dbmcgiff@ncsu.edu

Nickels for Know-How

It is 2022 which means this is the year for the Nickels for Know-How Referendum. The referendum has been in place since 1948, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.

This year, the Moore County Nickels for Know-How Referendum will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at the County Extension Center in the Moore County Agricultural Building located at 707 Pinehurst Avenue, in Carthage, NC from 8:00 am-5:00 pm.

The purpose of the referendum is to let users and producers of feed or fertilizer decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program. A 2/3 favorable vote for the Nickels for Know-How program 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.

Funds of 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 the Moore County Extension Office at 910-947-3188.

The Fabled Venus Flytrap:

NC Native

It sounds like something out of science fiction, but it’s real. And not just real, the Venus flytrap is endemic to North Carolina, one of the only locations in the world the plant grows in the wild. The Venus flytrap, one of the most famous and fabled plants on the planet, originates from the subtropical wetlands of the Carolina coast. Its native range is within a roughly 70-mile radius of Wilmington.

It is one of the few carnivorous plants in the world, a subspecies that includes pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts and butterworts. You probably remember from school days that carnivorous basically means meat-eating, and this is true of the amazing flytrap and its cousins. In this case, the meat includes insects that unwarily enter its gaping jaws.

The recent episode of Homegrown is all about this fascinating flora. Kevin Cassel, grounds maintenance supervisor at N.C. Cooperative Extension’s New Hanover County Arboretum, explains how — and why — the Venus flytrap snares its prey, about efforts to ensure the health of this vulnerable species, and why it is never OK to dig one up in the wild (hint: they are vulnerable, and it is illegal).

Garlic 101

If you are thinking about a fall garden be sure to include the root vegetable garlic (Allium sativum). Fall is the proper planting time for the south. Garlic does require patience as harvest time is summer from its fall planting.

There are many reasons to include this hardy member of the onion family in your garden. It provides a good companion plant as its smell will repel various garden pets (spider mites, ants, Japanese beetles, and aphids). It is low maintenance, does not take much space to plant and can be stored for a long period of time.

Garlic is propagated by planting cloves which are the segments making up the garlic bulb. Each bulb usually contains a dozen or more cloves. Each clove is planted separately. When planting a clove, dig a hole 1-3” deep and space cloves 6” inches apart. The clove is positioned with the pointed side up in an upright position. Garlic grows best in well worked soil that contains organic matter. To harvest, dig up the bulbs
when the tops have died down and place in a dry, airy location to cure.

The two basic types of garlic are softneck (var. sativum) and hardneck (var.ophioscorodon). Softneck garlic stalks contain leaves while hardnecks have a stalk (garlic scapes).

By: Betty Dew, EMGV, Moore County

Photo: by NCSU

Hurry, Only a Few Weeks Left to Enjoy Fall Produce at Most Local Farmers' Markets

Moore County Farmers' Market
www.moorecountyfarmersmarket.com

Downtown Park, Southern Pines, Saturdays,
April 16-October 29, 2022, 8AM-Noon

Armory Sports Complex, Southern Pines, Thursdays,
Year-Round, 9 AM-1PM
(closed Thanksgiving, November 23)

Sandhills Farmers Market In Pinehurst
https://www.facebook.com/SFGMarket/

Tufts Park, Pinehurst,
Saturdays, April 16-October 1, 10 AM-1 PM
Wednesdays, April 20-September 28, 3 PM-6 PM

Sandhills Farm to Table
Community Supported Agriculture
subscribe @ https://www.sandhillsfarm2table.com/
Deliveries from April 20-November 10

Equine Nutrition Workshop

Obesity and poor health due to excess dietary sugars are rampant in the equine community. Join us for a hands on nutrition workshop focusing on balanced rations and quality forage to keep your horse healthy and ready to perform!

Speakers include agents from Chatham, Montgomery, & Moore County Extension as well as Christina Reynolds of Triple Crown Feeds, Dr. Paul Siciliano, Professor of Equine Nutrition at NC State, and Dr. Lisa Kivett, DVM Equine Veterinarian at Foundation Equine Clinic.

A free lunch will be sponsored by Triple Crown, but to attend you must register online via Eventbrite.

For additional information contact Tom Shea, Moore County Livestock Agent.

Fallen Trees: Who Is Responsible for
Property Damage?

Hurricane Ian and other bad weather events remind us how quickly wind and rain and ice can upend or tear limbs from a decades-old or sometimes a centuries-old-tree. Trees and limbs often fall across property lines and cause damage, particularly in residential settings but also rural settings where the tree fall causes damage to fencing and other structures.

As a practical matter, a homeowner's or farm hazard policy should cover structural damage and removal costs from a tree or branch falling from their property onto an adjacent neighbor's property. However, North Carolina does not follow a strict liability standard with an “it’s your tree, you pay” result. Instead, North Carolina jurisprudence follows the common law negligence standard for property and bodily injury for damage caused by falling trees and limbs.

Link to the Extension Farm Law webpage to fInd out more about property owners' liabilities and responsibilities, and common law negligence.

Fall is here and summer is a memory, but don't think fresh local produce is only available during the summer months. In fact, fall harvests bring plenty of delectable produce packed with nutritional values.

Among the most gourd-geous of fall produce are the varieties of winter squash that are found throughout the state. Once more there the many varieties of winter squash to choose from, but don't let the choices intimidate you. In fact, any variety you decide to try will be a delicious way to liven up your meals during the cooler months of the year. These tough on the outside, sweet on the inside squashes make nutritious and tasty additions to the table. Packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and fiber, these squashes can add sweetness to many dishes without the need for added sugar.

The information below gives tips for selecting, cooking and eating these powerhouses of nutrition.

Share & Celebrate Your 4-H Experiences During National 4-H Week

Here at Moore County 4-H we are gearing up for National 4-H Week held October 2nd-8th. This year's theme is Opportunity for All. In 2022-2023, North Carolina 4-H is promoting Shared Experiences across 4-H. Through shared experiences, we learn to understand others and through understanding flows respect. We hope that you will share your 4-H experience with others during this week and reach out to 4-H Alumni to hear their experience and glean knowledge from their 4-H journey.

Please be on the lookout for exciting events and opportunities shared from NC 4-H by visiting the NC 4-H Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthCarolina4H.