Iredell Informed Newsletter November 2022

Fall Weed Control in North Carolina Wheat

By Angela Post & Wesley Everman

For an excellent wheat crop you need to start clean and stay clean with respect to weed
control. One of the best tools for suppressing weeds in small grains is a healthy,
vigorous crop. Good crop management practices we discussed last week including on-
time planting, using the right population, and using nitrogen fertility at planting help to
rapidly establish wheat stands and develop a canopy that will minimize the effects of
weeds. Tillage can also help to eliminate small weeds prior to planting. In no-till
systems, be sure that a good burndown application is made ahead of planting and use a
residual herbicide if possible. If that is not possible then plan an early-post/spike
herbicide application to control weeds that emerge with your crop. Here you can find a
table with herbicides labeled for small grains grown in North Carolina. If you are growing
a small grain other than wheat, you should be very careful with weed control choices because there are fewer products labeled.

Special consideration for Italian Ryegrass:

Italian ryegrass is one of our most widespread problem weeds in small grains in NC and
this weed has become more challenging to manage with the development of resistance.
In wheat, preemergent control with Anthem Flex or a spike application of Zidua offers
the best control of Italian ryegrass. There are currently no control programs for Italian
ryegrass in oats or rye. These crops should not be planted in Italian ryegrass-infested
fields. Axial BOLD can be used on barley post-emergence. Growers typically like to
delay application until February or March in an effort to let all the Italian ryegrass
emerge before treatment. Delayed applications are usually problematic. First, larger
Italian ryegrass is more difficult to control. Second, dense stands of ryegrass are very
competitive with small grains. Even though larger Italian ryegrass may be controlled
adequately, dense stands can adversely affect small grains prior to herbicide
application. Small grains will not recover from severe early season competition. You can
find more comprehensive information on herbicides labeled for small grains and weed
control options for broadleaf weeds in the Small Grains Production Guide.

Nickels For Know-How Referendum – November 17

The Iredell County Nickels for Know-How Referendum will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022. The polling place will be at the Iredell County Agricultural Resource Center located at 444 Bristol Drive, Statesville from 8am – 5pm.
Users of feed and fertilizer in North Carolina — residential and commercial, agricultural and
urban or suburban — will vote on whether to continue the 15 cents per ton self-assessment on fertilizer and animal feed produced in our state. Since 1951, the Nickels For Know-How check-off has been voted on 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.
Nickels for Know-How has had a huge impact - from providing seed money for launching great ideas to addressing major issues that our stakeholders face. The program supports graduate students, in particular, by helping to train the next generation for careers in food, agriculture and the life sciences and generating research and extension information that benefits all of North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services collects the check-off
funds – about $1.4 million annually – from the manufacturers of feed and fertilizer.
Manufacturers build the cost – three nickels per ton – into the price of their products. The money is allocated by the NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc.’s 148-member board of directors to support teaching, agricultural research and extension projects at NC State University benefitting agriculture in North Carolina.

For more information on the referendum, please call the Iredell County Extension Center at 704-873-0507.

Dairy Producers Can Now Enroll for 2023 Signup for Dairy Margin Coverage

Signups have started for 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and will run through December 9, 2022. Please call your local Farm Service Agency Office at 704-872-5061 to set up an appointment to sign up. The $100 administrative fee will be due by
check when you sign up. Premiums for buy-up coverage will not be due until later and can betaken out of any payments received. If you are no longer commercially marketing milk, please remember that makes you no longer eligible for DMC coverage. Please contact your FSA office immediately if you are no longer commercially marketing milk.
There is a forecast for 2022 DMC payments through the end of the year. These will be paid
around the first of each month if there is a payment. If you have/are planting small grains,
please call your local FSA office once you are done planting to get your small grain crop report completed. Your small grain acreage report and DMC signup can be done at the same time. For more information please contact your local Farm Service Agency at 704-872-5061.

It is not well known how stressful farming can be and the impacts of that stress on individual farmers and their families. The NC Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network is a fantastic organization that can help farmers with many ag-related issues, like physical and mental health. The network helps growers find healthcare providers and pay for them if they don't have insurance. Please take the time to acknowledge the importance of farmers and take the time to share this information that can benefit them and maintain the success of our food system.

https://ncfarmstress.org/

The Iredell Extension Center has received numerous calls about strange looking hammerhead worms. Not surprisingly, the hammerhead worm is the common name of Bipalium kewense. This worm is a type of terrestrial flatworm.

This is not all that new (or dangerous) but we are getting more and more calls about these strange looking critters. This particular worm is one of several flatworm or terrestrial worms that inhabit North Carolina. The hammerhead worm has been found in NC since 1951. It is called a hammerhead because of its large, hammer-shaped head. They can grow up to twelve inches long. And they have five black stripes running down their body.

They live in dark moist places such as under rocks, in leaf litter, or under flower pots. Their spread in North Carolina is surprisingly attributed to the movement of houseplants and soils that come from tropical regions. They are active at most times of the year and are fiercely predatory. They feed on earthworms, snails, slugs and other insects. They capture their prey like a constricting snake. Once they wrap themselves around their prey they suck the liquid parts of their prey out. They have a mouth that is located about midway down the underside of the body.

Hammerhead worms are hermaphrodites which means they have both male and female sexual organs. They reproduce by either mating and laying cocoon-filled eggs or by simply breaking apart and making two worms.

Although generally harmless, some flatworms can carry rat lungworms, a parasite that can infect people only if the worm is eaten. It’s also been discovered that some species of flatworms produce tetrodotoxins in their mucus. Some people are sensitive to the mucus. For this reason it’s always best to minimize handling these worms. If handled it’s recommended to not touch eyes and mouths, and wash hands thoroughly afterward.

Hammerhead worms may seem strange and worrisome, but overall they are a part of our state’s ecosystem, whether they were invited or not. To that point, many find their way here through movement of soil and plant materials. Be aware of flatworms when purchasing plants and garden items. If you find worms the same as or different from what is pictured here, please contact the Iredell Extension Center and we can help with identification.

This article was written with assistance from Donna Teasely, Burke County Horticulture Agent and Dr. Matt Bertone, Director of the NC State – Plant Disease and Insect Clinic.

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs in the South. Cooler air and soil temperatures reduce stress on plants and encourage root growth. Larger root systems help fall planted trees and shrubs perform better next summer than those that are planted in the spring.

Know Your Conditions

Whether you are just beginning your landscape this fall or adding to an already established yard, remember that great gardens don’t just happen – they develop through careful planning. Before purchasing plants, take note of your growing conditions. Do you have sun or shade? If you only have shade part of the day, which part is it – morning or afternoon? Many plants that prefer full shade will be fine if they get some morning sun. On the other hand, areas that receive morning shade but full afternoon sun should be planted with full sun plants.

Also consider your soil – is it mostly sand or clay, or a mixture? Does water drain away quickly or slowly after a storm? Have you had your soil tested in the past three years? If not, early fall is the perfect time to submit a soil sample for testing. Soil test results will tell you your soil’s pH (the measure of how acidic or basic your soil is), which will help you choose plants that will be happy in your soil conditions. The results will also let you know what type of nutrients your soil needs to support healthy plant growth. Soil testing supplies are available from any N.C. Cooperative Extension office. Learn more about soil testing in North Carolina.

Improve Your Soil

Knowing your growing conditions will help you choose plants that will thrive in your landscape with minimal care. Even so, most plants will grow better if you improve your soil by adding composted organic matter. Just adding a small amount of compost to the planting hole does not really help though. To really give plants a boost, plant in beds that have been well amended by spreading three to four inches of compost over the top then tilling the compost into the top six to eight inches of the soil.

The type of organic matter you use is not that important as long as it has been composted. Compost you make at home is just as good as compost purchased from garden centers or in bulk. Be aware that some commercially available composts can raise soil pH and may not be the best choice for acid loving plants such as blueberries, azaleas and camellias. Amend beds where you plan to grow acid loving plants with finely ground pine bark, which is sometimes sold as soil conditioner, and do not add lime.

In areas with poor drainage, you should either create raised planting beds or amend the soil with compost and choose plants that tolerate wet conditions. Visit Extension’s Plant Database to find the right plants for your landscape.

Dig the planting hole twice

the diameter of the root ball

with gently sloping sides, and

no deeper than the root ball.

Most plants that die within a few months of being planted do so because they were not planted properly or because they were not watered correctly. In fact, it is rare for a tree or shrub to die from insect or disease problems within the first year of planting.

Planting too deep is a common mistake. Trees and shrubs that are planted too deep may die quickly or may linger for several seasons, but never really thrive. Trees and shrubs should never be planted any deeper than they were growing in their container. When digging a hole to plant any type of woody plant, make sure to dig no deeper than the depth of the root ball. Dig the hole wide enough to place the plant in and still have plenty of room to fill the soil back in around the root ball. Gently settle the soil around new plants instead of packing it in.

Thoroughly water newly planted trees and shrubs and mulch the root zone. Check new plantings every few days by feeling the root ball and surrounding soil. Water plants when the root ball feels dry. Apply water slowly to allow it time to soak in and moisten the root ball and surrounding soil.

More tips for planting and establishing trees and shrubs are found in the Extension Gardener Handbook, available free online.

For answers to your gardening questions, contact an Iredell County Master Gardener volunteer by phone or email.
Phone: 704-873-0507
Email: iredellmgplantclinic@gmail.com

Information in this article was written by:

Charlotte Glen, Ed.D.State Coordinator, NC State Extension Master Gardener ProgramHorticultural Science
NC State Extension, NC State University

Mark your calendars beginning Tuesday, January 10th at 10:00 a.m. If you're asking why should you participate - It's fun! L.I.F.T. can improve your social and physical health. We are all aging, so we might as well get stronger with age.

L.I.F.T. is Lifelong Improvements Through Fitness Together and all the movements and exercises can be modified to accommodate your fitness level.

We plan to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30. This program will be held virtually. For more information, see the registration link below.
LIFT Program Registration

While you may think of it more in the fall, convenient canned pumpkin is available all year around and should become a regular on your shopping list when you are looking for a nutritional boost. One cup of canned pumpkin packs a whopping 7g of fiber, 500mg of potassium, and 38,000IU of
vitamin A, along with other vitamins and minerals. So how can we get more of this super food?
From sweet to savory dishes, versatile canned pumpkin can be used in a variety of recipes. Make
sure to use 100% pure pumpkin (pass on the canned pumpkin with added sugar) and add an unexpected dose of nutrition to your dishes!
1. Meatloaf. Add canned pumpkin to your meatloaf and not only will you be adding big nutrition to
a recipe that’s usually limited in vitamins and minerals, but you’ll also save money when you
need less meat!
2. Chili, Stew & Soup. Stir pumpkin into your chili, stews, and soup. The result will be big flavor
and big nutrition too.
3. Mac-n-Cheese. Gooey mac-n-cheese will still be just as creamy, but with the addition of
pumpkin it will also be more nutritious and get a filling fiber boost! Canned pumpkin perfectly
adds a serving of vegetables to this dish that’s traditionally lacking in it.
4. Oil Replacer. Maybe you have heard of using apple sauce to create moist baked goods
without the oil? Why not use pumpkin instead? Whether you’re baking muffins, cookies or
cakes, canned pumpkin will not only add vitamins and minerals, but has fewer calories than oil
(and is fat free too).
5. Oatmeal. Warm oatmeal is a perfect match for canned pumpkin. Simply stir it in to get oatmeal
that offers an even bigger boost than it already has! Add a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg for a
warm comforting bowl of nutritious grains to start your day.
6. Tomato Sauce. We already know that tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, but why not give
tomato sauce a bigger vitamin and fiber boost? Just stir in canned pumpkin the next time you
have sauce simmering on your stove!
7. Yogurt. Stir canned pumpkin into vanilla Greek yogurt and you will create a yogurt that is not
only protein rich, but antioxidant rich too! Add it to your parfaits and smoothies alike!
8. Pancakes. Pass on the egg and use ¼ cup canned pumpkin to create egg-free pancakes
when you need them to be allergy-friendly or when you just want to make your pancakes
nutrient rich!
9. Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes. While mashed potatoes are decidedly delicious already,
whipping canned pumpkin into them makes them even richer in potassium as well as fiber and
vitamin A.
10. Lasagna and Ziti. Go for a bit less cheese and a bunch more nutrition when you use canned
pumpkin in your next casserole! Picky eaters that tend to avoid vegetables won’t even realize
it’s in there (how sneaky of you!).

Extension has daily slots on the local radio station, WAME 92.9FM/550AM!

Check them out at 6:40am and 6:40pm

Mondays- Kelly Pierce for 4-H/Youth Development

Tuesdays- Andrea Sherrill for Family & Consumer Science

Wednesdays- Melinda Roberts for Horticulture

Thursdays- Laura Elmore and Jenny Carleo for Crops and
Livestock

Fridays- Nancy Keith, Dairy and Extension Director News

Need to get in touch with Extension Staff?

--Just click on the person below--

Agents/Associates:

Nancy Keith: County Extension Director, Dairy

Andrea Sherrill: Family & Consumer Science

Jenny Carleo: Area Specialized Agent, Grain Crops

Laura Elmore: Livestock and Crops

Kelly Pierce: 4-H Program Associate

Melinda Roberts: Horticulture

Associate Support Staff:

Beth Cloninger
Latoya Boller

NC Cooperative Extension
Iredell County Center
444 Bristol Drive Statesville NC 28677
704-873-0507