Savannah Valley District

“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 […]

Cucurbit Production Meeting- Post Meeting Report

Anna Sara Hill, Extension Horticulture Agent The Clemson Cooperative Extension held a cucurbit production meeting at the Edisto Research and Education Center on February 5, 2026 in partnership with the SC Watermelon Association. The meeting was entitled “Cultivating Solutions for SC Cucurbit Growers” and covered topics including management of manganese toxicity in cucurbits, weed control […]

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 […]

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 […]

Silvopasture Systems Provide Many Benefits to Landowners

Janet Steele, Area Forestry & Wildlife Agent Diversifying land use is an area of growing interest among South Carolina landowners. Increasing focus on using forested acreage to its fullest potential has some landowners and land managers wanting to blend livestock management with timber management by implementing silvopasture. Silvopasture is not turning livestock loose in the […]

ATV Safety

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are typical on many farms and properties and are helpful for work, recreational use, and other modes of off-road transportation. However, ATVs continue to be a source of injuries and fatalities for youths as well as adult operators. According to the S.C. Department of Health and […]

Proper Hay Sampling Techniques

Written by Livestock and Forages Agents – Nicole Correa, Sallie Thompson, Marion Barnes, Travis Mitchell and Hillary Pope With the fall weather starting to peek through, it is essential to start considering making hay purchases for the winter season. With all the options available, how does one choose? There are multiple grass and legume options, […]

Woods in Your Backyard

Amanda Taylor, Forestry and Natural Resources Agent The word “woods” often evokes romantic images of vast forests, when really, you probably have some woods in your backyard. Your quarter acre of pine trees or pollinator garden may not be very big, but small landowners play a key role in the conservation of wildlife habitat.  On […]

Annual Savannah Valley 4-H Market Hog Sale & Awards Program

Meghan Barkley 4-H Youth Development Agent Ehrhardt, SC- Local 4-H members were rewarded for their dedication on Sunday, October 23rd at H&S Stockyards by participating in the annual Savannah Valley 4-H Market Hog Sale & Awards Program.  Participants sold a total of 10 animals with an average price of $1,081 per animal and a high-selling […]