Three workshops will be held this spring on farms in the Piedmont , Coastal Plain, and Blacklands. At each farm selection of varieties of rye and legume cover crops have been planted.  These cover crops will be roll-killed and corn or soybeans will be no-till planted into them.  At these workshops, we will demonstrate how well different cover crops worked in this system to smother weeds, and allow for accurate and timely crop planting and growth.  We will also have a brief discussion on organic wheat production at each workshop.

For more information about these workshops, or to register for a workshop, please contact:

Molly Hamilton, Extension Assistant, at molly_hamilton@ncsu.edu or 828-273-1041

May 7 Location: Hoffner Dairy Farm in Mt. Ulla, NC (near Salisbury) Time: 5-7 p.m.

May 28 Location: Looking Back Farm in Tyner, NC (near Hertford) Time: 5-7 p.m.

June 4 Location: Pocosin Farms in Pantego, NC Time: 5-7 p.m.

April 28, 2009: Rolling Cover Crops

Location: Breeze Farm Time: 3-5 p.m. For more information on this workshop, please contact Karen McAdams at karen_mcadams@ncsu.edu or 919-245-2050

We are also planning an organic crop conference for January 2010. This conference will be held in conjunction with the Joint Grower Meeting in New Bern, and will focus on issues of organic grain, tobacco, and large-scale vegetable production. Conference topics, speakers, and format will be directed by farmers and agriculture advisors. A committee has been formed to help with directing the conference, and if you wish to participate or just send some of your ideas, please contact:

Mac Gibbs (Hyde County Extension Director): 252-926-4488 or mac_gibbs@ncsu.edu

OR

Mary Wilks (Carolina Precision Consulting, Inc): 252-883-6321 or marytwilks@yahoo.com