Month-by-month lists of common plant diseases, pests, and other problems you may encounter in North Carolina yards and gardens. Straight from our PDIC (Plant Disease & Insect Clinic) entomologists and pathologists!
Apple Orchards are in FULL SWING!!!
Be sure to stop by our local orchards for all your apple and pumpkin needs! The slushies are my favorite thing to get, but they have many different apple varieties to offer, along with cider doughnuts, hard ciders, dried apples, apple juice and spices to make your own hot apple cider, U-pick opportunities, and tons of other local products!! Head out 16N to support our local apple orchards this fall!
All Things Pruning Are you needing to prune in the landscape around your home and not sure where to begin? Here are a few links to help guide you:
Winterizing Your Garden Tools!
Be sure to winterize your tools this month so you can go straight into your gardening routine when spring arrives!! Visit this article for some helpful tips to winterize your equipment.
How Do Honeybees Survive the Winter?
Have you ever thought about what happens to insects once winter comes? It is a very interesting topic, especially if you’re a beekeeper. You may hear beekeepers mention how much honey they left for their bees this winter or they may mention in the spring that they lost a few hives. This is all part of the process for bees and their beekeepers. Take a look at this article to find out more about what it takes for a honeybee colony to make it through the winter!
Reminders and Upcoming Events....
November 3rd - "Fall Back" with Daylight Savings
November 11th - Veterans Day (county offices will be closed)
November 11th @ 7pm - Alexander County Beekeepers Meeting
November 28th - Thanksgiving Day (county offices will be closed November 28th & 29th)
Submit Your Soil Samples by November 30th!
Free soil kits are available at our office along with a quick lesson on soil sampling if you haven’t done it before!
2025 Alexander Extension Small Fruit Plant Sale
Be looking for our fruit sale order form to go out after Thanksgiving listing all of the fruit trees and shrubs that we will have available for purchase.
The Ag Ventures Grant is accepting applications NOW!
Maximum grant award is $8000 Application cap is 250 Deadline to apply is December 13th at 6pm.
NC AgVentures is an NC State Extension grant program that provides grants to family farms, and local non-profit community organizations to develop agricultural projects which will increase farm profits. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their operation. There are two grant options: The first option is a Farmer Grant for independent family farms with an established farm operation. Some previously approved projects have included the purchase of equipment that will cut labor costs, constructing a farm store or produce packing shed, or kitchen equipment for preparing value-added products. The grant funds cannot be used to purchase land or animals. The second grant option is a Community Grant for local non-profit community organizations and government organizations that work with local farms. Some examples would include a Farmers Market that could use the funds to expand the market or purchase SNAP equipment for sales, a Livestock Association could use the award to purchase portable cattle handling equipment to be rented by farm members.
Highlights for both grants:
Awards up to $8000
Grant awards are taxable income
Grant recipients provide 15% of the total project cost (cash, not in-kind)
Grant applicants must work with an Extension Agent on the project proposals for farm grants
Grant recipients should have insurance that will cover the activities of the grant project.
Grant recipients will be asked to provide two project reports that include receipts and photos to document grant project expenditures.
All applications must be submitted through the online application submission portal.
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.
