Savannah Valley District

Beaufort County 4-H Club Program

Meghan E. Barkley, 4-H Extension Agent The 2022-2023 4-H club year began on September 1st.  It has been a busy start for the Beaufort County 4-H program.  With school gardens growing and new projects starting, there is something for everyone.  For our Beaufort County 4-H club members, variety is the spice of life. The Lowcountry […]

Congratulations to the New Rural Health Agent

Jevencia Hill, Rural Health Agent – Colleton and Hampton Jevencia Hill completed a Bachelor of Human Services degree at the University of South Carolina. She has over ten years of public services and human services experience. Since completing her degree, Jevencia has worked in the long-term care, mental health, and human services professions. She is […]

4-H Poultry Show

Orangeburg County Fair October 8, 2022, was the perfect day for 24 youths from around the state to show how well they have worked with their 4-H chickens. At 9:30 am, the youth entered posters and coop decorations in the fun part of the show. By 10:00 am, the attitudes changed and became more serious […]

Soil Moisture Sensor Placement

Becky Davis, Water Resources Agent Properly irrigating crops with the optimal amount and timing can improve crop yields without causing runoff and loss of nutrients to ground and surface waters. However, before irrigating any plant or crop, information should be gathered to determine when it is necessary. This information a.k.a. data, can come in various […]

Flooding 411

Ellen Sturup Comeau, Beaufort Water Resource Agent Coastal flooding is a significant issue in South Carolina. There are currently 229,000 people at risk of flooding. Experts predict that the number will increase due to frequent major storms, rising sea levels, and other climate change-related issues. Many coastal residents experience flooding but do not understand its causes […]

Beaufort Junior Leadership

Meghan Barkley, Beaufort County 4-H Agent Twelve youth from all across Beaufort County have graduated from the 2021-2022 Beaufort Junior Leadership inaugural class. This 4-H program is dedicated to developing high school-age participants into young leaders. Youth received personal and leadership development training, networking, communication, financial management, and civic engagement. Youth participated in hands-on 4-H […]

Attention Lowcountry Meat Producers!

Steve Richards, Director of SC Center for Cooperative and Enterprise Development Livestock farmers have been struggling to find animal processing spots since before the COVID-19 pandemic. And while things have gotten marginally better, there are no easy answers on increasing meat processing capacity in South Carolina. That’s why we need to cooperate! With the help of […]

Stay Grounded: Be Safe Around Electrical Systems on the Farm and in the Home

Rebecca H. Davis, Area Water Resources Agent Summer brings thoughts of vacation, hot days, and afternoon thunderstorms! During storms, the first concern is getting inside to keep dry. However, it is important to keep in mind that electrical storms can cause power surges which can damage equipment and cause personal injury and death by electrocution […]

July Tips for Coastal Landscapes

Laura Lee Rose, Horticulture Agent – County Coordinator Lawn – Check rain gauges and run sprinklers as needed to keep grass healthy and green. One inch of irrigation can be added weekly without sufficient rainfall. Look for any damage from insect pests or diseases and treat it early if problems exist. Shrubs and Trees- Pruning […]

Construction Site Sediment and Erosion Control Best Management Practices

Erosion Control Best Management Practices

Ellen Sturup Comeau, Water Resources Agent Polluted stormwater runoff is the greatest threat to water quality in South Carolina. A common stormwater pollutant is sediment. Sediment is harmful to water quality because it can contribute to flooding issues and property damage, injure or kill aquatic life and habitat, and limit our ability to swim, fish, […]