dbmcgiff@ncsu.edu

Moore Agriculture on Display

Join us for an exhibition and reception showcasing the diversity of Moore County’s rich agricultural heritage.

After a series of interruptions due to COVID-19, Moore County Extension will be hosting an exhibition and reception on October 4, 2023 from 4-6 pm at the Moore County Agricultural Building to recognize the winning photographers along with the display of their photos from the 2019 Farm-City Photo Contest. Sponsored by Moore County Farm Bureau and by Creech Tractor Repair, the photos will pay tribute to the diversity of agriculture, horticulture, and rural scenes in the county, as well as enhance the Agricultural Center’s interior. As the photos will adorn the wall of the Agricultural Building, they will also be another way for our community to see the resources we enjoy and that are worth preserving.

The Extension Photo Reception is free and open to the public. Light d’ oeuvres will be served, but attendees should register on Eventbrite or calling Brandi Carter, 910-947-3188, by September 28 to ensure there is enough food for all to enjoy.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

It' Fair Time

Moore County Extension is offering a "Pony Express" service to exhibitors who plan to place items in the NC State Fair for judging. See the details below if you are interested in saving a drive to the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

If going to the "big city" doesn't interest you, but you still want the excitement of the fair, plan to go to the 76th Annual Moore County Agricultural Fair scheduled for October 10-14. Find out about entering exhibits, attractions and fair hours in the 2023 Fair Book.

My Gardening Friends,
the Predatory Wasps

Some days I can spend hours working and playing in my backyard vegetable garden. Working equally hard alongside me are predatory wasps who hunt and rid insects in my garden. There are over 1,400 different species of predatory wasps in North America alone.

I especially worry when I see those small White Cabbage butterflies coming into my garden in the spring, as I know only too well that they will lay their eggs on my kale, collards and other brassicas. Soon after seeing these butterflies, cabbage worms will appear and begin devouring these plants.

As an organic gardener, I have used the biological insecticide Dipel to rid my garden of these cabbage worms. However, I now welcome the services of one type of predatory wasps that live nearby under my porch, who are far more effective ridding these caterpillars. And these wasps have the added benefit of eating other insects and pollinating other plants in my garden.

By: John Bowman, Master Gardener Volunteer, Moore County

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

Summer Means HOT Seasonal Produce

Moore County Farmers' Market in Southern Pines

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

Saturdays, April 15-October 28, 8AM-12PM
Downtown Park
156 SE Broad St
Southern Pines, NC 28388

Sandhills Farmers Market in Pinehurst

Saturdays, April 15-October 7, 10AM-1PM
(except Memorial & Labor Day Weekends)
Tufts Park
1 Village Green Rd W
Pinehurst, NC 28374

Wednesdays, April 19-October 4, 3PM-6PM
Tufts Park
1 Village Green Rd W
Pinehurst, NC 28374

New! Carthage Farmers' Market

Fridays, April 21-November, 2PM-6PM
S Ray Street
Carthage, NC 28327

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!

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

In August, a Veterinarians in Robeson and Hoke Counties s confirmed positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE, Triple E, Sleeping Sickness). This deadly virus is transmitted through mosquito bites and attacks the central nervous system of infected horses. The togavirus that causes EEE causes swelling in the brain of infected horses, leading to depression, blindness, staggering, seizures, loss of appetite, and high fever in horses. The virus is 80% fatal in horses, and most often, horses are euthanized post-diagnosis to prevent spreading. Last year, there were seven confirmed cases of EEE in North Carolina. Historically, most cases occur in the eastern part of the state but have occasionally been found in the western part. Once bitten by a mosquito, it takes 3-10 days for symptoms to appear, with cases being most common late summer. This mosquito-borne virus is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to people through infected mosquitoes. However, cases are extremely rare, and it can not be passed directly to humans from horses.

The good news is that that EEE is preventable. Several management measures can be taken to reduce the spread. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Removing standing water from your horse areas reduces the number of mosquitoes. You can also use fly sheets, masks, and spray to reduce the areas where mosquitoes can bite. The most effective way to prevent the spread of Eastern Equine Encephalitis is to have your veterinarian vaccinate your horse. All of the horses that EEE has infected have been unvaccinated. Horses as young as six months old can get vaccinated against EEE. Getting your horse vaccinated annually is the best way to prevent infection. Talk to your local veterinarian about vaccinating against Eastern Equine Encephalitis and other mosquito borne illnesses.

Tom Shea, Livestock Agent
Moore County Extension

September Is National Food Safety Month

As September’s National Food Safety Month begins, it serves as an important reminder of the critical role that safe food practices play in our lives. Beyond just a matter of taste and convenience, food safety is a cornerstone of public health, impacting individuals, communities, and economies. Foodborne illnesses are more than just an inconvenience; they can result in severe health complications and even death. In the United States alone, approximately 48 million people fall ill every year due to consuming contaminated food.

Empowering individuals with knowledge about safe food practices can prevent contamination from occurring at home, in restaurants, or during community meal events. Educational resources are essential tools in the fight against foodborne illnesses, and N.C. Cooperative Extension is dedicated to serving the people of North Carolina and beyond through education related to both retail and home food settings. To learn more about protecting your families food contact Moore County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, Janice Roberts.

Janice Roberts, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Moore County Extension

The Leafleaf Pine Is Part of the Heritage of the Sandhills

In Moore County, 40% of our agricultural land is in woodlands or forestry. Much of our forests are or were once covered in Longleaf pines. In fact,
the Sandhills are part of the historic range of Longleaf pines spanning from Virginia to Texas, and of which less than 5% of the forest remains. This is concerning because the Longleaf pine has been and continues to be important for the economic, cultural, and environmental future of the region. A southeastern-wide conservation effort to restore this once great forest is underway, and the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association (SPBA) is a critical part of this effort.

There has been success in restoring Longleaf on public lands; however, 61% of Longleaf acreage with potential for restoration is in private ownership. This presents unique challenges and opportunities.

Traditionally, the Longleaf ecosystem was maintained by lightning-initiated fire. Both Native Americans and settlers relied on fire to keep forests open for hunting, turpentine production, and cattle grazing.

Continuing to burn forests today, is the most effective and economical tool for restoring the Longleaf ecosystem. However, landowners'
capability to conduct their own burns is limited due to the limited number of days available to burn, and the lack of contractors.

The SPBA provides workshops, field days, and mentorship programs to private landowners and participants who wish to increase their comfort, capacity, and confidence to conduct burns, and participate in actively restoring this precious resource. The Longleaf 101 Academy scheduled for September 12-16, 2023 will guide landowners and natural resource professionals through the ecology and management of longleaf pine systems. Go to the SPBA website to get more details.

If you are interested in becoming a certified burner sign up for the upcoming course offered by the NC Forest Service. Registration for the certification course OPENS on September 1. This is their last offering of this class for 2023. Class days are October 23-25. To find out more information, visit the NC Forest Service’s How to Become a Certified Burner page.

Learn more about the managing your woodlands and about the NC Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association by visiting the SPBA website.

Moore 4-H Member Attends 2023 NCACC YouthVoice Conference

For the 14th year, NC 4-H partnered with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) to host YouthVoice! YouthVoice, is part of the annual NCACC conference. The year it was held on August 25 & 26 in Wake County.

YouthVoice is a rewarding experience which gives 4-H youth the opportunity to talk with local county officials, and learn about the role of county commissioners as the governing body for counties and the county budgeting process. YouthVoice helps youth gain leadership, communication skills, and the confidence to become involved in county government. Most importantly, this initiative encourages youth to grow into active and participating citizens involved in the local decision-making process of their individual communities.

This year Sarah Baker, who had previously meet with Moore County Commissioner Nick Picerno and discussed issues facing Moore County teens, was the YouthVoice 4-H delegate from Moore County during the NCACC conference. In the various facilitated discussions, Sarah, and other delegates learned and shared information related to their respective county governments. Additionally, Sarah participated in a workshop called “Real Colors” where youth looked within to find their personal strengths, as well as that of others. Using this knowledge, the delegates then worked together to find common ground on issues and concerns leading into their next workshop entitled “Bottom Line.” In this workshop youth used an interactive game to learn more about the county budgeting process. Attendees worked together in small groups acting as a board of county commissioners to decide what programs and services they would keep and cut along with increasing taxes and fees in order to balance an annual budget.

4-H is North Carolina’s largest youth development organization, equipping more than 200,000 young people each year with the skills to succeed and improve the world around them.

For more information about 4-H camps or to get involved in Moore County 4-H, contact Kaley Lawing at kaley_lawing@ncsu.edu or call
910-947-3188.