Iredell Informed February 2023

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NC Cattlemens Conference is coming soon! Click for more info: https://www.nccattle.com/news-events/annual-conference

In honor of American Heart Month and National Canned Food Month, I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to add color with canned veggies to fill your plate and fuel your heart. I always ensure my pantry is stocked with low-sodium or no-salt-added vegetables and canned beans. Makes for easy meals and snacks the entire family can enjoy! Canned foods are picked at their peak ripeness and canned quickly to ensure quality and nutrients stay intact. In addition to being shelf-stable, canned produce is budget-friendly! What’s not to love?!

Cowboy Caviar

Ingredients:
 15 Oz. Can No-Salt Added Black Beans, drained and rinsed
 15 Oz. Can No-Salt Added Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
 15 Oz. Can No-Salt Added Whole Kernel Corn, drained and rinsed
 3/4 Cup Pico de Gallo (or salsa)
 1/4 Cup Italian Dressing (with no added sugar)
 2 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Put all ingredients into large bowl and mix well.
2. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
3. Enjoy with whole grain chips.
Tips:
Always look for no-salt added versions of canned products. By draining and rinsing canned vegetables and beans you can reduce the sodium up to 41%!

We will be hosting a V credit pesticide training in March, more information to come in next month's newsletter.

2023 Regional Turfgrass Conference

Join us at the following in-person, 2023 regional conferences which are at four times at three locations throughout the state.

The annual regional conferences offer a chance to hear the latest in the NC State Turfgrass Program’s ongoing research trials and speak directly with NC State’s faculty and staff. The broad range of topics includes Integrated Pest Management, cultural practices, weed control and more.

February 27, 2023
8:00 AM-11:45 AM
Guilford County Extension Office
3309 Burlington Road
Greensboro, 27405

DUE TO COVID-19 GUIDELINES, ON-SITE REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED THIS YEAR. ALL REGISTRATION MUST BE DONE ONLINE IN ADVANCE.

Registration Fees for all Regional Conferences:
Regular Registration Fee - $30
TCNC Registration Fee - $10
Extension Agents - Free

Who Should Attend:

This course is recommended for the following groups of individuals:

Landscape managers (from single property to multiple client operations)
Golf course personnel
Sports Turf managers
Master Gardeners
Citizens seeking advanced information

Long-Term Planning

The 2045 Horizon Plan is about planning for the future of Iredell County for the next 20+ years.

This plan will help answer three critical questions:

1) Where is the County today?

2) What do we want the County to be in the future?

3) How do we get there?

It is an opportunity for the community to describe the 2045 vision for our County and set a course of action to achieve that vision. There may be issues that affect you and your neighbors now. Understanding those is important. We also invite you to consider the County in 2045.
Share your input

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Iredell County has changed since the 2030 Horizon Plan was adopted in 2009. The plan helped guide Iredell County the past decade of growth. Though guided by timeless principles, a comprehensive update of the Horizon Plan is needed. There has been new growth in the County and in the region, shifts in community preferences, evolution of industries, and ever-improving best practices to consider. This effort will build on the foundation of the 2030 Horizon Plan and updated municipal plans to look and plan for further in the future.

The next Horizon Plan will continue to consider the topics of the previous plan as well as emerging issues. Topics such as:

Growth Management and Future Land Use
Agricultural Preservation
Transportation
Economic Development
Cultural, Environmental, and Water Resources
Public Services and Facilities

Teen Retreat
March 4th-5th at Millstone 4-H Camp
Ages 13-18Cost: TBD
Join other 4-H teens from our district at the annual Teen Retreat! While there you can expect to elect the new District 4-H Council Officers, attend fun and educational workshops, and other activities. Interested in attending? Contact Adreanna, awhite6@ncsu.edu, 704-873-0507

Trouble Shooters Interest Meeting
Feb. 23rd at 6pm in the Auditorium.
Ages 8-18, parents must attend with youth

Piedmont Rabbit Project
Learn how to raise, care for, and show rabbits with the 6 week Piedmont Rabbit Project. Don't have a rabbit? That's okay! We will have rabbits available for you to borrow for this project. When: Starts in late March and ends with the Rabbits Show on May 6thWhere: Pick-up will be at the Iredell Extension Office and the Rabbit Show will be at the Rowan County Fairgrounds.Keep an eye on our facebook page for more information in the near future. Contact Adreanna, awhite6@ncsu.edu) if you are interested in participating in this project.

4-H Needs Assessment

As we begin another year, we invite you to provide feedback about our county's 4-H program. We want to know what the community needs and wants from 4-H in the coming year and in the future. We appreciate all the feedback that we receive. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know. To fill out the needs assessment, please visit: https://go.ncsu.edu/2023iredell4hneedsassessment.

Time Management in the Life of a Dairy Cow
– Rick Grant, Miner Institute

For cows, time is money!

Time Budget for Dairy Cow:
4-5 hours/day eating
12-14 hours/day resting
2-3 hours/day standing, walking, grooming
.5 hours/day drinking
For all of the above total needed is 20.5 – 21.5hours/day
Leaves 2.5 – 3.5 hours for milking which includes time in holding pen

The Central Piedmont Small Grains field day is on March 1st, 2023 from 11:30-3 PM hosted by the Piedmont Research Station at 8350 Sherrills Ford Rd, Salisbury, NC. There will be several specialists presenting to provide program and research updates on Small Grains and to discuss mid-season management practices as we approach spring greenup. There will be pesticide credits and a sponsored meal.

We tested Xyway fungicide applied 2x2 against no fungicide in 2021 and 2022. Here are our most recent results. Thanks to ASR Grain in Shelby, NC for hosting the trial site and growing the crop!

CONTINUE TO CATCH EXTENSION ON WAME

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

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

Mondays- Adreanna White-Foxx & 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
Adreanna White-Foxx: 4-H and Youth Development
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