Savannah Valley District

Canada Goose Impacts on Pond Ecosystems and Management Strategies 

Mike Windhorn, Regional Forestry and Natural Resources Agent & Molly Jones, Regional Water Resources Agent    Canada Geese are grazers that prefer well-maintained lawns next to a body of water. They are very wary of predators, so they prefer large open areas where they can easily see an approaching predator. They also use ponds for rest […]

Leave the Leaves this Fall

SAMANTHA PORZELT, WATER RESOURCES AGENT FOR BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES Fall is finally here, and the yearly question comes: Should you rake the leaves or let them be? While bagging them up has long been the tradition, conservation groups like the National Wildlife Federation encourage a different approach: leave the leaves where they fall. […]

Growing Holiday Greens 

Zachary Snipes, Assistant Program Team Leader-Horticulture, Area Horticulture Agent With Christmas and New Year’s Day right around the corner, the only thing that should be on your mind is a big ol’ pot of collard greens for your holiday celebrations.  Now is the time of the year when greens should be happily growing in gardens […]

Preparing for Fall Forages

Hillary P. Carnley, Area Livestock & Forages Agent As the leaves begin to change and the temperatures cool, September signals more than just the arrival of autumn—it marks a crucial transition period for livestock producers. While warm-season pastures begin to fade and forage availability declines, hay or supplemental feed becomes necessary to maintain animal health […]

Savannah River Valley

Glen Payne, Urban Horticulture Agent, Beaufort County Vines are twisting and turning this summer angling to find just the right amount of sunlight and companion plants to make reaching new heights possible to set aerial seedpods. There are several vines throughout the Savannah River Valley that can be seen while driving along roads, sitting on […]

Live Air Quality Data Now Available for the Savannah Valley District

Clemson University researchers installed air quality sensors in five locations in the Savannah Valley District: Allendale, Blackville, Hampton, Orangeburg, and Walterboro. The information from these sensors are now available online – with updated air quality readings every two minutes. The circles on the map are colored according to the current air quality (green = good, […]

Crop Scouting is Important

Rogan Gibson, Agronomic Crops Agent After spending lots of money and time getting the seed in the ground, the last thing producers want to see is yield loss due to pests. Pests such as weeds, insects, and diseases can cause crop yield loss. A good crop scouting program can save producers money in different ways. […]

4-H Wild at Webb Camp Celebrates 20 Years

South Carolina’s 4‑H program recently celebrated a significant milestone: the 20th annual Wild at Webb Camp, held June 10–14, 2025, at the SCDNR Webb Wildlife Center in Garnett, SC. This flagship event brings together youth ages 10–13 from across the state for an immersive week of hands-on education in shooting sports, natural resources, and leadership […]

Help your Yard Beat the Heat by Watering Wisely

Ellen Sturup Comeau, Water Resources Agent, Beaufort County Sunny weather, hot temperatures, and high humidity are here! Staying hydrated is critical to staying healthy in the intense weather, and the same is true for the plants in your yard. However, did you know that overwatering your plants can lead to more issues than underwatering them? […]