Extension News September 2024

2024 Surry County Agricultural Hall of Fame Award

Nomination applications for the 2024 Surry County Agricultural Hall of Fame Award are now available. This award recognizes Surry County citizens for superior contributions and outstanding leadership in agriculture. Recognition will be given to recipients whose work has benefited the agricultural community while improving the quality of life for Surry County. The recipient’s work in agriculture or an agriculture-related field may be, but is not limited to, education, policymaking, technical assistance, invention, agri-business, or demonstrated effective agricultural practices.

Persons selected for recognition will be honored and formally inducted into the Hall of Fame during the annual Surry County Farm City event in November. Nomination Applications are due by October 1, 2024.

Cuts of Chicken

Chickens are a huge part of agriculture in North Carolina and, here locally in Surry County. In North Carolina in 2022, there were 976,200,000 total broilers, which are chickens raised for meat production. In Surry County in that same year, there were 35,200,000 broilers produced. Surry County ranks tenth in the state for broiler production. Much of the poultry industry is considered to be vertically integrated, meaning that one company oversees the production from start to finish of the birds. This typically includes the hatcheries, feed production, and processing. However, the birds are raised by local, family farms that are contracted with the company. The farmers provide the housing and everyday care of the birds while they work with the company to raise them. The company will deliver the birds to the farms once hatched, supply a nutrient balanced diet, and work with the farmers on any concerns. Once they are market weight, the company will come to transport the birds to the processing facility. There are many different cuts of chicken we can find in the grocery store, so you have the choice of what to buy! One way to save at the store is by learning how to cut up a whole chicken. Check out the guide below to follow the easy steps to learn how to enjoy cuts of chicken while saving time and money!

Source: https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4068e/ https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/North_Carolina/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/AgStat/NCAgStatBook.pdf

NCDA&CS Offers Organic Certification Cost-Share Assistance

Growers who are certified or recertified between Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024, can apply

RALEIGH – Organic growers in North Carolina can apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or for recertification through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Growers who are certified or recertified between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2024, can apply for assistance through the program.

“Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the cost of organic certification per category,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and I would encourage growers and handlers to submit their applications early.”

Under the grant, operations can be certified and reimbursed in four separate categories: crops, livestock, wild crop, and handler/processor. The maximum reimbursement per category is $750.

The program is for the 2023-24 season and is funded through a $135,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 31.

To apply, growers must provide a completed application, along with detailed invoices/statements from the certifying agency listing all National Organic Program certified costs, proof of payment, a substitute W-9 form, and a copy of your certificate or letter from your certifier if this is a new certification. All charges must be for USDA organic certification. The application can be downloaded at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/marketing/marketing-grading-services. Growers can also apply through their local Farm Service Agency office.

Application and required documents can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the NCDA&CS Organic Certification Cost Share Program, Attn. Heather Lifsey. For questions, contact Lifsey at 919-749-3337. -Heather Lifsey, NCDA&CS

Things to Do Outside in September

Planting

• Plant favorite landscape plants such as chrysanthemum, pansies, groundcovers, evergreen trees, or shrubs.
• Plant fall vegetables – mustard, onion, radish, and turnip like cool weather.
• When planting containerized plants, try to be certain to “open up” the plants’ root ball.

Pruning

• Remove “weed” or unnecessary trees from your landscape.
• Resist pruning now.

Spraying

• Spray for insect pests on arborvitae, hemlock, juniper (spider mites), azalea, pyracantha (lace bug), and euonymus (scale).
• Spray for peach tree borer on your peach tree trunks.
• Continue with rose spray program.
• Keep a close eye on all fall vegetable plants. Insects and diseases are more severe in the autumn.
• Control the following weeds by spraying the recommended herbicide: trumpet creeper, blackberry, and kudzu.

Lawn Care

• Seed tall fescue lawns. Remember to mulch the newly seeded areas with wheat or barley straw. Keep watered.
• Fertilize and lime your tall fescue lawns according to soil test results.
• Apply an insecticide for lawn grubs in early September, if needed.

Propagation

• Spring flowering bulbs can be divided and replanted. Daffodils will be the bulbs that most likely need this consideration.
• Divide peonies.

Other Activities

• Clean up garden sprayers and lawn equipment if not in use.
• Prepare houseplants to reenter your home. Check them carefully for insect pests.
• If you do not have a fall vegetable garden, it is a good time to chop, burn, or discard dead vegetable plants.
• Look for spring flowering bulbs to plant in October.
• To force bloom time, place poinsettia in total uninterrupted darkness for 15 hours a day, starting the last week of the month and continuing until colored bracts appear. Give them plenty of sunlight during the day.

Surry County At a Glance

Population: Steady from 2023 - 41,500

Workforce Participation: 57% - National Average: 63%

Unemployment: 3.7% - Last Year: 3.1%

Average Wage Per Worker: $47,000

Cost of Living 12% - Below National Average

New Commodity Fumigation License Category

In response to the new EPA standards for pesticide applicator certification, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has created a new certification category for private pesticide applicators called Commodity Fumigation in North Carolina. Due to their inherent hazards, commodity fumigants, such as Phostoxin, that are primarily used in grain bins and packaged as tablets or pellets, now have new requirements. Previously, private pesticide applicators were allowed to fumigate commodities produced on land they owned or leased, as long as, they held an active North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicator license. However, the new category requires additional certification similar to private soil fumigation here in North Carolina.

In order for active private pesticide applicators to complete the new certification, they will have to successfully pass the 50-question multiple-choice exam titled Commodity Fumigation. The Commodity Fumigation exam is an open book, and NCDA & CS will provide everyone with a copy of the Commodity Fumigation: A Certification Manual for North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicators during the exam. If you also wish to prepare yourself before taking the exam, you can purchase the Commodity Fumigation: A Certification Manual for North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicators through the Pesticide Safety Program at North Carolina State University.

To address this new requirement, NCDA & CS, in partnership with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, will be offering in-person exam opportunities this fall. In total, there are 10 in-person exam opportunities throughout all of North Carolina. For anyone that is interested in attending these in-person exam opportunities, you will need to bring photo identification, a calculator, and pay the $10 fee the day of the exam. To register for any of the in-person exam opportunities, call the NCDA & CS’ Pesticide Section at 919-733-3556.

Easing the Transition Back to School

Our students in Surry County are all now back in school. After two months off for summer, it can be difficult for children to transition into a new routine! There are a few things parents and grandparents can do to help them have a successful school year.

1. Whether you pick up your child as a car rider or they ride the school bus home, greet them with a smile. They have missed seeing you all day, and they may have had a tough day. Seeing your smile reminds them that they are loved and cherished!

2. Make the conversation positive! Ask them questions about what they learned, what they played at recess, or what was something that made them laugh. Let them know that you want to hear their positives of the day before discussing their behavior or notes from the teacher in their planner.

3. Have a nutritious snack waiting for them when they arrive. Some children eat lunch as early as 11:00 am, and they may be starving by the time they arrive home. A hungry child can often be seen as a moody child, but a little snack can brighten their mood.

4. You want to get the homework out of the way so you can go about your evening routine, but give them a little time to play and get some physical activity! They have had to be quiet and sit for long periods during the day at school. Let them burn off some energy and just be a kid.

5. When it is time for homework, have a routine for them to get things done. Having a homework space where they have all of their materials organized and ready saves time and avoids spelling word lists and sight word cards from getting misplaced. Make sure that planners and forms are signed and returned to their backpack along with any needed items for the next day.

6. When it is time for your child to complete their assigned reading, invite them to join you in a quiet and cozy space. Make this time special and show them that it is a priority by turning off the TV and putting down your phone. Let them cuddle up with you, and genuinely listen as they read. Don’t just tell them what unknown words are. Have them look at the word closely and try to sound it out. Remind them to use their picture clues or think of sight words they know. Ask them questions about why they think the characters behaved the way they did or how they would have handled a similar situation. If you show them that you enjoy reading time, it will likely make them enjoy it more as well.

7. Involve your children in the evening routines, instead of letting them just sit in front of a screen. Let them help you cook dinner, eat together at the table as a family, let them help take care of the pets, they can help dad or grandpa with a project they are working on and learn the names of the tools they are using. Little ones don’t stay little for long! Enjoy every minute of their childhood and spending time together!

8. Let them help make decisions about breakfast and lunch choices the night before. Having breakfast choices made and lunches packed the night before can make the mornings seem less rushed and stressful, and ensure that they have time to eat before leaving home. Also, lay out clothes the night before so children can get up and get ready more quickly.

9. Create a bedtime routine to help prepare them for a restful night of sleep. Try to limit screen time within an hour of bed. A warm bath or shower with some aromatherapy can help soothe and create a sense of tranquility. Comfortable pajamas and bedding can also help prepare them for sleep. Having a favorite stuffed animal to cuddle in bed can help them ease off to sleep.

10. Before they go to sleep, take some time to end the day with your child. Tuck them in, read a bedtime story, and make sure to end the day on a positive note. Let them know that they are loved and cherished! Even if they had a bad day, or their behavior was not the best, let them know that tomorrow is a fresh start. We all need to feel that we are loved and cared for. Extend some grace! The world is a tough place, but we all need to know that home is our safe space.

Best wishes to you and your family for a successful school year filled with opportunities for learning!

Back to School Lunch Tips

Organizing your family’s schedule, activities, and budget every week can be a daunting task. With rising food costs, when it comes to planning for your food budget, it is important to find ways to maximize it.

Use these money saving-ideas for your child’s school lunches or lunches that you eat at home or work. The Take Charge America list of tips below has been adapted to help you plan and prepare lunches that are both nutritious and beneficial for your bank account. You can also find these and more budget-saving tips at the More In My Basket website (morefood.org).

Reusable Lunch Bags

One of my favorite back to school memories was picking out a new lunchbox. Instead of constantly spending money to replace brown paper bags, invest in reusable lunch bags that your family can use multiple times in different situations, including school. If you replace disposable sandwich bags with re-usable food containers, you can take this item off your grocery list. This will help you save long-term, and it helps avoid too much waste.

Involve Children in Planning

Asking your family what they would prefer to eat can go a long way in both planning their lunches and teaching them about the decision-making process. For older kids, this can also become a good introduction to budgeting. Allow them to choose food items they enjoy within reason, making sure their lunch is still nutritious. Use MyPlate as a guide to include items from each of the food groups.

Buy in Bulk

Spending a little bit more upfront may reduce the cost per serving. Bulk purchases can help reduce your spending, but check the unit pricing on the shelf to ensure you are getting the best deal. Family size or larger portions of products such as trail mix, dried fruits, yogurt, or applesauce will cover more lunches. Just be sure that you can use the quantity before it becomes stale.

Leftovers = Planned Overs

When cooking meals for your family, a good strategy is to prepare enough to create lunches for the next day or two. Keep in mind, however, that there might not be a way to heat up leftovers in school, so focus on leftovers that can be served both cold and hot, such as pasta or chicken dishes. A cooked whole chicken can be deboned and used for chicken salads, sandwiches, or pasta dishes.

Smaller Portions

Keeping track of your child’s food habits at home can also help you when preparing their lunch. If they only eat half a sandwich at home, instead of sending them to school with a full sandwich, give them half and complete their lunchbox with some fruits or vegetables to round out the meal. Start with smaller portions and increase as needed. Children are not likely to tell you they have been wasting their food.

Flexibility

If your budget allows, do price comparisons between how much you would spend every week when sending your children to school with packed lunchboxes versus how much it would cost them to buy lunch at school. This year in Surry County, all children are eligible for free breakfast and lunch. Eating at school is definitely the less expensive option if your children will eat school food. Time is also a factor. Especially for parents who have more than one child attending school, you may not always have time to prepare lunches for all of them before they leave the house. Choosing a couple of days a week where your kids may be able to buy their lunch in school could help you with busy mornings or get in the habit of packing lunches the night before.

Using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) can also help your food budget. For questions about SNAP or to receive application assistance, contact the More In My Basket staff on their website morefood.org or call toll free 1-855-240-1451 (for English) and 1-888-382-7105 (for Spanish).

Source: https://www.takechargeamerica.org/how-to-save-money-on-kids-school-lunches

Bowl Meals

Whenever you are hungry and don’t know what to eat. Bowl meals are a good way to create a meal that’s both healthy and delicious. Try these Bowl Meal recipes that are great for Breakfast or lunch!!

Dried Beans

Dried beans are an excellent way to add nutrients to your meals while stretching your food dollars. They are versatile, since you can enjoy them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Beans are easy to prepare and taste great.

Dried beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber. They are also rich in antioxidants.

When buying dried beans, make sure they do not have wrinkles or cracks. They should have the same color and size so that they cook evenly.

Some great ways to enjoy beans are adding them to omelets, bean burritos, Sloppy Joe recipes, salads, rice dishes, and soups. You can start by trying this simple Hearty Vegetable Salad recipe. Feel free to use black beans instead of lima beans or your favorite bean, enjoy.