Posts Tagged ‘nc calves’

Recent Rains

Monday, January 25th, 2010
Cliff

Cliff

Perry Farm has recently experienced a large amount of rain. Our Troutman farm received over 3 inches this past weekend and everything is soaked to the bone.

The rain was needed, but unwelcome by many, as it has been several weeks since the last precipitation. The unfortunate side has been the accompanying high winds. Trees become easily uprooted by the wind due to rain soaked ground offering only minor resistance to the gale force winds. We were spared of any damage to our farm so far this season.

Trees are extremely valuable property on Perry Farm, as they provide the energy to heat our home and water. As a carpenter by trade, I installed an exterior wood heating system when building our home. This highly effective system enables us to stay warm all winter and heat our water year round, with minimal use of electricity. The downside is cutting and handling the firewood.

Our cattle are healthy and living well with our neighbor’s llamas. Llamas are well known for their arrogant demeanor, which can be useful as a guardian. Llamas will acclimate themselves to the herd and take on a protectors role and provide safety for the calves. Dogs, coyotes and even humans must beware of the aggressive and dangerous habits of the llamas.

Our other neighbor’s herd has produced 2 calves recently. The first little Holstein is so attractive he has been named Cliff. Cliff has recently been seen rambunctiously frolicking through its pasture, carefree and full of life. Recently as the herd fed on their rations, Cliff climbed into the feeder bale of hay and was obviously the “King of the Hill” or at least the hay bale for a few minutes.

Obviously calves live a carefree and stress free life; much can be learned from the actions of the young at heart.

www.PerryFarmsGrassFedBeef.com

NC Beef

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Cattle farmers in Western North Carolina moved one step closer to getting a local livestock market. On Monday, Gov. Beverly Perdue recommended funding the market and 15 other projects in Western North Carolina worth a total of $4 million.

The governor requested the funds, which are a general federal appropriation and not federal stimulus money, from Appalachian Regional Commission. The agency serves 13 Appalachian states and has been a reliable source of funding for North Carolina, Perdue said.

“I feel very certain that the money is real,” Perdue said. “That the money won’t be used for some other much needed purpose. The ARC has traditionally been a very, very dependable source of investment for the member states and counties.”

Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said the projects have a 95 to 99 percent chance of getting funded once the governor makes the recommendation.

“It’s almost guaranteed these will get funded,” Pearson said.

For the livestock market, Perdue is recommending $200,000 from Appalachian Regional Commission. The budget also calls for $50,000 from the North Carolina Agriculture Development Trust Fund, $15,000 in local government money, $10,000 from private farmers, $225,000 from the Golden LEAF and North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund.

Henderson County has already contributed $10,000 to the project.

To make the announcement, Perdue gathered community leaders and elected officials at Transylvania Vocational Services in Brevard. She was joined by Rep. Heath Shuler and Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll, former head of AdvantageWest.

Besides the livestock market, the money would also fund improvements to the wastewater system in Rosman, upgrade the Fontana Village’s wastewater treatment system in Graham County and improve the transmission lines in Mars Hill.

Tough economy

Perdue said North Carolina is facing unprecedented economic times, and the projects will put people in Western North Carolina back to work.

“North Carolina will come through this,” she said. “It may not be easy, and it may not be fun.”

The state of North Carolina is facing a $4 billion budget deficit for the 2009-2010 budget, and the state is hoping to offset some of that with federal funds. Some economist say the recession will end in the next few months, but the impact could linger for years, Perdue said.

“Historically, if you look at the data over the years, after a deep recession, both in the ’80s and ’90s, it took North Carolina 18 months to fully restart its engine,” Perdue said. “And some people are telling me that this kind of enormous hit on our revenue and service train will take us five years from the end to regroup.”

Luckily, she said the “federal government has the ability to borrow with no end,” and has brought billions of dollars of stimulus money to the state. She said North Carolina must fight had to get “more than its fair share” of the funds.

 “It’s a pot of money and somebody in America is going to get it,” Perdue said.

Source: http://www.blueridgenow.com/

www.PerryFarmsGrassFedBeef.com