Little Way Farm's First Saturday Event
Visit Little Way Farm on November 5, 2022, for their next First Saturday Event. Check out the video to learn more.
Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm opening soon!
Reserve your spot to make holiday memories at the Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm! Starting on November 4, 2022, the reservation portal will be available on the Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm's website. Owner Diana May said to come early because like last year there, is a Christmas tree shortage. They are anticipating that they may sell out of trees by the first week of December. So don't delay! Mark your calendars and make your reservation starting November 4th!
Welcome to our newest team member, Bobbie McLean!
Welcome to our newest team member, Bobbie McLean! We're excited to welcome Bobbie to the Chatham County Center as our 4-H Extension Agent.
Here's how to reach Bobbie:
Email: bobbie_mclean@ncsu.edu
Phone: 919-542-8248
All American Quarter Horse Congress
Written by Mary Dickerson, Chatham County 4-H Horsekateer Club Leader
The NC 4-H National Educational Teams are back from AQHA Congress in Ohio! It was a large contest with lots and lots of studying but also lots of success, fun, and a great experience. Being on a National team is an amazing experience for the youth, and I'm honored to be a part of it.
NC 4-H Hippology team placed 1st in Exam, 3rd in Stations, 1st in Judging, and 1st Overall Champions, with all 4 members in the top ten overall!! Team members included: Samantha Durham- 7th in Exam, 8th in Judging and 9th Overall, Allee Coble- 5th in Exam, 9th in Stations, 1st in Judging, 6th Overall, Kyra Worth- 4th in Exam, 7th in Stations, 5th Overall, Lauren Williams- 8th in Exam, 5th in Stations, 6th in Judging, 7th Overall, and Mary Dickerson and Ruth Vorder Bruegge (coaches).
The NC Horsebowl Team placed 1st Overall Champions!! Team members included: Annie Winter (2nd high individual), Sara Richardson (13th high individual), Madie Noblin (3rd high individual), and Saona Wilcox (1st high individual), and Beth Morgan (coach).
NC 4-H Communications team included the following: 4th Public Speaking- Anastasia Smith, 1st Team Presentation- Olivia Hill & Victoria Smith, and 1st Individual Presentation- Cayden Lowe.
The NC 4-H Horse Judging Team placed 3rd in Halter, 2nd in Performance, 4th in Reasons, and 3rd Overall, with all 4 members in the top 10! Placings included the following: Stevie Sharum (5th in Performance, 8th Overall), Hannah Mennig (9th in Halter, 10th in Reasons, 10th Overall), Olivia Juergens (7th in Halter, 8th In Reasons, 9th Overall), Bryleigh Colbert (3rd in Performance, 6th Overall), and Ruth Vorder Bruegge and Mary Dickerson (coaches).
Voting for Kids
Hey Kids!! Did you know that it's time to vote? What does that mean? Check this out!!
Storm Damaged Landscape Trees
Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Ice Storms can all damage landscape trees
Plant Selection
- Select salt tolerant species
- Avoid tree species with brittle wood, weakly attached limbs, or spreading, codominant branches/trunks, weeping or vase like crowns that are more susceptible to storm damage.
- Trees with upright, narrow crowns, or fewer and thicker branches are less susceptible to storm damage.
- Trees with upright, narrow crowns, or fewer and thicker branches are less susceptible to storm damage.
Identify Trees at Risk and Monitor Regularly
- Form: Trees with Co-dominant leaders, Bark included crotch, or cavities or hollow areas are more likely to be damaged in storms.
- Evaluate leaning trees.
- Roots: Girdling roots can impede the root system and create a weak spot that is often the point of failure in storms.
- Decay: Damage from insects or disease can weaken wood and make it vulnerable to storm damage.
- Damage: Injury from improper pruning (flush cuts, topping) and staking (with wrong materials or left on too long), mechanical damage from lawnmowers and weed-eaters, poor maintenance including mulch around the trunk, improper placement or amount of irrigation or damage to the roots through trenching.
- Site: Confined space for roots; shallow, compacted, or waterlogged soil; wrong plant for the space.
Stream Bank Repair and Invasives Identification Workshop
November 19, 2022
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Siler City Stream BankWorkshop
311 N Fir Ave
Siler City, NC 27344
Attendees at this workshop will participate in a hands-on streambank protection and invasives treatment project including installation of live-stakes and other native plants to assist in re-establishment of the stream buffer.
This event is for individuals 18 years old or older. For safety reasons, individuals under 18 years old, even supervised, will not be permitted.
Identification and Decision Guide for Cypress Problems
Several species of “cypress”-type conifers (family Cupressaceae) are widely planted in North Carolina landscapes. Among the most common are arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Leyland cypress (xHesperotropsis leylandii), and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). These trees are sometimes used as specimen plants, but are often placed together in rows to form screens or yard barriers.
These trees are susceptible to numerous diseases, arthropod pests, and abiotic stressors, including those caused by human activity. They also undergo changes in appearance as they mature. Read the step-by-step guide that will help you when dealing with these issues. In some cases it will lead you to a diagnosis; in others it will lead you to the conclusion that a physical and/or image sample needs to be submitted.
Fall Foliage:
The Changing of the Leaves
USDA Webinars About Insurance for Small Diversified Farms
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is offering virtual workshops on November 15 and December 13 for agricultural producers — especially important to specialty crop, organic, urban, and direct market producers— and stakeholders to learn about the latest updates and improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and the Micro Farm insurance options.
RMA will host these workshops for agricultural producers via Microsoft Teams events to help them understand and know more about these very important insurance options. The virtual workshops will include RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger and other team members to highlight important improvements to Whole-Farm and Micro Farm and answer questions about these insurance options.
View Recording of Landowner Liability Webinar
The NC Tree Farm Association and the NC State University Department of Forestry recently hosted a Landowner Liability Webinar taught by Andrew Branan, NC State Extension Assistant Professor (Agricultural and Environmental Law).
The webinar focused on matters of premises liability and timber protection for landowners including trespass, legal sufficiency of boundary and hazard marking, as well as disputes over boundaries and easements. The information covered is relevant to forest landowners and farmers.
Thanksgiving Week at Our Chatham County Farmers’ Markets
Whether you are planning to gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving, or just want to enjoy high quality locally grown food on your own, make sure and stop by one of Chatham County’s amazing farmers’ markets to get everything you need! A couple of the markets will have special hours to accommodate the holiday.
Drying Apples Connects Us to Southern History
Fall is a great time to find locally grown apples, including heirloom apples, at the farmers' markets and at local orchards. Apples were a big part of life for our southern ancestors, especially in rural areas. Apples were unrivaled among fruits for their nutrition, taste, keeping ability, and diversity of uses. Most rural families had large orchards where apples could be harvested for six months of the year. They could not only be eaten fresh but dried, cooked, and processed for pies, apple sauce, apple butter, apple cider, apple brandy, and cider vinegar (used in large quantities to preserve foods in the days before canning and refrigeration). Agriculture Agent Debbie Roos enjoys drying apples as a way to both create a tasty snack and connect to her southern heritage.
Nickels for Know-How Referendum Announcement
The Chatham County Nickels for Know-How Referendum will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Nickels for Know-How is a 65-year old voluntary assessment on feed and fertilizer produced and purchased in North Carolina. If you or your family buy feed or fertilizer, you can vote. Polling places will be established in each county. Every County Center will have at least one polling place onsite. Kristina Britt, Chatham County Referendum Chairman, informs residents that one (1) polling place has been established at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center.
1192 US 64 West Business, Suite 400
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Chairman Britt explains that the referendum is being held to let users and producers of feed or fertilizer decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program. This program has been in place since 1948, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.
A 2/3 favorable vote will mean that growers are willing to continue to assess themselves to support agricultural research and education. The assessment is fifteen cents per hundred pounds on feed and fertilizer produced in North Carolina.
The funds, about $1.4 million annually, are collected by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and then allocated by the NC Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.’s 148 volunteer Board of Directors to support agricultural research and extension projects at North Carolina State University benefitting agriculture in North Carolina. For more information on the referendum, please call your N.C. Cooperative Extension at 919-542-8242.
Understanding Meat Label Claims - for Consumers Webinar
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Grass-fed, Pasture Raised, No Added Hormones, Grass-Finished, Grain-Finished, Free Range, Natural. . . Have you ever wondered what all those terms mean? Who verifies these label claims?
Join us for our lunch and learn webinar where representatives from A Greener World, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will explain these claims to help you understand them better the next time you visit your local meat case.
Are you a producer, raising animals for meat? Join us on December 6 @ 6:30 p.m. where we will also cover certification and requirements.
Save the Date
North Carolina Lead Shepherd Program: Networking Groups
Are you a small ruminant producer interested in working with other producers, specialists and Extension agents to improve your operation? These small groups will help expand your contact list and be a great way to help us all work together as an industry to improve the productivity of our flocks and profitability of our operations. More information and the sign-up form can be found at the link below. As folks get signed up, we will start organizing groups. Each group will contain individuals that participated in our Lead Shepherd program this summer. Groups are welcome to meet in-person or via zoom.
Upcoming Pesticide School in Pittsboro
Pesticide Schools are hosted by the NC State Pesticide Safety Education Program with the help of the NC Extension Service and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS).
Each school takes place over a 1 1/2-day period and reviews pesticide material (manuals) so that attendees may be better prepared to take the NCDA&CS pesticide exams, which are offered at 1:00 p.m. on the second day of the school. Exam fees are paid separately to the NCDA&CS prior to taking the exams.
NC State Extension Specialists, County Extension Agents, and NCDA&CS Pesticide Inspectors present lessons from the Pesticide Education Program’s manuals and answer questions or offer clarification on issues that applicators face.
Each year the Pesticide Safety Education Program aids more than 1,200 attendees who are pursuing their license for the first time.
School Date: November 16-17, 2022
Time: This 1.5-day school is in-person. School hours are 8:30 AM-5:00 PM on day one and 8:30-11:30 AM on day two. The exam session is on day two from 1:00-5:00 PM.
Location: Chatham Co. Extension Ctr., 1192 US Hwy. 64W Bus., Pittsboro, NC 27312
Frequently Asked Questions, Beginning Niche Meat Producers
Are you just starting out on a farming venture into selling meat products grown on your farm? Do you have questions, but can't find your answer? NC Choices, a Center for Environmental Farming Systems initiative offers a publication of Frequently Asked Questions, Beginning Niche Meat Producers.
NCSU Addresses the Post-Pandemic Future of the NC Forestry Sector
NC State recently released an article that addresses what North Carolina’s forestry sector may look like in the coming years, based on a recent report from NCSU professor Rajan Parajuli. Forestry is an incredibly impactful industry in the state, providing over 130,000 jobs and $32 billion in economic benefit (direct, indirect, and induced contributions). However, the forestry industry in the United States has been declining in recent years, even prior to the pandemic. In 2020, the North Carolina forestry industry experienced severe declines, losing over 10,000 jobs and $2 billion in economic benefit. The industry continues to struggle due to poor pay relative to the hazards workers face, small companies going out of business, continued supply chain issues, and other related factors.
North Carolina Sees Declined Timber Prices in Third Quarter 2022
NC State's Dr. Robert Bardon reported that standing timber prices decreased across all major pine and hardwood products in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the previous quarter. The downward trend in NC pine stumpage prices is in line with south-wide averages and seasonal norms. North Carolina’s decline in hardwood stumpage prices is not in line with the south-wide average hardwood stumpage prices, which have increased for the major products in third quarter 2022.
6th Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange to be Hosted in NC
The 6th Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (WTREX) was recently announced. This two-week training exchange is designed to increase diversity in the talent pool of fire. The training exchange engages all-genders in building a support network for female fire practitioners working to advance their leadership in wildland fire management. Though WTREX has a focus on women in fire, people of all backgrounds, genders, and professional affiliations are encouraged to apply. The 6th WTREX is planned for February 20th-March 3rd, 2023, in southeastern North Carolina. Applications are due by November 18th.
FREE Entrepreneurship Curriculum
The Chatham Community Library is offering a FREE Entrepreneurship Curriculum. Creating a new business is more than setting up shop and selling products. Learn how to create your brand, with help from your library.
Council on Aging 2022 Senior Education Conference
Chatham Chamber of Commerce Children's Business Fair
Attorney General Josh Stein Alert: Protect Yourself After a Data Breach
Recent security breaches are affecting hundreds of thousands of people, which means North Carolinians should take action to protect their data. If your data is compromised in a security breach, North Carolina law requires that the company or agency who held the data let you and our office know. More than 2.4 million North Carolinians were affected by these incidents last year.
Data breaches take place when personal information like Social Security numbers, bank or credit card numbers, or personal information is lost, stolen, or accessed improperly. Criminals can use this information to commit identity theft, putting you at risk of racking up debt, hurting your credit, or losing your money.
If you’ve been the victim of a security breach, follow these steps to protect your personal information and lessen the risk of identity theft:
Check your affected accounts. Review the accounts compromised in the security breach and identify any suspicious activity. If your credit or debit card number is involved in the breach, you should request a new card with a different number and change your associated passwords.
Sign up for free credit monitoring. Some businesses or government agencies offer free credit monitoring services. Remember, never provide private information without verifying that the service is legitimate.
Request a fraud alert from a credit bureau. A fraud alert requests that banks and other creditors take steps to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. The alert is free and lasts 90 days. Make sure to review the free copy of your credit report for suspicious activity. To request a fraud alert, contact one of the national credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
Consider placing a security freeze. A security freeze blocks an identity thief from opening new accounts or accessing credit in your name.
Monitor your credit. Identity thieves might not use your compromised information right away. Continue to monitor your credit report for suspicious activity.
If you believe that you have been the victim of identity theft, contact our office’s Consumer Protection Division at ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
Budget Recipe Challenge
With the high food prices here to stay a while longer, it’s important to find healthy and delicious recipes that go easy on our budgets. If you have just the recipe, we’d love for you to join our Budget Recipe Challenge this fall!
Coming to the Chatham County Libraries, it's Tara Gregory
$20 Thanksgiving Meal
If you're looking for a Thanksgiving meal for four on a budget, these tasty recipes can be your guide to a trimmed down, yet traditional, holiday meal.
Make Healthier Holiday Choices
How to Safely Brine Your Turkey
Safely Storing Your Holiday Meal Leftovers
Siler City's Chatham Bank
It's been 121 years since the Chatham Bank was established. Sheriff J.J. Jenkins realized that a bank in Siler City was desperately needed. He reached out to local residents in the area and called for a meeting on November 20, 1901. From that meeting, the Chatham Bank became a reality. F.M Hadley was the bank president, L.L. Wren vice-president and J.J. Jenkins was cashier. As Siler City grew in population, Chatham Bank grew too.
By 1961 Chatham Bank was looking to add additional services, but without the help of a larger bank it seemed impossible to add those extra services. A vote was taken and passed to merge with First Union National Bank of North Carolina.
On November 19th, 1976, the bank celebrated its 75th anniversary. Refreshments were served at their multiple locations and a drawing was held for prizes. The first prize was a diamond necklace and the second prize was for a CB Radio.
Join our Mailing List
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual identity (including pregnancy), and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Ginger Cunningham, County Extension Director, at 919.542.8202, ginger_cunningham@ncsu.edu, or in person at the County Extension Office at least 30 days prior to the event.
Credits:
Created with images by juliasudnitskaya - "Autumn Thanksgiving background. Pumpkins, acorns and leaves on rustic table top view." • Steve Samoyedny - "Pumpkin and mums" • RenegadeStudio - "Broken tree trunk in a park" • jackienix - "Soil erosion on a creek bank" • dbvirago - "Leyland Cypress Trees in a Row along Road as hedge" • zenmaster8 - "Thanksgiving cornucopia overflowing with fruit nuts pumpkins sunflowers burning candle and bird cage" • fotomaster - "Turkeys" • Anna - "Closeup of a herd of goats and sheep goes home in the evening in the rays of sunset" • as-artmedia - "Female attractive professor explain lesson to students and interact with them in the classroom.Helping a students during class. University student being helped by female lecturer during class." • OMP.stock - "Several rotisserie chickens, in a poultry roasting on the grill, free-range chickens, meat of the best quality, raised on the land." • andreusK - "orange fall leaves, autumn natural background with maple trees" • ftfoxfoto - "Log Yard" • Dilok - "flipping wooden block cubes which print screen cost down. Now every business try to reduce cost to get more profit." • Alexey Fedorenko - "Bicycle in London suburb of Chiswick in the autumn time, UK" • Rawpixel.com - "Data Breach Security Confidential Cybercrime Concept" • fahrwasser - "Thanksgiving dinner table with sliced turkey and sides, overhead shot" • lily_rocha - "Chicken pastrami with thyme.selective focus" • georgerudy - "Girl with credit card at the bookshop" • Leigh Trail - "Ornate downtown shops and storefronts on main street in Midwest small town" • alfa27 - "group of diverse people working in charitable foundation, happy caucasian and african volunteers looking at donation box, separating donations stuffs"