Avery/Mitchell Winter Christmas Tree and Ornamental Update

Annual production meeting for Avery and Mitchell County Christmas tree and ornamental producers. Program includes information on Emerald Ash Borer, New Scale Problems in Christmas Trees, Estate Tax Update, New Plants for Mountain Nurseries and Results From 09-10 Algae Study. The meeting will be held at Mayland Community Colleges, Sam's Center Auditorium on Friday January 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served and two hours of pesticide recertification credit will be available. To register for the event call the Mitchell County Center at 688-4811.

"From Rags to Rugs"

Make your own rag rugs. Nov.15^th from 9:30 a.m. to 12 pm at the Bakersville Extension Center. Class is Free. Call 688-4811 for more information and for a list of materials needed for class.

Pesticide Licensing & Certification

The following is a link to a fact sheet with information about the new requirements for pesticide licensing and certification. http://ipm.ncsu.edu/pesticidesafety/AG714W.pdf

Grants to boost local farms and agricultural system
WNC AgOptions Intent to Apply deadline November 1;
Application deadline November 22

MARSHALL — Farm businesses that are diversifying or expanding their operations are eligible for grants to offset the risk of trying new ventures. WNC Agricultural Options will award in December approximately 40 grants ranging from $3,000 to $9,000 for farm diversification projects.

"We're proud to be the funding partner for the WNC AgOptions program," said William Upchurch, Executive Director of the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. "Over the past few years, the farmers in western North Carolina have developed very innovative projects and have shown that their ideas can generate some great results."

The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has supported WNC AgOptions since 2003. Since then, WNC AgOptions has administered more than 250 grants in 17 counties and the Cherokee Indian Reservation to mountain farmers diversifying or expanding their operations.

The new Family Farm Innovation Fund, which Gov. Beverly Perdue announced in August, is providing $100,000 to WNC AgOptions, in addition to the $225,000 that the program distributes annually. RAFI-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, with which N.C. Cooperative Extension partners to administer WNC AgOptions, was included in the $18.4 million package to five state and federal programs assisting farmers.

Applications are available at www.wncagoptions.org or at county Cooperative Extension Centers. The postmark deadline of November 22 is earlier than previous years. Interested applicants should contact their local Cooperative Extension Agents by November 1 to express their intent to apply.

A Question and Answer Session will be held Monday, October 11 at the Swain Extension Center on 60 Almond Road, Bryson City and Tuesday, October 12 at the Jackson Extension Center on 538 Scotts Creek Road, Sylva from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Megan Riley, WNC AgOptions Project Manager, and Christy Bredenkamp, Area Agent, N.C. Cooperative Extension, will be available to assist applicants. For more information about these sessions, contact Bredenkamp at 586-4009 or 488-3848.

Individual farm business projects awarded in 2010 include: a produce packaging facility for improving sales to local grocery chains, a propagation house for food and medicinal plants, hops production for steep terrains, a maple syrup finishing cooker, no-till production of specialty winter squash, and a screened greenhouse for commercial disease-free strawberry plants.

Priority will be given to projects that provide demonstration to other farmers and encourage the economic sustainability of cooperating farm businesses. Applicants should extensively research the logistics, markets, expenses and timelines for their projects.

COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM

WNC Agricultural Options is also introducing a new community grants program that will support projects that are improving the local agricultural system. WNC AgOptions will fund at least three farmer-led group projects that address processing, marketing, packaging and other distribution needs in the mountain region.

The WNC AgOptions steering committee determined that logistical challenges related to distribution are the main barriers in improving the local agricultural system. "Solving distribution issues is often more challenging than growing the product," said Ross Young, Madison County Cooperative Extension Director and leader of the WNC AgOptions steering committee. "We hope applicants will use this opportunity to create systems that help local farmers respond to the high demand for local products, as well as improve the availability of locally grown products to consumers."

The size of the community grant is dependent upon the expenses associated with the project. The maximum amount to be awarded per applicant group is $20,000.

Successful community grant projects will require participation from a diversity of people, organizations, and institutions. Groups of farmers, farm coops, farmer associations, churches, local businesses, civic organizations, non-profit organizations or combinations of these are eligible and encouraged to apply. Western North Carolina farmers must be active in the leadership of the group.

The ultimate goal of WNC AgOptions is to protect mountain farmland by assisting the longevity of farm enterprises. Members of the WNC AgOptions steering committee include: representatives from the N.C. Cooperative Extension, HandMade in America, N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and other agricultural business leaders.

For more information, see the following: N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers: www.ces.ncsu.edu; Family Farm Innovation Fund: www.ncruralcenter.org; Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, RAFI-USA: www.ncfarmgrants.org; N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org

4-H at the Avery Fair

Our Mitchell County 4-H’ers have done it again at the Livestock Show at the Avery County Fair on Sat., Sept. 11. We had 8 youth showing their goats, lambs, and heifers. These kids did a great job in their Showmanship classes. We also had some youth at the Mountain State Fair showing their sheep on Sun., Sept. 12 in Fletcher.

National 4-H Week

Taking the Lead

National 4-H Week

October 3-9, 2010

Look at your local 4-H, and you will find young people taking the lead in addressing today’s challenges. 4-H is where young people explore, learn and discover in a safe environment. In 4-H, youth find their true passions, gain confidence and give back to their community.

Celebrate 4-H as youth step up and take responsibility for their futures- and ours.

For more information, contact Robbie Potter, 4-H Agent or Kim Slotnick, 4-H Program Assistant at (828)688-4811.

Thousand Cankers Disease

Another new pest could be coming our way. Thousand Cankers Disease has be identified in Tennessee. Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD)is a disease of Black Walnut. TCD poses a serious problem to the health of the black walnut tree. Walnut trees are important because of their nut crop and the desired wood for various products. TCD is a progressive disease that kills a tree within two to three years after initial infection. The disease-causing fungus, Geosmithia, is transmitted by the walnut twig beetle. Branches and trunk tissue are killed by repeated infections by the fungus, as the beetles carry the fungus into new bark cambium tissue.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued a quarantine of all plants or plant part of the genus Juglans coming into the state from Tennessee and many other western states that already have Thousand Cankers Disease established.

Scoliid Wasp

I have recently had some calls and have seen Scoliid Wasp flying around in peoples yards. Below is a description of the wasp and why it is swarming around the yard. The important thing is that they are not aggressive and shouldn't sting you.

Scoliid wasps are dark in color, often metalic, relatively large, robust, slightly hairy insects with light yellow spots or other markings. One of the most common Scoliid wasps in North Carolina is Scolia dubia. It is sometimes referred to as the blue-winged wasp. The adult is over one-half inch long with black antennae and a shiny black head, thorax and fore abdomen. About midway along the abdomen are two yellow spots (one on each side). These may appear as a band across the abdomen when the wasp is flying. The latter portion of the abdomen is brownish and somewhat fuzzy. The wings are dark blue.

Biology
Scoliid wasps are usually considered beneficial insects because they help control green June beetle and other grubs. Scoliid wasps are present in North Carolina from June to October. However, they are most abundant during August. The female wasp flies low across the soil in search of grubs. When it detects one, it digs through the soil burrowing its own tunnel or following one made by the grub. Once locating a grub, she stings it on the throat and paralyzes it. The grub at first appears to be dead but after a day or so it can feebly move its legs. Such paralyzed grubs can live for a considerable time. The female wasp then lays an egg transversely on the third segment of the grub. The paralyzed grub provides a fresh food supply for the wasp larva after it hatches from the egg. Once a grub has been stung, it never recovers.

These wasps, therefore, are very important natural agents in the control of green June beetle grubs in the soil. Adult Scoliid wasps feed on nectar and pollen of flowers. They will not sting unless greatly aggravated or captured in the hands. In early August, the wasps often rest on plants but later they burrow into the soil to spend the night. Scoliid wasps are often noticed flying just a few inches above lawns infested with grubs in a loose figure-eight pattern. Sometimes these wasps are quite abundant and conspicuous as they fly their mating dances. After mating, females spend more time digging for grubs and flying wasps are not as noticeable.

Control
Since there is no record of anyone having been stung by Scoliid wasps, no control measures seem needed. Their presence, however, means that grubs are present. A little monitoring for an infestation may be appropriate. If grubs have been a problem, see Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note No. 67, White Grubs in Turf.

Invasive Weed

Plant protection specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have identified the invasive Mile-A-Minute weed in Western Alleghany County. The following link gives details about the weed and information on identifying it. If you were to identify the weed on properties you are managing then contact Rob Baldwin, NCDA&CS Plant Protection Specialist, 336-466-0478.

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pepe1.htm

McDowell Livestock Show

Our Mitchell County 4-H’ers have successfully shown their knowledge of livestock at a recent Livestock Show held in McDowell County on August 7, bringing home rosettes and ribbons. Five youth represented Mitchell County, showing heifers, sheep, and goats. All these kids placed well in their Showmanship classes. Look for more updates as these youth represent us at the Avery County Fair, in Newland and at the Mountain State Fair, in Fletcher.