Month: February 2021

Clemson Extension ceased all in-person trainings and meetings last March due to COVID-19 concerns.  We realize that while we all need to take action to protect each other from the virus, our clients continue to have questions and training needs for their various enterprises.

Clemson Extension continues to respond to phone calls and emails on a daily basis, but we also have responded by creating trainings using the Zoom online video conference program.  Extension agents are able to set up a date and time in the Zoom program and simply send a link to our clients.  Clients then are able to click on the link to join the meetings.  These meetings are not recorded, but are presented live.

Since March 2020 the Laurens County Extension Office has offered live Zoom trainings that include 22 Confined Animal Manure Manager recertification trainings (with 14 more scheduled), a Small Pasture and Hayfield Irrigation training, three Master Gardener classes on residential irrigation for various online classes around the State, a Horse Manure Management training, and a training on Feeding Horses.

The Laurens 4-H Program has offered many 4-H projects on-line and continues to offer projects and interaction in a non-contact manner utilizing the Zoom program.  SC 4-H Agents also developed the “SC 4-H @ Home” program, a national award winning program that allowed them to utilize online content to hold educational events and programs for SC 4-H’ers (many 4-H’ers in other states also participated in this program as well).

Laurens County Extension is currently working with agents from Abbeville, McCormick, Greenwood, Edgefield, and Union to develop monthly residential horticulture classes held via Zoom.  These will be 60 to 90 minute classes, and will offer topics such as Basic Vegetable Gardening, Fire Ant Control, Excluding Wildlife From Your Garden, and a wide range of other topics useful to our clientele.  The classes will be held in the evening to allow more clients to attend.

The State Master Gardener Program has also responded to the need for virtual programming, creating a live, on-line Master Gardener course for the entire state since local counties are not able to offer in-person courses at this time.  78 SC residents are enrolled in the current virtual Master Gardener course.

The South Carolina Bull Test Sale has also moved to an on-line format, allowing cattle growers to buy excellent bulls for their herds without having to attend a crowded auction area to do so.

Clemson Extension continues to provide information to our clientele through phone calls, emails, Laurens Extension Facebook posts, and newspaper articles.  Laurens County Extension is also currently developing a quarterly newsletter to be shared with clients via email, which should be live in February 2021.

Laurens County Extension Agents have also been able to make one-on-one farm visits when needed, practicing social distancing and safe, masked interaction with local clients while addressing their needs.  Our Extension Agronomy Team developed a “map pinning” app, which allows row crop farmers to place a “pin” on a map noting an area that they need help with.  The row crop agent then visits the area noted by the pin and provides recommendations for the problem.  This allows them to help clients with no contact required.

Helpful links for more information:

Laurens Count Extension web page
https://www.clemson.edu/laurens

Laurens County Extension Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/LaurensCountyClemsonExtensionService

Laurens County 4-H Program Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/4Hlaurenscounty

Home and Garden Information Center
https://hgic.clemson.edu/

SC Master Gardener Program
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/mg/

Clemson Extension Livestock and Forages Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ClemsonBullTest/

SC Confined Animal Manure Manager Program
https://www.clemson.edu/camm

Bryan Smith, County Coordinator
wsmth@clemson.edu
864-705-1101

February is an excellent time to fertilize established, bearing pecan trees.  Clemson’s Home and Garden Information Center recommends that the best fertilization is done based on a recent soil test.  If you have not completed a soil test, the next best option is to apply four pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer for each one inch of pecan tree trunk diameter (measured 54 inches above the ground).  For instance, if your pecan tree trunk diameter is 8 inches, you should apply (8 x 4 =) 32 pounds of 10-10-10 for that tree.  Broadcast the fertilizer on the ground in the tree canopy area.

There are fertilizers made for pecan trees that have zinc added to prevent rosette (indicated by mottled leaves, abnormally small nuts, etc.).  Zinc should only be added if a soil test or a leaf tissue analysis (taken in late July) indicates a zinc deficiency.  Zinc is an excellent addition for pecan trees when needed, but is somewhat hard on turf grasses.  If you plan to use a fertilizer with zinc, the best option is to dig many shallow post holes (about 6 inches deep) along the drip line edge of the tree and distribute the fertilizer evenly between the holes.  Fill the holes with the removed soil.  This will provide fertilizer with zinc for the tree, and will also prevent possible turf grass injury.

More information on growing pecan planting and fertilization may be found at https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/pecan-planting-fertilization/ .

Bryan Smith, County Coordinator
wsmth@clemson.edu
864-705-1101

2020 South Carolina Dairy Youth Heifer Project Bred Heifer Sale

The South Carolina Dairy Youth Heifer Project, a Clemson University Youth Livestock program initiative, gives any active 4-H or FFA member, age 5-17, the opportunity to raise and show a registered dairy heifer. During this 18-month project, participants learn how to care for, manage, train, and show their heifer while exploring the world of dairy cattle. The goal of the project is for youth to gain knowledge about the dairy industry and learn how to responsibly care for a dairy animal and, in the end, have a well-grown, bred dairy heifer. The project concludes with the sale of the heifers at the South Carolina State Fair in October each year. Participants show their heifer one last time during the dairy cattle show, and then all heifers are sold in the Bred Heifer Sale.

2020 brought many challenges to the South Carolina Dairy Youth Heifer Project Bred Heifer Sale. With the cancellation of the 2020 South Carolina State Fair and pandemic restrictions the decision was made to move the sale to a virtual format. The Heifer Project committee, volunteers, participants, and supporters took it all in stride and made the 2020 Sale a huge success. With the new sale format, the catalog and pedigree pages were given a new look and youth were encouraged to help promote the sale and their individual heifers. Pedigrees where made available to previous and potential buyers along with pictures and videos of the available heifers.
After weeks of preparation, the sale was held on October 6, 2020 with 24 registered dairy heifers sold at an average of $1,450 each. Over 150 potential buyers, committee members, and participants and their families logged in to view and bid. With the online format, there were 4 first time buyers and over a dozen additional first-time potential buyers. The success of the sale was due to the months of hard work these youth put into raising and caring for these heifers and the dairymen who placed heifers in the project, giving these youth the opportunity to shine. Even with the restrictions this passed year, these youth continued to work with these heifers and, in the end provided an outstanding group of heifers for potential buyers, proving why the SC Dairy Youth Heifer Project is one of the oldest and best of its kind.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

Agronomic Crop Activities

Row crop producer needs were handled through the summer as usual, mainly through farm visits and one-on-one trainings. Producer trainings for paraquat and dicamba herbicides, which were required by the EPA, were handled mainly in small group in-person formats with some virtual platforms utilized where applicable. In-season farm visits to address crop troubleshooting continued as always. Upcoming trainings and producer meetings are being scheduled primarily through virtual platforms.
Sample submissions to the Agricultural Service Laboratory have continued through the Extension Office utilizing by appointment drop off and on-farm pick up.

NEWBERRY COUNTY 4-H – NEWSLETTER

While restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the general routine of Newberry County 4-H and forced many of our programs towards a new format, we managed to reach 63 local youth through our multi-county virtual summer camps. Virtual goes against the very nature of 4-H, which prides itself on years of hands-on learning with the help of volunteers. But virtual allowed both youth and agents to learn and practice skills using technology rather than face-to-face meetings.

Four summer camps were offered to Newberry County in partnership with Saluda, Aiken, and Edgefield counties. These camps were offered via Google Classroom. Each day during the week of camp, participants were granted access to that day’s activities. These activities included videos, recipes, science lessons, read-alongs, service projects, virtual tours, and trivia. The first camp focused on the Fair, highlighting livestock projects, fair food, rides, and exhibits your might see at the State Fair. The next camp took us camping across America to experience the Statue of Liberty, Washington DC, and ending just in time for July 4th fireworks. Lessons included solar oven smores, coin rubbings, paddlewheel boats, fireworks in a jar, pinwheels, sugar drink alternatives, and straw towers, each related to a stop on our trip. We followed Camp America with a US Road Trip via Hwy 4-H which allowed participants to experience two National Parks each day during the week of camp. Stops included the Dry Tortugas, the Everglades, Mammoth Cave, the Gateway Arch, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Redwoods, the Grand Canyon, Kenai Fjords, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Parks. We ended the summer with an International Culinary Tour that took youth across the world, virtually, exposing them to cultures and foods from places they may not otherwise get to go.

While things may have looked different, we feel that virtual opportunities now have a place in what would normally be all hands on and face to face. We are proud to have stepped out of the box to continue to make the best better.

FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AGENT EXPANDS IMPACT DURING COVID-19
Jeff Fellers has adapted his programming to the COVID-19 situation. In addition to Spartanburg, Fellers also covers Newberry, Union, Cherokee, York, Chester, and Lancaster counties. Fellers has helped 316 people via phone calls, emails, and site visits, impacting 3,907 acres for forest and pond management. Fellers has produced 50 videos, housed on the Union County Facebook Page, reaching a total of 57,704 people as of the time of this article, with an average of 2,219 people per video. Fellers has also conducted webinars, providing educational outreach to nearly 60 participants (See list below for details).
• May 22, 2020 – Wildlife Food Plot 101 – 8 Participants
• August 25, 2020 – Virtual Forestry Association Meeting – Fall Food plots – 50+ participants
• October 27, 2020 – Virtual Forestry Association meeting – Privet Control – 50+ participants

Like many things in 2020, 4-H had to find a new way to operate. In March, we learned how to continue with 4-H programming even though we could not host the in-person, face-to-face meetings that we were used to doing. To begin tackling this new way of operating, Midlands 4-H agents, which I was a part of, developed 4-H@Home program. 4-H@Home was a free program where registered participants received free daily lessons electronically. These lessons were created by myself and fellow 4-H agents. We also peer-reviewed them and ensured they would work for youth of all ages. These daily lessons covered many different topics and could be completed in or around the participants’ homes with minimal supplies. The daily lessons began on March 18th and ended on May 29th. Registered youth continued to receive one lesson a month until August. This program reached over 2,400 individuals worldwide, youth from every county in South Carolina, with over 50 participants in Edgefield County.

This was just the start of all the great things we developed to continue with 4-H through COVID-19. Instead of traditional summer camps, 4-H agents again got creative and developed summer camp kits. Edgefield County youth had the opportunity to register to receive several different subject-specific camp kits. Each kit contained materials needed for youth to complete the fun hands-on learning activities.

While this has been a crazy time for everyone, 4-H is continuing to offer a variety of programs to keep youth engaged and active. For more information on the Edgefield County 4-H program, contact Julia Cox, at julia7@clemson.edu to receive program updates.

You may already be aware that Gary Coleman is no longer the Clemson Extension Livestock and Forages Agent for Edgefield County after leaving that position to pursue other endeavors. In his absence, I have been filling in to ensure there is no disruption of coverage. At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I am Brittany Flowers, Clemson Livestock and Forages Agent for Aiken County. I have been with Clemson Extension since June 2015, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to work with producers to improve their livestock operations. During the COVID 19 pandemic, I have continued to do farm visits, hosted webinars, and assisted with the 4-H CU YALL (Youth Academy of Livestock Learning) program. Currently, I work out of the Aiken County Extension Office, and if I can assist you in any way with your livestock or forages issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

I am looking forward to assisting the producers in Edgefield County. You can reach me at bepeaco@clemson.edu or (803) 649-6297.

2020 has been a year for resiliency. Crops demanded attention despite a global pandemic. Like most years, research was done to improve our knowledge of crops for the future. Some of the projects done throughout the Ridge, specifically in the peach crop this year, included work on herbicide effectiveness, bacterial disease management, and nutrient management and retention. Throughout the season, we maintained research trials at various locations along the Ridge in order to gain information on techniques, products, and management strategies that offer the best results for growers and the peach production industry. These research projects will continue throughout the coming seasons in order to collect more information to compile for further research.

In addition to several research projects in the area, a new weather station was erected in one of our peach variety trial fields. The weather station will help collect better data on temperatures and weather patterns that can affect the peach crops. One of the critical factors that impacts the peach crop is the number of chilling hours that a crop builds throughout the dormant season. Peaches require a certain number of “chill hours” to be accumulated during dormancy. These chill hours determine when the variety will flower and can impact the quality of fruit as well as the quantity. Having a local weather station with reliable readings will be extremely helpful in predicting future seasons.

For more information on commercial horticulture, please contact Sarah Scott by email oswald@clemson.edu or by phone 803-384-4152.