Extension News December 2025

December Employee Spotlight

Bailey Wood

Connecting Surry County Producers with Research-Based Information.

This month, we are thrilled to feature Bailey Wood, our dedicated Extension Livestock agent working hard to support the communities in Surry County. Having transitioned from a successful role as a 4-H agent, Bailey is celebrating almost three years in her current position and over five years with Extension overall! Building relationships and providing resources are important. As the livestock agent for Surry County, Bailey works directly with local producers to ensure they have access to the latest research-based information. "I really enjoy getting to work with producers here in the county," Bailey shares. "It’s always good to get out on farms to visit with them and help in any way I can. I learn from everyone I meet, and I hope they are learning from me too." Her role is highly interactive, encompassing: 1. On-Farm Events and Educational Programs 2. Farm Visits and Phone Consultations 3. Hay Sampling Services: A project she is particularly passionate about, helping farmers make critical management decisions based on feed nutrition. 4. Partnerships: Working closely with the Surry County Cattlemen’s Association, including providing a specialized cattle mineral and developing a new small ruminant group. When asked to pinpoint the best part of her job, Bailey didn't hesitate to credit both the community and her team: "Any day I can be out visiting with producers is a great day for me. I also feel very blessed to have such great co-workers, so it always makes my day getting to work with the staff here."

Beyond her work with Surry County producers, Bailey has a rich life outside of Extension. When she's not busy on a farm visit, she loves to stay active by running, hiking, and hunting with her husband. She is also an avid reader, having already finished 85 books this year! Bailey is inspired by her hardworking and generous parents and stays connected to family by FaceTiming her grandparents almost daily. At home, she and her husband share their lives with two Border Collie brothers, who are turning three this year. For a travel adventure, her favorite destination is Ireland, and her go-to comfort snack is a classic combination of Diet Coke and popcorn while enjoying a good movie.

Cooking with Beef

As the weather turns cooler, it calls for warmer, comforting meals. There are many beef cuts and ways of cooking them that can fulfill this craving! Roasting is one of those options. It is especially convenient because you let your oven do the work for you. Some of the best cuts for roasting include the tri-tip roast, sirloin tip roast, eye of round roast, and bottom round roast. These are referred to as retail cuts, and they are broken down from larger primal cuts (pictured below). The tri-tip roast comes from the sirloin primal, which probably sounds familiar if you like to eat steaks! This particular roast is from the bottom part of the sirloin primal. The other retail cuts listed are from the round primal, which is located near the rump/hind legs. Meat from this primal tends to be lean but less tender, which lends itself to the slower cooking methods. To make the recipe pictured using the roasting method with a bottom round roast, see the link here! For more beef recipes, cut information, nutrition facts, and more, see the link here!

Sources and Images: https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cooking/oven-roasting-basics https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cuts/collection/33339/best-beef-cuts-for-oven-roasting

Holiday Dinner Remix

Arguably, this menu can be made at any time during the cold-weather months, but it is especially delightful during the holiday season. Lightly but brightly seasoned pork tenderloin is the star alongside the skin-on red potatoes-that’s amped up by Dijon mustard-and garlicky cauliflower finishes it off.

Ingredients: Pork Tenderloin 1 ½ lbs pork tenderloin 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder Sweet Potatoes 1 lb sweet potatoes, diced 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt ½ cup chopped fresh parsley Cauliflower 1 head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size pieces 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt Pork Tenderloin Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Combine all the spices and rub into the pork tenderloin. Be sure to wash your hands after handling raw meat. 2. In a sauté pan add the oil, then heat for thirty seconds over medium high heat. 3. Add the pork and sear for two minutes per side. 4. Place the pork on a sheet pan or oven safe dish. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 145˚ F. 5. Allow to rest for five minutes before slicing. Potato Directions: 1. Rinse and scrub the potatoes. 2. Dice the potatoes and place them in a large stockpot of water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender. 3. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. 4. Add the salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and parsley. Stir to combine. Set aside Cauliflower Directions: 1. In a large pot, bring 1 quart of water to a boil. 2. Add the cauliflower and cook for three minutes. Drain. 3. Return the cauliflower to the pot and season with olive oil, garlic, and salt.

Stay Fit and Keep Your Spirits Bright this Holiday Season

Give yourself the gift of good health this holiday season with these helpful hints and tips. Put activity on your busy holiday schedule When something is important to us, we write it on our calendar. “Make an appointment” for physical activity and add it to your schedule. Figure out where you can find time to spend in the yard, at the gym, at a yoga class, or just walking around the block, and put it in writing. Planning ahead makes it much more likely that you will get into the habit of moving your body every day. Celebrate with active holiday parties Think of the many ways you can celebrate the holiday season and be active at the same time. Dancing is always a great place to start. Try moving to music while cleaning the house. Depending on the weather, there are lots of fun things to do outside. You can walk through a holiday light display or a neighborhood singing Christmas carols. For active indoor fun for people of all ages, try games such as Twister ® or musical chairs. Play indoor volleyball with a balloon that you hit back and forth to one another or give everyone their own balloon with the challenge of not letting it hit the floor. Give yourself a timeout during the holidays An active 10-minute time out can give you more energy than a donut break or a nap. Give yourself a 10-minute break to do some yoga stretches or just to take a walk. Simple brisk walking is one of the activities most often recommended by fitness experts. Keep a pair of comfortable shoes at your desk or in the car so you can take a quick walk around the building where you work, around the block, or around a park. Get into the laugh habit Many studies show that laughter is powerful medicine, with both short- and long-term benefits. A good laugh can relieve tension, soothe stress, and reduce aches and pains throughout your body (especially in your stomach and head). How to get your holiday laughs? Almost any game or silly dancing with kids is a great place to start. Watch a funny tv show/movie or listen to a favorite comedian. Did you know Outdoor activity may be better than inside exercise? A small group of studies have shown that outdoor activities may have more mental health benefits than indoor ones. Activities such as outside walks and gardening may be better at reducing tension, relieving stress, and help children and adults focus. Put on comfortable shoes, grab your coat and a hat, and head outside for a brisk walk. Source: Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina

Time for Creativity

It’s hard to believe that December is already upon us, and we will soon be welcoming a new year! The holiday season is a busy time of year for families, with all of the festivities and gatherings! It is the perfect time of year to involve your children and teens in preparations. Decorating a gingerbread house helps children practice their fine motor skills, while expressing their creativity. Invite your kids into the kitchen as you prepare the holiday meals, and let them practice reading a recipe, measuring, following directions, cutting and peeling, and learning about kitchen safety. Allow children to help with wrapping gifts for others. While it may not look the best on the first try, they are practicing their fine motor skills and enjoy bringing joy to others! It’s also a great time to involve them in a community service project. They can donate food items to a food pantry or blessing box, ring the bell for the kettle campaign, help prepare a meal for the homeless, shop for a senior who is in a nursing facility, or give out hot cocoa and cookies to those who work outdoors in the cold. This is a great time of year to help kids look for the needs of others and how they can meet them, rather than just thinking about the gifts they wish for! Of course, all kids look forward to receiving presents. Instead of gifting them more technology devices or video games, think of things that will get them thinking creatively and using their hands! Play-doh, Legos, magnetic tiles, STEM sets, cooking and baking utensils, and art kits are all ways to keep them entertained during those days off from school, while allowing them to use their creativity and maybe even learn a new skill. You may also consider gift certificates for piano lessons, art classes, cake decorating classes, sports lessons, or tickets to a museum or aquarium. There are gift options in all price ranges to help fuel creativity and hands-on learning for our kids and youth. They may even pick up a new hobby in the process!

BeanPACK (2.0) Now Available for Use

Last year the Soybean Extension Program from North Carolina State University, in collaboration with the North Carolina State University Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI) and the North Carolina State University Data Science Academy, developed BeanPACK. For those of you who may be wondering, BeanPACK is a farmer decision support tool that helps to aid in data-driven decisions for both optimum soybean planting date recommendations, along with selecting optimum soybean maturity group seed purchases. Thanks to grant money funded by the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, the catchy acronym BeanPACK stands for Soybean Planting Analytics and Customized Knowledge. In the relatively easy-to-use online interactive tool, users should be able to select their production region within the state of North Carolina. After making that selection, users should be able to navigate through various forms of data to find both the optimum soybean planting date and the soybean maturity group that maximizes the most yield potential. Plus, towards the end of this process, the interactive tool will also give you an estimated harvest date based on your previous selections. This past fall the Soybean Extension Program from North Carolina State University redeveloped the online interactive tool to now incorporate more data points thanks to the vast variety of data generated through the North Carolina State University Official Variety Testing Program. With the addition of the mere 15,000 new additional data points, BeanPACK 2.0 is now up and running for folks to check out! Link

Soil Sampling

Healthy soil is the foundation of successful farming and gardening. The first step in cultivating a healthy soil is having your soil tested. The few minutes it takes to collect soil samples is time well spent. It can save money in your farming operations or landscape. Soil sampling and analysis inform you of the nutrients present and absent in your soil. Soil sampling can protect water quality by preventing unnecessary fertilizer applications. Soil testing is the only accurate way to know if you will benefit from adding nutrients. Soil testing also measures the soil pH. Soil pH ranges from 3.5 (acidic) to 8 (basic) across North Carolina. Many plants grow best with soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. There are some plants that have other pH preferences. Azaleas, gardenias, and blueberries are among the plants that like soil pH more acidic and ranging from 5.0 to 5.5. If you manage an orchard for truffle production, the soil pH should have a more basic target of 8. Know what the plants you manage prefer. Soil sample kits are available at our office at 915 E Atkins Street in Dobson. We are open Monday -Friday from 8:15 am to 5:00 pm and closed on holidays. Please note from December 1 until March 31, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services charges $4 per sample. Any other time, soil samples are free. Paperwork must be included with soil samples. It is important to complete this information correctly and have corresponding identification numbers on paperwork and samples. Visit or call us at 336.401.8025 if you have questions or need assistance. Incomplete or incorrect paperwork may result in samples being rejected.

Free Organic Production Technical Assistance Available to NC & SC Farmers

Want to add organic and sustainable production practices into your farm plans for 2026? Have you been considering organic certification? Looking for individualized guidance to navigate organic regulations? Look no further than the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) Organic Production Technical Assistance Program! Registration is open now: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/organic-production/ Through this popular Technical Assistance Program, CFSA offers direct, boots-on-the-ground support and resources to help small-scale farmers in North Carolina and South Carolina find success and confidence with organic practices. We tailor our services to meet your unique operation and farm business priorities; common Organic Production services include review of farm maps and recordkeeping systems; strategy for incorporation of organic production practices; considerations and resources for USDA organic certification; "decoding" National Organic Program regulations and application requirements; and referral to CFSA and partner resources on organic agriculture. The Organic Production Technical Assistance is available to all farmers in North Carolina and South Carolina and is free with the purchase of a $40/year CFSA membership. Registrations are accepted on a rolling basis pending staff availability, so submit your registration ASAP to get on the schedule for 2026! With questions, contact CFSA Organic Initiatives Coordinator Joe Rowland at joe@carolinafarmstewards.org. We look forward to working with you!

Become a Certified Extension Master Gardener Volunteer!

Do you love gardening and enjoy sharing your knowledge with others? Now is your chance to become a certified Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer! Registration is now open for the Spring 2026 Master Gardener Training Program through NC Cooperative Extension, Surry County Center. Classes will be held Thursdays, 1:00–4:30 p.m., from February 5 through April 30, 2026, at the Extension Center in Dobson (915 E. Atkins Street). This hands-on training includes in-depth instruction on gardening practices, local field trips, and a special one-day trip to be planned during the course. Whether you're interested in growing vegetables, improving your landscape, or giving back to your community, this program is a great place to start. • Applications are due by January 16, 2026 • Acceptance notifications will be sent the week of January 19 • Cost: $150 (includes materials; online handbook is free, printed copy available for purchase) due on first day of class • Class size is limited to 20 students, with a minimum of 10 required • Late applications accepted only if space is available Apply online at https://surry.ces.ncsu.edu or call 336.401.8025 for an application. For questions, contact Joanna Radford at joanna_radford@ncsu.edu. Come grow with us—and help others grow, too!

NC AgVentures Offers Grant Opportunity for Family Farms!

NC AgVentures, an NC State Extension program, provides grants to NC farmers and nonprofit community groups that work with family farms for agricultural project ideas that will increase farm profits. The program, which is sponsored by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, will award a minimum of 50 grants to independent family farms. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their farm operation.

This is a competitive grant program. Applications will be accepted from family farms in the following counties: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Forsyth, Gaston, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Martin, Mecklenburg, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, Wilkes, Warren, and Yadkin.

• NC AgVentures will award grants up to $10,000.
• Application submission begins October 15th, 2025.
• Deadline to apply is 6 PM December 19th, 2025.

For additional information contact your NC Cooperative Extension Agent, or visit our webpage: www.ncagventures.org

News Release: Jackie Miller | 919-628-0163 | Jackie_miller@ncsu.edu