No Cones, Please...

Cone production on Fraser fir can mean serious headaches for tree-growers. Heavy cone years vary. When trees come under stress due to drought or other environmental conditions, heavy cone years can follow. Last year (2012) was an especially heavy cone year. Growers spent tens of thousands of dollars in labor manually removing cones, which also take away from top-growth production and create unsightly 'pegs' that endure after the cones crumble and release their seeds in the summer.

Last year, Christmas tree specialist Jeff Owen began cone-spraying trials to try and identify an herbicide or plant regulator hormone that might stop or alter cone production. This work was tricky...trying to guess which field might have a high prevalence of cones next year and growers who didn't mind risking some of their trees getting 'burned' in the process. He is continuing this work in 2013.

IPM Technician Brad Edwards sprays cones on farm in Watauga County

Parents of 10-16 Year Olds

If you are interested in learning more about what makes your tween or teen tick and would you like the opportunity to interact with other parents who have some of the same challenges and questions as you do, check out myparenthetical.com, an online site offered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension for parents of children between the ages of 10-16. Parenthetical is a combination website, blog and social network. The site provides information and discussion on a range of topics of interest to parents with children in their emerging teen years as well as opportunities for support from other parents experiencing many of the same needs and issues. Posts include subjects like parent-child conflict, discipline and limit setting, middle school romantic and peer relationships, the challenges of school achievement and much more. Parenthetical is available online 24/7 and parents can participate from any web-accessible device. 

Click here for a nice reminder about teen forgetfulness. 

You'll be sorely missed, Charles.

Watauga County lost one of its best this weekend. Charles Church. His commitment to agriculture and our local food economy was an inspiration to countless farmers and those who had the privilege to work with him.

Watering for a Healthier Landscape

Water is one of our most valuable natural resources.  Most of the time, however, we take it for granted and use it in abundance until drought sets in and we are forced to conserve. It seems that the High Country received plenty of precipitation this past winter, but drought can set in at any time unexpectedly.  To protect our water supply from shortages, we should strive daily to conserve water instead of waiting until an emergency drought to conserve. This article introduces some basic ideas that will help you conserve water and protect the environment.

One area where water use can be decreased without sacrificing beauty or function is in landscaping. The term xeriscaping means landscaping for efficient water use. By using plants that are drought tolerant and by knowing what amount of water is right for your landscape and when to water, you can use much less water.  A truly efficient way to use water in a yard is to design the yard so that it thrives predominantly on rainfall.

When planning your landscape, divide the area into low, moderate, and high water-use zones.  Water should be applied to meet the needs of the plants in each of your zones.  Incorporate as many of the natural elements of the site into the design as possible.  Shade can hold more moisture than full sun areas, so it can make the landscape more water efficient.  Older, established plants should be watered less often than young or new plants. 

An established plant refers to the time it takes for roots of newly planted plants to spread outside the root ball into existing soil.  During this time plants need 1 inch of watering or rainfall per week.  Perennials and shrubs may take up to 12 weeks to establish, while trees could take up to two seasons.  Initially, water should be applied to the root ball.  As the roots mature, the water should be applied at the canopy drip line. 

Many of us have lawns that require maintenance to continue looking nice.  To keep your lawn healthy and require less maintenance, let your grass grow higher.   The higher the grass blade can grow, the more extensive the root system will be, and the lawn will be healthier.  When the roots are able to grow deeper, the lawn becomes more drought tolerant and requires less fertilization.  Raise the mowing height, and mow often enough that no more than one-third of the leaf tissue is removed. Keep the mower blade sharp; a dull blade causes more plant water loss and undue stress. 

When water is scarce, avoid unnecessary plant stress and seriously minimize fertilization.  Many fertilizers are chemical salts and may damage roots and prevent water absorption.  Fertilizers also stimulate new growth, which increases demand for water.  Pruning also stimulates new growth and should be avoided during water shortages.

Different plants show different drought-related symptoms. The leaves of some plants may exhibit marginal leaf burn, whereas others simply wilt. Some daily wilting is normal during hot summer days, but prolonged drought conditions can cause continuous wilting. For trees and shrubs, wilting is one of the first signs of drought stress.

Certain plants in the landscape wilt readily and can be used as early indicators of drought stress. Plants to watch for signals that it is time to water include azaleas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, most annuals, herbaceous perennials, and turfgrass. The first symptoms of moisture stress in turfgrass are a dull grey-green color and leaf blade folding or rolling. It is most effective and efficient to wait for these symptoms of stress before irrigating.

Some drought tolerant plants that thrive in the High Country include; Tulip poplar- Liriodendron tulipfera, Sycamore- Platanus occidentalis, Laurel oak- Quercus laurifolia, Live oak- Quercus virginiana, Pin oak- Quercus palustris, White oak- Quercus alba, Hollies- Ilex spp.,  Chaste tree- Vitex agnus-castus, Sweet gum- Liquidambar styraciflua, Yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria, Strawberry bushEuonymus Americana, Forsythia Forsythia intermedia, Viburnum Viburnum spp., Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia spp., Coreopsis- Coreopsis spp., Cosmos- Cosmos spp., Butterfly weed- Asclepias tuberosa, Gaillardia-   Gaillardia x grandiflora, Goldenrod- Solidago, Blazing Star- Liatris spp., Purple coneflower- Echineacea prurpurea, Stokes' aster- Stokesia cyanea.

Information from this article is found in the following articles:

How to Plan and Design a Water-Wise Landscape, http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ag508_2.html

Water Wise Use in Landscaping, http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ag508_1.html

The Carolina Yardstick Workbook is a great resource to think about the functionality of your yard. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/natural_resources/water/carolina_yards/carolina_yardstick.pdf#Download the PDF version.

Are children’s gatherings featuring junk food overdone?

When I was in elementary school, except for recess, it was all work. School started after Labor Day with the Texas temperatures still in the 90’s, and no AC in site. And adults never gave us ice cream or popsicles to cool off. I don’t remember ever having classroom birthday and other celebrations featuring cupcakes topped with brightly colored frosting.

I’m not sure when the change occurred, but for modern children, there are many occasions both in and outside of school to celebrate with junk food. Halloween, Valentine’s, club meetings, and birthday celebrations almost always include treats. You never know when the birthdays are going to fall, so there could be several in a row.

Attempting to avoid the title “food police”, I’ve never written or talked about this issue. But I was inspired by a recent article written by U.S. News health columnist Yoni Freedhoof, “Why is everyone always giving my kids junk food?”

Freedhoof writes, “There's simply no occasion too small to not warrant a junk food accompaniment. But for me, the strangest part of all is the outcry that occurs if and when I point it out. My experiences have taught me that junk food as part of children's' activities has become so normalized that my questioning this sugary status quo genuinely offends people's sensitivities and sometimes even generates frank anger. People other than their parents giving children junk food shouldn't be considered "normal," and until that attitude changes, I guess I'll just have to keep pointing out how crazy our new normal has become.”

According to Freedhoof, father of three girls and a physician, a conservative estimate is that his children are being offered an average of at least 600 sugar-spiked calories of junk each and every week. Assuming a conservative 70 percent of that junk's calories are coming from sugar, that's 26.25 teaspoons of added sugar a week, or more than 14 pounds of the white stuff a year.

Maybe 26 teaspoons of sugar a week being offered is an exaggeration. But even half this amount is too much. I see four main issues with children eating so much sugar.

The first is the development of a real sweet tooth, which distorts taste buds and can lead to picky eating. The subtle flavors of many foods, including vegetables, may not be appreciated. Health promoting foods may be refused, since there will be a sweet available soon. Sweets are addictive, and if you start the habit early on, it’s really hard to change later in life.

Second, is the consumption of artificial colors, which are often married to sugar. A study by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency in 2007 showed that the consumption of foods containing dyes could increase hyperactive behavior in children. Great to contribute to the classroom?

Third, sugar is a concentrated source of calories. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. The chance of an overweight child becoming a healthy weight as an adult is very low. My concern is the related complications they may experience, like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Plus, we all know that sweets are associated with tooth decay.

We should consider how to enjoy life and feel special with healthier choices and less junk food. For example, maybe parents and teachers could agree to have only one classroom celebration a month. Parents could bring in fruit and vegetable trays and a small amount of cake. All with birthdays that month would be recognized, even the children from families who are unable to contribute. Adults should always consider nutritional quality when providing food for other people’s children.  

I would love to get the opinion of the community on this issue, especially parents and teachers. Please e-mail your thoughts and suggestions to me, address below.

Margie Mansure, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian/nutritionist and extension agent with NC Cooperative Extension. She offers personalized classes to improve the health of citizens in Watauga County through worksites, schools and community groups. margie_mansure@ncsu.edu., (828)264-3061

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training Series Offered in Ashe County, Begins March 19

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training Series Offered in Ashe County

March 19, 20, 27 and 28, 2013

Are you a farmer who has heard about new food safety rules and regulations?  Are your produce buyers asking for GAP Certification or other evidence that your product is safe to eat?  North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga County Centers, in partnership with High Country Workforce Development, will offer a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training to prepare area growers for certification.  The classes will be held in the Agriculture Service Center in Ashe County (134 Government Circle, Jefferson, North Carolina) March 19, 20, 27 and 28, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and are limited to 20 participants.  All four classes are mandatory for growers to receive training certification.

Cost for the training is $125.00 per person but scholarships for the class are available on a first come first serve basis and will cover the entire fee.  Scholarship applications and registration must be completed in order to be considered eligible for the class.  Scholarships may be obtained at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center at 134 Government Circle, Suite 202, Jefferson, North Carolina.

Travis Birdsell, Teresa Herman, and Richard Boylan, Extension Agents, will be providing a hands-on program that will guide growers through a food safety program, recordkeeping requirements necessary for GAP certification and accessing wholesale markets.  Participants will receive Food Safety procedure notebooks and digital resources, and can complete their own farm records during the class sessions.  Training certifications will be received at the end of successful class completion.

For additional information regarding the class or registration please contact the Ashe County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at (336) 846-5850.