Extension News January 2025

Celebrating Excellence in Horticulture: Master Gardener Awards and Recognition

This year, we are proud to shine a well-deserved spotlight on our dedicated NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, whose passion for horticulture has flourished and made a lasting impact on our community. Through their tireless efforts, they have not only cultivated beautiful gardens but have also shared their knowledge, inspiring others to deepen their understanding of the natural world. Their commitment to teaching, mentoring, and fostering a love for plants has set new standards for excellence. This year, our Master Gardener volunteers have worked over 1,930 hours in the program. Join us as we celebrate a few of these exceptional individuals who have reached milestones in the program. Their dedication continues to grow and inspire, one garden at a time.

5- year Milestones

Robin Portis

Cheryl Ward

500 Hours Milestones

Cynthia Beane

1,000 Hours Milestones

Ginger Branyon

Golden Trowel (Intern - most volunteer hours)

Stacey Reece Raymer – 105 hours

Golden Cultivator (Certified Master Gardener Volunteer - most hours)

Robin Portis – 371 hours

Vinedressers of the Yadkin Valley

Vineyard owners, managers, workers, and anyone else interested in the viticulture industry are invited to attend the next Vinedresser workshop on Thursday, January 16, at 10 a.m. We will have wine marketing specialists share tips on wine marketing, and Wright Labels will discuss design and printing for brand recognition. This training will be held at NC Cooperative Extension, Yadkin County Center, 2051 Agricultural Way, Suite 201.

Foothills Growers Specialty Crop Roundtable

This year’s 10th Annual Foothills Specialty Crop Growers Roundtable will be held Thursday, February 20, from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm at the Yadkin County Cooperative Extension Center (2051 Agricultural Way, Yadkinville). This will be an in-person production meeting to learn and expand farmer knowledge on various topics related to specialty crops. Here is a sneak peek at a few of the topics: pine needle production, asparagus production, expanding the growing season, cut flower production, forestry management plans, certifications available for farmers, loblolly pine planting, and more!

There are pesticide credits available for some of the programming.

2025 Green and Growin’ Show

The Southeast’s premier green industry event will be held January 13 - 17, 2025, at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons & Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. This is a three-day education conference and two-day Marketplace trade show that is great for landscapers and anyone who is in the lawncare industry. Registration is open.

New Year

The new year marks a fresh beginning after the business of the holiday season! It’s a great time to set goals or implement some positive changes for your family. Maybe you want to focus on making healthier choices this year. Meal planning is a great way to avoid the last-minute rush that often leads to poor food choices. When the grocery sales ads are released mid-week, it’s a great time to plan your menu for the coming week based on what is on sale. After making your grocery list, allow your children to go shopping with you and challenge them to find the items on the list. When it comes time to prepare the meal, involve your children in the process! Even little ones can assist with measuring, peeling, stirring, and other simple tasks. Children are more likely to try different foods if they have helped prepare them! While you’re already in the kitchen, make enough of your recipe so that you can put a meal in the freezer for later. Meatloaf, lasagna, chicken pie, and casseroles all freeze well. When you have a busy evening, you’ll be glad to have a quick and healthy option to pop in the oven! Slow cooker meals are another great option during the winter. Soups and stews are easy ways to incorporate veggies that your kids may not ordinarily eat by themselves. Just put your ingredients in and set it to low before heading out for the day, and you can come home to a warm meal ready to eat with little preparation.

It’s more difficult to stay physically active during the wintertime because we’d much rather stay inside where it is warm! However, even short bursts of activity throughout the day can help. Bundle up and take the dog for a walk, give the kids a winter scavenger hunt to search for as you take a walk around the neighborhood. Put those new bikes, scooters, or rollerblades they received as gifts to good use, and get some much-needed fresh air and sunshine. Just don’t forget the helmet and safety pads! No one wants to start the year off with an injury. You may even set a goal to try a new activity in the new year! We are very fortunate to have so many state parks nearby! Go for a visit and get in a hike while you’re there. We also have some great trails in Surry County for walking, running, and bike riding. If it’s just too cold for you outside, we have several recreation centers across the county. Try a new class, and you may just find a new hobby. It’s a great time of year to implement some healthier changes for yourself and your family. It just takes a little bit of planning and willpower to follow through!

SAVE THE DATE!!

All youth and adult volunteers must re-enroll in 4-H Online starting January 9th! The re-enrollment process is quick and easy and should only take about 5 minutes per person! Watch our Facebook page for more information about re-enrollment when it opens. Contact Amanda if you have questions! agann@ncsu.edu

Medicare Advantage Plan Open Enrollment

January 1 – March 31, 2025

Just when you thought you were finished hearing advertisements for Medicare Advantage Plans….Each year, there is a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, now is the time to make sure you have the plan that best meets your needs. If you’re unhappy with your Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C), you have options. Between now and March 31 , if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to change your plan, you can do one of these:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.

• Go back to Original Medicare and, if needed, also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

If you switch Medicare Advantage Plans or go back to Original Medicare with or without a Medicare drug plan, your new coverage will start the first day of the month after your new plan gets your request for coverage. Keep in mind, if you go back to Original Medicare now, you may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is only for people who are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to change your plan, check out your options today. For assistance with Medicare questions, contact SHIIP at 1-855-408-1212 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to speak to a SHIIP counselor. The Medicare Plan Finder can also help you find, compare, and enroll in a new Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare drug plan in your area. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for help. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. For help locally, you may call the Surry County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at 336-401-8025.

(SHIIP counselors are not licensed insurance agents. They do not sell, endorse, or oppose any product, plan, or company. If you have questions about your specific plan, we encourage you to contact your insurance agent or insurance company.)

Did you know…

Avocados are well known for their bright green color and great taste, but do you know about all of their health benefits? Avocados are a great source of healthful fats, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Some of these include vitamins C, E, K, and B, as well as magnesium, folate, potassium…. and the list goes on!

One great way to incorporate avocados into your diet today: Avocado Toast!

Makes 2 Serving | Serving Size: 2 slices of avocado toast

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 1 handful of mushrooms
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 handful of chopped red onion
• 4 slices of whole wheat bread
• Salt & pepper
• Honey (optional)

Directions:

1. Chop garlic clove, mushrooms, and onion.
2. Spray a pan with oil and cook the garlic, mushrooms, and onion over medium heat until the onion is translucent.
3. Mash up avocado & spread an even layer of it over each slice of toasted bread.
4. Place onion, garlic, and mushroom mixture on top of each slice & season with salt and pepper.
5. [optional] drizzle honey over top for a sweet and savory flavor combo!

Tip: If you want to make one serving & save your other ½ of the avocado, squirt a little bit of lemon juice on it before placing it in a container in the fridge to stop it from browning quickly!

Recipe and Blog from Student Volunteer, Libby Robertson

Popcorn

Popcorn is not just good at the movies. It is also a healthy snack any time of the day. It is a whole grain, high in fiber and low in calories.

When making popcorn, try making it in an air-popper and then season with seasonings such as cinnamon, garlic powder, black pepper, etc. Avoid making it an unhealthy snack by drenching it with butter or lots of salt.

Be aware that popcorn is a choking hazard for young children. However, older children find it fun to make and tasty to eat.

Winter Feed Management

For most cow-calf operations, winter feed costs are the largest expense. Winter feed costs incorporate the value of the hay and the amount that will be lost through storage and feeding. To better manage winter feeding, a good starting point is understanding the cost. Of course, we know that preventing storage and feeding waste can help us save money, but how does that translate to dollar amounts? Using the table below from the Ohio Beef Cattle letter, hay value/cost ranges from $60/ton to $120/ton. Assuming a bale weight of 500 lbs, this would be $15/bale up to $30/bale. For example, a $20 per ton decrease in hay production cost/purchase price leads to a savings of $0.34 per day per cow at 15% loss. While reducing storage and feed loss from 25% to 15% can lead to savings of $0.14 per day per cow when hay costs $60/ton, and a savings of $0.28 per day per cow when hay costs $120/ton. Considering how much hay you have available to prepare for winter is important too. Know the average weight of your bales and how many head of cattle you will be carrying through the winter, along with their weights, to determine if there are any hay inventory gaps to be filled. Assuming a cow will consume 2 - 2.5% of her body weight, for a 1300 lb. cow that would mean 26 - 33 pounds of feed are needed per cow per day. In cold or wet weather, they will likely consume even more. Remember to consider the moisture content of hay too, if it is 15%, then the dry matter content is 85%. Most baled hays will be between 84% and 90% dry matter. Divide 33 lbs./hd/day by 0.85 to determine pounds per head per day “as-fed”. For this example, the amount is 39 lbs. per head per day. If storage losses are 15%, you will need to budget 45 lbs. per head per day.

Besides knowing your hay inventory and costs, it is also important to know the nutrient analysis of those forages. If it does not meet the animal's requirements, additional supplements, meaning additional costs, are required too. In order to know the nutrient content of your hay, a hay sample should be taken. Knowing how much energy, protein, and fiber is in your hay will give you the information needed to determine supplementation needs. There is a significant difference in the pounds of supplemental energy required between hay with 45% Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) compared to hay with a TDN of 55%. It can help to match animals with higher nutrient requirements, lactating or growing cattle, to your best hay so that the gap needed in supplements is not as steep. Depending on your hay analysis, you may not need any supplements at all. It is always best to test rather than guess!

Sources: Fall and Winter Feed Management Strategies for the Cow Herd | Drovers & Winter-Feeding Beef Cows on Pasture | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter (osu.edu)

North Carolina Regional Soybean Schools

The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, along with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, will be conducting regional based soybean schools for local farmers again in 2025. The model for these types of in-depth production meetings were created last year in 2024 for the first trial run. The overall goal for each of these meetings is to feature production information content that is relative to various agricultural regions across North Carolina.

The 2025 North Carolina Soybean Schools schedule has been released with a total of 8 unique offerings available. The Piedmont Regional Soybean School is being hosted in Yadkinville on January 15th, 2025. Check out the flyer below for more information.

Extension and Community Association Scholarships

Surry County Extension and Community Association (ECA) members are proud to announce they are accepting applications for the 2025 North Central District Extension and Community Association Scholarships. The $800.00 scholarships are given to a youth and an adult who are continuing their education beyond the high school level in any field of study, but with priority given to a degree in family and consumer sciences.

A youth applicant is defined as a high school senior or a student currently enrolled in college having completed high school without a break in his /her formal education. An adult is an individual who has completed high school and has had a break in his/her formal education and now wishes to further his/her education.

All applicants must be North Carolina residents and planning to attend a North Carolina - accredited college, community college, or technical institute in the fall of 2025. Scholarships are awarded based on the following criteria:

• Financial Need 25%
• Scholarship Potential 25%
• Activities and Honors 25%
• ECA Connection 25%

The deadline for applications is February 14, 2025. To obtain an application or for more information on applying or joining an ECA club, call the Surry County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension at 336-401-8025.

Surry County Extension and Community Association (ECA) has three clubs and 50+ members located throughout the county. The organization’s mission is to strengthen families through:

• Leadership Development
• Volunteer Work
• Educational Support
• Researched-based education from North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University