By TYLER STOCKS

Washington Daily News

 

Farmers living in Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties will be able to attend low-cost workshops along with free continuing education classes later this month.

According to Beaufort County Cooperative Extension Service Director Rod Gurganus, farmers will be exposed to the latest agricultural research conducted by North Carolina A&T University and North Carolina State University.

“Our information is research based and we don’t have an agenda. Farmers can earn credits towards their pesticide licenses and earn credits that count towards their continuing education hours,” said Gurganus.

The first workshop, Planning the Future of Your Farm, will be held Jan. 21 at the Vernon James Center in Plymouth from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The registration fee is $10 for individual farmers and $5 for each family member. The fee pays for lunch and a workbook.

The classes offered at this workshop include the following:

• Present-use value-tax program;

• The changing landscape of agriculture;

• Is there a succession plan?;

• The realities of asset transfer;

• Do you know your timber;

• What you need to know about probate.

The registration deadline for this workshop is Wednesday

The second workshop, Estate Transition and Success Planning, will be held Jan. 31 at the Vernon James Center in Plymouth from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This workshop has no registration fee and includes lunch. Topics to be discussed include the following:

• Case study of operation to develop succession;

• Keynote of legal options to address goals;

• How to avoid “classic mistakes”;

• Update of tax numbers and tax code;

• Financial tools that may help.

Registration for this workshop is limited to the first 50 people who resister, and the deadline to sign up is Jan. 27.

During January and February, there will be winter crop-production meetings that include lunches and private pesticide-license training courses. The meetings are free, and farmers can earn credits toward their pesticide applicator’s licenses.

Some of the topics covered at the meetings will help farmers address issues like soil health, crop diseases, insecticide resistance, weed control and fungicide resistance, along with issues that relate to the production of corn, wheat and soybeans. Gurganus said he expects a high turnout and would like to see several hundred farmers attend the workshops and meetings.

“Technology is changing, and it’s important to have the latest information and research,” said Gurganus.

For dates, times and locations of the meetings, or to sign up for the workshops, call Pam Allen at 252-946-011.