Yancey County ANR Programs - Yancey County Center

About Our Programs

Agriculture Programs at NC Cooperative Extension of Yancey County are committed to helping Yancey County farms remain profitable and successful well into the future. Our goal is to share trusted, un-biased university research based information that will encourage Yancey County agricultural producers to adopt recommended best management production practice, and applicable emerging technologies. Ultimately, we desire to serve as a catalyst to improve the livelihoods of local farmers which make up a very diverse localized agriculture industry. We assist producers of all types and production methodologies. Whether raising crops or livestock, utilizing conventional or organic production practices, our programs have the same end goal- helping Yancey County producers succeed!

Soil Testing

Soil testing is used to indicate soil fertility of crop and pasture fields. This process estimates the essential plant nutrients that are available in the soil for plants to take up and use. Soil testing is also used to produce site-specific fertilizer recommendations formulated based upon research results. These recommendations are designed to inform farmers about the nutrients they need to make their crops produce as desired. Soil Samples can be submitted to the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Soil Testing Laboratory. Soil testing is free through NCDA&CS April thru Thanksgiving.

NC Cooperative Extension of Yancey County is available to help farmers with their soil testing by:

assisting with soil sample submission,
recommending best soil testing practices and procedures
accessing and interpreting soil test reports
assisting producers in calculating and planning fertilizer and nutrient amendment applications

Soil testing supplies (including soil sample boxes, soil test submission forms, and soil probes) are available at the NC Cooperative Extension Yancey County Center for Yancey County agricultural producers. Soil probes can be checked out with a small deposit which will be returned when the soil probe is returned on time.

Agriculture Drone Clover Seeding Program

NC Cooperative Extension of Yancey County has a limited amount of clover seed available to distribute livestock producers in Yancey County. We can also help producers over-seed clover onto their pastures using our agricultural drone. This program will be offered as long as seed supplies last. Livestock producers can receive enough clover seed to sow up to 10 acres or pasture. If you are interested in receiving clover seed, or if you would like to have clover seeded by drone, contact David Davis (david_davis@ncsu.edu) or call the NC Cooperative Extension Yancey County Center at (828) 682-6186.

Composted Mulch for Farmers Impacted By TS Helene

NC Cooperative Extension of Yancey County has been collaborating with "We Must Protect", Eagle Resources Group LLC., and WNC Communities to provide composted, mulched storm debris to farmers that are restoring fields that were impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. This project provided potential solutions to multiple issues.

Tropical Storm Helene generated massive amounts of woody debris that was very costly to remove and dispose of. Eagle Resources Group established a site to store debris, but rather than just storing large piles of mulch, the have been processing it into a composted mulch product. The composted mulch was produced by adding urea to batch piles of mulched storm debris, monitoring and managing moisture, and by making sure that the piles reached and maintained 131F for at least 10 days (requirement for compost according to NC Composting Council Standards). Having a site to both store and process mulch woody debris has reduced transport and disposal costs incurred by state and/or county government.

They have also now moved into the distribution phase of the project. "We Must Protect" is distributing compost to farmers using it to repair soil that was damaged during Helene. The composted mulch materials is added to damaged soil in order to add organic matter to it, and to help retain nutrients and moisture. The hope for doing this is that eventually farmers will be able to return damaged farm fields into production, or that they will be moving farm fields back toward pre-storm production levels.

WNC Communities has allocated funds to assist farmers with covering transportation costs for transporting composted mulch from the processing site to their farms. There is a limited amount of funding available. Once transportation funds are depleted, farmers can needing composted mulch for their farm fields may still receive it, but they will have to cover the cost of transporting the material to their farms. Currently, farmers are limited to having transportation costs covered for a maximum of 4-5 dump truck loads per farm (approximately 80-100 cubic yards).

If you are farmer that experienced damage to your soil during Tropical Storm Helene, and you think that you might benefit from receiving composted mulch on your farm through this collaboration, please contact David Davis (david_davis@ncsu.edu) or call the NC Cooperative Extension Yancey County Center by calling (828) 682-6186.