dbmcgiff@ncsu.edu

Moore County Extension
Agents Excel

The Moore County Center of the NC Extension Service is proud to announce the achievements of three of its dedicated Extension agents who were recently recognized for their accomplishments and service to the county.

Janice Roberts, Moore County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, earned a title promotion from Assistant Extension Agent to Associate Extension Agent and was granted the non-tenure rank of Field Faculty, effective June 30, 2023. The promotion was based on Janice’s ability to plan and implement effective educational programs that make valued
differences in the lives of Moore County families in the areas of nutrition, health and wellness, food safety, and food preservation. To receive this promotion, Janice submitted a title promotion package that included prior performance evaluations and documented impacts from the previous 5 years of family and consumer sciences programming. The package was evaluated by an Extension Promotion Review committee, Deborah McGiffin, Moore County Extension Director, Keith Walters, Southcentral District Extension Director, the Associate Dean and Director of NC Cooperative Extension at NC State, and the Administrator of the NC Cooperative Extension Program at NCA&T State University. Janice’s promotion brings with it increased responsibility and the confidence of the NC Extension Service that she will continually assess the family and consumer needs of Moore County and prioritize meeting those needs and challenges through research-based educational programs.

At the 2023 Annual North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Conference, Kaley Lawing, Moore County 4-H and Youth Development Agent, received three distinctive meritorious professional awards. The first award was the prestigious Achievement in Service Award. The second award Kaley won was the competitive
Chester Black Professional Improvement Scholarship which enabled Kaley to take an international trip that accentuated working with youth and families from different cultures. Finally, Kaley was part of a team of County Extension Agents who received the Excellence in Ag Literacy Award, as described below.

All three awards resulted from Kaley’s service as a 4-H Extension Agent during the last 6 years that involved writing and acquiring over $18,000 in grant funding to serve youth, recruiting 4-H adult volunteers, and doubling 4-H youth memberships in Mitchel, Chatham and Moore Counties. Her leadership has led to chartered 4-H clubs, and increased youth participation in 4-H presentations and 4-H project records.

Thomas Shea, Moore County Livestock & Crops Agent was also recognized at the 2023 North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Annual Conference.

Thomas received the Excellence in Ag Literacy Award along with the Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, and Moore County 4-H and Livestock Agents for his role in conducting and supporting the Eggcelent Eggsplorers program. The Eggcelent Eggsplorers program created opportunities and education for Moore County 4-H youth interested in poultry production. The comprehensive program covered many topics including biosecurity, husbandry, project record books, and showmanship. After participating in Eggcelent Eggsplorers, youth were able to show their birds in person and compete for awards.

For information about family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth development and livestock production and opportunities call the Moore County Extension Center at 910-947-3188. Individually, Janice, Kaley and Tom can be reached respectively at janice_roberts@ncsu.edu. kaley_lawing@ncsu.edu, and tpshea@ncsu.edu

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.

Growing Apples Trees

Growing apple trees in the home garden can be fun and rewarding. Several factors are important to consider before planting for successful apple production. Apple variety and rootstock, site selection, proper planting, training and pruning, adequate fertility, and pest
control all contribute to healthy and productive trees. In North Carolina, trees can be planted from late fall to early spring. Purchase a healthy 1-year-old nursery tree, 4 to 6 feet tall, with a good root system. A small tree with a good root system will transplant better than a large tree.

Apple varieties that do well in our area are Gala, Empire, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Stayman, Rome, Braeburn and Fuji. A complete guide to growing apples in a home garden can be found on line at - htttps://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-apple-trees-in-the-home-garden or by calling Moore County Extension, 910-944-3188. They will send you a
pamphlet detailing all you need to know about apple growing.

The Roman festival for Pomona, the goddess of fruit and orchards, was celebrated around November 1st. Bobbing for apples was a tradition and Romans believed that the first person to catch a bobbing apple with his or her teeth would be the first to marry in the new year.

By: Dolores Muller, EMGV, Moore County
Photo: by NCSU

Shrubs for Fall Planting

While early spring is the season for gardeners to get excited about their flower and vegetable gardens, the fall season is the best time of year to plant most trees and shrubs. Of course, gardeners have more time once the busy summer season winds down, but there are other good reasons to plant shrubs (and most trees too) in the fall. The first is that cooler air temperatures and the continued warmth of the soil give new root systems the ideal conditions to develop. Plants will naturally focus their growth on root development as the temperatures drop, and fall is an easier time for gardeners to dig large holes in the soil. Often nurseries hold sales at the end of summer, making fall planting a good economic choice too.

From mid-September to early October is the ideal time to plant shrubs in the Sandhills. This timing will give plants at least a month before the average first fall freeze date, which is November 2 for Moore County (NCSU Extension data). Most nursery plants come with directions for planting but it is important in the Sandhills to combine some peat moss or compost with your backfill soil, and to provide a layer of mulch about three inches thick to retain moisture.

Choices for shrubs are numerous, and the best way to decide what to plant (and where) is to consult a plant database such as the NCSU Extension Gardener Plant ToolBox (https//plants.ces.ncsu.edu). This amazing resource has plant descriptions for over 4500 plants that grow in and around North Carolina. It includes a “Find a Plant” feature to help users select the perfect plant for a specific location. Finding the perfect shrubs for your fall plantings has never been easier.

For more information, contact the Master Gardener Extension Helpline at 910-947-3199 Monday – Friday.

By: Larry Allen, EMGV, Moore County
Photo: by Dolores Muller

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!

Fall Guide to Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own produce is a great way to stay active and have access to fresh, nutrient dense food! You may be thinking, "the weather is cooling down, what can I plant?" There are a few options that come to mind. If you have an annual vegetable and herb bed, it's not too late to start plants, especially if you're using transplants. You can seed crops like spinach or start lettuce transplants. It's also a great time of year to start your garlic, which should be ready for harvest by early spring. One of the best resources for planning your garden is the Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs.

Another option would be to incorporate cover crops into your rotation. Cover crops like crimson clover add organic matter to your soil, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and provide an early forage source for pollinators in the spring. Crimson clover can be planted now by broadcasting seed. It will grow a little, overwinter, and bloom around April. Consider using a cover crop or a mix of cover crops.

One other possibility is to add fruit trees or shrubs to your landscape. These are best planted in the fall through early spring. Fruit trees like southern heirloom apples are a great addition. There are many cultivars and they have been cultivated for hundreds of years in our southern climate, so they have adapted to be more resilient to the challenges of excess heat and humidity. You may also consider adding blueberries, figs, or muscadines. These crops are relatively low maintenance and can be grown easily using organic practices.

Whatever you choose to grow, make a plan to utilize it in your kitchen or share with friends and neighbors. Make use of crops that store for longer periods, like apples and garlic. Increase storage life by freezing, canning, or drying depending on the harvest.

Savanah Laur, Horticulture Agent
Moore County Extension

Colic Checklist for Horse Owners

Colic is a word that terrifies horse owners. Colic is caused by many factors, including things we usually can’t control, such as a sudden weather change. Luckily, colic doesn’t always have to result in expensive surgery or euthanasia. There are multiple types of colic, and most can be treated if caught early. The four main types of colic that occur in our area are gas, impaction, sand, and twisted gut.

Gas colic is the most common, has the most straightforward treatment, and is usually not fatal. Gas colic can be caused by sudden changes in feed, ulcers, dehydration, stress, and insufficient forage intake. Horses may appear extremely painful, but this usually resolves with pain medication, fluids, and walking. This type of colic can be prevented by feed and environmental management.

Impaction colic can be caused by feeding lower quality or stemmy feed materials, ingesting foreign materials such as seeds, and improperly chewed food. This is common in horses who are older or need their teeth floated. A veterinarian can sometimes treat impaction colic by administering fluids, mineral oil, and anti-inflammatories. Impaction colic can be fatal if not treated quickly. Owners can prevent an impaction by feeding appropriate forage for their horse, dental maintenance, and ensuring their horse drinks adequate water.

Sand colic is common in horses that live in sandy areas, like the Sandhills and Coastal Plains of North Carolina, and who eat their hay off the ground. The sand irritates the intestinal lining causing pain and disruption of digestion. If not treated promptly, the loose sand in the intestines can harden and form stones, which are painful and may cause an impaction. This can be prevented by feeding out of a hay net or raised bale feeder, and giving supplements like Sandclear and Sandpurge. Research has shown the most effective way to reduce the lig

The final common type of colic is the twisted gut, which occurs when some part of the intestine twists around itself and is almost always fatal. The twist can sometimes be corrected by surgery if caught early, but often the tissue in the intestines begins dying before surgery can be performed. Preventing the other mild types of colic can help prevent a twisted gut.

It is important to know the signs of colic so treatment can be started as soon as possible. Talk to your veterinarian to develop a plan so you can be prepared if your horse does colic.

Signs of colic:
Kicking at their stomach
Flank watching
Pawing the ground/acting anxious
Bloating
Excessive sweating
Rolling
Not eating or drinking
Stretching
Not passing manure
Tacky gums
Heart rate over 50 beats per minute
Lack of gut sounds using a stethoscope

If you suspect that your horse is experiencing colic:
Begin walking your horse
Call your veterinarian to inform them your horse is colicing
Administer an oral anti-inflammatory medication as advised by your veterinarian
Remove feed
Keep horses in an open area to prevent getting caught on something if they roll.
Ask your veterinarian to come to your farm if
There is no improvement from walking and anti-inflammatories
You do not know how long the colic has been occurring or has occurred for several hours.
Vital signs are abnormal.
Gums appear dark red or purple
If any of the above signs occur for longer than 30 mins.

Tom Shea, Livestock Agent
Moore County Extension

Fall Foliage in North Carolina:

What to Expect
This Year

With summer transitioning into fall, North Carolina’s trees will soon begin to transform into various shades of orange, yellow, red and purple. Fall foliage should begin in the upper elevation of the mountains by the end of September and then gradually spread across the state, with peak colors occurring as early as mid-October.

“If we have warm, sunny days and cool nights with temperatures slightly above freezing, the timing and vibrancy of fall foliage should be similar to past years,” said Robert Bardon, a professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State. The cooler nighttime temperatures slow down the production of chlorophyll — the pigment that gives leaves their green color. This allows the carotenoid (orange) and xanthophyll (yellow) pigments to emerge from within.

Meanwhile, sunlight increases sugar production in the leaves and the cooler nighttime temperatures trap the sugar, producing a third pigment known as anthocyanin. Anthocyanin creates the more vibrant hues of red and purple seen during the fall.

The latest three-month climate forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows average temperatures and a slight chance of above-average precipitation for much of North Carolina this fall. Above-average precipitation is usually accompanied by cloudy weather that blocks out the sunlight necessary for the production of anthocyanin. “Rainy weather would lead to less vibrant reds and more yellow colors,” Bardon said. Bardon added that tropical storms with heavy rainfall and strong winds also impact fall foliage by knocking leaves down, resulting in a shorter season.

NOAA scientists recently increased the likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season from 30% to 60%. Hurricane season ends on November 30.

Article written by Andrew Moore
Photograph by Alex Diaz via Unsplash
College of Natural Resource
North Carolina State University

Saving Seeds Good for Preservation and Health

Are you passionate about gardening and sustainable living? Have you ever wondered how our ancestors preserved their precious seeds to ensure bountiful harvests year after year?

Seed saving is an ancient practice that not only connects us with our agricultural heritage, it also plays a crucial role in safeguarding plant diversity and food security. Additionally, fresh produce is better for health, because healthful nutrients are at their peak when they are consumed right after harvesting them from your garden. Learning how to save seeds from your garden can empower you to contribute to the preservation of heirloom native plant species and improve your health along the way.

Seed saving can be pretty easy, and you can preserve those varieties you love but which may be hard to find. With a little knowledge, you can successfully save seeds of some of your garden favorites.

Follow this link for tips for successful seed saving:

National 4-H Week October 1-7

The anticipation is building for National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H. Moore County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and will highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.

On Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, the Moore County Commissioners will sign a Proclamation recognizing October 1-7, 2023 as National 4-H Week throughout Moore County, North Carolina.

The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is "4-H is a Feeling, I Heart
4-H," which highlights how 4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. The positive environment provided by 4-H mentors ensures that kids in every county and parish in the country from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles and are empowered with the skills to lead in life.