dbmcgiff@ncsu.edu

With more than 1,000 experts and 101 local centers in every county and the Qualla Boundary, N.C. Cooperative Extension generates $2.1 billion in economic impact for North Carolina every year. In short, Extension grows our state.

And now, as it turns out, Our State magazine is growing awareness of Extension. Our State, a popular award-winning monthly magazine, has recognized Extension’s indelible impact across the state in a series of features in its May 2023 issue.

We hope you enjoy reading the stories featured that represent Extension’s vast array of local programming occurring statewide. From nurturing the next generation of leaders and promoting public green spaces to helping farmers blaze new trails and preserving the state’s food traditions, Our State’s stories shine a spotlight on the impacts Extension makes in communities throughout North Carolina.

The Pickings Are Right for
Moore County Strawberries

It's strawberry season. Be sure to get them fresh off the farm for strawberry short cake or for just just eating straight out of the basket. You don't have long to savor these springtime jewels, but as the saying goes, "If God willing and the creeks don't rise," Moore County farms will have them around till mid-June. The article below tells you how to pick perfect locally grown strawberries. Go to one of the following local farms to get your just-picked berries, but call ahead to verify availability and farm hours:

CV Pilson Farms-order online: https://www.cvpilsonfarm.com/

White Hill Farms-pre-picked or pick-your-own:
(910)-783-8552; whitehillfarms.com/

Highlander Farm-pre-picked or pick-your-own
(910) 947-5831; highlandersfarmnc.com/

Happy Goat Ranch-
(910) 315-2058; facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065019960690

Carter Farms-pre-picked or pick-your-own
(910) 673-7730; https://ncstrawberry.com/member/carter-farms/

Karefree Produce-pre-picked
(910) 947-3825; https://www.facebook.com/KarefreeProduce/

Olde Carthage Farm-pre-picked or pick-your-own
(919) 353-0179; https://www.facebook.com/OldeCarthageFarm/

The Perfect Time to Pick Strawberries

Pollen and gardens aren't the only things bursting anew come springtime in the South – sweet and scrumptious strawberries are back in season!

Fortunately for those of us in North Carolina, we live in one of the top strawberry producing states in the country, coming in at No. 4 with over 1,000 acres in 2020. It should come as no surprise that there’s an abundance of local farm stands and pick-your-own strawberry farms across the state. Good thing too, because nothing quite compares to freshly picked strawberries.

In this edition of Homegrown find out from NC State Extension strawberry specialist, Mark Hoffmann, expert pointers for picking perfect strawberries.

Whether your family heads to the farm on Mother’s Day or flocks to the farmers market for your baskets of berries, it’s an ideal way to spend a spring day, enjoy the outdoors and support a local farm. So take your pick and then get pickin’ before these local delicacies are gone for the year!

Deborah McGiffin, County Extension Director
Moore County

Rain Gardens

When rain moves over roads, parking lots, driveways, compacted soil, and other impervious surfaces, it carries fertilizers, herbicides, pathogens, toxic containments, sediment, and other pollutants before entering a stream or wetland area.

Rain gardens are shallow vegetated depressions designed and built to accept stormwater runoff from those surfaces. Homeowners and municipalities are increasingly using them to reduce the
impact of stormwater on local waterways.

Rain gardens are most effective downstream of a significant runoff source, such as a roof or road. Observe where the water goes on your property in the next storm. That’s most likely a good place for a rain garden. You can dig out a shallow depression for the garden or hire a
contractor to remove several inches. The soil does not need any amendments. Be sure it is away from a building foundation, septic systems, well heads and utility lines. Get the underground utility lines marked before you dig.

A partial- to full-sun location is ideal. The plants that do the best in rain gardens can tolerate wet and arid conditions. Many plants native to our region fit the description, including perennials, grasses, and shrubs that are visually appealing and provide nectar and pollen for birds and pollinators.

For more information on rain gardens, visit: https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/rain-gardens/. Watch for upcoming training programs for home landscapes in the Moore County area this autumn.

By: Claudia Watson, EMGV, Moore County

Photo: Courtesy of Capital Region Watershed District

For more information, contact the Extension Master Gardener Helpline at 910-947-3188, Monday-Friday

Spring Is Here, and So Are More Market Days

Moore County Farmers' Market
www.moorecountyfarmersmarket.com

Thursdays,
Year-Round, 9 AM-1PM
(closed Thanksgiving)
604 W. Morganton Rd (Armory SportsComplex)
Southern Pines, NC 28387

Seasonal, Saturdays, April 15-October 28, 8AM-12 Noon
Downtown Southern Pines
156 SE Broad Street. So Pines, NC 28388

Sandhills Farmers Market

Season hours:
Saturdays from April 15-October 7, 2023
(except Memorial & Labor Day Weekends)
10 AM-1 PM
Wednesdays from April 19-October 4, 2023
3:00 PM-6:00 PM

Sandhills Farm to Table Open for 14th Season

April 18 & 19 - November 8 & 9

Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative is a multi-farm CSA (community supported agriculture) of farms throughout the Sandhills and beyond that brings to member subscribers the best variety of seasonally fresh produce from our farms to your tables. Subscribe to a box that's packed with the abundance of Sandhills fresh-picked fruits and veggies and have them delivered to your door or to a pick-up site on a weekly, bi-weekly or on a selected week basis. Click to subscribe and find out about the freshest seasonal choices available. As a consumer member, you will have convenient access to the highest quality of local food, at a price comparable to current retail food prices!

Parasite Management for Grazing
Sheep and Goats

Parasites and predators are two of the largest problems producers face when raising sheep and goats, especially in the southeastern United States. Predation is often dramatic and traumatic, but parasites are the silent killer. Strong fences, livestock guardian animals, and other precautionary measures can prevent predation. Compared to predation pressure, parasite issues can be more difficult.

Many parasite treatments are overused, and parasites are becoming resistant. This is leading to more and deadlier parasite issues in small ruminants. People often ask, “How often should I
deworm my sheep or goats? Every 3 months, six months?” The answer is neither. To slow down resistance to the dewormers we have, you should only administer dewormers based on
FAMACHA© scores. FAMACHA© is a diagnostic test to help small ruminant producers identify animals that require anthelmintic treatment and those which do not equire deworming. The tool is a card that matches eyelid color to anemia levels, an indicator of clinical barber pole worm infection. Its use is limited to the parasites which cause anemia. Producers must receive training to receive a card. Producers can receive training online or through an NC Cooperative Extension event.

Wormx.info is a website from the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control. This is a great resource for producers to gather information about parasite control in their small
ruminant herds and flocks. They have the most up-to-date information for using dewormers, including using combination dewormers to reduce the risk of dewormer resistance. The website puts out newsletters in both English and Spanish. They also provide training for FAMACHA© through their online portal. They have suggestions for best management practices, including
genetic selection for parasite resistance to pasture management to prevent parasite issues.

Good pasture management is one of the most effective ways to prevent parasite issues. Most parasites live in the bottom 2 inches of grass blades and stalks. The best management practice for grazing is not to graze below 3 inches. This maximizes forage productivity and availability and reduces the likelihood of the sheep and goats ingesting parasites. This can be accomplished by subdividing pastures with temporary fences, allowing flexibility in your grazing plans. This is often the cheapest and most effective way to combat parasites. Moving animals weekly or more often allows to the animals to move from affected areas before parasite eggs have time to hatch.

Please contact your local Extension office for more information on how to combat parasite issues in sheep and goats.

Suppose you would like to learn more about sheep and goat health management. In that case, you can join NC Cooperative Extension, Ithilka Acres Creamery, and Hannah Creek Veterinary Hospital on April 29th at 8 am.

Please contact Tom Shea at tpshea@ncsu.edu for more information.

Hollyhock Rust

The warmth of spring wakes up all kinds of critters, including pests. With the large amount of rain we’ve gotten in April, we will most likely be seeing more disease presenting itself on our lovely plants.

When diagnosing any plant problem, it’s important to first properly identify the plant. Some plants may appear to have an issue, when really, they’re just fine. For instance, in the fall, many needled evergreens will have inner needles that turn brown and begin falling off of the tree. This is the natural needle drop that these trees do every 2-5 years.

Hollyhocks are a beautiful herbaceous flowering plant, that reseeds itself and can produce colonies in the garden year after year. They bloom from June to August and come in a large variety of colors.

Recently, a series of photos were submitted showing symptomatic foliage of hollyhocks. The symptoms indicated a very common fungal leaf disease for hollyhocks and other plants in the mallow family, Hollyhock Rust.

This pathogen can spread rapidly in the landscape, causing stunting and premature leaf drop. It can also, in rare cases, lead to plant death. Like the name suggests, the symptoms look a lot like rust, especially in the beginning. As the disease progresses, the rust will start to look more bumpy.

If you notice Hollyhock Rust in your landscape, remove the symptomatic foliage and dispose of it in the garbage or bury it very deep underground. The spores are blown by the wind or splashed by water from place to place, and it can survive in the leaves and stems of its host plants over winter.

It might also be a good idea to treat remaining host plants with a preventative fungicide, since there still may be spores that did not make it to the trash or a burial site.

To avoid this problem, remove weedy mallow plants in the landscape, such as common mallow and remove all hollyhock debris in the fall to eliminate an overwintering site for the rust pathogen. Also, make sure not to plant hollyhocks too closely, as they need good air circulation to reduce humidity within the foliage.

By Savanah Laur, Moore County Horticulture Agent

Have Fun this Summer with Moore County 4-H

4-H Summer Fun is a special program provided by Moore County 4-H through NC Cooperative Extension. We are a proud United Way of Moore County partnering agency. Activities are open to all youth ages 5-18. Workshops are designed for specific age groups. You do not have to be a current 4-H member to participate.

Join us for a fun and exciting summer! All Moore County 4-H Summer Fun registrations will open in 4honline on May 8th and close on June 9th. Registration is first come first serve and spots are limited. Please take advantage of the early registration dates to ensure your child’s space in the workshop of their choice.

For more information contact Moore County 4-H Agent, Kaley Lawing, at kaley_lawing@ncsu.edu, or call, 910-947-3188.