Alexander County Center 
December 2020 Newsletter
Inside this Issue:
The Alexander County Center is now open to the public. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health of county employees, citizens who are sick or running a fever should not visit these facilities. Citizens who do visit are required to wear a cloth face covering and maintain social distance of at least six feet.  The county still encourages business to be conducted via phone or email when possible, but realizes that in-person interaction is necessary in some cases.  Agents are still available, so please call them at 828-632-4451 or email.  For a list of email addresses click the following link:  https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/people/
CFAP
Coronavirus Food Assistance - Program 2 Application Deadline Approaching Fast!

Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.  Earlier this year Phase 1 of this program was made available and many Alexander County growers took advantage,  this program covers a different time period.  If you did not apply in Phase 1 you are still eligible for Phase 2.  The Farm Service Agency will be accepting applications until December 11, 2020.  For more information click the following link: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap


haveyouherd


winterpastures
Winter Pastures

February
Winter can be hard on pastures. Wet winters can seem almost devastating to pastures if cattle are confined to one pasture or if you have a high carrying capacity. The winter of 2018 and 2019 was exceptionally wet. Once our stockpiled fescue ran out, hay feeding began. Unrolling hay is a common practice around our farm and adds nutrients back to the soil while allowing all the animals to eat at one time. That winter, the cattle were fed mostly in one pasture. Of course we moved to different areas within that pasture to unroll hay (this also helps distribute nutrients around the whole pasture) but by the end of winter this pasture was looking red. As in the good ole red clay we have here in the foothills of NC. I will admit, I was concerned about the survival rate of this pasture. It was not looking good. Once the other pastures had reached grazing height (8 inches) we moved the cows off the winter pasture and begin rotationally grazing the other pastures. Our goal was to let the winter pasture rest and heal. When it came time to rotate to the winter pasture, we skipped it and kept on going. By June, the winter pasture had filled back in and grown so much you couldn't tell any damage had ever been done. By not grazing that pasture, we allowed the area to heal and the grass to regrow and fill back in.

One mistake, I feel, we did make was cutting that pasture for hay in early June. The pasture would have been better served to let the cows graze it while adding nutrients back to the area with their manure. By making hay, we removed nutrients from the area. This is like making monetary withdraws from the bank. You will need to add money eventually or you will run out of money to withdraw. By August that
pasture was back in the grazing rotation. Some might have seen that pasture in March and said get the drill out and go buy seed. Fortunately, fescue is tough and no drill was needed. Just rest!

April
The point is, a lot of problems can be solved with rest. Sometimes situations don't allow us to keep on rotating or have enough stockpiled forage to carry us all the way through. Management adjustments need to be made and that may mean sacrificing one area or pasture to make things work at the time. Then as producers, we have to recognize that pasture needs a break and allow it the time to heal and regrow. Another valuable point not mentioned previously is to not over graze. Over grazing doesn't leave enough leaf area for the plant to properly photosynthesize. Overgrazing will cause more damage to your forage and pasture productivity in the long run and set your pastures up for failure in the event of a summer drought.

Rest is best!

gingerbreadhousecontest
4-H Gingerbread House Contest
  • Ages:  5-18 years old
  • Gingerbread house entries must be brought to the N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center on Monday, December 14th. 
  • Entries may be picked up after noon on Wednesday, December 16th.
  • Entries may be placed on a base not more than 20"x20", and cannot exceed 2 feet in height.
  • The ENTIRE display except the base must be made of edible materials (styrofoam and other support materials are not permitted).  Edible items include:  gingerbread, graham crackers, icing, candies, nuts, cereal, etc.  No items should be in a wrapper, stick, or non-edible material.  
  • Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, decorating detail and theme in the following age categories:  5-7, 8-13 and 14-18 years old. 

clubtraining
Reopening Face-to-Face 4-H Club Meetings

projectbooks
Project Books and Portfolios for 2020
Project books and portfolios are due the first of the calendar year!  Do not wait until the last minute to work on these.  Forms are available online or you can come to the N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center to get forms and instructions.  2020 Project books and portfolios will be due January 15, 2021.

volunteerleadersconference


agritunityconference

blueberrytraining

poinsettiatips

For more information on the history, selecting, decorating and keeping poinsettia, please visit our Extension Poinsettia webpage.  
xmas-newyear-header.gif
Alexander County Offices will be closed:
Wednesday, December 23-Friday, December 25 for Christmas
Friday, January 1 for New Year's Day

 
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual identity (including pregnancy) and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.