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Iredell Informed April 2022

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AGRICULTURE NEWS
Due to Avian Influenza there will not be a Spring Pullet Sale
High Path Avian Influenza detected in wild bird in Hyde County, Turkeys in Johnston County

UPDATE:  
Early last week a commercial flock of turkeys in Johnston County tested positive for a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza (HPAI). Since then, three additional commercial turkey flocks have tested positive through surveillance testing and one additional commercial turkey flock is being tested after experiencing increased mortality rates. NCDA&CS is working with industry and USDA partners to enforce quarantine zones, continue surveillance testing, and depopulate flocks as they test positive.

Please continue to follow strict biosecurity practices if you have poultry flocks. The current recommendation from NCDA&CS is that small backyard flocks remain enclosed, either in a coop or enclosed run, without access to wild birds or bodies of water that wild waterfowl frequent. While this is a recommendation only and not rule or law, it is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of this disease.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the positive detection to stakeholders yesterday, along with the announcement of a second wild duck confirmed to have HPAI in Colleton County, South Carolina since Jan. 14. All three findings are H5N1 HPAI. These are the first wild birds in the United States to have Eurasian H5 HPAI since 2016. The positive samples were collected by USDA as part of its ongoing surveillance program for early detection of HPAI in collaboration with state wildlife agencies. North Carolina’s positive sample was collected on Dec. 30, 2021.
“These three positive samples tell us that high path avian influenza is currently present in the American Atlantic migratory flyway,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “While this virus is not a food safety issue, anyone with commercial or backyard flocks of poultry need to implement strict biosecurity measures. These measures include keeping your flock inside.”

Wild birds can be infected with HPAI and show no signs of illness. They can carry the disease to new areas when
migrating. USDA APHIS anticipates additional wild bird findings as their wild bird sampling program continues into the spring.
This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but it can be dangerous to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry. The warning signs of HPAI include:

Reduced energy, decreased appetite, and/or decreased activity
Lower egg production and/or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb and wattles
Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs
Difficulty breathing, runny nares (nose), and/or sneezing
Twisting of the head and neck, stumbling, falling down, tremors and/or circling
Greenish diarrhea

If your birds are sick or dying, report it right away to your local veterinarian, the N.C. Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services Veterinary Division, 919-707-3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System 919-733-3986. If you have questions about migratory birds, hunting, or wild waterfowl found dead on your property, visit the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org.

Biosecurity Basics:
Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those people who take care of your poultry to come in contact with your birds, this includes family and friends. Keep track of
everyone who is on your property at all times. Make sure everyone who has contact
with your flock follows biosecurity principles.

Wash your hands before and after coming in contact with live poultry. In addition to
potentially spreading disease from farm to farm or bird to bird, you can also spread
germs such as Salmonella that can impact human health. Wash with soap and water
(always your first choice). If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers, and
other materials from your hands because disinfectants will not penetrate organic matter or caked-on dirt.

Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone
having contact with your flock. If using a footbath, be sure to remove all droppings,
mud or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled scrub brush BEFORE
stepping into the disinfectant footbath, and always keep it clean.
Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property.
Visitors should wear protective outer garments or disposable coveralls, boots, and
headgear when handling birds, and shower and/or change clothes when leaving the
facility.

Clean and disinfect tools or equipment before moving them to a new poultry
facility. Before allowing service vehicles, trucks, tractors, or tools and equipment—
including egg flats and cases that have come in contact with birds or their droppings-
to exit the property, make sure they are cleaned and disinfected to prevent
contaminated equipment from transporting disease. Do not move or reuse items that
cannot be cleaned and disinfected—such as cardboard egg flats.

Look for signs of illness. Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases.

Report sick birds. Don’t wait. If your birds are sick or dying, call a local veterinarian,
cooperative extensive service, or state veterinarian. Call USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-
7593.

For more information about biosecurity practices, including checklists you can follow, visit the Defend the Flock Resource Center.

LIVESTOCK NEWS
HORTICULTURE NEWS
Home Horticulture Calendar
APRIL
  • Check for aphids & treat if necessary
  • Fertilize early spring flower plants
  • Check to see what vegetable plants can be set out this month
  • Spray dogwood trees to protect from anthracnose
  • Begin fruit spray program after flower petals fall
  • Start spray program in orchards
  • Control broadleaf weeds in lawn
  • Plant strawberries and blueberries
  • Redefine edges of plant borders
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES
$500 Educational Scholarship Opportunity
Deadline May1, 2022
Click link for more information:

Mustard Green-and-Sweet Onion Frittata
Total: 45 mins.    Active:30 mins      Yield: 8

Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 pounds mustard greens, stems discarded & leaves coarsely chopped
  • 16 large eggs, beaten
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Directions

Instructions
  • Step 1.    Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large ovenproof nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat until golden brown, 10 minutes. Add the greens and cook until wilted.
  • Step 2.    Season the eggs with salt and pepper and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Pour the eggs into the skillet and cook over moderate heat until the bottom and sides begin to set. Lift the sides of the frittata to allow the uncooked eggs to seep under. Continue cooking until the bottom is set and the top is still runny, 3 minutes. Sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano on top.
  • Step 3.    Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for about 8 minutes, until the center of the frittata is set. Slide the frittata onto a cutting board. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Notes
One Serving 245 cal, 7 gm carb, 17 gm fat, 4.5 gm sat fat, 17 gm protein, 3 gm fiber.

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ROW CROPS NEWS
What Are the Optimal Planting Conditions for Corn?

— Written By Mitch Williams and last updated by

In order to achieve optimum corn yields, we need to get the corn crop off to a good start. Dr. Ron Heiniger, NC State Extension Corn Specialist, has done much research over the past few years showing the importance of uniform emergence. This video explains that to attain uniform emergence, we need to keep three main factors in mind while planting corn:

Read more at: https://corn.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/04/what-are-the-optimal-planting-conditions-for-corn/

Soil Temperature – corn seed germination requires a minimum soil temperature of 50°F. Soil Moisture – corn seed should have adequate soil moisture when planting. Too much moisture and you can run into disease and reduced stands due to several soil physical factors. Too little moisture and you will have spotty emergence. Planting Depth – corn seed should normally be planted at 1.5 – 2.5” deep. In an effort to chase soil moisture or overcome wet soils, farmers will sometimes plant more shallow or deep. Planting too deep can reduce stands because the corn seed may not have enough energy to emerge more than 2.5” to reach sunlight. Planting too shallow can cause spotty emergence because of the lack of soil moisture, caused by the soil drying out quickly. We would like to thank the Corn Growers Association of North Carolina for funding for this video.
CONTINUE TO CATCH EXTENSION ON WAME
Extension has daily slots on the local radio station, WAME 92.9FM/550AM!

Check them out at 6:40am and 6:40pm


Mondays-       Taylor Jenkins and Kelly Pierce for 4-H/Youth
                        Development

Tuesdays-       Andrea Sherrill for Family & Consumer Science

Wednesdays- Melinda Roberts for Horticulture

Thursdays-     Laura Elmore and Jenny Carleo for Crops and
                        Livestock

Fridays-          Nancy Keith, Dairy and Extension Director News





Need to get in touch with Extension Staff?


--Just click on the person below--

Agents/Associates:

Nancy Keith: County Extension Director, Dairy

Andrea Sherrill: Family & Consumer Science

Jenny Carleo: Area Specialized Agent, Grain Crops

Laura Elmore: Livestock and Crops

Taylor Jenkins: 4-H Youth Development

Kelly Pierce: 4-H Program Associate

Melinda Roberts:  Horticulture


Associate Support Staff:






NC Cooperative Extension
Iredell County Center
444 Bristol Drive Statesville NC 28677
704-873-0507

 
 
 
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.
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