Upcoming Events
Wednesday, May 7th - Getting to Know SNAP Online
Saturday, May 10th - 10am-2pm - May Day
Wednesday, May 14th - Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Wednesday, May 14th - Forest Recovery Workshop
Monday, May 5th - Presentation Workshop
Monday, May 12th - Presentation Workshop
Monday, May 19th - Presentation Workshop
Tuesday, May 27th - Young Livestock Club
Tuesday-Thursday, May 27-29th - Presentation Workshop
*See Website for Times and Details*
EFNEP Article
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
Spring has sprung and there is so many ways to be active outdoors! Try doing some of these fun activities:
- Biking
- Hiking
- Gardening
- Playing your favorite sport
Cooking on a budget can easy, if you follow some simple tips!
- Buy fruits & veggies when in season
- Cook meals in large batches to save or freeze leftovers
- Choose generic or store brands
- Look for deals and weekly specials
- Use coupons
Use the MyPlate link below to look at recommendations for the 5 Food Groups for you and your family. Plus, other nutritional information!
https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan
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
Using SNAP to Purchase Seeds
Did you know that you can use your SNAP (food stamps) benefits to purchase seeds and plants to grow food at home? This is a great way to ensure that your food budget lasts for as long as possible. Some other positives that come from buying seeds include: homegrown food tastes better, it can be frozen to last even longer and gardening ensures you spend time outside on sunny days.
UPCOMING CLASSES
The following classes will be held at the Mitchell County Senior Center at 12:30pm on the dates listed:
Wednesday, April 30th - Getting to Know SNAP
Wednesday, May 7th - Getting to Know SNAP Online
Wednesday, May 14th - Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Mitchell County 4-H Summer Fun 2025
It's that time of year again everyone! Registration for 2025 Summer Fun is open TODAY! You must come to the office to register and registration will not be held until spots are paid for. For full descriptions please visit our website!
Our lineup for this year includes:
- Jams and Jellies (5-7, 8-13)
- The Illumination Station (8-13)
- Lego Legends (8-13)
- Trip to the Hands-on Discovery Center in Gray TN (5-13)
- Kitchen Chemistry (8-13)
- Advanced Computer and Robotics (13-18)
- Cook Camp (5-7, 8-13)
- Sharp Shooters Camp (8-18)
- Christmas in July (5-7, 8-13)
- End of Summer BASH! (All Ages)
If you have questions or are interested in participating, please call the office at 828-688-4811, or you can email erin_silver@ncsu.edu or elnorton@ncsu.edu
Dawson Silvers invitation to compete in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament
Dawson Silvers will be traveling to Grand Island, Nebraska in June of 2025 to compete on the North Carolina Muzzleloader Team in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament.
If you would like to donate to his trip, please write a check to Mitchell County 4-H and include Dawson Silvers in the memo line.
CED/Agriculture
Deadline May 4th - Ag Disaster Crop Loss Program
Ag Crop Loss Program for those who experienced a verifiable loss of agriculture or aquaculture commodities or farm infrastructure as a result of a Presidential or Secretarial declared disaster (including contiguous counties) in 2024. you can access the application and IRS Form NC Sub W-9 at https://www.ncagr.gov/agdisaster You may also come by our office for assistance with this application.
Hurricane Helene Forest Recovery Workshop
Forest landowners suffered a tremendous loss of investment when Hurricane Helene leveled 822,000 acres of forestland. Many have been scrambling to determine what options are available to restore their forests to something desirable and manageable. NC State Extension Forestry is presenting a workshop on Wednesday, May 14th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bowman Middle School, located at 410 S Mitchell Ave., Bakersville, NC 28705.
We will cover several topics that will help landowners recover more successfully.
Topics addressed will be:
- Taxes and Investment Decisions in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
- Cost Share Opportunities and Resources Available for Recovery
- Forest Management After Hurricane Helene
- Fire Prevention and FireWise After Hurricane Helene
There is no cost for this event. All participants should register for the workshop by calling the Mitchell County office at (828) 688-4811. For more information, please contact Western Area Forestry Agent Nathan Gatlin via email at npgatlin@ncsu.edu or by phone at (336) 651-7330.
In the spirit of a certain local festival coming up on June 20 and 21, let’s talk about rhododendrons, a large genus of woody, flowering shrubs in the blueberry family. The name derives from the Greek words rhodo, meaning rose, and dendron, meaning tree.
There are more than 1,000 species of rhododendron found around the world and some 40 that grow in North Carolina. Some even hail from our neck of the woods! The flame azalea is native primarily to woodland slopes and mountain balds in the Appalachian Mountains. Southern pinxter azalea is found in moist woods, swamp margins, and along streams in North Carolina. And pinkshell azalea is native only to the mountains of North Carolina and Massachusetts; it grows near bogs and streams.
But wait, what does an azalea have to do with a rhododendron? Plenty, because all azaleas belong to the genus Rhodendendron. (But not all rhododendrons are azaleas.) It is clearer once you focus on the scientific name of the examples I have given: Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron canescens, and Rhododendron vaseyi, respectfully. Plants in the same genus share one or more common characteristics.
Locally, Rhododendrons are ubiquitous. There are large evergreen displays on nearly every mountainside and a very special collection of the native Catawba rhododendron on Roan Mountain. But rhododendrons are also popular landscape plants. To grow them successfully in your yard, pay attention to what they need.
Rhododendrons and azaleas grow best in dappled shade and with protection from afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves. They have shallow, fibrous roots that need moist, well-drained soil. Mountainsides provide these conditions naturally. In our home gardens we can mimic them by choosing a woodland site or one that receives morning sun, and planting the root ball high in the soil. The roots may rot if the soil does not drain well. Signs of rot are leaf loss, reduced vigor, branch dieback and wilting.
Rhododendrons do not tolerate dense clay, so if you have clay soil, amend it with compost. And, the soil pH should lean acidic. Avoid overwatering and over fertilizing. Pruning, if desired, may be done after flowering. If you mulch, go lightly.
-Andrea Laine
Hardware Disease Risk in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Post Hurricane Helene
What is it?
Hardware Disease or Traumatic Reticulo-peritonitis (TRP), is when a ruminant
accidentally ingests metal or hard plastic objects like pieces of wire, screws, nails, etc.;
leading to the puncture of the reticulum wall (part of the digestive system). After this
occurs, depending on the location of the perforation, the foreign object will then migrate
towards vital organs, like the heart, lungs, spleen, and liver; causing significant damage.
Foreign objects can lodge in the lining of the reticulum, not perforating through. If this
occurs, the object can go undetected, causing minimal signs or symptoms, and will
eventually corrode away.
What Causes it?
TPR is typically seen more in dairy cattle that are fed a whole ration and less frequent in
pastured cattle because ruminants on pasture typically pay closer attention to what they
are ingesting when grazing. However, with pastures being destroyed and limited in
forage by flood damage, ruminants will be at a higher risk of ingesting foreign materials.
The risk will be the highest for animals in pastures that were underwater or next to
roads where debris was dumped. Trash and other objects that were lodged or blown
into forages can go unnoticed to the humane eye, increasing the risk of ingestion by the
animals.
Signs and Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms can appear as acute (sudden) or chronic (off and on).
- Acute symptoms: Appear quickly and often become unnoticeable within a few
days, leading to loss or need for slaughter.
o Weight loss / anorexia
o Decreased appetite
o Bloating
o Decreased milk production
o Abdominal pain
o Grunting noises
o Discomfort
o Edema
o Scours
o Unthrifty
o Death
Chronic Symptoms: Less distinctive
o Same signs and symptoms as above, but can be less noticeable and
often results in going un-noticed in pastured animals.
Diagnosis & Treatment:
Proper diagnosis has to occur by a veterinarian. Diagnostic tools such as ultrasound,
will be utilized along with a physical exam.
Treatment varies with the severity of the disease, but often results in a costly surgery.
Importance:
In many cases the cattle, goats, or sheep with hardware disease will become unthrifty,
lose weight, and will have decreased reproduction rates; leading to decreased profits. In
some instances, the affected animal will be lost to death or will need to be slaughtered,
causing great loss.
Prevention:
Magnets.
Prevention is key in avoiding hardware disease. Many producers with dairy cattle routinely
insert magnets into their cattle to avoid any hardware disease that might occur. The magnet
(like the one above) is given orally with a bolus gun and landing inside the reticulum of the
animal, catching all foreign metal objects and avoiding their migration through the abdominal
wall. Magnets can be purchased for around $2 - $5 per magnet. Only one magnet is needed for
each animal and is placed typically only once. Magnets can be purchased through a veterinarian
or online.
Be sure to note the size of the magnet and whether it is for large ruminants (Cattle) or small
ruminants (Goats or Sheep).
If you would like to learn more about placing a magnet in your animals or hardware disease,
please contact Michelle South, Area Extension Agent, Agriculture – Livestock at (828)-387-5748
or mcsouth@ncsu.edu.
Credits:
Created with images by jackienix - "Commercial Angus cow herd - painting-like" • Patrick Jennings - "Grazing Cows" • kellyvandellen - "Catawba Rhododendron Close Up"