Source:  NCDA&CS, 11/1/10

Four workshops aimed at helping farmers and public officials be prepared for the next drought are scheduled across North Carolina in November and December.

The free workshops are focused on developing water resources and will take place in Wake, Duplin, Buncombe and Forsyth counties. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is organizing them. They are sponsored by the N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation through a grant from Altria Group Inc.

“The workshops are designed to educate landowners, public officials and others about the importance of developing water resources, such as ponds and spring heads,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Development of these resources can help with the irrigation of crops and watering of livestock. They also can reduce the demand on municipal water systems.”

The workshops will cover a variety of topics pertaining to water resource development, including regulatory issues, wildlife concerns, engineering resources and costs, and federal and state assistance programs.

All workshops will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The schedule is as follows:
• Nov. 22, Wake County Cooperative Extension, 4001-E Carya Drive, Raleigh;
• Nov. 23, Duplin County Extension Center, 165 Agriculture Drive, Kenansville;
• Dec. 2, Virginia Boone Mountain Heritage Center, Western N.C. Ag Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher;
• Dec. 3, Forsyth Agriculture Center, 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem.

The first 300 people to register for each workshop will receive a free lunch. To register, log on to www.ncadfp.org/AWRD_Workshops.

Interested people with questions should contact Dewitt Hardee at (919) 707-3069 or Vernon Cox at (919) 707-3070.