July 2025 Newsletter Mitchell County Cooperative Extension

Upcoming Events

June 9th - Cook Club Juniors

Monday-Tuesday, June 9th-10th - 4-H Jams Jellies and Pickles

Thursday, June 12th - 4-H Cloverbud Jams and Jellies

Tuesday, June 17th - 4-H Illuminators Camp

Thursday, June 19th - 4-H Lego Legends

Friday-Saturday, June 20th - 21st Rhododendron Festival

Saturday-June 21st - District Activity Day

Saturday-June 21 - Homestead Tour

June 23rd - Cook Club CloverBud

Tuesday, June 24th - 4-H Young Livestock Club

Wednesday, June 25th - 4-H Hands-On Discovery Trip

Monday, June 30th - 4-H Kitchen Chemistry

*See Website for Times and Details*

EFNEP Article

The Second Saturday in June Is FAMILY HEALTH and FITNESS DAY!

Family Health & Fitness Day is a day promoting the importance of parks and recreations in keeping communities healthy and active. Plan a day of fun filled games and activities at the park with your family and friends.

School is out, so it is a good time to let children help in the kitchen. Letting children help in the kitchen can make them more confident and independent in their own cooking skills. Five ideas for getting your children involved is to let them:

• Choose a Recipe
• Measure Ingredients
• Wash Fruits & Veggies
• Make a Salad or Dressing
• Set and Clean the Table

As we start to grill out and have more picnics, remember food safety! Cold items should not be left out for more than 2 hours! When packing a picnic make sure to bring an ice pack and a cooler to keep food below 40 degrees.

June 7 is World Food Safety Day!

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

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

Alzheimer's disease can affect anyone. Fortunately, treatments have come a long way in recent years. Learn more at the Mitchell Senior Center on Wednesday, June 11th, at 12:30 PM. Denise Young from the Alzheimer's Association will discuss "Advances in Treatment for Alzheimer's."

UPCOMING CLASSES

"Advances in Treatment for Alzheimer's" will be held June 11th at 12:30PM at the Mitchell County Senior Center. Denise Young from the Alzheimer's Association will be presenting.

Mitchell County 4-H 2025 Graduates

4-H Presentations

Mitchell 4-H has a long standing tradition in performing well in State 4-H presentations and awards programs, and County Activity Day and District Activity Day are coming up fast! This year, Mitchell County has 12 youth participating in the presentation program. Wish our youth luck as they represent Mitchell County on June 21st at AB Tech in Asheville!

What is County Activity Day?

County Activity Day, or CAD, is an event hosted on the county level, designed to mimic District Activity Day to help youth prepare for the competition. Youth get practice with Public Speaking, and present their hard work in front of a panel of judges who give them constructive feedback to better prepare them for District Activity Day. Judges are recruited locally for community involvement! Mitchell’s CAD is May 31st, at the Historic Bowman School.

What is District Activity Day?

District Activity Day, or DAD, is the district level competition for the 4-H Presentation Program. Mitchell County is in the West District, and will be competing with counties such as Avery, Yancey, Buncombe, and Henderson. Youth compete for gold, silver, or bronze placings. Youth 8 and older who place gold or silver in their presentation category/age group, will earn their place in competing at the State level in July!

Of these participants, three have competed at District Activity Day in the past, with two having placed gold last year at the state competition! Nine participants are brand new to presentations! We are so proud of all of our youth participating, stay tuned for awards updates in next month’s newsletter!

CED/Agriculture

The Great Cicada Serenade: Western North Carolina’s Noisy Neighbors Are Back!

If you've recently stepped outside and wondered whether your backyard has transformed into a buzzing amphitheater, you're not alone. Western North Carolina is currently experiencing the grand emergence of Brood XIV cicadas—a phenomenon that occurs only once every 17 years. These red-eyed, black-bodied insects have been patiently awaiting their moment underground, and now they're making their presence known in full force.

Are They Harmful?

Despite their intimidating appearance and volume, periodical cicadas are harmless to humans and pets. They don't bite, sting, or carry diseases. Their primary focus is reproduction, and after a few weeks, they'll disappear, leaving behind only memories and perhaps a few exoskeletons.

What About My Plants?

While mature trees typically withstand cicada activity without issue, young or newly planted trees can be vulnerable. Female cicadas lay their eggs by making slits in small branches, which can lead to a condition known as "flagging," where branch tips die off. To protect young trees, consider covering them with fine mesh netting (with holes smaller than 3/8 inch) to prevent cicadas from reaching the branches.

Ecological Impact

Cicadas play a significant role in the ecosystem. Their emergence provides a feast for various predators, including birds and small mammals. Additionally, the nutrients from their decomposing bodies enrich the soil, benefiting plant life. Even the minor pruning effect from their egg-laying can stimulate new growth in trees.

Embrace the Buzz!

While the noise might be a temporary nuisance, it's also a reminder of nature's incredible cycles. So, grab a lawn chair, maybe some earplugs, and take a moment to witness this extraordinary event. After all, the next performance by Brood XIV won't be until 2042!

Controlling Knotweed

If you thought the flooding brought on by Hurricane Helene would have washed away the knotweed and other undesirable plants from WNC landscapes, you probably realize by now, that was wishful thinking. There’s a reason they call them opportunistic plants! Asian or Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is an invasive plant species in North Carolina.

Invasive species are from faraway places and have no natural predators in their new environment. As its common names suggest, the knotweed we battle here in Mitchell County is native to eastern Asia. It was introduced to the United States with good intentions in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant.

Correct identification is critical to controlling any plant. Asian knotweed is an herbaceous perennial that grows 10 to 13 feet tall and forms dense stands. Its upright stems are hollow and resemble bamboo. The leaves are heart to triangular shaped and are alternately arranged on the stem. It flowers in late summer to fall. Asian knotweed is an annual; it dies to the ground in winter. New growth is reddish-brown.

Left unmanaged, Asian knotweed will outcompete other vegetation. It has vigorous rhizomes and colonizes roadsides and riparian areas. Cut or broken stems will root if left on moist soil or put directly into water. Water also helps disperse the seeds.

One way to control knotweed is to target the rhizomes by spraying the leaves with systemic herbicide later in the growing season, when the foliage is sending sugars to the rhizomes. Alternatively, cut it down to a couple of inches in June and wait eight weeks before treating the foliage with herbicide. Cutting reduces rhizome growth and the height of stem regrowth so it will be easier to target the plant with herbicide. Timing is important! Applications of herbicide made too early in the growing season or too soon after cutting only injure the shoots and not the rhizomes.

-Andrea Laine

External Pest on Livestock

Summer is a prime time for the emergence of external pests, such as flies and ticks. To avoid economic loss in the livestock industry, producers should use Integrated Pest Management practices to manage and control pests.

PESTS

External pests can range from insects, predators, to even rodents. Each pest has a different effect on different livestock, which can lead to loss in animal productivity by killing animals, spreading disease and parasitic worms, causing blood loss, and much more.

PEST IDENTIFICATION

Proper management of livestock pests is reliant on accurate identification of the pest and its stage of life. Most common external pests of livestock fall into two classes, the Insecta, including flies and lice, and Arachnida, including mites, ticks, and spiders. Properly identification of these pests can be accomplished by knowing their appearance, habits, and detrimental effects.

COMMON EXTERNAL PESTS

FACE FLY (Musca autumnalis)

The Face Fly is a non-biting fly that annoys livestock by gathering around the eyes, nose, mouth, and open sores or wounds. This fly is the carrier and transmitter of the organism that causes pinkeye in livestock.

HOUSE FLY (Musca domestica)

The House Fly feeds and thrives in areas where manure or other decaying material such as hay, straw, or feed is present. House Flies are not only a nuisance, but is also responsible for carrying some disease organisms such as cholera, salmonella, mastitis, and pinkeye.

STABLE FLY (Stomoxys calcitrans)

The Stable Fly is similar to the House Fly but instead, feeds on the blood of livestock. This fly is more aggressive and has a very painful bite. Livestock become annoyed and will spend time biting and throwing their head instead of grazing. Stable Flies tend to follow their hosts for long periods, causing animals to become irritated and can lead to loss of weight.

HORN FLY (Haematobia irritans)

The Horn Fly is a continuous, blood-sucking pest. The flies feed on their host (livestock) 7 to 12 times daily. The flies often congregate on livestock in areas that the animal cannot reach to disturb their feeding. These areas include the back, base of the horns, neck, and the belly of the animal.

PREVENTION

Proper pest management is crucial for the overall health of livestock. The first step of management is prevention. Being that most of the external pests lay their eggs in compositing materials or manure, keeping areas clean and free of degrading materials, such as, manure, leaves, and wet straw and/or shavings, removes important stages of multiple pest’s life cycle. The utilization of these methods decreases the number of emerging pests; therefore, preventing a large population influx.

MANAGEMENT with PESTICIDES

In the case of pest emergence after preventative management, pesticide use may be permitted. Pesticides for external pests can be utilized through many application methods including premise sprays, topical sprays, ear tags, dusts, and rubs. The proper application method of a pesticide is very important to the success of that product. All pesticide labels should be read entirely before use to identify all application methods, withdrawal times, and warnings.

PESTICIDE SELECTION

After proper identification of affecting livestock pest, a pesticide that best fits the type, age and stage of production of the livestock should be selected. The suggested application method and cost of the product should also be considered. Pesticides that are expensive and difficult to apply for the purchasing operation should be avoided. There are many pesticides that are affordable, easily applied, and very effective. Most all can be found in farm stores, chemical supply companies, or online.

When a producer is unsure of the proper pesticide that best fits their operation, it is suggested that they contact the Cooperative Extension Service for help identifying pests and sourcing pesticides.

For more information on external pests or pesticide application, please call Michelle South at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Mitchell County Center at (828) 688-4811 or email mcsouth@ncsu.edu.