Small Farm & Garden Conference set for March 12th

University of Kentucky and Purdue University Extension Services have teamed up to once again offer the Ohio Valley Small Farm Conference to help current, beginning, and prospective small farmers in the Tri-state plan, improve, and diversify operations.  

The day-long conference is filled with an array of small farm presentations and demonstrations.  Presentation topics will include backyard poultry health and nutrition, sheep and goat parasite management, growing tree fruit and brambles, pond management, nuisance wildlife management, organic soil amendments and pest control, high tunnel production, food safety and preservation, and small farm and niche marketing.

Demonstrations ongoing throughout the day will include sheep and goat hoof trimming, drip irrigation, nuisance animal trapping, cover crops, beekeeping, and more.

Conference participants will receive information on production methods and processes from a variety of local experts to plan for new ventures, improve profitability, and diversify current operations.  

The conference will held Saturday, March 12 at the Henderson County Cooperative Extension Service Office, 3341 Zion Road, Henderson, KY.  Registration begins at 8:30 AM CDT.  Presentations and demonstrations will run from 9:00 AM-3:30 PM.  Registration fee is $10 per person by March 7 or $15 per person at the door.

For more information or to obtain a registration brochure, see http://henderson.ca.uky.edu/ or   contact the Purdue Extension-Warrick County Office at (812) 897-6100 or bailey1@purdue.edu,  or the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.

Feb 23rd    4pm, Farmers Market Mtg

Feb 24th         Noon, Economics of & Importance of On Farm Grain Storage Mtg, 

Feb 25th         1pm, Hemp Production Meeting

Feb 26th         8am, Winter Round Table Series- Liquid Fertilizers, Dr. Chad Lee

Feb 29th         Noon, Poultry Litter Program

Feb 29th         4pm, Spring Plant Swap & Sale Organizational Mtg

Feb 29th         5:30pm, Pesticide Certification Training

March 2nd IPM Training, Princeton

March 12th Small Farm & Garden Conference at Henderson Co. Extension Office

March 15th 7am, Annual Fiscal Court Breakfast

Keep Firewood Insects Out of Your Home

Every time you bring a load of firewood inside this winter, you may be opening the door for wood-infesting insects to make your home their home. Most insects brought into the home on firewood are harmless, but you can greatly reduce their numbers by following a few simple steps recommended by Dr. Lee Townsend, UK Extension Entomologist:
• When stacking wood outside, avoid stacking it directly on the ground. This will keep it from getting too wet and reduce the chances of infestation by such insects as termites and ants. Individual termites and ants brought into the house will not start an infestation. However, a colony may exist in an old woodpile outdoors.
• Remember not to stack firewood in or against a house or any other buildings for long periods of time. Termite or carpenter ant problems can develop and cause more serious problems later.
• Older wood is most likely to be infested, so use it first. Avoid stacking new wood on top of old wood.
• Cover firewood during the summer and fall to keep it drier and to discourage insects from seeking it out as winter shelter.
• To dislodge insects before bringing firewood indoors, shake, jar or knock logs together sharply. Brush off any obvious webbing or cocoons.
• Bring in small amounts of firewood that you can use in a day or so. Keep it stacked in a cool area, such as a garage or on a porch, until you need it. When wood warms up, the creatures in or on it will become active.
• Don’t treat firewood with insecticides. Not only is it unnecessary, it could be dangerous. When insecticide burns, it can produce noxious fumes.
For more information, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Upcoming Ag Events
Feb 16th 12:30, Ag Advisory & Farm Safety Program Planning Mtg
Feb 17th 10am-2pm, Soils 101-Learning the Basics of the Soils We Farm
Feb 19th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Disease Issues in 2015 & How to Prevent in
2016, Dr. Carl Bradley
Feb 23rd 4pm, Farmers Market Mtg
Feb 24th Noon, Economics of & Importance of On Farm Grain Storage Mtg,
Feb 25th 1pm, Hemp Production Meeting
Feb 26th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Liquid Fertilizers, Dr. Chad Lee
Feb 29th Noon, Poultry Litter Program
Feb 29th 4pm, Spring Plant Swap & Sale Organizational Mtg
Feb 29th 5:30pm, Pesticide Certification Training

Help Livestock Handle Cold Weather

It seems like Mother Nature is playing a cruel joke on us all right now.  It seems so odd that the state is almost shut down one week due to snow, ice and hazardous conditions and the very next week we are all outside soaking up the sunshine and 60 degree weather.  While the majority of us are equipped to handle Mother Nature’s mood swings, be sure that your livestock are also equipped to handle her fury.

According to Dr. Les Anderson, UK Extension Beef Specialist, the three most important things you can do to protect livestock in cold weather are providing sufficient water, giving ample high-quality feed and offering weather protection. Cold stress reduces livestock productivity, including rate of gain, milk production and reproductive difficulty, and can cause disease problems.

Pay special attention to very young and very old animals that might be less able to tolerate temperature extremes and have weak immune systems. Also monitor heifers and cows as calving time approaches. They have a high risk of frostbite, because the swelling of the udder and teats causes poor circulation.

Dehydration and hypothermia are the two most likely life-threatening conditions for livestock in cold weather. Necropsies (autopsies) have shown that dehydration, causes more livestock deaths than cold during the winter and early spring. Animals tend to drink less water in severely cold conditions, increasing their risk of dehydration. Many animals, especially young ones, might not know how or be able to break through ice to reach fresh water. Livestock need water to aid digestion, which produces heat when fiber breaks down.

Be sure your livestock always have plenty of clean water in liquid form. Dirty water is a host for disease organisms. Disease can rapidly spread if animals drink from a trough containing dirty water. If an animal gets sick, isolate it from the trough and thoroughly clean and disinfect the trough.

Cows given free access to water will produce more milk and more butterfat than those allowed to drink only twice a day.  Water ranging from 40 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit is the most ideal temperature to ensure adequate livestock intake under cold conditions.  The amount of water needed daily varies based on the temperature and animals’ size, lactation and feed intake. Generally, horses will need eight to 12 gallons of water per day; cows, seven to 12 gallons and sheep and goats, one to four gallons.

Before severely cold weather arrives, haul extra feed to the feeding area. It’s important to provide extra hay, forage or feed, because livestock might need up to twice as many calories to maintain normal body heat under extremely cold conditions.

Livestock produce body heat through fiber fermentation, which produces heat while releasing energy. Good quality grass hay or alfalfa are the best source of total digestible nutrients for cold weather. Feeding some feed concentrates also provides energy to maintain body temperature.

Finally, it’s important that you provide some sort of protection for livestock because wet conditions and wind chill add to animal cold stress.  Windbreaks provide protection, especially for young animals. Reducing the winter wind exposure lowers animal stress, improves animal health, reduces the amount of feed needed to maintain body temperature and increases feeding efficiency, and that can lead to increased profitability. You can design windbreaks to meet needs of your specific livestock operation.  Windbreaks also have the advantages of providing wildlife habitat, protecting the working environment of the livestock area and screening noise and odors associated with livestock operations.  Using a three-sided shed opening away from prevailing winds is another way to protect livestock from the cold and wind. Be sure to allow enough room for animals to enter the facility and have protection from the wind. Also provide clean, dry bedding to provide insulation from the cold ground.  If you keep animals in a barn, be sure to reduce drafts.

For more information about protecting your livestock from the elements, contact the McLean Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Upcoming Ag Events
Feb 4th CPH Sale
Feb 8th 5pm, Ag Festival Committee Meeting
Feb 10th-13th National Farm Machinery Show
Feb 16th Noon, Ag Advisory & Farm Safety Program Planning Mtg
Feb 17th 10am-2pm, Soils 101-Learning the Basics of the Soils We Farm
Feb 19th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Disease Issues & How to Prevent in 2016
Feb 23rd 4pm, Farmers Market Mtg
Feb 24th Noon, Economics of Grain Storage Mtg
Feb 25th 1pm, Hemp Production Meeting
Feb 26th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Liquid Fertilizers

Avian Influenza

*This blog post will also published in next week's McLean County News.  Typically I wait and post on the day that our paper comes out, but I felt like this was too important to wait until next week to post.


Kentucky poultry producers are under high alert and monitoring flocks closer than ever due to the recent avian influenza outbreak in Dubois County Indiana.  First of all, I feel like I need to commend Indiana on quickly reacting to their outbreak and going to great measures to contain it.  They ran into many hiccups because of weather-related issues, but managed to still quickly humanely euthanize birds and quarantine houses and backyard flocks within the mandatory 6.21 mile radius of infected houses.

The strand of AI found in Dubois County is a low path strand and is different from the strand that caused the outbreak up north last year.  Last year’s strand found in northern states, was a high path strand that came from across seas, whereas the low path strand found in IN originated in the US (probably in wild/migratory birds).  Low path and high path refers to the ability of the virus to produce disease.  High path is much more fatal and spreads quicker than a low path strand.

Good news is that Kentucky is prepared to respond and has numerous plans in place in case of AI being detected here.  Because of the outbreak in IN, KY is also going to great measures to prevent this disease from entering our state.  Our emergency response team in KY is comprised of Cooperative Extension, the KDA, State Vet’s Office, USDA, KPF, KYEM, KDPH, KSP, KY National Guard, KY Parks, KY Transportation and the two state Diagnostic Labs.  We have the resources in KY readily available to humanely euthanize birds and quickly quarantine houses and small flocks.  

There are six major recommendations that UK Cooperative Extension suggest to help prevent avian influenza.
1. Strengthen your Biosecurity Plan.  Examine vehicle traffic and the movement of people.  Emphasize biosecurity with your employees, family and friends.  The USDA has on online biosecurity self-assessment tool for poultry producers that I strong recommend you take the time to review.  That can be found at: http://www.thepoultryfederation.com/news/usda-releases-biosecurity-self-assessment-tool-for-poultry-producers
2. Bird proof your poultry houses.  Wild birds can be carriers of AI.
3. Discourage migratory birds from residing on farm ponds.  Remove feed sources and create disturbances through non-lethal means.
4. Examine your farm and select a location to set up a truck washing station.  The site should preferably be away from the poultry houses and residences.
5. Examine your farm for potential burial sites for large quantities of birds.  If you have any questions of a potential site, ask the NRCS for assistance.
6. Many poultry producers and employees (and their family and friends) are also hunters.  As you venture into the woods and fields, you need to follow strict biosecurity measures when returning home and to the poultry houses.  Follow proper sanitation procedures of vehicles, clothing, footwear and headwear.

When working to strengthen your Biosecurity Plan, these measures should be put into place:
1. Clean and disinfect premises, vehicles and equipment.  Dispose of materials that cannot be disinfected in an appropriate manner.
2. Account for the movement of all poultry, livestock and equipment for accurate records.
3. Provide a location for all individuals to carry out appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures and insist these measures be followed.
4. Ensure that housed poultry remained housed and that entry of rodents, ground water and live birds be prevented.
5. Present close or direct contact between poultry and all outside animal species.

Please keep in mind that when discussing this issue with non-poultry producers please stress the importance of biosecurity measures.  Also everyone needs to understand that avian influenza IS NOT transmittable to humans and no birds that have AI or that are in a 6.21 miles radius of infected birds will enter our food source.  Therefore, poultry meat and eggs are completely safe to consume.

Due to the increased threat of AI, the previously amended poultry movement restrictions are rescinded and poultry movements are restricted as follows:
• All poultry comingling sales events are banned. These include, but are not restricted to, stockyards, flea markets, swap meets.
• The sale of poultry shall not be allowed at any fair or show.
• Private sale with direct farm to farm movement within Kentucky is allowed in accordance with 302 KAR 20:065.
• Entry of non-commercial/backyard (NC/BY) poultry into Kentucky for sale is restricted to NPIP “Avian Influenza H5/H7 Clean” or “AI Clean” facilities.  Entry of NC/BY from facilities within a HPAI control zone is banned.
• Entry of NC/BY poultry from certified NPIP facilities within an HPAI affected state must also meet 302 KAR 20:250 requirements.
• Entry of NC/BY poultry from an affected state for private sale or movement must be permitted by the Office of the State Veterinarian and will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Game bird permit applications must originate from a NPIP facility that meets the requirements listed in d. and e. of this memo.  Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources requires that a transportation permit be obtained from them.
• Exhibition events, shows, and fairs are restricted to in-state poultry movement only.  No entry from out of state is allowed for exhibition purposes.  All poultry presented for exhibition shall be subject to inspection by Kentucky Department of Agriculture personnel.

If you suspect AI on your farm, whether it be commercial or a backyard flock, please contact the State Veterinarian Office immediately at (502)573-0282.

Also, if you come to the Extension Office there are pans at both the front door and the Ag office door to dip boots/shoes in disinfectant.  Everyone is asked to do so, even if you do not operate a poultry farm.  The disinfectant will not harm your shoes.

If you would like more information on Avian Influenza, please contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Upcoming Ag Events:
Jan 27th Owensboro Ag Expo (Grain Day), Owensboro Convention Center
Jan 28th 8:30am, Hemp Production Meeting
Jan 29th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Grain Sorghum Production
Jan 29th 10am, Pesticide Training
Feb 1st-3rd 9am-Noon Ag Marketing, Risk Management & Economics Series
Feb 4th CPH Sale
Feb 8th 5pm, Ag Festival Committee Meeting

Consider Frost Seeding Pastures

Those that attended the Beef Producers meeting had the opportunity to hear UK Extension Forage Specialist Dr. Ray Smith speak.  One of the topics that I asked him to discuss was frost seeding.  It won’t be long and it will be prime time to frost seed pastures.

The frost seeding method allows seeds to be inter-seeded into undisturbed soils by scattering seed on top of the ground. The freezing and thawing action of the soil works the seeds into the soil where they can germinate. In Kentucky, the ideal time to frost seed is between February 10 and March 1, with mid-February preferred. It is important to consider what forage species can be successfully frost seeded. Seeding red and white clover is recommended using this method. While it is possible to frost seed some grass species, it is typically less successful and generally not recommended. Using this technique can reduce machine use and seeding cost. It is also beneficial as it can be done at times when utilizing heavy machinery would damage pastures such as extremely wet periods. Individual pasture characteristics should also be considered when deciding if frost seeding will be successful on your farm.

Seeding nitrogen-fixing legumes into existing grass stands will reduce nitrogen fertilizer costs and can increase pasture yields and quality. Frost seeding legumes can be very successful when performed correctly using the best suited species. Red and white clovers are the most commonly used and establish well with frost seeding. Birdsfoot trefoil is another option and is often frost seeded in a mix with red clover. This non-bloating legume can be slow to establish and is often sparse until the second year. After established, this long-lived perennial legume has been shown to produce a healthy stand for 10 or more years. Annual lespedeza is another legume sometimes seeded using this low input method. This warm-season, non-bloating legume is fairly drought tolerant and will be very productive when cool-season forages are suffering from “summer slump.” It is not recommended to frost seed alfalfa because of highly inconsistent results.

Few grass species have been proven to be effective when frost seeded. In trials, perennial ryegrass and annual (Italian) ryegrass are the only grasses which established well enough to be a reasonable option when using this method. Orchardgrass has been somewhat successful under favorable conditions but frost seeding orchardgass is not a suggested practice. It is recommended to drill most grass species for maximum success.

It is necessary to follow basic seeding and management guidelines for successful frost seeding. Having seed-to-soil contact is vital. Reduce the vegetative cover on the area to be seeded to allow more seed to reach the soil surface. Broadcasted seed needs to fall directly onto the soil surface in order to be worked into the soil through the freeze-thaw action that will occur. This can be accomplished by heavy grazing in the late fall and early winter or by mowing area to a low height prior to seeding. It may be more difficult to expose sufficient soil in existing stands of sod forming grasses.

Reducing competition from existing forages and weeds is also crucial for successful seeding. Similar to creating seed-to-soil contact, grazing or mowing closely will reduce competition. In the spring, weed pressure may increase and weeds may need to be controlled by management methods or by herbicide application to allow seedlings to establish. It is important to remember that existing clovers will be killed by herbicide applications. Be sure to read herbicide labels and follow recommended waiting periods before seeding clovers or grazing animals.

Although bloat may be an issue when grazing some legumes, a stand mixed with non-bloating legumes and grasses will reduce the likeliness of bloat. Basic management to reduce bloat should be followed as described in the UK Extension publication http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id186/id186.pdf. Adding legumes into existing pastures can benefit soil fertility and provide higher quality feed to livestock. Using the frost seeding method can save money on seeding costs and reduces machinery use.

For more information on frost seeding pastures, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Upcoming Ag Events
Jan 22nd 9am, Working with the Media to be an AGvocate at Grayson Co. Extension
Jan 27th Owensboro Ag Expo (Grain Day)
Jan 28th Noon, Hemp Meeting
Jan 29th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Grain Sorghum Production
Jan 29th 10am, Pesticide Training
Feb 1st-3rd 9am-Noon Ag Marketing, Risk Management & Economics Series
Feb 4th CPH Sale

How to be an AGvocate

Planning Your Garden & Starting Indoor Transplants

January is about the only month that I enjoy going to the mailbox and the only reason is because all the seed catalogs start coming in.  Needless to say, I got way too excited last week when my first seed catalog of the year arrived.  I may be worse than a kid with a toy catalog.  As soon as I got inside I got out my pen and highlighter and started carefully reading over the descriptions and selecting seeds for my spring and summer garden.

Even though we have not seen the first snow yet, now is the time to be planning your spring garden, selecting which varieties you will plant and purchasing your seed (especially if you plan to start seeds indoor).

When going through those colorful seed catalogs it is easy to get carried away choosing seeds.  Be sure to select varieties that are recommended for our area (zone 6).  Also, make sure you choose vegetables that your family and friends enjoy eating.  You don’t want to see fresh, homegrown produce go to waste because no one likes to eat it.

When planning your garden, not only is seed selection important, but site selection also needs to be at the top of your priority list.  Be sure to select a spot that is in full sun for at least eight hours each day, not shaded, relatively level, well‑drained and close to a water source.  Once you have selected a site, map out your garden on paper, carefully selecting which vegetables you plant where.  Make sure you place tall plants (sweet corn, tomatoes, pole beans) on the north or west side of your garden.  This will help ensure that your sweet corn doesn’t block out your okra’s sunlight or that your tomato cages aren’t so close to your cucumbers that they take over the cages.

A good piece of advice for all gardeners is plan only as large of a garden as you can easily maintain. Speaking from personal experience, I wish I had followed that advice a couple of years ago.  Beginning gardeners often overplant, and then they fail because they cannot keep up with the tasks required (weed and pest control).

Once you have selected and purchased your seeds, you can start your seeds indoors.  Personally I think seeds should be started toward the end of February and no later than mid-March if you intend to plant outside around late April.  For indoor growing, sow seeds in a plant tray containing an artificial growing medium of peat moss and perlite available at garden centers. Adding compost to the potting media at up to 25% of total volume can reduce the need for fertilizers later and potentially encourage seed germination.  Enclose the seeded trays in a plastic bag and keep them at room temperature until seedlings begin to emerge. Then, remove the plastic and transfer the trays to suitable growing areas.

The average windowsill is one location for growing plants, but it usually does not get enough light. So, you have to use artificial light to supplement. Use cool white fluorescent lamps alone, a mixture of cool white and warm white fluorescent lamps, or a mixture of cool white
and plant growth fluorescent lamps. Locate the lamps 5 to 10 inches from the foliage and operate them 12 to 18 hours/day. Be sure to keep seedlings cool enough (60° to 65°F) for strong, sturdy growth after they germinate.  Once a day lightly brush your hand over the tops of the seedlings in different directions.  This will help the seedling develop a stronger stem.

Plants should be “hardened off ” about two weeks before planting them in the garden. That is, you toughen the plants so that they can withstand the outside environment. To do so, begin exposing them to lower temperatures. One way is to take your transplants outside in
the daytime and bring them in at night. However, don’t let them get caught in a frost. Reduce your watering and fertilizing of transplants to help “hardening off ” about one week before transplanting. Do not let them dry out and wilt.

Soil preparation for your garden varies from home to home.  Be sure to have a soil test done on your garden site and follow the recommendations accordingly.  Few home garden sites have the ideal soil, but most soils can be modified to provide more favorable growing conditions.  Soil samples can be done through the Extension Office for $7 or you can have them done at the place of your choice.

For more information on spring garden planning, starting transplants indoors or home vegetable gardening in Kentucky, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Upcoming Ag Events
Jan 15th Commodity Conference, Bowling Green
Jan 15th-16th KY Cattlemen’s Association Convention, Owensboro
Jan 18th Noon, Tobacco Producers Mtg & GAP Training
Jan 18th 5pm, Ag Festival Committee Meeting
Jan 22nd 9am, Working with the Media to be an AGvocate at Grayson Co. Extension
Jan 27th Owensboro Ag Expo (Grain Day)
Jan 28th Noon, Hemp Meeting
Jan 29th 8am, Winter Round Table Series- Grain Sorghum Production
Jan 29th 10am, Pesticide Training
Feb 1st-3rd 9am-Noon Ag Marketing, Risk Management & Economics Series
Feb 4th CPH Sale