New Year, Healthier You: Making Resolutions That Stick

As the new year approaches, many of us begin thinking about fresh starts—especially when it comes to health, fitness, and weight loss. Setting goals can be exciting, but turning them into long-lasting habits is another story.

Stay Healthy This Flu Season: 2025 Flu Prevention Tips

As we move through the 2025 flu season, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe illness and, in some cases, serious complications.

Grafting Apples Class

Join us for a hands-on Apple Grafting Class on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 1:00–4:00 p.m. This workshop will focus on grafting a mix of Limbertwig apple varieties onto Bud-9 rootstock—a great option for folks who want to learn practical skills for starting or expanding a home orchard.

Livestock Winter Needs

As winter approaches, livestock producers need to plan carefully to meet the nutritional needs of their animals during colder months. Forage availability often declines in winter, and animals require more energy to maintain body temperature. Good planning helps maintain animal health, prevent weight loss, and avoid unnecessary feed costs. Evaluating feed supplies early allows producers to adjust rations, secure additional feed if needed, and reduce stress on both animals and managers during harsh weather.

Seed to Supper: Learn How to Grow Food on a Limited Budget

Have you thought of growing a garden, but don’t know where to start? Join our upcoming Seed to Supper course and learn how to grow food at a low cost. This seven-week series teaches how to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare delicious produce in small and medium-sized gardens. Please plan to attend all 7 classes. Participants get a free gardening book, seeds, and other goodies as available.

Classes are on Thursdays, January 22 – March 12, at 5:00 p.m.

Poinsettia Care

Poinsettias are often treated as short-term holiday plants, but with proper care, they can be kept well beyond Christmas and even enjoyed year after year. The key is understanding that poinsettias are tropical plants and respond best to steady conditions. Place the plant in a bright area with indirect light, ideally near a sunny window but out of direct afternoon sun. Keep it away from cold drafts, heating vents, and exterior doors, as sudden temperature changes can cause leaf drop. Daytime temperatures between 65–75°F and slightly cooler nights are ideal.

North Carolina Farm Pond Management Calendar

Management is required to achieve maximum utility and enjoyment of a pond. What follows is a list of some of the things that can be done to manage a pond, and a general time of year that these activities should take place. Due to the variability of North Carolina’s climate, the months for each activity can vary. For example, grass cutting in the southeast may start earlier and last later in the season than the same activity in the western mountains.

National Survey on Bull Selection

A survey was developed  to determine how producers are currently selecting their bulls (which traits and at what emphasis are being selected), along with data indicating their type of operation, management information (breeds, percent replacements, marketing, management level), current herd data (calving/weaning percent, percent dystocia, performance values) and planning horizon. The survey will end January 31, 2026. Answer the survey to support researchers working in breeding and genetics, and for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards.

Spring 2026 (January-June) Pesticide Safety Schools

The spring 2026 Pesticide Safety Schools are for those seeking initial licensing in one or more pesticide subcategories.Our spring 2026 Pesticide Safety Schools are now available. All schools are in-person with the exception of the Pesticide License Exam Prep: Live, Online, Interactive, which offers live training through Zoom.