June is National Pollinators Month June is National Pollinators Month!! And to celebrate, we will be sharing ALL the information on pollinators with you via our Facebook Page (Alexander County Cooperative Extension)!!
National Pollinator month is really a continuation of National Pollinator Week, which was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration, promoting the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds,
butterflies, bats, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies.
Visit the Pollinator Partnership website to learn more about pollinators through FREE webinars this month! Also, check out these other great resources below and stay tuned for events, webinars, information, etc. this month, especially during #PollinatorWeek!#powerinpollinators
Green Thumb Gazette Newsletter
The June edition is now available. For more information on June and July's garden tasks and what to be on the look out for click the link below. This months newsletter also includes upcoming events along with several horticulture educational topics. If you find this newsletter helpful and you would like to receive it each month contact Cari Mitchell atcari_mitchell@ncsu.edu to be added to the mailing list.
Are you looking for something for your child to do during the summer while school is out? GREAT.....we have a great summer program schedule lined up that is not just educational, but FUN!! Many of the Alexander 4-H Clubs will take a break from meeting this summer, but there will be some that continue to meet. Go to the following link to view the newsletter to see which clubs will meet and how you can join in: June 2023 Newsletter
Internet Cost Assistance through the Affordable Connectivity Program
The Internet is often called the “information highway” connecting you to stores, recipes, and more. Now there is a program to assist eligible households with the monthly cost of an Internet connection. If you are a recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), this information is for you. No matter if you receive $200 or $23 worth of SNAP benefits, you may be eligible for help with internet costs. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that helps connect families and households to more affordable internet service. This benefit provides up to $30 per month discount for internet service; up to $75 per month discount for households on qualifying
Tribal lands; and a one-time discount of up to $100 on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet through a participating provider. There are two ways to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). First, households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible. Or households who have a member that meets at least one of the criteria below:
Participate in any of the following assistance programs: SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline
Participates in any of the following Tribal specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Tribal Head Start (income based)
Participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider's existing low-income internet program.
To learn more Call 877-384-2575 or visit fcc.gov/ACP.
For questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or to receive SNAP Application Assistance contact the More In My Basket staff:
Cattle Fly Control For The Beef Herd The necessity for a fly control program for beef herds is inevitable and if you haven’t started a program in your herd, now is the time. The two major species of flies that cause the most serious decreases in beef production and require the most control efforts are the horn fly and face fly. The horn fly alone is estimated to cause animal losses to the US beef industry of $700 million. Tests have shown that the annoyance, irritation, and blood loss caused by flies can reduce weaning weights of calves nursing fly infested mother cows by 12 to 14 pounds; average daily gain of grazing yearling steers may be reduced 12 to 14 percent, or as much as 30 pounds, during the
grazing season. Both face flies and horn flies annoy cattle, resulting in reduced grazing time and increased energy expenditure.
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local
governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
