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Agricultural
Cooler temperatures bringing annual and perennial weeds
Question: What winter weeds, should I be concerned about? Answer: Due to the unseasonably cool temperatures and frequent rain showers, annual and perennial weeds are beginning to make their appearance. Some of the most common winter weeds are common chickweed (Stellaria media), mouseear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), and annual bluegrass (Poa annua). Common chickweed, mouseear chickweed, and henbit are w...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>Carlie Piercy, daughter of Jammie and Kim Piercy of Clinton, had the Grand Champion Heifer at the Chatham County Livestock Show in Siler City. Carlie has been busy traveling around North Carolina with her 10-month old Red Angus heifer, Blossom, to earn points for the Farm Credit &amp; Eastern Showmanship Circuits. Along with learning how to care for a show calf, Carlie and other 4-H&#8217;ers are able to meet new friends from several other counties while exhibiting their livestock projects. All of this leads up to the NC State Fair the third weekend in October. If you would like more information on how you can get involved with 4-H activities call the Sampson County 4-H Office at 910-592-7161.</p>
4-H Heifer show
Courtesy Photo Carlie Piercy, daughter of Jammie and Kim Piercy of Clinton, had the Grand Champion Heifer at the Chatham County Livestock Show in Siler City. Carlie has been busy traveling around North Carolina with her 10-month old Red Angus heifer, Blossom, to earn points for the Farm Credit & Eastern Showmanship Circuits. Along with learning how to care for a show calf, Carlie and other 4-H’ers are able to meet new friends from several o...
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Knowing site conditions vital when planting trees, shrubs in fall
Question: When is the best time to plant trees and shrubs? Answer: Fall is a great time to add trees and shrubs to your landscape! Cooler temperatures help fall planted plants establish more successfully than those planted during the spring and summer. When choosing new plants for your landscape, consider your growing conditions to find plants naturally adapted to your landscape conditions. Amend planting beds well with compost for best...
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Cucumber Downy Mildew still a concern for Sampson farmers
Downy Mildew is once again in the forefront of concerns for Sampson cucumber growers. This disease attacks both the long green and pickling cucumbers. Fall cucumbers are at risk from the beginning of the crop. As you may recall in 2004, North Carolina experienced one of the most severe epidemics ever of downy mildew in cucumber. Yield losses due to the disease ranged from 30 to 100 percent averaging around 40 percent statewide for spring an...
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<p>Courtesy photo</p><p>Prestage Farms sponsored the 15th annual Youth Livestock Round Up at the end of August. Despite having to be postponed a day due to hurricane Irene, youth brought over 70 goats, lambs and heifers to compete. Sampson County is part of the Farm Credit Show Circuit, which tallies points for showmanship classes throughout the fall show season. A champion from each age division will be named right before the N.C. State Fair competition. An addition to the show this year was the exhibition of rabbits from the Hippity Hop Rabbit Club. Pictured, above, from left, are: 4-H cloverbuds Shane Kendall, Hunter Mercer, Will Mercer and Chasen Matthis. If you would like more information on how you can get involved with 4-H activities call the Sampson County 4-H Office at 910-592-7161.</p>
Enjoying the 4-H/Prestage Farms
Youth Livestock Round Up show
Courtesy photo Prestage Farms sponsored the 15th annual Youth Livestock Round Up at the end of August. Despite having to be postponed a day due to hurricane Irene, youth brought over 70 goats, lambs and heifers to compete. Sampson County is part of the Farm Credit Show Circuit, which tallies points for showmanship classes throughout the fall show season. A champion from each age division will be named right before the N.C. State Fair compet...
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Natural feed additive marking contamination on carcasses
The following article was recently published in “World Poultry.” I think you might enjoy reading what it has to offer. Scientists in Wales developed a new weapon in the battle against food poisoning, which could also cut the thousands of tons of meat thrown away by supermarkets. Experts of the Aberystwyth University in Wales believe the new system, which can highlight millions of tiny bacteria invisible to the human eye, could revolutioni...
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In Sampson, October-November best time to plant spring bulbs
Question: When is the optimum time to plant spring flowering bulbs? Answer: Fall is the best time to plant spring flowering bulbs. Before planting, site preparation is essential. Good drainage is a must for spring bulbs. If you have clay like soil, improve it by adding organic material. Materials available are peat moss, compost, and aged bark, just to name a few. If you have a sandy type soil, you can also add organic materials to help...
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Myraid ways to detect Varroa Mites
Question: What are Varroa Mites? Answer: The varroa mite is an external parasite that is a very serious pest of honeybee colonies. They affect honeybees by attacking the adult bees and the developing bee larvae. These mites have a flat oval shape and are reddish-brown in color. Comparatively, they are about the size of the head of a straight pin. Mites affect colonies of bees by the adult entering the cell of a developing bee larvae a...
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‘Fair’ competion: Duplin Fair offers something for everyone
KENANSVILLE — Individuals interested in competing in agricultural-related contest categories at the Duplin Agribusiness Fair have plenty of choices. The fair, the first in years for the county, is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Duplin County Events Center. A variety of categories, which are outlined in the fair’s premiums catalog that was published last month, are available ranging from culinary, food ...
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The hard affects of drought in Sampson County
The drought that is affecting the entire state of North Carolina is resulting in poor pasture conditions, reduced drinking water supplies, and a critical hay shortage in Sampson County. In past droughts we have moved a lot of hay into the state in a relief effort, but this drought is regional, so pasture conditions and hay supplies are also critical in surrounding states. Due to our poor pasture conditions and short hay supply, it is critic...
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Is it possible for lightning to damage trees?
Question: Is it possible for lightning to damage trees? Answer: Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer months. With these thunderstorms often comes lightning which can strike various things, including trees. Lightning occurs when negative charges in low clouds and positive charges on the ground meet in the air. These charges move so quickly in the air that, to the human eye, lightning strikes appear as an electrical bolt...
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Sampson County farmers receive a boost
Sampson County farmers recently received a boost in recycling centers for properly rinsed pesticide containers. Cooperative Extension received grant money in excess of $7,000 from the Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund to install two additional pesticide container recycling sites. They are located at our county’s waste management convenience sites listed below. We provide shipping containers that are used to temporarily store the emptied cont...
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<p>Mary Kate Hall</p>
Sampson County 4-H’ers win state awards
Amber Lackey, 10, of Clinton and Mary Kate Hall, 10, of Godwin were among award-winners at the recent 2011 State 4-H Congress, held July 18-21 in Raleigh. Congress is the high point of the 4-H year, bringing young people from across the state to the North Carolina State University campus for four days of activity. Amber, daughter of Kim and Lantz Lackey, took first place in a state contest designed to test 4-H’ers’ knowledge of small and co...
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Nematodes? Plan before planting
Question: What are nematodes and what signs should I look for? Answer: Nematodes are microscopic, worm-like organisms that feed on the roots of plants and turf grasses. They are one of the most destructive pests that cause ornamental plants to decline. The microscopic organisms feed on the roots of plants and cause various types of damage. Root-knot nematodes cause gall growth or swelling to occur. Once plant roots are affected by nem...
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Cape Fear Farm Credit now accepting ag business planner applications
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cape Fear Farm Credit is now accepting applications for the third class to participate in an online financial and business planning course. The Ag Biz Planner course is available to North Carolina and Virginia farm families and areas of study include financial and business planning, budgeting and other money matters essential to a farm’s success. The e-learning program targets young, beginning, small, and minority farme...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>John Prestage, Summer Lanier and first-time lamb showman Roxie Long are pictured with Long&#8217;s lamb named Dillinger.</p>
Prestage Youth Livestock Round Up coming Aug. 27
Youth across Sampson County are getting geared up for the first show of the Farm Credit Circuit, held at the Sampson County Livestock Facility on Aug. 27. The Prestage Youth Livestock Round Up will start at 8 a.m. with the goats, followed by lambs and heifers. This is the 15 th consecutive year that Prestage Farms has sponsored this event. Thanks to their donation, each child, regardless if they place first or last, will receive premium mo...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>The Union FFA Chapter recently finished in 1st place and won the weekly camp banner during the fourth week of FFA Camp that took place at the North Carolina FFA Center at White Lake. Members attending camp were: Ethan Carter, Zack Alphin, Kyle Smith, Dylan Page, Morgan King, Austin Brown, Hunter Johnson, Dylan Hope, Dylan Hairr, Cody Preddy, Hunter Burley, Ryan Hall, Dustin Alphin, Justin Kornegay, Olivia Burley, Jenna Dutton, Bryson Worley, Courtney Knowles, Alfredo Garcia, Cullen Cottle, Evan Jones, Jessica Joyner, and Richard Uribe. The Union FFA advisors are Chet Bass and Gerald Barlowe.</p>

Union FFA finishes first


Courtesy Photo The Union FFA Chapter recently finished in 1st place and won the weekly camp banner during the fourth week of FFA Camp that took place at the North Carolina FFA Center at White Lake. Members attending camp were: Ethan Carter, Zack Alphin, Kyle Smith, Dylan Page, Morgan King, Austin Brown, Hunter Johnson, Dylan Hope, Dylan Hairr, Cody Preddy, Hunter Burley, Ryan Hall, Dustin Alphin, Justin Kornegay, Olivia Burley, Jenna Dutton...
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Duplin officials focus on agrosecurity planning
Local government officials and staff from Duplin Cooperative Extension joined together July 28-29 to focus on disaster preparedness programs for Duplin’s top economic industry — agriculture. N.C. Cooperative Extension hosted the two-day workshop, entitled Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning (S-CAP), at the Cooperative Extension Center in Kinston. According to Wanda Clay, Duplin County Cooperative Extension director, county commi...
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<p>Courtesy Photo</p><p>Pictured are Denisse Sada-Romero, Wyatt Kendall, Amber Lackey, and Carlie Piercy. The team placed 4th in the swine category at the 4-H State Judging Contest.</p>
4-Hers compete in state livestock competitions
The Sampson County 4-H Livestock Program members were recently given the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills of the livestock industry at the state contest in Raleigh at the end of June. Over 100 individuals from across the state were present at this three-day event consisting of a practice livestock judging day, judging contest, and skillathon contest. Youth placed 10 classes of sheep, calves, goats, or pigs. They then gave ...
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Be on lookout for fall Armyworms in lawns
Question : How can I control fall Armyworms in lawns? Answer : The fall armyworm is a caterpillar that can cause a great deal of damage to lawns during late summer and fall. Fall armyworms cause damage by feeding on all of the green above ground plant parts, which can retard plant growth or even cause death to your lawn. Usually, parasitic enemies help manage the fall armyworm larvae, however during cold wet springs this natural control m...
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