November Newsletter - Burke County

Leaf Removal is Essential

As the days and nights start to cool off, the leaves also begin their yearly show. Even though it is a lovely sight to see all the fall colors, it is a sure sign that leaf raking is just around the corner.

Leaf removal is an important part of lawn maintenance. Leaves should always be cleaned off of turfgrass areas for the continued health of the turfgrass. Leaves can smother established grass and cause the death of the lawn. They can also encourage diseases to become established by blocking sun and light from the lawn and keeping moisture trapped beneath them.

There are some things that can be done to keep leaf removal from becoming such a hard chore. Mow your lawn frequently as the leaves fall. Either bag them with a bagger attachment on the mower or use a mulching blade that will chop leaves up into tiny pieces. This should be done often so that large quantities do not accumulate on the lawn. There are also lawn sweepers available that will attach to a riding lawn mower. This piece of equipment will sweep the leaves from the lawn into a holding bag that can be emptied as needed.

When new grass is planted, always make sure that any fallen leaves have been removed before sowing. The presence of leaves on the ground can keep the grass seeds from making good contact with the soil.

Leaf removal is a job that has to be done to keep the lawn in good condition. Do not wait and try to get all the leaves up at one time. A little at a time is definitely the best method when it comes to taking care of autumn leaves.

Managing Forest Resources

In this age of living green, folks are often outraged by timber harvests occurring nearby. Homeowners are often offended by the aesthetics of such harvests and profoundly declare that timber harvests are harmful to the environment. However, such may not always be the case. Trees are one of our most renewable resources, and unlike the remains of ancient dinosaurs, will resume growth and flourish. These resources provide us with many products that make our lives simpler and more comfortable, and forest management done properly can enhance our environment.

For forest landowners wanting to market timber, always make sure to conduct harvests the right way. Always avoid high grading, or selecting the best, most productive trees and leaving behind trees of marginal quality to remain as the next forest and the seed source for future forests. The next harvest will remove these lower value trees and yield will be reduced and more acres will be required to meet local demand. While timber harvesting is not bad, accelerated harvesting is not in the best interest of our natural resources and can result in conflict with the growing demand of the public to manage these resources responsibly.

Timber harvests should always start with a plan. With a written management plan, you can define your objectives and stay on track. Often, it is a good idea to seek the advice of a professional forester. He or she can help you develop a plan based on what your needs and concerns are and can help to assure that your plan is carried out for optimum profit and sustainability. Your forester can procure bids and recommend professional loggers who are willing and able to accommodate your plans. To find a consulting forester in your area, visit the NC Forest Service - Consulting Foresters.

Camp for Christmas!
Gift Certificates Available

Burke County 4-H will travel to the Eastern 4-H Center on June 19-23, 2022 (tenative). The cost for this week-long camp with Burke County 4-H is $520, which includes transportation, lodging, meals, store money, and a t-shirt. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot! Deposits are due by February 15, 2022. Spaces are limited. Register early.

Gift Certificates are available in any amount at our office.

Call our office for more information, payment options available.
828-764-9480
nicki_carpenter@ncsu.edu

Controlled Breeding Seasons

Controlled breeding seasons are of great benefit to cattle producers. I often hear how they can’t establish a controlled breeding season because they have not facilities to house their bull apart from the cows, or it will cause them to miss a calf crop. The truth is, with good nutrition, a sound herd health program, and good husbandry practices; a controlled breeding season adds value to the calf crop. Cattle producers need every cow to calve early in the calving season, and a short 60-90 day calving season is the only way to guarantee it.

A 60-90 day controlled breeding season allows producers to make better use of feed resources. Producers can target their calving season to correspond with high quality spring forage growth, and have cows dry and gestating during cool season grass dormancy. A short breeding season allows for more efficient management, in better scheduling of castration, deworming, implanting and vaccinations. Additionally, short breeding seasons help achieve more uniform calf crops and concentrates marketing windows. Late born calves are often not ready to market when early born calves are, and marketing is strung out over a longer duration. It would be better to cull open cows this fall, than to wean younger, lightweight calves next fall. Late winter and early spring born calves often gain 10% faster than late born calves. Beef cows can feed their calves during late winter on milk, and as pasture growth increases, these calves are ready to make full use of mama’s increased milk, and lush spring pasture.

A short controlled breeding season is a valuable tool, but does require better management. Particularly, bull management is vital. High tensile fences with 6-8 strands of wire can provide a means to separate bulls from the cowherd. Power must be kept on the fence to be successful. As well, bulls must be conditioned to be ready for an intense breeding season. They should be on a high nutritional plane prior to breeding season, and producers should feed based on body condition scores. A breeding soundness exam by your vet is also a wise investment that will alert you to any breeding problems the bull may have, so you don’t end up with open cows.