Extension News October 2025

October Employee Spotlight

Ryan Coe

Supporting Our Local Growers

October Employee Spotlight, we are featuring our Agriculture, Field Crops Agent, a vital member of the Extension team who helps keep our local farms thriving.

Since graduating from NC State University and joining Extension in the summer of 2022, he's spent over three years serving farmers in both Surry and Yadkin Counties. His primary role is Field Crops Agent, working directly with growers of essential row crops like corn, soybeans, tobacco, and winter small grains. He's also the Surry County Pesticide Coordinator, offering crucial recertification training to help folks maintain their licenses. And when a question about water arises, he handles general pond management topics.

In the field and beyond, Ryan enjoys the hands-on interaction with local farmers, getting involved in various aspects of their day-to-day operations. This is a passion that comes naturally, as he grew up on a large-scale, family-operated farm in Yadkin County that is still active today! It's no surprise that the best part of his day is getting to work on projects and tasks outside of the office during the peak growing season.

Recent accomplishments, inspiration, and projects he's most proud of include working with local farmers to collect plant tissue samples. This process provides growers with real-world data to help them make informed, in-season decisions about crop management.

His commitment to service and agriculture was deeply inspired by his grandpa. He describes him as a knowledgeable and hardworking farmer with a tremendous "servant’s heart" who was always willing to help neighboring farmers and the local community. He believes he obtained his own passion for agriculture and willingness to help others from his grandfather.

When he's not busy assisting our local growers, he loves to be outside. His hobbies include working out, playing golf, and hunting. Speaking of hobbies, his coworkers might not be aware of his secret passion for NC State Wolfpack athletics, particularly football!

If he could take off and travel anywhere tomorrow, it would definitely be somewhere with a beach. But if you're looking to share a meal with him, you can't go wrong with his go-to comfort food: a good cheeseburger!

Surry County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Every year Surry County Public Works, in partnership with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Surry County Center, conducts a collection event for any household hazardous materials for proper disposal. The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection event for the county has been scheduled for October 25th. The event will take place at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Mount Airy from 9 a.m. until around 2 p.m.

Some of the items that will be accepted at the upcoming collection event include paints or paint strippers, thinners, weed killers or pesticides, solvents, drain solvents, gasoline, oils, acids, and pool chemicals. The event is free and open to any Surry County resident, but no commercial waste materials will be accepted. For more information, feel free to contact Surry County Public Works at 336-401-8376.

Upcoming Events for Surry County Extension’s Livestock Program

If you are a livestock producer in Surry County, we would love to connect with you! Contact our office for questions related to production practices, we can provide research-based solutions. We hope you will consider joining in on our educational meetings as well. Our sheep and goat producer meeting happens during the summer, and our beef producer meetings typically take place monthly throughout the year, excluding the summer months. Our beef producers had the first meeting of the fall on September 15th, where fall armyworms, fire ants, and the new world screwworm were discussed. Pesticide credits were offered, and we are looking forward to having more meetings in the next few months! Our upcoming beef producer meeting topics will be foraging systems and hay production. If you are a local livestock producer interested in attending, please contact the office at 336-401-8025! Feel free to reach out with questions, to be added to our mailing list, or to check out our website, where informational livestock articles are posted. We look forward to hearing from you!

The North Carolina Strawberry Association is hosting their annual Southeast Strawberry Expo on November 11-14, 2025 at the Raleigh Hilton at North Hills. Registration can be found at Southeast Strawberry Expo. A new grower workshop and an inline drip fumigation workshop are scheduled for Day 1. This year Day 2 will consist of farm visits. Participants will have the opportunity to visit Page Farms (Raleigh), Wrenn’s Farm (Zebulon), Pace Family Farms (Clayton), and Smith’s Farm Market & Garden Center (Benson). Days 3-4 will consist of educational breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and an industry trade show. Note that North Carolina Strawberry Association membership is required to attend the 2025 Expo. Membership expires one year from the date you join/renew. Membership information can be found at Membership - North Carolina Strawberry Association.

The Best Way to Prepare Your Lawn for Seeding

With fall approaching, many of you are thinking about reseeding your lawns. A common question we get at the Extension Center is about the most effective way to prepare your yard for new grass. If you’re dealing with a lawn full of weeds or undesirable grass types like Bermudagrass, using glyphosate is the best option for a clean start.

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, which means it kills most plants it touches. This makes it the most effective tool for clearing out your existing lawn so that your new grass seed has the best chance to thrive without competition. While it might seem drastic to kill everything, this is the most reliable way to ensure a successful seeding, especially if you have persistent weeds or grass types that are difficult to control, like Bermudagrass.

The good news is, it's not too late to get this done, but you do need to act soon. Here’s a simple process to follow for the best results:

• Choose the Right Product: Look for a product that contains only glyphosate as the active ingredient. Many formulations don't require an additional surfactant, so check the label before you buy.
• Apply Correctly: Apply the product at a rate of 3 to 4 pounds of active ingredient per acre. This ensures it's strong enough to get the job done, especially on tough-to-kill plants like Bermudagrass.
• Wait and Watch: You can seed as soon as five days after your first application, but for the best results, it's really best to wait 10 to 14 days. This longer waiting period allows you to check for any patches of Bermudagrass or other plants that were missed during the first application.
• Second Application (if needed): If you see any surviving patches, apply a second round of glyphosate to them. Then, wait another five to seven days before you seed your new lawn. This two-step process ensures you have a truly clean slate for your new grass.

Following these steps will give your new lawn a significant head start and increase your chances of a lush, healthy stand of grass next year.

Fall Foliage in North Carolina: What to Expect This Year

Duration of season, intensity of leaf colors will largely depend on upcoming weather patterns PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2025

If you’re wondering when fall foliage will begin and eventually peak in North Carolina in 2025, experts say the timeline should be similar to previous years, with color changes starting in the upper mountains and gradually progressing toward the coast.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Every year, as summer fades, North Carolina’s forests transform into a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow leaves — a seasonal spectacle that draws millions of tourists to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, and beyond.

If you’re wondering when fall foliage will begin and eventually peak in North Carolina in 2025, experts say the timeline should be similar to previous years, with color changes starting in the upper mountains and gradually progressing toward the coast.

“We will likely see patchy fall colors toward the end of September in the upper elevations of North Carolina’s mountains,” said Robert Bardon, a professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources.

Bardon, who has been forecasting fall foliage patterns across North Carolina for over a decade, said fall foliage will likely peak in the mountains by mid-October, followed by the foothills and Piedmont in late October, and the Coastal Plain in early November.

How Weather Affects Fall Foliage

The duration of the fall foliage season and the intensity of leaf colors will largely depend on upcoming weather patterns, including temperature fluctuations, sunlight exposure, and precipitation levels, over the next several months, according to Bardon.

“For the best colors, a combination of sunny days and cool, but not freezing, nights is ideal for a vibrant display,” Bardon said.

Cooler nighttime temperatures in the fall slow the production of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for the color of leaves during the growing season. As chlorophyll breaks down, it reveals underlying pigments such as carotenoids, which produce bright orange hues, and xanthophylls, which give leaves their yellow tones.

Meanwhile, sunlight during the day increases sugar production in the leaves as photosynthesis continues, and when nighttime temperatures drop, the cooler conditions slow the transport of those sugars out of the leaves, causing them to become trapped. This buildup of sugars triggers the production of anthocyanins, a group of pigments responsible for the red and purple hues that appear in fall foliage.

The National Weather Service’s three-month climate outlook for September through November shows a slight chance of above-average temperatures for North Carolina. Above-average temperatures can delay the onset of fall colors, disrupting the environmental “cues” trees need to start shutting down chlorophyll production.

Extreme shifts in precipitation, such as drought or heavy rain, can also shorten the fall foliage season and even affect the color profile of the leaves, according to Bardon.

Drought conditions can stress trees, causing them to shed leaves prematurely in an effort to conserve moisture, which in turn shortens the duration of the fall foliage season. These conditions can also reduce a tree’s ability to move and store sugars, resulting in fewer reds and purples and more dull browns.

Rainy, overcast weather reduces sunlight and keeps nighttime temperatures warmer, which can delay the breakdown of chlorophyll and postpone the onset of fall colors. It also limits the production of anthocyanins in leaves. As a result, yellows and oranges become more prominent, while reds appear less vibrant or even absent.

The National Weather Service’s three-month outlook shows there are “equal chances” of the season being wetter than average, drier than average, or near-average in North Carolina, meaning current forecasting models do not indicate a clear trend in precipitation and that all three scenarios are considered equally likely based on available data.

Bardon noted that tropical storms with heavy rainfall and strong winds can also impact fall foliage by knocking leaves down, resulting in a shorter season.

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have predicted a 60% chance of an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, including 3-5 major storms with winds of 111 mph or greater. Hurricane season ends on November 30.

–N.C. State University

National 4-H Week

October 5-11, 2025 has been declared National 4-H Week. 4‑H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime! In 4‑H, we believe in the power of young people. We see that every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around us. 4‑H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. For more than 100 years, 4‑H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better. In 4‑H programs, kids and teens ages 5-18 complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Kids experience 4‑H in every county and parish in the country through in-school and after-school programs, school and community clubs, and 4‑H camps. 4‑H’s reach and depth are unmatched, reaching kids in every corner of America – from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities. Our network of 500,000 volunteers and 3,500 4‑H professionals provide caring and supportive mentoring to all 6 million 4‑H’ers, helping them grow into true leaders today and in life. So, you may ask if 4-H is really making a difference in the lives of our youth and our communities. These are some of the latest statistics: 4-H’ers are four times more likely to give back in service to their communities. They are 2 times more likely to make healthy decisions, based on information they have learned in their 4-H programs. They are twice as likely to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) based activities because they have learned by doing hands-on activities through their local 4-H. Unlike many extracurricular activities, there is no cost to join 4-H, and most activities are free or very low cost. We know that families are busy! 4-H clubs usually meet once or twice per month. If you don’t feel like you can make a monthly commitment, we also offer special programs throughout the school year and during the summer. You can choose the activities that work for your family’s schedule. If you are interested in finding out about 4-H Clubs and programs offered in Surry County, contact Amanda Gann at (336)-401-8025 or agann@ncsu.edu.

Planning Your Food Budget

Spending more than you would like at the grocery store? Use these tips on how to maximize your food budget and turn grocery shopping into something you look forward to and not something you dread.

If you have a hard time planning your food budget, know you are not alone. Everyday life sometimes gets chaotic and stressful, and finding time to think about your next shopping trip can feel like a low-priority chore. However, stretching your food dollars can also alleviate a lot of that stress that comes with your routine. Just a few minutes of planning on a weekend can save you time and help you prioritize healthy foods for your family.

Five-Day Menu Planning

1. Find a day in the week to prepare a meal plan table, taking into consideration your family’s needs and wants. Write down five days of the week in five different columns, then create another 5 columns horizontally to indicate breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. You can either use a piece of paper or a spreadsheet on your computer to create this table. Think about everyone’s schedules and what types of meals (a quick meal, potlucks, company meals, or a slow cooker meal) make more sense for that week.
2. Check what you already have on hand in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Write down everything that you have and how you can mix and match them throughout the week to create different recipes.
3. Write down what you might be missing to either complete these recipes or that you may need for other recipes. Look at your local grocery store’s specials either online on their website or in the newspaper. Take note of what specials they may have that could be added to this week’s recipes and create a shopping list based on it.
4. After you have finished taking note of everything you already have and everything you will need to buy, check to see if you have included grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and protein. Do your best to have foods from each group every day.

Shopping Tools

• Create a shopping list you can take with you to the grocery store or your local farmers’ market. This will help you stick to the meal planning you created and avoid impulse shopping.
• When creating your shopping list, you can also write down prices for each item that you can find online. This will give you a better idea of how much you will be spending once you get to the store.
• Organize your list based on the store layout to save time and reduce temptation to stray from your list. Keep your shopping list in a visible location where you can jot down items as supply gets low throughout the week.
• Choose produce that is in season. When some fruits and vegetables are “in season,” it means they are just ripe from the fields, available in abundance, and are most likely to be cheaper than other produce. For example, in the fall, apples and pumpkins are typically less expensive than watermelon.
• Remember that you don’t always have to buy fresh produce. All forms of fruits and vegetables are nutritious, including frozen, canned, and dried. Buying canned or frozen produce requires little to no preparation, which makes these the perfect choice for individuals who may not have a lot of time available for cooking on their hands. Frozen fruits and vegetables can also reduce food waste. Only use what you need and put the rest back in the freezer for another meal.
• For healthier canned choices, buy canned fruits that are packed in water or juice instead of packed in syrup. When buying canned vegetables, look for options that show low or no sodium added.

The More In My Basket (MIMB) is an NC State Extension program that offers education and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance for individuals who live in North Carolina. If you or someone you know would like to be screened for eligibility and receive assistance when applying for SNAP/FNS, visit the MIMB website at morefood.org or calling them at 1-855-240-1451 (for English and Portuguese) or 1-888-382-7105 (for Spanish).

Sources: https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/plan/menu-planning/ https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/plan/shopping-tools/

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Looking for a sweet treat without loads of added sugar? Try out this tasty cinnamon apple crisp!

Makes 6 servings | Serving size: 1/2 cup Ingredients for Filling

• 4 cups peeled, thinly sliced apples (3-4 medium)
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients for Topping

• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray an 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.
3. For filling, combine fruit and water in a large bowl.
4. Combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon; add to fruit; stir until fruit is evenly coated.
5. Spoon into baking dish.
6. For topping, combine all ingredients in medium a bowl; mix well until oats are moistened.
7. Sprinkle evenly over fruit.
8. Bake 30-35 minutes or until fruit is tender.

Nutrition Information Per Serving: 70 Calories, Total Fat 3.5g, Saturated Fat 3.5g, Protein 0g, Total Carbohydrate 18g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sodium 0mg

Congratulations

First Place Blue Ribbon!

Surry County Master Gardener ℠ volunteers had a great time planning & creating an educational exhibit for the 2025 Surry County Agricultural Fair!

Our chosen topic: SOIL

Guidelines included:

• Chose a specific educational message.
• Provide the audience with an understanding of the idea within 15-30 seconds.
• Key visual design aspects were required!

Lawn & Garden Soil sample test kits were available, as well as examples of what steps are required once the soil sample results are received. These kits are available at the N.C. Cooperative Extension - Surry Center office in Dobson, NC. April 1 thru Thanksgiving soil sample testing is free.

Planning & putting the booth together was fun, as well as educational for the team!

The Surry County Fair was a fantastic event last week, and we hope you had a chance to stop by our NC Cooperative Extension booth.

Our booth was packed with helpful information and resources on topics that matter to our community, like

• 4-H & Youth EFENP: Learn about our youth development programs that help young people gain valuable skills and confidence.
• Agriculture: Discover the latest research and practices for farmers and gardeners, from crop production to livestock management.
• Family & Consumer Sciences: Find resources to help you and your family live healthier, safer, and more financially secure lives.

We hope you picked up some pamphlets and learned something new. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and enjoyed all the exhibits, food, and fun the fair had to offer! We look forward to seeing you at future events.

The NC Dept of Insurance Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) had an informational booth on preventing fraud and scams, extra help paying for prescription drugs, and planning for turning 65 or getting Medicare due to disability. SHIIP is there to help you!

Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period Starts Soon!