8201. share ideas with one an- Jan. 25-27 ............NCHJA “C” Indoors. Contact Becca Mispel, (919) 556-7321. other. Feb. 1................... Draft Horse Pull. Contact David Zimmerman, (800) 849-0248. We expect to draw na- Feb. 2 & 3 ........... Judges seminar. Contact Bob Mowrey, (919) 515-5784. Feb. 8 & 9 ........... Bull riding. Contact Jeff Mullens, (919) 796-8375. tional and state leaders to Feb. 15-17 ........... NCHJA C Indoors. Contact Becca Mispel, (919) 556-7321. discuss the current status of the Farm Bill and its poten- Western N.C. Agricultural Center, Fletcher, (828) 687-1414. tial impact on North Caro- Jan. 3-6 ................C-4 Rodeo Company. Contact Con Adams, (910) 230-1004. lina farmers and various Jan. 8, 15, 22 commodities. Likewise, we & 29 ............ Blue Ridge Cowboy Church. Contact Jeff Smith, (980) 521-6371. hope to draw state and busi- Feb. 1-3 ............... NCMSA Cowboy Mounted Shooting. Contact Tommy Richardson, (704) 753-5399. ness leaders in the fi eld of Feb. 5, 12, 19 biofuels and renewable en- & 26 ........... Blue Ridge Cowboy Church. Contact Jeff Smith, (980) 521-6371. ergy to talk about the pros- pects of this industry. Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, Williamston, (252) 792-5111. Feb. 2 & 3 ........... Fuzzy and Fun Open Horse Show. Contact Trish Andrews, (252) 799-0334. I invite each of you to Feb. 9 &10 .......... Parelli Natural Horsemanship 2008 Tour. Call (800) 642-3335. make plans to attend the Feb. 14-17 ........... Martinganza ’08. Contact Beth Tew, (252) 753-8069. forum. It will be held from Feb. 22 & 23 ....... Old Ford VFD Survivor Series Rodeo. Contact Frankie Buck, (252) 946-9780. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the March 8 & 9 ........ Eastern Hunter Assn. Spring Indoor Horse Show. Contact Marlo King, (252) 527-3887. Holshouser Building. The (See Ag Forum, page 2) *Shows subject to change. Call before attending. More horse events listed in Bucolic Briefs. Page 2 AGRICULTURAL REVIEW January 2008 45,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $1,350.35 or 3 cents per copy. Bucolic Briefs DIVISIONS Agronomic ........... Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise The 2008 N.C. Turfgrass Conference and Show will be held Jan. 7-10 at the North Raleigh Hilton Brian Long ...................................Editor Emergency Programs ........Sharron Stewart, Andrea E. Ashby .................Mng. Editor in Raleigh. The event features a trade show, a number of educational seminars eligible for pesticide acting director Terri Allen ..................Advertising Mgr. credits and a networking opportunity for turfgrass professionals. Cost of the conference is $140 for Food Distribution .........................Gary Gay Lisa Morgan ................ Circulation Mgr. Turfgrass Council of North Carolina members or $190 for non-members. For more information, go Food & Drug ............................Joe Reardon Jen Nixon ......................... Assoc. Editor to www.turffi les.ncsu.edu or contact the TCNC at (919) 380-9446. Human Resources ...................Ben Harward *** Marketing ....................................Tom Slade Meat & Poultry Inspection ..Dr. Steve Wells The N.C. Aquaculture Development Conference will be held Jan. 18 and 19 at the Sheraton AGRICULTURAL REVIEW (ISSN N.C. State Fair ........................Wesley Wyatt Atlantic Beach. The conference features an aquaculture trade show, panel discussions and special 07445466) is published monthly by the Plant Industry ............................ Gene Cross interest workshops focusing on ponds and shellfi sh. In addition, participants can take a self-guided N.C. Department of Agriculture and Property & Construction ......Kent Yelverton tour Jan. 17. Cost is $95 prior to Jan. 7, $125 by Jan. 14 or $150 for on-site registration. For more, go Consumer Services, 2 W. Edenton St., Public Affairs .............................Brian Long Raleigh, NC 27601. Second-class post- to www.ncaquaculture.or or call (252) 633-1477. Research Stations .....................Eddie Pitzer age paid at Raleigh, N.C. *** Standards .........................Stephen Benjamin POSTMASTER: Send address changes A six-week course designed for women involved with farming or married to a farmer and wanting Statistics .......................... Herb Vanderberry and classifi ed advertising to to understand the business more will be offered beginning Jan. 17 and continuing for the following Structural Pest & Pesticides .... Jim Burnette AGRICULTURAL REVIEW, 1001 Mail six Thursdays at the Vernon James Center in Plmouth. Class hours are 6-9 p.m. Supper and youth- Veterinary ......................Dr. David Marshall Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- friendly activities will be provided. Contact Gerda Rhodes at (252) 793-2163 for more. 1001. *** AGRICULTURAL REVIEW is printed The 19th Annual Joint Conference of N.C. Small Grain, Soybean and Corn Growers Association in interest of the farmers of the State and will be held Jan.