May

Moore County agriculture has grown! Check out the 58% growth of agricultural products sold in Moore County as highlighted in the latest 2022 Census of Agriculture.

Even though Moore County agriculture has been on the rise over the last 10 years, there's a dichotomy of land use happening in Moore County. Between 2012 and 2022 acreage in farmland has increased from 82,462 to 106,258. Yet, as you drive around the county, you will also see development erupting in rural areas. While agriculture and development can coexist, the dilemma for many aging farmers is they want to keep their land in agriculture, but the land can be their ticket to retirement. However, the cost of land is a barrier for aspiring farmers. The NC Extension Farm Link program is a tool that connects farmers transitioning into retirement with new farmers who need land to lease.

Look for more information about transitioning existing farms to beginning farmers on the NC Farm Link website.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

Sandhills Landowners' Workshop

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is hosting a landowner field day workshop on June 5th on Block B of the Sandhills Game Lands. The intent is to give landowners an in-depth look into Sandhills ecology and habitat management – see the flyer above for more details. Please feel free to spread the word to any landowners who might have an interest. The event is free, but space is limited. To register or to find out more details, email Gabriela Garrison.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

The Moore County Extension is proud of the recent Partner's Award given to Moore County Farm Bureau by NC 4-H at the Annual 4-H Alumni Awards Ceremony held at NCSU in Raleigh on April 27.

Although they have been a gracious and generous benefactor to Moore County Extension and 4-H over many years, at this year's
4-H Alumni Awards Ceremony, Moore County Farm Bureau was recognized for their benevolent contributions to the 2022 and the 2023 Moore County 4-H Showmanship Livestock Shows.

In response to requests made by Moore County 4-H Agent, Kaley Lawing, the Moore County Farm Bureau Board and insurance agents donated more than $6,000 over the last two years to cover the cost of premiums awarded to over 100 youth, along with ribbons, grand and reserve champion awards, and judges’ fees. 4-H members across 12 counties in central North Carolina, including Moore County, showed beef steers, heifers, goat does and wethers at the events.

Livestock shows teach youth life skills through hands-on, experiential learning, such as time management, animal husbandry, business planning, goal setting, independence and more. Moore County Farm Bureau impacted the lives of these 4-H members by providing them the opportunity to learn and practice the life skills needed to become active, contributing members in their communities as they grow into adulthood. The organization continued its support of Moore County 4-H by attending the livestock shows, encouraging youth participants and donating bottled water for show participants and families.

Moore County Farm Bureau's commitment to 4-H is an essential component needed to help youth learn the skills they will need as responsible adults. And, Moore County Extension is grateful to their support and generosity.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

Try Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape

The hot summers and dry sandy soils of southern Moore County can provide challenges for the homeowner who wants to create a landscape that features more than just shrubs. While annuals and showy perennials can help make a yard a showplace, an often-overlooked option is the wide variety of ornamental grasses that are available. These plants come in many sizes and growth habits, tend to be resistant to deer browsing, and are not plagued by pests.

One of the home run hitters in the low maintenance/high beauty landscape is Pink Muhly Grass, Muhlenberfi capillaris. This fall showstopper is native to the central and eastern parts of the US and south into Mexico. It is considered a clumping, warm season perennial and features wiry, thread-like dark green leaves and stems that reach up to 3 feet. In fall, the plant shows off its pink blooms that appear to float above its foliage. This makes it a good choice as a single plant or it can make a big show when planted in a mass.

For the homeowner who needs a screen or large border, switchgrass, Panicum virgatum is a good choice. Known for its place on the tall grass prairie, this native thrives across much of North America; it loves full sun and poor soil and is resistant to deer grazing, drought, erosion and even air pollution. Reaching up to 4 feet in height, its flower plumes that can measure up to 7 feet. This plant comes in a host of cultivars with varying sizes and growth habits.

Comprehensive descriptions of these and many other ornamental grass choices can be found on the Extension Gardener Plant ToolBox site.

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

By: Larry Allen, EMGV, Moore County

Photo: NCSU Toolbox

Landscaping for Privacy

Do you like to feel you can relax in your own oasis? Perhaps it is your own backyard. No matter the size of your property a private area is possible. Privacy is priceless.

Planting trees and shrubs on the perimeter of your land is easy. Plant the following: Arborvitae (Green Giant), Loropetalum, Anise, Cryptomeria, Holly, Camellias, Tea Olive, Blue Cypress, or Boxwood. These are just a few suggestions and there are so many more. Stagger plantings so it is easier visually to replace if a plant expires. Leyland cypress is a fast grower but short lived. Even vines on a high fence can afford you privacy. For example, choose Crossvine, which is an evergreen vine, fast grower, and blooms as a bonus. So many wonderful choices. Check your exposure and mature growth of the variety you have chosen and you are good to go.

Just sit back and relax in your private garden.

For more information, contact the Extension Master Gardener Helpline

at 910-947-3188, Monday – Friday.

By: Barb Cohen, EMGV, Moore County

Photo by Dolores Muller

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, March 15-November 23, 8AM-12PM
Downtown Park
156 SE Broad St
Southern Pines, NC 28388

Sandhill Farmers' Market
in the Village of Pinehurst

Wednesdays, April 17-October 2, 3PM-6PM
Saturdays, April 17-October 5, 10AM-1PM
Village Square
Pinehurst, NC 28374

James Creek Sunday Market
Cameron

First & Third Sundays of the Month, 1PM-5PM
172 US-1 Highway
Cameron, NC 28326

Carthage Farmers' Market

Carthage

Fridays, Year-Round, 1PM-5PM
S Ray Street
Carthage, NC 28327

Sandhills Farm to Table
Open for 15th 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!

Buy Locally Produced Meat through Meat Suite

MeatSuite is a free, online tool to help consumers find locally produced, affordable, delicious meats in bulk. Buying locally strengthens regional economies, supports family farms, and provides delicious, “fresh-from-the-farm” foods for consumers. Buying in bulk offers a lower price-per-pound on desirable cuts, which allows consumers to expect significant savings over meat sold by the piece. MeatSuite is designed to increase the “freezer trade” (the sale of whole, halves, quarters of animals and bulk bundles of meat). Consumers can connect directly with local farmers which allows them to share about their practices, breeds, and feeds. Locally-raised meats are delicious and flavorful and consumers have the chance to try new cuts and recipes. Find delicious suggestions by checking out instagram or on Facebook.

Buying in bulk is also a win for farmers – this is more efficient and profitable and farmers benefit from a shorter supply chain. It is free for farms to create an account and add their farm and product listings.
There is also a free calculator tool to help farmers develop pricing.
Visit the MeatSuite to learn more! NC Choices

Deborah McGiffin
County Extension Director, Moore County Center

Avian Flu Found in
Dairy Cows

No matter where you get your news, you have probably heard how HPAI, generally called Avian or Bird Flu has been found in dairy cows. This information understandably is concerning to consumers. Many are questioning if milk is safe to drink.

While, the FDA has not issued any concerns about safety or availability of pasteurized milk or milk products in the US, as a result of this illness, according to Dr. Matt Koci, a NCSU virologist and immunologist in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science, flu viruses are pretty easy to kill through pasteurization.The milk pasteurization process, has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like HPAI, in milk. All Grade A, permitted dairies in NC (and across the United States) are subject to the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and thus any milk shipped from those dairies will be pasteurized and should be considered safe to drink. Any products (cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc) made with pasteurized milk are also considered safe to consume.

So far, as indicated by Dr. Koci, there haven’t been any reports of mortality amongst infected cows. It seems that they’re recovering from the infection.

There also have been no reports that mutations are happening in the virus that would suggest that the virus is adapting in cows in a way that would make it worse. Still it is early and there are some unknowns, but scientists at the federal level and state level, in multiple states, are working on this.

The poultry and dairy industries are structured very differently. Veterinarians are trained to be large animal vets or poultry vets. However, these two groups are working together to figure out how the HPAI virus is affecting both classes. It’s going to take time, but there are a lot of people working on it to get answers as quickly as possible, and a lot of resources are being brought to bear to get answers as fast as possible.

For the latest on the pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), check for updates from these state and federal agencies:

North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal & Plant Inspection Service

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Food & Drug Administration

Troubleshoot Problems Ahead

Savor the season all year by canning to preserve fresh, seasonal produce from your garden or a local farm. Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience with home food preservation and canning, this is the time of year we typically get questions about canning problems. Common problems include liquid loss, cloudy liquid, sediment in jars, color discolorations, floating fruits and imperfect seals. Click here to learn how to prevent general canning mishaps.

To learn more about canning and food preservation best practices, call Moore County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, Janice Roberts, at 910-947-3188 or janice_roberts@ncsu.edu.

Moore County 4-H Ponies of the Pines Club Attends
Annual NC State College of
Veterinary Medicine Open House

A delegation of Moore County 4-H Ponies of the Pine members attended the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine Open House event in Raleigh on March 23, 2024. This extremely popular event invited the community to explore the College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Hospital to learn more about how NC State is a driving force in veterinary research, training and medical care.

Youth learned more about the operations and facilities at the Veterinary Hospital and our 4-H’er aspiring to be future veterinarians checked out what the classrooms and laboratories in a state-of-the-art college of veterinary medicine were like. They also stopped by demonstrations to see how our veterinarians work with animals.

The day ended with a trip to the Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery which is located off Lake Wheeler road on the NC State Dairy Unit. Ice cream and treats were had by all and everyone had a great time!