Savannah Valley District

Livestock Water Safe

Livestock Water System Maintenance & Clean Water Safety Molly Jones, Regional Water Resources Agent & Nicole Correa, Regional Livestock and Forages Agent What is the primary limiting nutrient for performance in all livestock species? WATER. Inadequate water intake affects dry matter intake, milk production, growth rate, reproductive performance, and forage utilization. Water is the driver […]

“Nuts About Production” Pecan Meeting Report

Anna Sara Hill, Extension Horticulture Agent Anna Sara Hill and Brianna Naumuk hosted a statewide pecan production meeting entitled “Nuts About Production” in Columbia, SC on February 25, 2026. The invited speakers were the UGA Pecan team, led by Lenny Wells (PhD), the leading pecan research specialist in the southeast. The team included Apurba Barman […]

Things We Need to Plan For

David Mansfield, Agribusiness Extension Agent Farming is a business built on uncertainty. Each year brings new challenges—weather extremes, changing markets, rising input costs, and unexpected personal events. While no one can predict the future, we can prepare for it by understanding and managing risk in five key areas: production, market, financial, legal, and personal. Production […]

Prescribed Fire as a Management Tool

Janet Steele, Forestry & Natural Resources Agent The southeast United States’ landscape has been shaped by fire since the pre-Paleoindian period. Prior to man living on the land, fire was started naturally by lightning strikes. Since thunderstorms primarily occur during summer, these wildfires favored species that could tolerate hot, fast-moving flames. Human settlement in the […]

What’s Coming Up for SC Livestock & Forage Producers: Events, and Fertility Advice

Nicole Correa, Area Livestock and Forages Agent Summer’s here, and so are a ton of opportunities for producers across South Carolina to connect, learn, and grow. Whether you’re managing hayfields, looking to boost your pasture game, or just want to stay up to date with sustainable practices, we’ve got a full lineup of events and […]

Are You Ready for Summer?

Janet Steele, Area Forestry & Natural Resources Agent The extra daylight hours during the summer are great for doing yard projects, such as mowing the grass and working in the garden. One landscape component that is often not considered until there is a problem is our yard trees. Trees can provide multiple benefits around our […]

Growing Season Green Up: Is It Time for Timberland Clean-Up?

Janet Steele, Area Forestry & Wildlife Agent As days grow warmer with more daylight hours, plant, shrub and tree species begin to break dormancy and enter a new growing season. Like myself, you may be anxious to get outside and tackle some of those land management practices you have been planning all winter. These projects […]

Safe Driving Tips During Planting Season

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent – Clemson University There are certain times of the year when farm vehicles and equipment will be more prevalent on the highways, such as spring planting and fall harvest, and motorists need to be aware of this increased activity and exercise caution and patience. With planting season underway in […]

Weekly Field Update

Phillip Carnley, Area Horticulture Agent  Strawberries are looking good around the Midlands. The biggest issue I’ve seen is still Neopest and getting plants to size up. With Neopest, stay on top of a preventative spray with Thiram or Switch. If plants are still small, row covers are your friend and will help force crown development. […]

Be Well Informed

Charley Greenthaler, Area Water Resources Agent – Calhoun and Orangeburg Counties Do you rely on a private well for your drinking water source? With more than 20% of South Carolinians falling into this category, these wells must be properly maintained to ensure safe drinking water.  Maintenance of the well is the responsibility of the well […]