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.
- Demonstrate and evaluate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for frost-seeding and timely seeding of forages and cover crops
- Evaluate the effects of bale grazing on frost-seeding
- Provide training on the use of electric fence and bale grazing
These strategies 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.
We anticipate 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.
This grant is intended for producers seeking support to establish forages 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. This initiative is supported by the USDA Rapid Response Program, with priority given to regions in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene