Heather Nix
Upstate Water Resources Agent

The Water Resources Team continues to provide a variety of resources for SC residents. While questions about ponds may slow down over the winter, maintenance continues to be important. For example, aeration can protect fish by helping prevent your pond’s surface from completely freezing over (see picture). During the last few months, we also expanded our series of Land Grant Press articles related to ponds: Ponds in South Carolina, Recreational Ponds in SC, An Introduction to Stormwater Ponds in SC, and Pond Weeds: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment Options. Dates for the 2022 Upstate Healthy Pond Series should be announced soon, please keep an eye on the Clemson Extension Events Calendar for more information.

The Water Team also developed several programs to inform and empower residents throughout the state. If you rely on a septic tank to manage your household’s wastewater, the Be Septic Safe website offers a wide range of information on maintenance and repairs. For agricultural water users, the Center Pivot Irrigation Test (CPIT) program offers cost-effective evaluation of the irrigation uniformity to help safe money, maximize crop yield, and efficiently utilize natural resources.

Upcoming events include the official launch of the CPIT program at the Irrigation Workshop and Tradeshows (Free! 2/14 @8:30am in Blackville, SC; and 2/22 @ 8:30am in Florence, SC) and a Stream Restoration Workshop and Training ($20, April 19-20 in Columbia area). Our free Adopt-A-Stream volunteer water quality monitoring training is available on various dates. Registration for the Spring 2022 Post-Construction BMP Inspector certification and re-certification will be announced soon.

Chris LeMaster
Livestock & Forages Agent
Cherokee, Spartanburg, & York Counties

Who would have thought that would be the headline of an Extension program? Over the past two years, we’ve seen significant technology adoption by all of our clients as we adapted to COVID protocols. While this provided some unique opportunities to bring in outside speakers and an “anywhere and anytime” form of Extension, there has also been burnout of on-demand and online learning opportunities. While we seek to find a balance, we’ve realized the personal face-to-face aspect of our workshops and farm visits cannot be replicated or replaced by virtual learning.

This fall, I worked to provide opportunities for both learning styles. The online Fall Fescue Workshop was well-attended due to the convenience of logging on via smartphone during lunch. However, the hands-on, in-person Fence Construction Workshop was my favorite. Producers from across the state attended a day-long workshop with class time and hands-on demonstrations to learn the newest and most cost-effective fencing methods. The focus of the workshop was planning and laying out the most efficient fenceline to maximize pasture and minimize efforts for gathering animals, watering, grazing, and distributing nutrients. Participants left the workshop knowing how to properly construct a brace, tie hi-tensile knots, post and select wire, and much more. This program was a success from the generous help of industry sponsorship.

This winter, I plan to keep this balance of virtual and in-person programs through the Backyard Poultry Workshop, Equine Forage, Online Forage Focus, Cattlemen meetings, and the partnership with 4H in the Down on the Farm Day and the Cherokee County Spring Livestock Show. Our livestock team continues to generate numerous learning opportunities that can be found on the Clemson Extension Livestock and Forages Facebook page. As always, be sure to check Clemson’s Land Grant Press for peer-reviewed articles on various livestock topics. I hope to see you this winter, whether virtually or in-person, at a workshop or farm visit.

Laura Haddon
Cherokee County 4-H Agent

Cherokee County 4-H has continued its partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate by providing STEM activities to the clubs located in Cherokee County.  Youth at Blacksburg, Draytonville, Luther Vaughan, BD Lee, and Limestone-Central Elementaries have experienced Biology and Chemistry through hands-on activities.  During the month of October students dissected Barn Owl pellets to discover which animals make up the Barn Owl’s food chain.  In November, they had a tasty introduction to Chemistry as they made “Pumpkin Pie in a Bag”.

Cherokee County 4-H community clubs used their “hands for larger service” over the holidays by collecting non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army, crafting Christmas ornaments for residents at Brookview Healthcare Center, and baking Christmas cookies for Meals on Wheels.  They have also been busy learning about all the opportunities that 4-H has to offer them!

Third grade students at Corinth Elementary have been learning about how to make healthy choices by learning to read nutrition labels and how many servings of fruits and veggies they need to eat each day.  Students made and enjoyed Fruit Smoothies and a salad with a rainbow of vegetables and a low-fat Ranch dressing.  They have also learned about GO, SLOW, and STOP drinks and are ready to make healthier choices in 2022!

Looking ahead to a busy spring, Cherokee County 4-H is preparing for its First Annual Spring Livestock Show on March 11^th and March 12^th.  Youth may exhibit market hogs, beef cattle, and rabbits.  Sponsors are needed for this show to be a success.  Please contact Laura Haddon (lhaddon@clemson.edu) for more information or to offer your support!

The first annual “Down on the Farm Day” is scheduled for this spring too!  On Friday, April 1^st second graders from across the county will be bussed to Sarratt Farms where they will be introduced to agriculture, both plants and animals!  This event was made possible by a Cherokee County Community grant as well as partnerships between Clemson Extension, Cherokee County Farm Bureau, SC Farm to School, and local farmers.

The pandemonium at the bread and milk aisle must mean we are due for some wintry weather and milk sandwiches. At the time of this blog, forecasts call for snow, ice, and long periods of sub-freezing temps. While this is not uncommon for our area, we have a few more precautions than your average homeowner as livestock producers. The biggest concerns for our livestock in wintry weather are hypothermia and dehydration. Shelter and added calories are the best defense for hypothermia. Water is always a challenge in winter but pay close attention to ice-over and monitor animal intake as we approach Sunday.

Animals burn considerably more calories with windchill and a wet coat. Ruminants and horses (hind-gut) generate heat when they ferment forages. For this reason, consider feeding in the late afternoon to help provide max heat during overnight lows. Ice will make grass more inaccessible than snow, so be prepared to put out hay early and often. In addition, rolling out hay to provide warm, dry bedding can be a relief to younger animals. Ensure you have adequate room to lessen the chance of young animals getting stepped on. Shelter is often not feasible for our cattle herds but encourage animals to bed in windbreaks by hay placement.

Winter weather in the south means ice. Besides the loss of traction, power loss is usually imminent in an ice storm. Temporary fences will fall to the added weight of the ice and may require a battery power source. Before the weather, top off feeders that are hard to access or need electricity (augers). If you are on well water, consider putting out extra troughs in case we lose power. Make sure your machinery is ready by checking fluids, adding weights, and don’t forget your small engines (ATV, chainsaw, generator).

Although the list of preparations is long, farmers are ever-ready and solid. They are the first called to pull a neighbor out of a ditch or cut a tree off a driveway. So while you’re trudging in snow caring for your livestock, please take a second to enjoy the views and know it too will pass soon.

Dealing With Drainage In The Home Landscape (FREE WEBINAR)

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RIGHT OF WAY PEST CONTROL (CATEGORY 6) EXAM TRAINING AND RECERTIFICATION

Planning on taking the Category 6 Exam? Need Category 6 credits. This on-demand webinar allows you to do it at your convenience. Recertification credits = 1 hour (category 6). The cost is $20.00.

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Aquatic Weed ID and Management On-demand Webinar (Worth 1 Category 5 Credit Hour)

On-demand Pesticide Credit Opportunity

Topics Include:

• aquatic weed ID
• Biological control
• mechanical control
• chemical control

The cost is $30.00

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SC Certified Landscape Professional (SCCLP) Spring 2022

Initial Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Licensing Exam  

Wednesday, December 8 at 9:00am to 12:30pm

Before you buy, learn how to pick out a healthy plant