August Newsletter

Erosion Control
Matt Rodriguez, Extension Agent, Horticulture

Living here in Burke County is truly a blessing with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains at almost every viewpoint. While some enjoy a fairly flat landscape, some struggle with steeper slopes and hillsides. This can be tricky to maintain when soils and root systems are disturbed either from development or natural runoff over time. Thankfully we can always remediate erosion with native trees, shrubs, grass, and herbal plantings. Invasive species can cause more headache long term and should be avoided. Firstly you want to determine the steepness of your slope and decide if you need it to be sloped at a more forgiving angle or you can design a terraced garden along your hillside to help your plants establish in a more level environment. Anything with a slope at an angle of more than 12% is considered vulnerable to erosion. The greater the angle, the increased velocity of runoff to occur.

How to Terrace Your Garden

Terracing your garden can be a unique and appealing design choice for your hillside. It can be a lot of work upfront but pays off for long term slope stability and “curb appeal”. For the hills of western NC it can be used to build a garden staircase so to speak. Terrace gardening really gives you a chance to utilize your otherwise unusable slopes. Try implementing a path or stairway not only to easier maintain this space, but to give a functional use of this space. The goal is to build up a “step” along your slope to create a flat area to create your garden. The steps will slow down the rate of erosion and provide an attractive visual.

Read more...

Western NC Strawberry Preplant Meeting

August 21, 2025

9:00am - 4:00pm

NC Cooperative Extension

Wilkes County Center

Join us for a workshop specifically for Strawberry Growers in the West!

Whether you are a new farmer or an established producer looking to expand your customer base, this workshop will offer an overview of current strawberry production and marketing strategies for western North Carolina. This workshop is free, and lunch will be provided.

Get More Information and Register on Eventbrite

Peaches & Cream Overnight Oats

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1¾ cups whole milk
1 cup whole-milk plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt, divided
7 teaspoons pure maple syrup, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 medium ripe peach, chopped (about 1 cup)

Combine 2 cups oats, 1¾ cups milk, ½ cup yogurt, 4 teaspoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl; stir well. Refrigerate, covered, until thickened, at least 8 hours (and up to 4 days).

Whisk cream cheese and the remaining ½ cup yogurt, 1 tablespoon maple syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 5 days).

To serve, spoon ¾ cup oat mixture into each of 4 (8-ounce) jars or bowls; spoon ¼ cup peaches over the oat mixture in each jar (or bowl). Top each with about 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixture.

(eatingwell.com)

Controlling Algae in Livestock Water Tanks
Damon Pollard, Extension Agent, Livestock

Livestock producers who water their animals in water tanks often battle with algae buildup during the summer months. Algae growth is just a nuisance and some algae are toxic. So what can producers do?
First, its a good idea to clean the tanks periodically. It is often tough to empty them for cleaning, so some forethought into allowing them to run dry is often the first step. Some tanks have built in drains and can be emptied in this fashion. If no drain is present, simply turning the water off and allowing the stock to drink the tank dry is often easier than turning the tank over and dumping the water. A stiff brush with a long handle will ease the task of cleaning the tank and is a real time and back saver. Scrub the sides and bottom and rinse thoroughly to reduce algae buildup, and impede its development.

Producers can utilize chemical products to kill algae. There many commercial products designed and formulated to kill, or reduce algal growth in both tanks and ponds. Copper sulfate is one such product and can be used in water tanks. There are formulations on the market that are effective for this purpose. You can buy copper sulfate and mix your own as well, however, care must be given to achieve the correct parts per million in a particular water tank volume. There are guidelines available and Cooperative Extension can provide more information on this process. Copper sulfate is highly corrosive, so exposing metal tanks or pipes to this mixture can shorten the life of both pipes and tanks so keep exposure to a minimum. Using copper sulfate to treat algae growth can be harmful to sheep as they are not tolerant of high copper levels, so use caution with sheep.

Common, unscented household bleach also works as an algaecide. By adding 2-3oz. of bleach per 50 gallons of water, producers can reduce algae problems in livestock watering tanks. Done properly, both of these treatments are safe for livestock, and animals need not be withdrawn, however, keep in mind these treatments are probably more effective if given time to maintain concentration for a few minutes. With a few minutes devoted each week to stock tank maintenance, producers can provide their animals a clean source of water free of algal growth, and who knows, it could alsoboost livestock performance.

If you would like to enter items in the exhibit hall at the
NC Mountain State Fair, take advantage of

The Pony Express!

Participation is Easy

· Enter Online before August 22, 2025, and print the entry form. (non-perishable items only).

· Bring your entries on or before August 22, 2025, 11:30 AM to your local County Extension Office.

· Bring your non-perishable items to the Extension office, wrapped & packed securely for transport. Label your box with your name and county. Also include a completed entry form inside the box with your items.

· Your entries will be picked up in your county from the Extension Office & transported to the Mountain State Fair for judging and display.

Only items picked up on the Pony Express route will be returned on Pony Express. No items will be added to the return list of items that are dropped off by the exhibitors at the fairgrounds after the Pony Express has run.

· Items will be returned to your local Extension Office after the fair by September 26th, 2025.

· Any prize money will be mailed directly to you. (Exhibitors who win $600 or more must provide a completed NC Substitute W-9 to receive payment.)

This is a free service provided to you by the NC Mountain State Fair and the NC Cooperative Extension Service.