Published by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Upcoming Ag
Review ad
deadlines
The following are deadlines
to submit ads for the Agricultural
Review newspaper.
July 1 for the August issue
Aug. 1 for the September issue
Sept. 2 for the October issue
Oct. 1 for the November issue
Nov. 1 for the December issue
Dec. 1 for the January 2025 Issue
Large animal vets eligible for grants
Large animal veterinarians in North Carolina are eligible to apply for up to
S25.000 in funds to help support their large animal practice. This S 1 25,000 fund
was created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and will be administered
by the N.C. Ag Finance Authority.
The funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one
of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer
and that spend 30% or more of their patient care involved in large animal
veterinary care.
“North Carolina, like many other states, has a deficit of large animal
veterinariaas. In many areas of the state, a single veterinarian may be the
only option within 100 square miles,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve
Troxler. “These funds can be used for repayment of educational loans related
to the recipient’s veterinary degree, to purchase equipment or technology for
use in the practice or any additional ases the advisory committee determines
is appropriate to promote and develop large animal veterinariaas to practice
in the designated counties.”
The application period runs from June 1 7 through Aug. 16. Applications
are available online at https://fs4.formsite.com/QopHZM/411cxkovj4/signup.
More information on the grant program can be found in frequently asked
questions or by emailing largeanimalvetgrants@ncagr.gov.
The Large Animal Health Enhancement Advisory Committee will make the
determination on grant dispersal based on eligible applications. This committee
includes the N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture; the State Veterinarian of North
Carolina; the Executive Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Finance
Authority; one designee from the Food Animal Scholars Program, North
Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine; two practicing
large animal veterinarians; two representatives of the livestock industry;
one designee by the Commissioner of Agriculture of North Carolina; and
one designee by the State Veterinarian of North Carolina.
Emerald ash borer found in five new counties
The N.C. Forest Service has
deemed five new counties positive for
the emerald ash borer (EAB). Newly
impacted counties are Aason, Bertie,
Duplin, Martin and Sampson, bringing
the number of counties in the state
where the tree-killing iasect has been
detected to 76.
“Seasonal trapping for EAB
typically runs from late March to
early May. During that time, we were
able to extract adult beetles from ash
stands in Anson, Bertie, Duplin and
Sampson counties,” said Jim Moeller,
forest health specialist with the N.C.
Forest Service. “While we weren’t
able to physically uncover the iasect
in Martin County, cuacnt signs and
symptoms found in ash trees indicate
EAB infestatioas are already underway.
We’re gang to consider Martin County
positive based on these indicators so
landowners will know what to expect
and can plan accordingly.”
EAB Ls a metallic green beetle that
bores into ash trees and feeds on tissues
beneath the bark, ultimately killing the
tree. Adult borers lay eggs on the baric
of ash trees. When the eggs hatch, the
larvae bore into the bark and feed on
tissues of the tree. This disrupts the
movement of nutrients and water
within the tree, causing the tree's slow
death typically in three to five years.
The signs and symptoms of an EAB
infestation include thinning and dying
crowns; increased woodpecker activity
that causes the tree to look like it is
losing patches ofbark; small, 1/8-inch
D-shaped exit holes where adult beetles
emerged from the trees; galleries on
the iaside of the bark; cream-colored
larvae; and epicormic sprouting or
sprouting from the main stem of the
tree. Host plants include all native
ash trees and native white fringetree.
The Chinese white fringetree, often
planted for ornamental purposes, is
believed to be resistant.
Adult EAB beetles are about a
half-inch long and 1 /8-inch wide.
Under their wing covers, their bodies
are a metallic purple-red color. In
North Carolina the adult EAB is
typically active from late spring to
early summer, likely April through
(See Emerald ash borer, pg. 2)
From the tractor
by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler
Map depicts current drought conditions as of June 18. 2024.
■ 03 - Exlmi ocoueil
■ 04 1.1
Commissioner Troxler
Like a lot of farmers, 1 have been
paying especially close attention to the
N.C. Drought Monitor and weather
forecasts as the temperatures have
climbed and rainfall has become
more limited. And, like many people,
1 have been praying for rain because
we desperately need some across most
areas of the state.
As of June 18, the N.C. Drought
Management Advisory Council
listed 67 counties as abnormally dry,
including pretty much all of Eastern
North Carolina and a two-to-three-
county-wide path along the Virginia
border from the coast to the Northern
mountains around Boone.
1 am hearing from a lot of farmers
about the com crop in particular, and
that they are likely looking at the
potential for significant losses for com.
The latest crop condition statistics
published on July 24 by the National
Agricultural Statistics Service con f inns
what I am hearing, with 17% of
corn being described as in very poor
condition, 38% in poor condition and
2 1% in fair condition. Only 23% was
reported as in good condition.
Every fanner knows a lot can change
in a week. Just the week prior, 10%
and 13% of corn was listed as being
in very poor and poor condition. And
25% was described as fair, with 49%
listed as good.
The Crops and Condition Report
also is showing the drought’s effect on
other crops, too. Cotton, hay, pastures,
peanuts, sorghum, soybeans, sweet
potatoes and flue cured tobacco also
posted a greater percentage of crops
being in the very poor to fair range
than in the good range.
We still have a lot more season to
go and I pray we get some well-timed
rain to help these crops be productive.
When our farmers hurt, we all
hurt because their haul woik feeds as
all. Please keep our farmers in your
prayers and support local growers
by buying local wherever you caa
Farmers markets, roadside stands
and retail stores are offering lots of
local produce and proteins. Look
for the Got to Be NC logo where
you shop. I'll keep readers updated
as the growing season goes on.
