dbmcgiff@ncsu.edu

The Moore County Extension staff is pleased to welcome Kathryn Streahle as our Extension intern this summer.

Extension summer interns work with Extension personnel to deliver hands-on, educational programs. Job shadowing and mentoring help interns learn about the mission and work of North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

“Extension makes a positive difference in the community every day. We provide educational programs that connect communities with research-based information. Our internship program is another way we help prepare students for challenging and rewarding careers in food, agriculture, natural resources, and family and consumer sciences” said Dr. Richard Bonanno, Associate Dean of the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of NC State Extension.

In Moore County Kathryn or Kat, as she prefers to be called, will assist agents with preparation and implementation of a variety of summer programs, meetings and activities such as the Moore County 4-H Summer Fun program which is a series of summer day camps and special events. Summer Fun is designed to engage Moore County youth between the ages of 5-18 in experiential hands-on learning. Youth enrolled in Summer Fun will learn to cook, learn about animal science and livestock production, will go on scavenger hunts and learn about nature or will participate in STEM activities that promote curiosity and imagination. Kat will help staff organize and execute the annual South-Central District 4-H Activity Day where youth from 19 counties compete in selected categories for district awards and recognition. Kat will contribute to County newsletter and with written articles to media outlets, and will help promote Extension through assisting with filming and documenting 4-H summer program/activities on social media sites. She will participate in Extension meetings, light office duties and at the end of her internship Kat will offer her perspectives of Extension work and how Extension serves Moore County residents.

Kat, a native of Pinehurst, is a rising senior from North Carolina State University majoring in Agricultural Education with minors in Animal Science and Agricultural Business Management.

Foeniculum Vulgare

Common Name(s): Bronze Fennel, Fennel, Finocchio, Florence Fennel

Fennel is a flavorful perennial herb and a member of the (carrot family) Apiaceae. It can grow up to 6 feet tall providing an eye-catching background to lower growing herbs. Don’t be intimidated by the appearance of jointed hollow stalks which interlace forming a thick base bulb resembling an onion. At the tip of the stalks are light feather-like leaves that resemble dill. As fennel goes to seed it produces yellow lace-like flowers. The flowers are attractive to beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies and small wasps.

Fennel has a fresh aromatic anise flavor and every part of the herb is edible from the bulb to the flower. This herb contains the mineral manganese and numerous other beneficial minerals. The fennel bulb is a good source of vitamin C.

For home gardeners, plant in the spring after the last frost. It requires 6 hours of sun in fertile, well-drained soil. If growing more than one plant space 4-12 inches apart depending on the variety. It can be grown in raised beds, in-ground gardens, containers and flower gardens. Fennel has been known to deter aphids in the garden.

It’s a great herb, so add some spice to life this spring, and buy yourself a Fennel plant!

By: Betty Dew, EMGV, Moore County

Photo: By ncsu.edu

For more information, contact the Extension Master Gardener helpline at 910-947-3188, Monday – Friday.

Spring into Farmers' Markets

Moore County Farmers' Market
www.moorecountyfarmersmarket.com

Downtown Park, Southern Pines, Saturdays,
April 16-October 29, 2022, 8AM-Noon

Armory Sports Complex, Southern Pines, Thursdays,
Year-Round, 9 AM-1PM
(closed Thanksgiving, November 23)

Sandhills Farmers Market In Pinehurst
https://www.facebook.com/SFGMarket/

Tufts Park, Pinehurst,
Saturdays, April 16-October 1, 10 AM-1 PM
Wednesdays, April 20-September 28, 3 PM-6 PM

Sandhills Farm to Table
Community Supported Agriculture
subscribe @ https://www.sandhillsfarm2table.com/
Deliveries from April 20-November 10

Dealing with Heat Stress

Summers in North Carolina can be brutal between our high temperatures and high humidity. This combination is hard on people and animals alike. Did you know that cattle can start seeing the effects of heat stress at 70 degrees Fahrenheit? Water intake doubles between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stress can reduce reproduction performance, lower meat quality, slow growth rates, and even lead to death.

Horses are also heavily affected by heat! When you are deciding to ride your horse in the summer it is important to account for the Heat Index. This is calculated by taking the temperature and adding humidity. When the Heat Index is between 130 and 150 you should use caution and monitor your horses frequently. Do NOT ride if the Heat Index is over 180.

Sheep and goats tend to be more tolerant than horses and cattle. They evolved in desert climates. Hair sheep are more tolerant than their wool counterparts. However, they have less tolerance when stressed. A prime example of this is when being worked.

We can’t forget our companion animals and livestock dogs. They are also affected by the heat. One of the leading causes of death in livestock dogs is heat stress from working and their high drive. Make sure to provide your companion animals and livestock dogs extra water and shelter during hot days. Avoid using working dogs in temperatures above 90 degrees. When taking companion animals for walks during the summer, walk them on dirt or grass. Asphalt and concrete hold heat and will burn the paw pads of your companions.

Here are some tips on how to prevent stress and the signs to look for in your animals.

Monitor watering systems more frequently
Provide shelter or shade if there is no natural shade
Feed pasture instead of hay when possible
Avoid working, moving or riding animals between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm
Do not haul animals on trailers between 10 am and 4 pm

Signs of Heat Stress

Excess panting
Excess saliva
Increased sweat
Laying down
Labored breathing

What to Do

Treat heat stress as an EMERGENCY
Call your veterinarian, heat stress often needs to be treated with IV fluids
Provide electrolytes

Beginning to Can

After experiencing supply shortages and food disruptions, more people are interested in canning than ever. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when deciding to can garden raised produce.

Home food preservation started as a way to put up produce harvested in the summer from home gardens for the winter months. Eating locally and seasonally is back in style but is actually pretty old-school. In 1911, when home demonstration clubs started in North Carolina, my position came into being. The clubs were meant to be an outlet for girls in community tomatoe clubs. Girls would grow tomatoes and can them to sell at farmers' markets, but they had signs of spoilage. To learn how to properly can tomatoes Jane McKimmon was hired as the first home demonstration agent. She taught the girls the proper, safe way to put up their tomatoes. Canning remained popular in NC, not necessarily because of needing food for the winter, but as a way to put up surplus from home gardens. Even though we have greater access to food, there are still several reasons to start canning now.

- Health reasons – low-sugar jelly, controlling what goes into our bodies

- Reducing food waste – extending the life of your plentiful garden

- Food business

- Food gifts

- Supporting local farmers

- Wanting specialty products

- Meal prep ahead like soups and dinner starters

- Stocking a pantry

You do not need a canner to do any of the above. You can also preserve food by freezing, dehydrating, or fermenting. If you only plan on canning high-acid foods like most fruits, jams, jellies, salsas, and pickles, you only need a water-bath canner or pot with a rack and lid. For low-acid foods like vegetables and meats, a pressure canner is required. For more information on selecting a pressure canner, follow the link.

Pre-Canning Planning

For some people the canning season begins with planting a garden. For others it begins with a visit to the farmers’ market. Really you can can in any season. Whatever the source of food, plan in advance to determine your family’s needs.

- Decide the type of food and recipes to be canned

- Assemble the jars, lids and bands designated for the food type and recipes selected

- Be sure the canner needed to process the foods and recipes you choose is in proper working condition.

- Make sure to get all supplies the day before canning. This will help with inconvenient breaks in canning.

- Make sure you have read and found answers for any questions that you may have about the recipe before you start canning.

If you have questions about canning or would like to request a canning class, call or email FCS agent, Janice Roberts.

910-947-3188
janice_roberts@ncsu.edu

June canning classes will be held:

Water-bath canning June 22, 10am-12pm
Pressure canning June 23, 10am - 12pm
Call or email to sign-up.

With Backyard Chickens, Don't Put Your Eggs in One Basket

Whether you’re in it for the eggs, companionship or simply wanting to try something new, having a backyard chicken flock can be a uniquely rewarding experience. It also poses its own unique challenges.

Hear Richard Goforth, poultry specialized agent with NC State Extension in the recent edition of Homegrown, Starting a Backyard Flock, walk through some of the major considerations, from selecting breeds, constructing a coop and safely handling eggs to understanding biosecurity best practices and local animal ordinances.

4-H Needs Your Help

It is often said that our youth are the future. Extension and 4-H certainly believe this. 4-H provides out-of-school experiences that help youth develop life skills that promote academic success and encourage their development into productive, well-adjusted adults. District Activity Day is one of the most visible opportunities to witness the growth and development of our youth, first hand. At District Activity Day youth compete in various categories to demonstrate what they have learned in their chosen areas of interest. Those placing first in their competitions will have the opportunity to compete on the state level at NC 4-H Congress held annually in July in Raleigh. But District Activity Day is more than a completion. More important than winning first, second or third place are the skills youth gain in project development, public speaking and poise, as they plan, prepare and ultimately present their individual projects or talks. 4-H Activity Day is an opportunity for young people to develop the confidence and speaking skills that will benefit them throughout life.

This year Moore County Extension is responsible for District Activity Day which is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 in Lillington, NC at Highland Middle School. However, for District Activity to be a meaningful and successful event for engaged youth, we need interested adult volunteers willing to help our staff serve as hosts who can help direct 4-H’ers and their families to the assigned classrooms where presentations will be conducted, or assist with similar duties. We will provide lunch and transportation, if necessary, and you will have the sincere gratitude of the Moore County Extension staff and
4-H families.

Please, contact Kaley Lawing at kaley_lawing@ncsu.edu or at 910-947-4649 if you can give your time to the outstanding youth who wish to share their 4-H experiences.

Moore County 4-H in partnership with Moore County United Way and Moore County Cooperative Extension offered the 4-H Butterfly Program to all schools this year. The 4-H Butterfly Program was much more than simply watching caterpillars evolve into butterflies; the butterfly program emphasized a “hands-on” experiential learning experience which explained the intricacies of nature’s life cycles. Each youth received their very own cup of 2 Painted Lady butterfly larvae, and teachers received curriculum and resources to use in their classrooms. Youth observed larvae daily as part of the program and recorded any changes they were seeing. They also wrote essays and put together presentations about their experience. The program served 70 classrooms including public, homeschool, private, and charter schools in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. There were over 1,700 students served in total. After butterflies emerged they were observed for a final few days and then released. Many students and teachers commented this was their favorite part of the experience. Katelyn Sheffield is a 9th grade teacher at North Moore High School. She commented “This was definitely a success of keeping my students interested in science especially towards the end of the year!”

We cannot thank Moore County United Way enough for their generous support of this year’s program. We look forward to serving even more youth and classrooms in the upcoming years.