Iredell Informed Newsletter July 2022

Would you use a commercial/multi-use kitchen if available in our area?

Iredell County Cooperative Extension is working to distribute a survey to determine the level of need and type of multi-use kitchen that would be utilized within Iredell and surrounding counties by both farmers for value added products, and food entrepreneurs.

We are asking for as many people as possible to complete the attached survey in order to try and get an accurate representation of the number of potential users and their desired use. Also, if you know individuals or groups that you feel would offer viable feedback, please share this survey with them as well.

If there are any questions, concerns or specific needs that are not addressed in this survey, please feel free to contact me, Melinda Roberts, at the cooperative extension office.

In addition to the interactive google survey, there is also a link to a printable PDF document that can be scanned and emailed back to me or sent via USPS (see address below).

Thank you all so much for your help and insight during the first stages of something life changing for farmers and other entrepreneurs in our area.

Survey link:

https://forms.gle/5MWxpBAiWyFgCXtq8

Extend Your Summer Garden Into Fall

Gardeners in the NC piedmont and coastal plain can extend their summer vegetable gardens into fall by making a second planting of quick maturing warm season crops between mid July and early August. Warm season crops do not tolerate frost so stick with varieties that will have time to mature before cold weather sets in. On average, the first frost for much of the central NC piedmont occurs between Oct. 21 and Oct. 31, which means frost sensitive crops planted at this time of year need to be able to grow and mature in less than three months.

Some of the best warm season crops for a fall garden are members of the squash family, such as cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini. These quick maturing vegetables typically begin to produce 50-60 days after being seeded in the garden. It is too late to start a fall crop of winter squash such as butternut, acorn, or spaghetti squash, which require 90 days or more to mature. The term winter is this group of squash’s name refers to the fact that they will store through winter, not that the plants are winter hardy.

Snap beans, also known as green beans, are another great warm season crop for fall. Expect to begin harvesting 60 days after sowing. Bush varieties typically mature 7-10 days earlier than pole varieties. While it is too late to start a fall crop of slower growing summer vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant from seed, you can set out young plants if you can find them.

Spice up your fall garden with herbs. There is still time to make one more sowing of basil, a warm season annual herb, but wait a few more weeks before planting cool season annual herbs such as parsley, dill, and cilantro. Plants of perennial herbs such as rosemary, sage, chives, oregano, and thyme can be planted spring, summer or fall in sunny areas with good drainage.

Plan to expand your fall garden by planting frost hardy, cool season crops later this summer. Mid August is the correct time to begin seeding cool season favorites such as lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, mustard and turnips and to set out plants of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and collards. For more on planting times, see these NC Extension publications:

Home Horticulture Calendar

JULY

Soil Sample to determine nutrient requirements for lawns
Water dormant lawns in the absence of rain
Check for grubs during July & August and control if necessary
Begin fall vegetable garden - plant beans, carrots & tomatoes
Remove fruiting canes of raspberry & blackberry after harvest
Remove dead flower heads
Check lawn for brown patch disease
Soil sample for fall lawn & garden
Sidedress vegetable garden plants with a nitrogen fertilizer after they have set their first fruit
Harvest beans, cucumbers, okra and squash daily to keep plants producing

Congratulations to ECA Scholarship recipients:

Skylin Grace Guill

Graduate of North Iredell School/Honor Student

Plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill

Studying to be a Nurse Anesthetist

Member of FFA

Codi Blaine Barker

Graduate of North Iredell School/Honor student

Plans to attend University of Mt Olive

Studying Veterinary Bro-Science

Member of FFA

They will be receiving their awards on Thursday , August 4, 2022 @11:00A.M. at the ECA Board Meeting Luncheon, at the home of Judy Athey President of the Iredell County ECA Clubs.

Scholarship Commitee:

Judy Athey

Joyce Dobson

Kim Dobson

Sandra Overcash

Summer Vegetable Salad

Ingredients
For the salad:

2 ears corn, shucked
1 medium orange, red, or yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch wide strips
Olive oil for brushing
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 English cucumber, cut into half moons
5 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup feta cheese (or queso fresco, or shaved ricotta salata cheese)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped herbs such as cilantro,chives, basil, or mint
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

For the charred lime vinaigrette:

2 large limes, cut in half crosswise
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 small shallot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat. Brush the corn and bell pepper with oil and grill, turning occasionally, until charred and tender, 6 to 8 minutes for the pepper and 12 to 15 for the con. Transfer the grilled vegetables to a cutting board as they are finished and let cool slightly.
Brush 3 of the lime halves with oil, you won't need the 4th half, save for another use. Grill the halves, cut side down, rotating occasionally, until charred, about 5 minutes. Transfer the limes to a plate.
To make the vinaigrette, thinly slice the garlic, then mount the salt on top. Using both the blade and flat side of a chef's knife, chop and scrape the mixture into a paste. Transfer to a small bowl or jar. Juice the grilled limes and add the lime juice and shallot to the bowl with the garlic and whisk in the oil.
Cut the corn kernels from the cobs and roughly chop the bell pepper. Arrange the grilled vegetables, tomatoes, cucumber, and radishes in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and a generous pinch of salt and pepper; gently toss to combine. Sprinkle with the cheese and herbs to serve.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed the first established presence of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the state. Initial surveys indicate the known distribution of the pest is within a 5-mile radius in Forsyth County near Interstate 40 in Kernersville extending to the Guilford County line. Survey efforts are ongoing.

“We have been actively looking for this pest for years and had ramped up surveillance when it was detected last year near the North Carolina-Virginia line,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Members of our Plant Industry Division and the N.C. Forest Service are moving quickly to eradicate this brightly colored pest, and we ask members of the public to be on the lookout for more spotted lanternfly and report any finds.”

Spotted lanternfly poses a serious threat to the state’s wine and grape industries and can feed and cause damage on over 70 species of plants including apples, roses and other landscape plants, said Dr. Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division.

When spotted lanternfly populations jumped from the northern end of Virginia to an area just over the North Carolina state line, NCDA&CS increased its outreach and surveying, particularly to the state’s most vulnerable wine-producing regions. This pest has been rapidly spreading since it was first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014.

Concentrated spotted lanternfly surveys are continuing in the initial Forsyth County discovery area to determine if the pest is in additional locations. Treatments are planned this week before mated females begin laying eggs.

Early detection and rapid response are critical in the control of spotted lanternfly and the Plant Industry Division has been preparing to provide the most effective response to slow the spread of this invasive pest in our state, Foote said.

If you see a suspect spotted lanternfly in North Carolina submit a picture through the online reporting tool.

Certification Training for Operators of Animal Waste Management Systems

Do you need an additional certified operator for your waste management system? I have the initial animal waste training (10 hour) scheduled for Tuesday, July 19th and Tuesday, July 26th from 9am-3pm. You must attend both days. The training will be for both Type A and Type B operators. If you have questions or would like to register, please call Nancy Keith at 704-873-0507. Please register by July 15. Cost of the training is $30.00 which can be brought July 19th. If paying by check, please make it payable to Iredell County Cooperative Extension.

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:

Beth Cloninger
Latoya Boller

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