Office Closed
September 3, 2018
Our office will be closed on Monday, September 3rd for the Labor Day Holiday.
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Pasture Renovation 
Fall is the time to reseed cool season grasses in pastures and hayfields in Burke County. Many pastures are overgrazed in July and August when fescue and Orchardgrass are dormant or barely growing, and weeds invade in areas that are abused or overgrazed. Typically we receive adequate moisture in late fall and this can help you achieve success when establishing new forage stands or overseeding old ones. September and October are excellent times to establish or renovate pastures, and we can actually get by with planting cool season forages up until mid-November in most years.
Always start by testing your soil so that you will know what nutrients your pastures or hayfields need, and fertilize and lime based on test results. Soil tests in North Carolina are still free to producers from April through November but there is a $4.00 per sample fee from December through March, so take advantage during this time and sample that soil. Soil test kits are available at the Extension Office on Ammons Drive.
To renovate or reseed your forage stands, clip or graze pastures close before reseeding. Sod drill or broadcast seed to suit your forage needs. Give careful attention to thin or bare spots, as weeds will invade these areas first. By seeding these cool season grasses in the fall, you will ensure adequate root development before dry weather next year. If weeds are an issue, it is usually best to control them before reseeding, but many pesticides have plant back restrictions and some can be as much as 120 days to a year so be aware when using herbicides. Sometimes it is best to reseed and then use a broadleaf herbicide later to control weeds, as many are gone once frost hits them. Most broadleaf herbicides can be used once grass seedlings have reached 5 tillers or five true leaves. Most often this would be the following spring or early summer, which allows producers adequate time to control most summer annual broadleaf weeds before they become competitive. Many winter annual weeds such as chickweed, buttercup and henbit can be controlled in February or March following reseeding once grass has reached the 5-tiller stage of growth.
Adding clovers to forage mixtures will improve forage yields and lessen nitrogen requirements. Producers should wait until spring to seed clover in renovated or new pastures. Frost seeding legumes during February and March works very well, as the freezing and thawing of the soil, helps incorporate the seed into the soil. Be aware that broadleaf herbicides will kill or injure clover, so always control weeds before planting legumes. Again many herbicides have plant back restrictions and clovers are sensitive to most of them, so read the label and act accordingly. It would be a shame to spend money to add clover to your renovation efforts and not have any come up because the herbicide you used last fall prevented it from growing.
Adding clover boosts the nutrition of your forage stands, helps lessen nitrogen requirements and also lessens the effects of endophyte toxicity from infected fescue pastures, known as "summer slump".
I recommend providing livestock with a mixture of grasses; after all, we don't just eat lettuce at a salad bar do we. Improved varieties of fescue, both endophyte friendly and endophyte free are readily available and should be more palatable and boost weight gains. Tall fescue, Orchardgrass, Timothy (in parts of the county), and forage varieties of bluegrass can be seeded now to help rejuvenate pastures and hayfields. Other options for those seeking alternatives include Brome, Matua, ryegrass and festulolium that is a cross between perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue. Using different grass species in your pastures and hayfields helps provide variety to your livestock and can also benefit you in providing earlier and longer grazing, taking advantage of the best of each species, and you "don't put all your eggs in one basket".
Once producers renovate or establish new forage stands it is important to manage them correctly. Don't go out and turn the cows out next March, and expect good results. New fall seeded forage stands should not be grazed until they have 6-10 inches of growth. Remember that what you have above the ground in blade growth is what you have below the ground in root growth, so allow the root system to develop properly and you will have a dependable pasture or hayfield. I'd recommend light grazing, removing livestock once grass is down to 4-6 inches of growth for pastures, around May following seeding, or cutting for hay at mid bloom and setting hay mower to leave a six inch stubble. This allows for quick regrowth and lessens damage to the root system. Allowing livestock on too early can result in damage from trampling and pulling young seedlings out by the roots when grazing.
Producers who renovate pastures and hayfields this fall will be more successful than those who invariably wait until spring, because fall seeded forages benefit from better root development when hot dry weather comes. Those who manage new forage stands properly, will help increase their forage quality, yield and persistence, and minimize weed invasion that occurs in thin forage stands.
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Nursery Crop Field Day
September 21, 2018
The Nursery Crop Field Day will be held on September 21, 2018 from 8:00am - 2:30pm at Hard & Flossie Clark Community Park in Collettsville, NC.
Topics will include:
- New Plant Releases from NC State
- Managing Exotic Wood Borers in Nurseries
- Preventing Wildlife Damage in Nurseries and Landscapes
- Keeping Boxwood Blight at Bay: A Nursery Perspective
- Emerging Pests in NC Nurseries and Landscapes
There will be a Trade Show from 10:00 - 2:00
Pesticide Credits and Landscape Contractor Credits will also be provided for participants.
Registration:
$15 per person before September 14
$25 per person after September 14
Only those pre-registered will be guaranteed a meal ticket for lunch
Visit our website for a printable registration form:
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Come See Us At The Historic Morganton Festival
September 7-8, 2018
NC Cooperative Extension and Burke County 4-H will have a booth at the Historic Morganton Festival on September 7-8. We will be selling our #ExtensionEats Cookbooks; handing out informational hand fans and flyers; and staff members and volunteers will be available to speak with visitors.
If you're at the festival, stop by and see us!
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Fall Pansies Hold Promise of Spring 
One of the best things about fall is pansies. There is nothing any more enjoyable on a crisp autumn day than planting pansies for next spring. Pansies should be planted when the heat of summer starts to fade but before cold weather is firmly established. They like a rich, well drained soil and full winter sun. They also prefer a thin layer of mulch, but not too deep.
There is no such thing as a fall pansy and a spring pansy. The only difference in these plants is the time of year they are purchased. Pansies perform better when they are planted in the fall. They like a cool growing season and are at their best during the early spring. Root growth takes place all winter and by early spring they are established well enough to make a very showy display. Plants that are set out in the spring do not have a long enough growing period to make a good sized plant before the heat of summer ruins them.
When day temperatures start rising above 75 degrees on a consistent basis, pansy blooms diminish and the plant declines. They should be pulled up and replaced with summer annuals for good summer blooming. Occasionally a few plants will survive the heat, but they will be weak and spindly and not worth the space they are taking from a hardier plant. Pansies should be treated as annual that just happens to be planted in the fall instead of the spring.
There are many varieties to choose from and whether the traditional pansy faces or the bright solid colors are preferred, there are enough varieties available to suit everyone's fancy. Stocky, dark green plants should be purchased with few blooms. Any blooms should be pinched off to encourage vegetative and root growth. A slow release 5-10-10 granular fertilizer should be applied at planting and again in the early spring. High nitrogen fertilizers should be avoided because a high concentration of nitrogen in the soil makes the plant more susceptible to root rot. Plants should be watered and then allowed to dry between water applications. Spent blooms should be pinched off to encourage continued blooming.
Try planting pansies in the fall and you will be pleased with the results. Enjoy the glorious blooms in the spring and do not feel guily about pulling them up when it is time to move into summer.
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Burke County 4-H Youth Attends NCACC Youth Summit
A 4-H'er from Burke County attended the ninth annual North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Youth Summit, which was held in Hickory, North Carolina August 24-25, 2018. North Carolina 4-H and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service partnered for the ninth year with the NCACC on a multi-year initiative to increase youth involvement in county government. This initiative helps youth learn more about county government as well as how to become more involved in local decision making.
The 4-H'er who attended from Burke County was Zachary Good. Over 70 youth and adults from 63 counties were represented during this event. The event is sponsored and supported by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
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Fall Lawn Care for the Homeowner
September 15, 2018 
Morganton Ace Hardware
10:00am - 12:00pm
Join our Horticulture Agent, Donna Teasley at Ace Hardware in Morganton for an informative, free workshop on lawn care for the fall and getting the lawn ready for winter.
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North Carolina Cattle Industry Referendum 
The North Carolina Cattlemen's Association (NCCA) has announced that the N. C. Cattle Industry Assessment Referendum vote will take place on October 4, 2018. The North Carolina Cattlemen's Association will conduct a referendum to continue the N. C. Cattle Industry Assessment. Arrangements have been made with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension to facilitate the voting. The Extension offices in each county will be the polling places.
John Langdon, president of the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association, said that the referendum will be to assess all cattle sold and marketed in North Carolina one dollar per head for the purposes of advancing the cattle industry in the state. The money collected will continue to fund the following five areas: youth programs, cattle research, education, promotion of North Carolina cattle and beef, and issues management. The North Carolina dairy industry will also benefit from the funds collected, as a portion of the income will be allocated to the same areas within the dairy sector.
The referendum would continue the original state assessment program, which was first established in 1957. The national beef checkoff assessment of one dollar per head will still be collected and will be used according to the guidelines set forth in federal law.
According to Mr. Langdon, "The national beef checkoff does a tremendous job of promoting beef and the beef industry, returning $11.20 per dollar invested; however, these funds cannot be used for many of the production and regulatory-oriented issues facing the industry today. The N. C. Cattle Industry Assessment Referendum would allow producers to continue to provide funds that would be controlled totally by the North Carolina beef and dairy producers to promote our product, our youth, our industry, and to provide research and advocacy to protect their way of life."
Since the assessment was reinstated on January 1, 2010, research and education projects have been funded to deal with production issues facing North Carolina cattlemen in the areas of management, forage production, feed efficiency, and general input reductions. In addition, we have been able to provide additional services in issues management to help the public have a better understanding of our industry and training for farmers to help them to be more efficient and provide more research-based management for them and the cattle in their care. Youth programs have been a huge beneficiary of the investments from the assessment as we have been able to support livestock schools, judging contests, Skillathon contests, leadership development, and the very popular Youth Beef Industry Tour, among many others.
Bryan Blinson, executive director of the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association, states that the assessment will be for a period of six years with a recurring referendum if requested. Also, Mr. Blinson states that producers will be eligible for a full refund of their North Carolina assessment by request within 60 days of the sale of the animal with proof of sale. This is a provision that is not available in the national program due to federal law.
All cattle owners who are at least 18 years of age as of October 4, 2018, will be eligible to vote. Voting will take place at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension offices. All eligible voters must vote in their county of residence. Absentee ballots may be obtained by contacting the North Carolina Cooperative Extension office. The North Carolina Cattlemen's Association can assist with directing you to your local office.
For additional details on voting procedures or funding information, please contact your local county office of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association.
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Safe Plates Food Safety Information Center
Do you want to stay up to date with food safety hot topics and recalls? Follow Safe Plates Food Safety Information Center on Facebook. This page is updated daily with news articles, safety recalls, and is a great place to get timely, evidence based answers to food safety questions and concerns. The page is managed by NC State Extension's Area Specialized Agents in Consumer and Retail Food Safety.
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 4-H Update
September
1. 4-H Discovery Night
Tuesday September 4th. Meet at McDonald's off I-40 Exit 105. We will have a brief discussion. Feel free to order and eat while we chat. Then we will head over for a friendly game of Laser Tag! Ages 8 and up can play. I will be glad to drive the van if needed, but I will need to know if you will be riding with me prior to trip. I will plan to leave office at
5:30. 4-H Discovery Nights are for all Burke County 4-H'ers and 4-H families. It is a time to gather, share and have fun. We will have a discovery night once a month throughout the school year. Please call the office if you have any questions or want to ride on the van with me. Hope to see many of you there.
2. Historic Morganton Festival- Extension/4-H will have a booth this year at the downtown Morganton Festival September 7-8. We will be selling #ExtensionEats Cookbooks, passing out information fans & flyers, and various staff will rotate to be available to speak with visitors. If you would like to help in the booth, please call the office to see what time slots are available. If any of our groups would like us to put your information out, please let your agent know and we will be glad to.
3. Jr. Beekeeping Meeting
Monday September 10, 6-7pm. Youth that are currently or previously have participated in our Farm Bureau/4-H Jr. Beekeeping project are encouraged to come and continue to learn about bees, beekeeping and share experiences. We will have several meetings throughout the school year to enjoy hands-on activities and keep the buzz going!
4. Catawba Valley Showmanship Circuit Livestock Show will be held
Saturday, September 22 at the Burke County Fairgrounds. Youth from the surrounding counties will compete for showmanship with their animals. For more information please call our office 828-764-9480
5. Rock Eagle Regional Volunteer Leader Conference will be held in GA Sept. 27-30. Several Burke County representatives will travel to the Rock Eagle 4-H Center for a few days of motivation and fellowship through adult volunteer workshops, meals and activities. We look forward to sharing these new inspirations with you soon.
For more information on these or any other 4-H Activities, Contact Nicki Carpenter at 828-764-9480 or nicki_carpenter@ncsu.edu
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Pesticide Recertification Classes 
September 25
Burke County Agricultural Building
10:00 - 12:00
Categories: ABGHIKLMNOTDX
2 hours credit
1:00 - 3:00
Category: V
2 hours credit
Call our office at 828-764-9480 to register for these FREE classes.
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Time for Stinging Caterpillars 
With late summer and early fall upon us, the first stinging caterpillars of the year have been reported. The saddleback, or packsaddle is fairly common in this area, but only in small numbers. It is known as a slug caterpillar and as an adult, will measure about one inch. It is easy to identify because of it's striking appearance. The saddleback is dark brown or black on both ends with spiney horns, making it hard to tell which end is the front. The middle of the body is bright green with a large dark brown oval spot with a white margin in the middle of the back. The entire caterpillar is thick and stubby looking.
This caterpillar feeds on many trees, shrubs and plants although they do very little plant damage. They can deliver a very painful sting to humans who accidentally brush up against their spines. Although they are not considered to be a serious problem to North Carolina, anyone who has ever experienced their sting quickly learns to identify and avoid this insect pest.
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Burke County Beekeepers
Monday, September 10, 2018
6:00 pm
The Burke County Beekeepers Association (BCBA) meets monthly at the Burke County Agricultural Building located at 130 Ammons Drive in Morganton. There is a featured speaker each month and the public is invited to attend. The BCBA is a chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association.
The September meeting will be the annual Beekeepers Picnic. Members and family are invited to this event. The BCBA will provide hamburgers and hotdogs for the event. Members are asked to bring a favorite dish, desert, snack or drink.
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