Union County Farm Bureau Member and large animal veterinarian Jeff Broadaway describes some of the ways livestock owners keep their animals safe in winter weather.

“Cattle are most comfortable in 50 to 70 degree weather,” Broadaway says. “When it gets down into the 30s, they really need access to get out of the wind.”

But Broadaway says that keeping large livestock like cows, horses and sheep indoors isn’t necessary, “If they have a stand of trees to block the wind, that is usually sufficient.”

Broadaway says there are three key components to keeping livestock well-equipped to handle the cold: wind breaks, good nutrition and fresh water, “Most of the time, if they have those things, they can comfortably handle temperatures a lot lower than we can.”

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Web site advises that farmers also provide adequate shelter during emergency weather situations. Cattle often seek the shelter of a barn or grove of trees in extreme situations such as freezing rain.

Providing fresh water can become an issue if temperatures stay below freezing for extended periods of time. In some cases, it may be necessary to break ice or use a tank heating device to keep water from freezing.

Broadaway also notes that animals that refuse cold water might be more inclined to drink warm water, “If it’s 20 degrees outside, and you have almost frozen water to drink, you probably wouldn’t want to drink much.”

Adequate nutrition is also crucial to animals in the wintertime. “They need a good supply of hay, but sometimes you might have to supplement with grain to make sure they get the energy they need to stay warm,” Broadaway says.

Farms with smaller animals like poultry and swine need to take particular caution in the cold weather, but are usually better equipped to accommodate the animals. “A lot of folks with smaller animals have ready access to shelter, like a barn, or some way to provide cover for them.”

When it comes to keeping the smallest of farm critters—like barn cats and dogs—safe, the same rules apply. “They need shelter, food and water just like the larger animals do,” Broadaway says. “But, you’ll often find that whether you want them to or not, they’ll find a way to get inside and get out of the weather.”

Horses can also be more sensitive to cold than some other large animals. “They can handle the cold, but not the cold and wet,” Broadaway says. Putting a blanket on a horse that is kept in pasture is a good solution.

“In the management of animals, common sense goes a long way,” Broadaway says. “You don’t have to go overboard, though. It’s not always necessary to go above and beyond, and not doing so doesn’t make you a lesser owner. Most livestock are well-equipped to deal with cold weather.”

Union County Farm Bureau member Farrah Hargett raises AKC registered American Bloodhounds, which she trains and breeds. She says that choosing the right pet is crucial because, “They’re almost a family member. They’re a furry member of your family, and more than just a dog.”

The Hargetts’ breeding operation typically has a waiting list for puppies, because it is a small operation that only breeds one to two litters per year. “We’re not like a puppy mill,” Hargett says. “We’re not just selling the puppies for the money. We encourage people who take one of our dogs home to stay in contact with us. People tell us what a good companion the dog is, about how it protects the children or that it adds another element to their family.”

And if the dog turns out not to be a good fit? “As a breeder, we have an open door policy,” Hargett says. “Owners can always come back to us if the dog isn’t working out.”
It’s responsible breeders like Hargett who make animal control officers’ jobs easier. A breeder or rescue organization that properly educates potential pet owners typically means fewer unwanted animals being surrendered.

In the years that Johnston County Animal Control Officer and Farm Bureau member Ernie Wilkinson has been in his profession, he’s seen the requirements and philosophy of his job change. “We deal with where the rubber meets the road,” Wilkinson says. “We deal with a broad spectrum of animal control and management services. Years ago we were more about control, especially controlling rabies. But now, we spend as much time, if not more time, on education.”

Wilkinson says the shift in duties has happened because of the changing cultures in North Carolina. As areas of the state become more diversified, different animal cultures are introduced. With these new animal cultures, Wilkinson says he’s seen a greater disparity in the way animals are treated—some treat animals as extended family, some as a practical tool for work, but others as a means for income or entertainment, like dog fighting.

To combat some of the negative animal cultures that are introduced, Wilkinson and his team rely on educating the public about the proper treatment of animals, and also about what’s legal and what’s against the law.

In addition to educating the public, Wilkinson says it’s also important to get the message out about adoption. “We work with schools, civic clubs, churches, festivals—anywhere we can tell our story,” Wilkinson says. “We deal with animal issues first and foremost. It’s not just about snatch and grab anymore. Adoption is the happy side of what we do.”

Wilkinson’s dedication to educating the public about adoption has paid off. His shelter’s adoption rate is about 50 percent, compared to most public shelters, which average 17-18 percent. They make animals available for adoption through four Web sites, including PetFinder.com, and promote them locally through their local partners and rescue groups.
Wilkinson’s organization depends heavily on help from its partner organizations. Companies like Iams and local veterinarians have donated their time and resources to help the shelter.

“The greatest support that state shelters need is the spirit of cooperation and networking between shelters and the community,” Wilkinson says. “We do need money and we do need any kind of support, but our greatest need is legislative support. Local government cannot absorb but so much.”

But Wilkinson says they also depend on pet owners too. “We need pet owners to have these animals spayed and neutered. Our animal population is out of control in the state,” Wilkinson says. “Five years ago we processed 2,163 animals through here. This year we’ll process over 12,000—and my budget doesn’t reflect that.”

The key to perfectly canned foods is in the canning process. Improperly canned foods don’t just taste bad, but can also cause serious illness. Many resources providing tips for safe canning methods are available, including recipe books from canning supply companies like Bell, Kerr and Mason, and information and training classes from local extension offices.

Canning foods can be done in two ways, through a steam-pressure method or a boiling-water method, which is also known as a hot water bath. The steam-pressure method is used to preserve low-acid foods, including most vegetables, meats, soups and stews.

High-acid foods such as tomatoes, pickles, fruits and sauerkraut can safely be preserved with the boiling-water method.

The way the two processes work is very similar. Food is packed into jars, sealed and placed on a rack inside the cooker. Each food requires a specific recipe for preservation and must be held to a proper temperature or pressure for a prescribed amount of time.

“You can’t just put the jars on for 15 minutes and be done,” says Edith Jernigan, a Moore County Farm Bureau member. “Everything has a different time, and you have to be sure each food is at the right temperature.”

Jernigan, a long-time canner, says making sure all her supplies are properly sterilized is the key to safe canning. “I sterilize everything, the jars, the lids, dishcloths—anything I use in the process. It keeps the poison out of the food.”

Davidson County Farm Bureau Member Mary Ruth Sheets advises having steam-pressure canners inspected and tested by a county extension office every year. “It’s always so important to test the cooker,” Sheets says. “You’ve got to be sure you’re dealing with the right amount of pressure.”

In addition to sanitation and proper equipment maintenance there are two barriers to bacteria that are crucial to safe canning—acidity and temperature.

“The acidity of the food determines which process you use,” advises Sally McNeill, family and consumer sciences educator with the N.C. Cooperative Extension in Union County. “There are no shortcuts.”

McNeill uses green beans as an example. “There is no safe amount of time green beans can be processed in a hot water bath. Not three hours or three days.”

Because green beans, like most vegetables, are a low-acid food, it is necessary to can them under temperatures hotter than boiling water. “The only way to get water hotter than the boiling point is to put it under pressure,” McNeill says.

McNeill teaches a home canning class through the extension office and says many who take the class were taught to can by their mothers and grandmothers and know the process, but not why it’s important. The class she teaches is aimed at helping both beginner and experienced canners understand the science behind safe canning.

“I find the ones who have canned for years learn just as much as the ones who have never done it,” McNeill says.

McNeill says experienced canners often take the course to become more comfortable with pressure cookers. “A lot have canned with hot water baths, but stayed away from pressure canning because they’ve heard horror stories about jars cracking or lids blowing off of the canner. But you have to set aside time to can and not be doing other things and you can avoid those problems.”

The canning classroom has been full lately, and McNeill attributes the surge in interest to increased awareness in the origin of foods. “People want to produce their own foods in their gardens, or buy it locally from a farmer’s market,” she says.

Jernigan is a prime example. Her canning begins in her large winter and summer gardens. Every year she grows onions, beans, potatoes, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, turnips and countless other fruits and vegetables with the intention of making the crop last through the year.

“I don’t have to buy much in the way of vegetables,” Jernigan says. “I know where it comes from and what’s on it and that it’s not loaded with preservatives. My husband is 85 years old and the doctor tells him he has the bones and the organs of a 30-year-old, and I think eating good food is part of it.”

North Carolina Farm Bureau member Crystal Roberts was the winner of American Farm Bureau’s 2009 Collegiate Discussion Meet at the Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif.
Roberts, an animal science major at N.C. State and former state FFA officer, had won the state award in November 2008 and snagged the national award after four rounds of competition. The final discussion topic was “How do land grant universities remain on the forefront of an ever-changing agricultural environment?”
Roberts, the daughter of Madison County Farm Bureau members, took home a $2,500 scholarship.

CABARRUS COUNTY Farm Bureau President Tommy Porter and his wife, Vicky, have been selected by the North Carolina Pork Council as its “Outstanding Pork Producers” for 2009. The Porters run a 580-acre operation where they have 2,200 sows, poultry and cattle. They were recognized for the care they give their animals, environmentally friendly practices and conservation-mindedness while determining the best and most efficient practices. Also, both are active advocates for agriculture and are involved in a number of community leadership roles.

CAMDEN COUNTY

CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted Croatan High School FFA Association officers and members Joseph Mauro, Tyler Sowers, Joshua Filipovich, Keith Mentnech, Jacqueline Staab and Chelsea Lewis at a monthly board meeting in February.
The FFA members presented PowerPoints demonstrating all the various activities the Croatan FFA were involved in, including Southeast Regional Rally, State Convention, White Lake, Mega Conference and National Convention held in Indianapolis. 
In addition to Croatan, Carteret County Farm Bureau sponsored FFA students from West Carteret and East Carteret high schools who attended the National Convention. 
Also pictured are Carteret Farm Bureau officers and directors Clayton Garner, June Bryan, Herbert Page, Mickey Simmons, Mike Temple, Rusty Bryan, Ray Garner, Henry Davis, Greg Garner and AG Extension Agent Ray Harris.

DAVIDSON COUNTY Farm Bureau board member Jim Davis and his family have been awarded the Southeast Region Farm Family Environmental Excellence Award from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association. Davis is a third-generation beef and poultry farmer, and says the environmentally friendly practices they use include fencing off all of their streams and ponds and using geotech fabric and stone in high-use areas. Also, they use a Soil and Water Conservation-designed litter shed with an incinerator for disposal.
The award was one of six given out nationwide, and the Southeast region includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee.

CURRITUCK COUNTY Farm Bureau members recently received recognition and service awards through their local Soil & Water Conservation office. Manly M. West, Albemarle Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor (Currituck Board) was re-elected to a three-year term (his second) on the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Harvey Roberts (a member of the Currituck County Farm Bureau board of directors) and Tommy Grandy, Albemarle Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors (Currituck board) each received 20-year length of service awards. Roberts was recognized by the Albemarle Resource Conservation & Development (Albemarle RC & D) for his service as a council member. Grandy received his service award from the Albemarle Conservation District (Currituck board). 

FORSYTH COUNTY Farm Bureau members Bob and Jean Cooper, owners of Meadowbrook Tree Farm in Winston-Salem, have earned a big honor: 2008 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The American Tree Farm System chose to give the couple its top award not just for their own 118-acre farm, which they had to completely restore upon buying it in 1973, but also for their efforts on behalf of the North Carolina Tree Farm Program. The Coopers enrolled their farm in the American Tree Farm System in 1985 and host several forestry projects including the first Green Ash planting project in North Carolina. They’ve opened Meadowbrook Farm to hosting workshops and have taken on roles as active advocates for their industry.

North Carolina Farm Bureau’s 2009-10 LEAD Program recently started with a conference in Wilmington. Over the next two years, the 15 members of the leadership development program will engage in a number of activities meant to develop, foster and enhance the skills of individuals and couples (between the ages of 36 and 52) actively engaged in production agriculture.

GATES COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted a meeting about rules and regulations for farm equipment on roadways on Feb. 11. The event featured a catered lunch and was open to all farmers in the county. Highway Patrolmen from Raleigh and Troop A led the talk, which almost 70 people attended.

DUPLIN County Farm Bureau President Dexter Edwards, with his son Nicholas and Nicholas’ wife, had a booth for their business, Edwards Land and Cattle, at the Murphy-Brown Vendor Expo.

SAMPSON County Farm Bureau board member Buck Blanchard and his wife, Women’s Committee member Shelby, visit NCFB’s display at the Murphy-Brown Vendor Expo March 17 at
the Duplin Events Center in Kenansville.

UNION COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted a retirement breakfast for Jerry Simpson, Union County Cooperative Extension Director, on Jan. 26. In Simpson’s honor, Union County Farm Bureau donated $2,000 to the Union County 4-H Youth and Development Foundation. In the photo are Simpson, left, and Union County Farm Bureau President Brad Hargett.

WAKE County Farm Bureau members Richard Jenks and Jay Thompson represented Farm Bureau at Leesville Road Middle School’s Career Day on March 5. About 90 sixth-graders learned about the importance of agriculture to North Carolina’s economy and about what farm life is like today. Students pictured stayed after class to ask more questions about farming.

WARREN County Farm Bureau bought Photosynthesis Promenade books for four county schools. Pictured are, from left: Jeff Bender, Warren County Farm Bureau president; Calvin Jones, Warren County Board of Education chairman; Pat Riethmeier, Ag in the Classroom ambassador; and Dr. Ray Spain, superintendent of Warren County Schools.

More than 100 women from across the state recently attended the 2009 North Carolina Farm Bureau Women’s Conference. The event, held at the Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, included a silent auction with proceeds benefiting NCFB’s Ag in the Classroom program. The conference also included a number of educational workshops such as misconceptions about agriculture, becoming a better leader and developing leadership skills, the impact of urbanization on agriculture and how to develop active county Farm Bureaus.
A luncheon featured an update of bills being introduced in the General Assembly and how Farm Bureau is monitoring legislative activities. Michele Payn-Knoper was a featured guest at the conference, with a talk on “Celebrating Agriculture.”
The Silent Auction raised more than $3,900 for the Ag in the Classroom program.