Fall 2021 Newsletter
Our Mission - North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.
La Extensión Cooperativa de Carolina del Norte se asocia con las comunidades para ofrecer educación y tecnología que enriquecen la vida de los habitantes, la tierra y la economía de Carolina del Norte.
To order, go to go.ncsu.edu/mum_fundraiser.
Visit NC Farms app
4-H & Youth Development
Thank you to the 64 youth who participated in the Stokes County 4-H Summer Fun camps! We enjoyed meeting new faces and learning with you all. If you have not had a chance to complete the summer evaluation form please do so here: go.ncsu.edu/stokessummerfun. We would also like to thank all those who helped organize our camps, from the Extension Staff to volunteers for teaching our camps - THANK YOU!
National 4-H Week is October 3-9, 2021! Help us celebrate by showing support for Stokes County 4-H, NC 4-H and National 4-H!
Ag in the Classroom - 1 lesson / can be offered once a month or however is needed - the mission of AITC is to increase agriculture literacy through K-12 education. AITC cultivates an understanding and appreciation of the food and fiber system that we all rely on every day. We have lessons for most grade levels.
Health Rocks! - 9 lessons - Health Rocks! applies 4‑H’s successful Positive Youth Development model with life skill development and decision-making philosophy to the challenge of reducing tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarette/vaping and drug use. This program is designed for youth in middle school.
Embryology - 3 week program - Egg-splore the science of embryology from egg to chicken. Youth follow the beginning of the life cycle of real chickens from being inside of the egg all the way until it hatches. Geared for 2nd grade standards but can be modified for other grade levels.
To sign your class up for a program, please visit go.ncsu.edu/stokesschoolenrichment.
Stokes County 4-H Jr Beekeepers Club will meet October 12th and November 9th at 6PM at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension Office. Have you always wanted to know more about honey bees and how you can one day become a beekeeper? Come learn all about beekeeping and honey bees! The Stokes County Beekeepers will be teaching youth about the fascinating world of bees. The Stokes County 4-H Jr Beekeepers will meet once a month, on the second Tuesday from 6-7PM. We are welcoming all youth ages 5-18. The Stokes County Beekeepers Association will be organizing this group. Please enroll in 4HOnline 2.0 to be a part of the Jr Beekeepers.
Looking for a fresh wreath and garland this holiday season? Let Stokes County 4-H help you! Our wreath and garland sale will go live mid October. Please see a 4-Her or 4-H Club for more details.
Come join us for our annual Gingerbread House Competition on December 2, 2021 at 6PM. Create your very own gingerbread house masterpiece by hand or by using a kit. We will also use this time to celebrate the holidays! More information will be sent out closer to date. Please register for this event by using your 4-H Online profile. If you have any questions, please contact Taylor Furr at taylor_furr@ncsu.edu.
4-H Clubs
Stokes 4-H Livestock Team is a club that specializes in livestock judging and skillathon. The club’s goal is to give youth a chance to better understand livestock. For more information, contact Brandon Hartman at 336-830-5292 or brandonhartman755@gmail.com.
Northern Stokes Shooting Sports Club is for North Stokes High School area youth who are interested in shooting sports. For more information, contact Ben Hall at 336-593-8134 or ben.hall@stokes.k12.nc.us.
School Skippers is a community club with a diversity of ages that does service projects and studies centered on various themes. For more information, contact Christian Moorefield at 336-351-4858 or 3littlesmiles@gmail.com.
CloverPaws 4-H Club is for youth ages 5-9 who have interest in dogs. This club in particular will not be for youth to bring their dogs, except for special occasions. It is for youth to learn more about dogs in general, before working and training their dog. Youth will also learn arts and crafts related to dogs. For more information, contact Pam Davis at 336-341-7524 or pamshoredavis@gmail.com.
4 Paws 4-H Club is a dog club for youth ages 9 and up that focuses on dog training, dog sports, projects and studies. For more information, contact Pam Davis at 336-341-7524 or pamshoredavis@gmail.com.
TheraPaws 4-H Club is a special interest club for youth ages 12 and older. Youth MUST be willing and have the desire to serve others. Their focus will be more community service driven. Youth will train their dog to become therapy dogs. Dogs WILL have to pass a temperament evaluation before they are able to participate in the club. For more information, contact Pam Davis at 336-341-7524 or pamshoredavis@gmail.com.
At-Large is a for a child who would rather not join a particular club, then he or she is an At-Large Member. At-Large members , along with club members, are allowed full 4-H privileges. For more information, contact Taylor Furr at 336-593-8179 or tfurr@ncsu.edu.
Agriculture & Natural Resources
To order, go to go.ncsu.edu/poinsettia_fundraiser
To register go to https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes-blackberry
To register go to https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes-family-farm
To register, go to https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes_master_gardener.
About the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program - Interested in becoming part of this volunteer program that is dedicated to promoting research-based, sustainable gardening? Visit Become a Volunteer to learn how you can become part of the Extension Master Gardener℠ program.
About the Stokes County Extension Master Gardener Program - If you would like more information on becoming a Master Gardener Volunteers of Stokes County or have questions, please contact Bryan Hartman, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent at bryan_hartman@ncsu.edu or by phone (336) 593-8179.
The Stokes County Beekeepers Association meets the second Tuesday night of each month at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension Office at 7:00 p.m. This meeting is open to the public, new members are welcome and membership dues are $10 a year. To subscribe to the Stokes County Beekeepers list, email Bryan Hartman and put “subscribe to beekeepers list” in the subject line, I will sign you up and you will receive a welcome message. If you have any questions, contact Bryan Hartman at 336-593-8179. Stokes County Beekeepers Association Website Stokes County Beekeepers Association Facebook Group North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. Read more at: https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-small-farms-horticulture/stokes-county-beekeepers/
Stokes County Plasticulture Equipment Rental
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center has been awarded the NC AgVentures Grant sponsored by NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The grant was used to purchase plasticulture equipment. We used the award to purchase a Compact Raised Bed Mulch Layer, a Plastic Mulch Lifter, and a trailer for transportation to rent to small farms. The following equipment is to be leased by Lessee.
- Nolt (Red) Mulch Layer with or without Equipment Trailer
- Nolt (Red) Mulch Lifter with or without Equipment Trailer
Using plasticulture as a production method for growing fruits and vegetables has its advantages. Plasticulture has been proven to increase yield (up to three times greater), improve weed control and watering efficiency (water savings of up to 90 percent) and reduce fertilizer costs due to a targeted, more efficient use of applied nutrients. To help the state’s small farmers experience the advantage of these benefits, below are some frequently asked questions about the Plasticulture Equipment Rental.
Who can rent the equipment? Any North Carolina small farmer who wants to try plasticulture to grow crops. We may ask you to share your yield information with us for record-keeping and impact reporting.
How do I rent the equipment? The equipment will be rented on a first‐come, first‐served basis. Contact N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center to request an application and be placed on the schedule. Proper identification will be required when the equipment is picked up. Only one piece of equipment will be rented at a time, depending on the production season. The equipment cannot be rented for more than three days at a time.
How do I return the equipment? The equipment should be returned to the location where it was picked up on the date indicated on the application. Any farmer who does not return the equipment when promised may not be allowed to rent it again and could be subject to a late fee. The equipment should be cleaned before it is returned; a cleaning fee may be applied should the equipment be returned in an unsatisfactory condition. If you are an organic farmer, please note that you are responsible for cleaning the equipment to meet organic certification standards.
Does it cost to rent the equipment? Yes. Rental costs are based on the length of use and due at the time of pick up. One‐day rental ‐ $25 Two‐day rental ‐ $50 Three‐day rental ‐ $75
How do I pay the rental fee? When the equipment is picked up, the farmer should provide either a check or cash for the number of days they will rent the unit and complete all required paperwork.
If you have questions about the Stokes County Plasticulture Equipment Rental program, contact Bryan Hartman, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent, at (336) 593-8179 or bkhartman@ncat.edu. https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/06/stokes-county-plasticulture-equipment-rental/
Family & Consumer Sciences
To register, go to:
- https://kingnc.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=116
- https://kingnc.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=118
To register, go to go.ncsu.edu/stokes-happy-home
To register, go to go.ncsu.edu/lunchandlearn-butternut
To register, go to go.ncsu.edu/stokes-canning
Recipes
Halloween - Black Bean Hummus Try using black beans instead of garbanzo beans in this classic dip, and add a sour cream spider web and black olive spider for a spooky twist! https://site.extension.uga.edu/walkgeorgia/roasted-red-pepper-and-black-bean-hummus/
Thanksgiving - Roasted Brussel Sprouts https://medinsteadofmeds.com/roasted-brussels-sprouts/
Thanksgiving - Sweet Potato Casserole https://medinsteadofmeds.com/sweet-potato-casserole/
Read more about food safety during the holidays at: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/food-safety-at-home/holiday-food-safety/
Livestock & Forages
November 6, 2021: Bunn, NC - Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/productionforprofit6
November 20, 2021: Salisbury, NC - Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/productionforprofit20
Join us on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 for an evening focused on management of internal parasites in small ruminants. For workshop details please visit https://go.ncsu.edu/stokesgoatsandsheep
To register, go to go.ncsu.edu/uprsfence
Stockpiling Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is sometimes referred to as the “wonder grass”. It can persist through overgrazing, poor fertility, and drought better than other cool-season perennials, such as orchardgrass. Tall fescue is the predominant species in pastures in Stokes County, giving the opportunity to take advantage of stockpiled tall fescue during the winter months, effectively extending the grazing season and lessening the need for stored forage. Stockpiling tall fescue begins in August by grazing or mowing the forage to a height of 3-4″.
Tall fescue grows rapidly during the cool weather of spring and fall. For this reason, it is common for nitrogen fertilizer to be applied to increase fall growth. Typical nitrogen fertilizer applications for stockpiling range from 40-80 units of nitrogen per acre, although greater amounts of fertilizer do not always result in a return on investment through significantly increased yield. Instead of being grazed or harvested, forage remains untouched while actively growing. After all other standing forage on the farm has been utilized, animals are moved to the stockpiled tall fescue, typically in November or December. Depending on stocking density, accumulated forage, and grazing management, stockpiled tall fescue can sometimes be grazed into February of the following year.
The quality of stockpiled tall fescue has been reported to meet, and sometimes exceed, the nutrient requirements of dry cows. It is important to remember that weather can greatly impact the ability to stockpile and graze stockpiled tall fescue. If drought conditions occur during August and September, yield will be decreased. Alternatively, if the ground remains wet during the grazing period, pugging damage will occur.
Questions about stockpiled tall fescue? Contact Kendra Phipps at kpphipps@ncsu.edu or 336-593-8179
Stokes County Cattlemen's Association
Equipment Rental
Row Crops
Soybean Field Day! A soybean field day is scheduled for Sept 9, 2021 at the Roger and Greg Moxley Farm located on Mitchells Chapel Rd, Boonville, NC. Watch for the signs to get you to the proper location! This event will start at 4:00 pm and will include a Planting Date Test where you can see 6 different maturities planted at several different planting dates – with the earliest being in March, the latest being in August. We will also discuss foliar feeding, seed fungicide treatments, and we have a very good Palmer Pigweed Mgmt Demo for you to see. Pesticide Credits have been applied for.
Tobacco Referendum - If you are a tobacco grower, you will be able to vote in a tobacco referendum scheduled for Nov 18, 2021. The voting location will be at the Stokes County Extension Office during normal business hours. You will have the chance to assess yourself 10 cents per 100 lbs to support tobacco research across the state. This is one of the primary sources of tobacco research funding so plan to make your voice heard.
Projects Underway - As a tobacco county, Stokes tobacco producers are participating in two statewide tobacco surveys in 2021. By the time you read this, the fieldwork portion will be completed, while the lab work may still be ongoing. Survey number one is a look at blackshank and the races of blackshank we have in the NW Piedmont. Lower stalks and roots have been sent to the university to determine blackshank race – hopefully helping local tobacco producers to choose varieties with more information than they’ve had in the past. Survey number two is looking at finding out what species and numbers of nematodes might be present across the state. As with the blackshank survey, I’ve taken several nematode samples from different parts of Stokes County, from different soil types, and from different management strategies. I will be sharing this information as it become available!
Where Can You Find Our Agents?
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, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Credits:
Created with images by Pixaline - "sunflower harvest pumpkin" • CJ - "harvest harvester teamwork" • fetcaldu - "pure cigar tobacco"