Carp Pond Workshop: The Basics

Whether you are a new or seasoned carp pond operator, this training is for you. We will be discussing the basics like fish anatomy, water quality and testing, and common problems with their treatment. We will meet at the Surry County Extension Center in their Auditorium in Dobson on Monday, March 30 at 6:00 pm. There is a $5 registration fee for refreshments. Please make checks payable to McDowell County CES. Mail checks to McDowell County CES, 60 East Court Street, Marion, NC 28752, Attn: Carp Pond Meeting. Register by Thursday, March 27 by calling Cheryl Mitchell or Molly Sandfoss at 828-652-7874.

Solar Energy/Energy Conservation Program

The Solar Energy/Energy Conservation workshop scheduled for March 14 from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm at the Corpening YMCA in Marion is designed to give you better insight into the world of solar energy. Quint David from Western North Carolina Renewable Energy Initiative Appalachian State University will be the keynote speaker.

Some topics that will be covered:

• solar energy and today's energy issues
• types of systems
• resources
• NC State tax credit
• NC Greenpower
• cost
• conservation tips for the home
• solar energy for an installer
• small devices powered by solar like cellphones
  
• Farm Energy Efficiency Program (FEEP)

There is a registration fee of $10 which will cover lunch and a solar energy booklet. Make checks payable to McDowell County CES. Call in to 828-652-7874 or 828-652-8104 to register. Hope to see you there. Let's see what we can do to conserve energy and possibly reduce costs.

Digital Televison Transition

February 17 is the transition from analog to digital television. At the time of this writing, that is only 28 days away. Some of us might need to make some changes to make the transition to digital television. If you use an antennae on a television that has an analog tuner, and you do not subscribe to cable, satellite, or other pay television service, you will need to upgrade to digital television by February 17.

To continue getting television reception, you have some options:

• purchase a digital television converter box for your television
• purchase a television set with a built-in digital tuner
• subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay tv service. Make sure you will still get your local stations with the new provider.l
  

The US Department of Commerce's National Communication and Information Administration had $40 coupons to help defray the cost of the converter boxes. They issued up to two per household. Unfortunately, the funds for this program reached its limit. However, coupon requests will be filled as funds from expiring coupons become available. You can sign up for the coupon program until March 31, 2009. To learn more about the converter box program, you may call 1-888-DTV-2009 or on the web, DTV2009.gov. If your coupons expired--the coupon is only good for 90 days--, ask a neighbor who doesn't need a converter box to apply for the coupons.

Here is a good resource for more answers to your digital transition questions: http://www.dtvanswers.com

FEEP and REAP

The Farm Energy Efficiency Project (FEEP) is a program initiated by North Carolina Farm Bureau. The primary goal is to provide low-cost energy audits for farmers. These audits will highlight energy saving alternatives. The energy audits performed can be used to leverage United States Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Section 9007 grant. FEEP will provide 200 on-farm energy audits across NC.

To apply for FEEP, an Interest Form needs to be completed by March 31st. The Interest Form is a simple 1-page front and back form. The sooner you can get these forms in the better. March 31st is the absolute latest to get these forms in. To find out more about FEEP, you may contact Scott Welborn (scott.welborn@ncfb.org) 919-782-1705 x8209, NC Farm Energy

Again, with the energy audit, you can apply for a USDA-REAP grant. REAP is a program to assist farmers and rural small businesses with energy projects. This program provides grants and guaranteed loans for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects. Typically, projects must show a 20% savings in energy audit to score well enough to receive funding.

REAP projects

• must be located in a rural area.
• must be for a pre-commercial or commercially available and replicable technology.
• must be technically feasible.
• must have sufficient revenue to provide for operation and maintenance.
• the applicant must be the owner of the project and control the operation and maintenance of the proposed project.
  

The find out more about REAP, David Thigpen (david.thigpen@nc.usda.gov) 919-873-2065.

Agricultural Water Use Survey by NCDA

North Carolina farmers have the opportunity to document agricultural water use. Based on recent legislation passed in response to the ongoing drought, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Agricultural Statistics Division, will be surveying farms in early 2009 to do just that.

The survey is important because basic water use information for agriculture is limited in most areas.

While public perception has been that agriculture water use is excessive, other regional have provided facts that show agriculture water use is relatively small in comparison with industrial and non-agricultural water uses.

This survey will provide comprehensive, state-wide facts about agricultural water use so that informed policy decision can be made.

Individual farm data collected will be held strictly confidential by law.

Farms that participate will also be documenting their own agricultural water use needs which is important for ensuring future access.

Your cooperation on this survey is critical to provide accurate facts about agricultural water use.

Look for your survey from in January 2009. The results will be made available no later than July 1, 2009 and will document agricultural water use during 2008.

Every North Carolina agricultural organization supports the 2008 Agricultural Water Use Survey.

For more information about the 2008 Agricultural Water Use Survey, contact
Herb Vanderberry, Director, Agricultural Statistics Division
1-800-437-8451

Value-Added Producer Grant Workshops

Three workshops will be held across North Carolina to help producers understand how to apply for the USDA-Rural Development's Value-Added Producer Grants. This grant is targeted to producers planning to add a value-added enterprise to their farm. The grant Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 2009 cycle is expected to be announced by USDA in early 2009. More information can be found at www.ncvalueadded.org and at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.

The workshop date and times are:

Monday, Dec 8, 1-5 pm, Burke County Extension Center, 130 Ammons Drive, Suite 2, Morganton

Wednesday, Dec 10, 1-5 pm, Lee County Extension Center, 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford

Thursday, Dec 11, 9 am -12 pm, Craven County Extension Center, 300 Industrial Drive, New Bern

The workshops are free and registration is not required. The workshops will provide valuable information to aid the application process. Attendance is not required to apply for a grant.

If you have questions, email Bruce Pleasant, USDA-Rural Development, Bruce.Pleasant@nc.usda.gov or Blake Brown, Blake_Brown@ncsu.edu

Western North Carolina Farmers Eligible for Funds

Awards totaling $675,000 over a 3-year period will be granted to western North Carolina farmers. Farmers who are interested contact your local extension agent by December 1 to discuss and research their project. Applications must be postmarked by January 23. Award recipients will be announced in February.

The grant will be provided by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, which will partner with Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) and the WNC AgOptions program to accept applications and monitor the recipients' projects. Through this partnership, WNC AgOptions, a program established in 2004 and managed by NC Cooperative Extension Centers in the West District, will continue assisting mountain farmers transitioning from tobacco and other crops through 2011.

This grant was put in place to lessen the economic distress caused by soaring input and energy costs and the lingering effects of the state's drought conditions. Current and former tobacco growers are the primary audience for the program; however, any farmers living in tobacco dependent communities are eligible.

In 2009, WNC AgOptions will award demonstration contracts valued at $3,000, $6,000, or $9,000 through competitive application and review process. Awards will total $225,000 each year within 17 western North Carolina counties and the Cherokee Reservation.

The ultimate impact is preservation of the family farm. Award recipients are encouraged to explore crop diversification, ways to replace lost tobacco income, and marketing and production techniques that demonstrate economic sustainability.

Examples of past WNC AgOptions projects include:

• transition from tobacco production to ornamentals, berries, trout farms, or agritourism;
• improvements of existing operations, including horse boarding, mum production, and choose-and-cut Christmas trees;
• creative markets for livestock, including goats for invasive plants removal, grass-finished beef and naturally grown pork;
• beekeeping, including integrated pest management and queen-rearing;
• native plants nursery start-ups; and
  
• seasonal extension for vegetables.

WNC AgOptions