March 2025 Newsletter Mitchell County Cooperative extension

Upcoming Events

March 17th- Junior Cook Club

March 23-29th - Small Farms Week

March 24th - Cloverbud Cook Camp

March 25th - Young Livestock Club

March 28th - Spring into 4-H Registration Ends

April 1st - Summer Fun Registration Begins

April 2nd- 2025 Mitchell-Yancey Vegetable Post Harvest Workshops and Pack & Cool Demonstration

April 7th - Mitchell County Christmas Tree and Nursery Association Meeting at 6pm at the Cooperative Extension Center, Mitchell County

April 12th - Forestry Landowner Workshop from 10am - 1pm at the Burnsville Town Center

EFNEP Article

March Is National Nutritional Month

• A good nutrition topic is portion size!
• Focusing on eating & drinking the right amount for yourself is important for your health.
• You can learn more about the right amounts for you and your children with your own MyPlate Plan.
• https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan

What is your favorite way to stay active? Maybe you haven’t found your favorite yet or maybe it has changed over the years. Keep trying different activities until you find one you enjoy. Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine and be sure to stop if you feel any pain. Exercise can boost immunity during flu season!

In EFNEP classes we learn about all this plus more! If interested or have any questions call Sarah Grinestaff at 688-4811 or email at sarah_grinestaff@ncsu.edu!

FCS Article

March is Living Well Month

N.C. Cooperative Extension, Mitchell County Center is happy to announce we will be holding our first Empowering Fitness Program on March 31st. Empowering Fitness is a 16 week program, held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Enhance Fitness is evidence-based, which means it is an exercise program that has undergone scientific evaluation and measurably improves health outcomes for participants. Scientific results from the original study show that participants realized positive results in several key areas:

• 13% improvement in social function
• 52% improvement in depression
• 35% improvement in physical functioning

Additional studies have shown:

• Significant reduction in rehospitalizations and HMO utilization – overall increased health
• Participation associated with an estimated total annual medical cost savings of $945/individual
• Consistent use of EF associated with the greatest reduction in risk of a medical fall, lowering risk by 26%

Interactive delivery via videoconference pilot data has shown:

• 87%+ adherence rate
• 95% participant satisfaction rate
• Significantly improved knee physical function, quality of life and decreased pain interference

Classes are an hour long and each class includes cardiovascular exercise, dynamic + static balance work, posture training, strength training and flexibility exercises. Cuff weights are used as appropriate. Classes are effective, social and fun.

Data is collected at the start of the program and again in 4 months. Participants will be able to track the improvements in upper and lower body strength, stamina and balance.

We are happy to offer this wonderful program for $30, which comes to a rate of less than .75 cents per class. The deadline to register is March 17th . Call our office at (828)688-4811 or come by and see our FCS Agent, Christina Robinson, for more information.

Mitchell County 4-H Presentations

We are starting 4-H Presentation recruitment here at Mitchell County 4-H!

4-H Presentations are a huge part of North Carolina 4-H. It is one of the most successful ways to help a young person learn how to do a public speech, demonstration, or illustrated talk. It focuses on members teaching others what they know about a particular project/subject matter.

Topics Include: Animal Science, Citizenship & Civic Engagement, Communication and Expressive arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, Environmental Science, Healthy Lifestyles, Personal Development, Plant Science, Science and Technology, and Outdoor Cookery.

Benefits of 4-H Presentations:

• Increases public speaking skills

• Increases self confidence

• Increases knowledge & interest in a certain subject matter

4-Hers can compete at the County, District, State, and National Level if they qualify!

If you have questions or are interested in doing a 4-H presentation, please call the office at 828-688-4811, or you can email erin_silver@ncsu.edu or elnorton@ncsu.edu

CED/Agriculture

Thank you to those who have ordered plants from us. If you have not yet ordered you still have time to order blueberries, red raspberries and asparagus. Orders are due March 17th. Plants will be available for pick-up on April 9th & 10th at Bowman.

Wildfire is a concern and will be a continued to be for the next few years. This spring as you continue to work around your home and landscape there are some important things to consider. Be firewise about your property and home. For most home and land owners in Mitchell County the amount of blowdown tress is overwhelming and can very dangerous to remove. Start with these steps and utilize the county's resources for debris removal on improved property. This is free to you as the county has contracted with a company to remove storm debris on improved property. All you need to do is call 828-537-1441. Spend your time prepping your home and landscape to reduce wildfire. For guidance see the following link https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire

What do you do with your damaged forest?

On Saturday, April 12th 10am -1pm at the Burnsville Town Center, EcoForesters are partnering with Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development, Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association, NC Forest Service and Cooperative Extension to present resources available to landowners for:

• Wildfire Mitigation
• Debris Removal and Forest Mulching
• Forest Restoration
• Non-native Species Control
• Stream Restoration
• Landslide Seeding

To register go to www.ecoforesters.org/outreach-events

Weed Control in Pastures

What and Why?

Weeds grow at a more rapid pace than desired grasses. In doing so, they “snuff-out” the grasses in pastures by taking up the soil’s nutrients and shading the immature grasses from much needed sunlight. This decrease in growth of desired grasses contributes to Livestock not adequately growing and gaining, decreasing overall profits.

Where?

Weeds thrive in areas where soil is compacted or disturbed. Areas such as high traffic areas, holding pens, feeding and water areas, and shelter areas, become the most densely populated with weeds. Once the weeds mature, they release seeds and spread to other parts of the pasture by wind, birds, or even on the hair or hooves of the livestock; thus, making the pasture become more populated with non-nutritious weeds.

How and when to control?

The opportune time to control weeds is when the plants are in an immature stage of life. This is when the weeds reach 4-6 inches in height for most species. At this stage, the weeds have leaf growth but are still vulnerable. It is suggested that at this stage, an herbicide be used that best fits the weed species, desired pasture species, and the livestock operation. This stage typically occurs around mid to late-April in this area. Proper timing depends greatly on weather and temperature. If temperatures are lower, the timing may need to be later in April or May.

When timing is ideal, most herbicides are administered through a spraying technique. The herbicide is sprayed over all species of grass and weed throughout the pasture. The Herbicide then attacks the broad leaf species, killing the plant. Knowing what desired forage species are present in a pasture before an herbicide cab be chosen is crucial to the success of the herbicide. If a desired species is considered a broad leaf, the herbicide will attack this plant too, eliminating it.

Benefits.

Killing weeds in a pasture will allow the desired species of grasses to grow and thrive, providing livestock with much needed nutrition. This optimal nutrition will increase the growth and gains of an animal, increasing the quality of product and profitability of an operation.