Anson Farm and Garden January 2022 Newsletter

Holiday Cactus Care

Whether you call it a Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus, this pet-friendly evergreen houseplant in the genus Schlumbergera is popularly
encountered during the winter season. In the weeks that follow and we resume our busy lives, some holiday cacti quietly, and unintentionally, perish on the sidelines. Here are some tips to help you enjoy your lovely cactus through 2022 and beyond.

These are not traditional cacti of the desert. These beauties are native to shady coastal rainforests of Brazil. Your holiday cactus will enjoy over-wintering in a sunny room between 60-68F. Adding a humidifier or regular misting will help it feel right at home. In late winter/early spring, fuel new growth with a monthly application of half-strength, water soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20. Epsom salt mixed at 1 teaspoon per gallon of
water is recommended as holiday cacti are heavier than average magnesium feeders. Provide Epsom salt on a different week than the regular fertilizer.

During the growing season holiday cacti are tolerant of dry, slightly under-watered conditions. Basic rule of thumb, avoid water-logged or completely dry soils. Dig into the soil with a finger to test soil moisture. When there is no soil moisture detected until about 2 inches depth, water. To prevent root rot, don’t let water sit at the bottom of the saucer.

May-Sept., holiday cacti enjoy 70-80F temps, but offer protection from direct sun by moving it to a north or east-facing window. Don’t worry about repotting, they prefer slightly crowded roots which means they will only need repotting about once every 3 years. A good substrate contains 60-80% potting soil and 40-60% perlite.

In early June, promote lateral branching by pinching back terminal segments less than 1cm. These short immature segments will not produce flower buds until mature. Buds will form on the previous, more mature stem segments. Fertilizing should stop late summer. Fall/winter blooms can be initiated in September or October. For 6 weeks give your cactus 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness per day, 10 hours daylight, and keep in a cool environment at night around 68F.

Here, holiday cacti get picky. Take note; street lights, car lights, or indoor lights during the "uninterrupted" 14 hr. long night period can negatively affect flower bud formation. Photoperiod has no effect on flowering once bud set is completed, meaning the plant can be set out in the room as usual after the 6 weeks. Maintain the 68F temperature (avoid temperature swings) during bud maturation and bloom which follows about two weeks later is key. Another hint, keep the soil evenly moist to prevent buds and flowers from falling off. Follow these tips to enjoy 7-8 weeks of splendid holiday color from your Christmas cactus for years to come. For more information contact Anson Cooperative Extension at (704) 694-2915 or aimee_colf@ncsu.edu.

The NC Agritourism Farm Tour & Conference

The NC Agritourism Network Association hosts the NC Agritourism Conference annually, generally held in February of each year. It brings farmers together from across the state and country. During that time we not only have interactive farm tours that visit Agritourism Farms and other points of interest, but we also host a large educational conference and trade show that appeals not only to beginning and experienced farmers in agritourism. Our conferences attract vendors and exhibitors that are specific to the industry and who agritourism farmers want to network with.

Agritourism offers working farms the opportunity to diversify and expand revenue streams by hosting visitors for education, recreation and entertainment.
This meeting is for local and state leaders in agriculture, economic development and tourism too. Agritourism brings vibrancy into our communities by spotlighting education, local food, and outdoor farm fun!

Thinking about adding an agritourism component to your farm? Consider joining this conference to attend educational sessions with seasoned professionals and industry experts, network, and enjoy an outdoor farm tour experience.

The N.C. Agritourism Farm Tour & Conference will be held Feb. 14-15, 2022 at the Rocky Mount Event Center located at 331 South Franklin St., Rocky Mount, NC 27802 (just east of Raleigh). Sign up early and save! Early bird registration ends Jan. 15, 2022.

Check NC ANA's website for resources related to general liability insurance, financial, taxes and exemptions, and other commonly asked questions related to agritourism.

Virtual Pesticide Credits

Need continuing education credits to maintain your NCDA&CS pesticide license? Register below for Blacklands Virtual training offered by Washington County Cooperative Extension. The link below will lead participants to register through Eventbrite to receive the class link.

January 27, 2022: 8-10am, 2 hours V safety credits

February 18, 2022: 8-10am, 2 hours X, N, D, O credits will be available. Drs. Charlie Cahoon, Dominic Reisig, and Wes Everman will provide research updates & discuss efficient pest management for 2022.

2022 Forestry Taxes

Many forest landowners pay more taxes on their timber than they should. Accountants can help to calculate taxes, but forest landowners need to understand how timber expenses should be reported, and how they are taxed. When planning your forest management activities, knowing the timber tax rules will help you keep your records in line, and save you money. These webinars will take place every Tuesday starting Jan. 18th - Feb. 15 at 1pm ET. The Woodland Stewards Regional Extension Program for Landowners was developed by a collaborative team of forestry Extension professionals from eleven different organizations. This is the fourth year of the series and other webinars from the current and past series can be accessed on the here.

Upcoming Extension Webinars Jan.-Feb.

January 18, 2022 (Tu), 1 - 2 PM ET, Seeing the Forest for the Trees: An Overview of Forestry Taxes. This webinar is the first of five in the "Forestry Taxes: Learn, Plan & Save Money Webinar Series." Join this webinar for an overview of forestry taxes including a summary of the different types of taxes that forest landowners pay, the terminology used, and more! This presentation will also include the ins and outs of classifying your forest land as a business, investment or personal property including how to qualify for a profit motive classification. Presenters will also share their record-keeping tips. Register in advance with the forestry webinars portal.

January 20, 2022 (Th), 12 - 1:30 PM ET, USFS Fueling Collaboration: Smoke is NOT Just Smoke. Smoke has always been an important issue in wildland fire, but recent fire seasons have driven home the point even more across the eastern US. Whether it’s the western US and Canadian wildfire smoke or smoke from a local controlled burn, what are the messages we should be communicating? What are the tools that can help us assess impacts? Attend this session to hear about the latest in smoke science and management. Learn more on the Fueling Collaboration Panel Discussion Series webpage. Register in advance on their registration page.

January 21, 2022 (F), 1 - 2 PM ET, Overview of the US National Fire Danger Rating System Version 4.0 (2016): Lessons learned from the Southeast US implementation.The US National Fire Danger Rating System is the foundation for wildland fire preparedness and response decision support throughout the country. Here we will present the development and implementation of the first revisions to the system in 40 years. We discuss the improvements made to dead and live fuel moisture models and simplifications made to fuel models and summarize how these improvements pave the way for technological advancements in future fire danger systems. Finally, we will discuss the lessons learned while implementing NFDRS V4 throughout the Federal and State land management agencies in the Southeast US. Following the presentation, there will be time for audience Q/A with the speaker. Get more information and register in advance on the webinar registration page.

January 25, 2022 (Tu), 1 - 2 PM ET, Basics of Timber Basis: Re(setting) the Table.This webinar is the second of five in the "Forestry Taxes: Learn, Plan & Save Money Webinar Series." Join this webinar to learn more about one of the most important financial aspects of timber management that often goes unnoticed or underappreciated. Timber basis is how much you have invested in the timber, and it is used to determine net taxable income. It can be applied to reduce taxable income, financial losses after a storm, and more. Register in advance with the forestry webinars portal.

February 1, 2022 (Tu), 1 - 2 PM ET, Timber Management Expenses and Deductions.This webinar is the third of five in the "Forestry Taxes: Learn, Plan & Save Money Webinar Series." Managing your timber costs money, and like any other business, many of your expenses can be deducted from your tax bill. In this presentation, you will learn how to assess your forest management costs and correctly claim your deductions. In addition, presenters will discuss other related topics from how to fill out a "Form T," to the ins and outs of reforestation costs, and conservation easements. Register in advance with the forestry webinars portal.

February 8, 2022 (Tu), 1 - 2 PM ET, Keeping More of Your Timber Income Following a Timber Sale. This webinar is the fourth of five in the "Forestry Taxes: Learn, Plan & Save Money Webinar Series." Learn about one of the top ways forest landowners save taxes—receiving capital gain treatment on timber sales. A landowner may only sell their timber a few times in their life but understanding how to maximize profit and minimize taxes when harvesting takes some thought. Join this presentation for a detailed discussion of how to qualify for capital gain treatment under IRC 631(a) & (b), recordkeeping tips, and proper tax reporting. Tax treatments of cost-sharing payments will also be covered briefly. Register in advance with the forestry webinars portal.

February 15, 2022 (Tu), 1 - 2 PM ET, Coping With Losses from Nature and Chance.This webinar is the last of five in the "Forestry Taxes: Learn, Plan & Save Money Webinar Series." Growing trees can be subject to forces beyond the owners’ control from weather catastrophes to timber theft and more. While forest landowners can’t plan for these unexpected events, they can learn more about the tax implications for casualty loss, non-casualty losses, timber theft, trespassing, and more. Join this webinar for insights into the best ways to cope with timber losses from nature and chance. Register in advance withthe forestry webinars portal.

February 17, 2022 (Th), 12 - 1:30 PM ET, USFS Fueling Collaboration: Fire and the Wildland Urban Interface in the Eastern US. Notions of fire and the wildland-urban interface often bring to mind scenes from the western United States, where catastrophic wildfires have led to catastrophic losses. In contrast, mapping efforts have found that the vast majority of the WUI acres can be found in the eastern United States. This panel will talk about how wildfire, prescribed fire, and climate change intersect in the WUI of the east. Learn more on the Fueling Collaboration Panel Discussion Series webpage. Register in advance on their registration page.

#PlantsDoThat: For Our Health

Happy New Year! If health resolutions are a part of your new year's resolution, we hope you enjoy the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH)'s new infographic capturing the health benefits of gardening: nutrition, exercise, habits, and health. Let it inspire you to try gardening this spring and summer!

Tending plants, whether indoors or out, helps our mind. Planting seeds, pruning and shaping shrubs, cutting flowers to bring indoors, or even weeding and mulching provide diversions and interest for our minds. We feel it in reduced levels of stress and anxiety and improved ability to concentrate and focus.