Resources offered in Response to Helene’s Damage in Western North Carolina.
Following the impact of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, numerous agricultural resources—including livestock handling facilities, row crop fields, tree-planted areas, pastures, hay storage infrastructure, and beekeeping operations—suffered severe damage or complete destruction. Bottomlands became alluvial soils while uplands suffered erosion.
In response, NC State University and the NC Cooperative Extension worked to lead an integrated extension-research project to: a) demonstrate and evaluate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for frost-seeding and timely seeding of forages and cover crops, b) evaluate the effects of bale grazing on frost-seeding, and c) provide training on the use of electric fence and bale grazing.
This approach will target cropland, tree-planted areas, and pastures, with the dual objectives of providing forage for grazing livestock and floral resources in the landscape while stabilizing soils in the affected region.
NCU anticipates operating several UAV units for over a 15- to 20-day period. This schedule is projected to support frost-seeding efforts across several hundred acres during February and March 2025 while providing training opportunities for extension agents, producers, and land and livestock managers across the region.
Enrollment is intended for producers seeking support to establish forage or cover crops, including clovers and grasses, as part of a comprehensive strategy to address bare ground, stabilize soils, and provide early forage for livestock or floral resources for pollinators. Eligible areas include pastures, row crop fields, pollinator habitats, and tree-nursery zones.
If you would like to enroll to be part of this research project, please visit forages.wordpress.ncsu.edu/rresponse, or email peyton_duckett@ncsu.edu.
