Category: Greenville

Amie Mabe
4-H Youth & Development Agent
Greenville

Greenville 4-H kicked off the first month of the new 4-H year with an exciting Open House at the Greenville State Farmers Market. Families enjoyed learning more about 4-H opportunities while celebrating with farm-fresh ice cream generously sponsored by Happy Cow Creamery.

The following day, the South Greenville Fair opened in Simpsonville, bringing together many talented 4-H youth who showcased their livestock projects, including goats, dairy cows, and rabbits. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment were on full display throughout the fair.

Greenville 4-H clubs are open and ready to welcome new members! Visit our website to explore our club listings and find the right opportunity for your family.

Camilla Herndon
Rural Health & Nutrition Agent
Greenville & Laurens Counties

In October 2025, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) invited the Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition (RHN) team to participate in a pilot program to address obesity care and treatment. The Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition team was one of 10 selected organizations for the obesity care program.

Obesity is a prevalent condition. In 2024, approximately 2 in 5 adults in the United States had obesity. In previous years, 1 in 4 U.S. adults had obesity, indicating an increase in new cases. While some believe that obesity is caused by a lack of willpower, poor eating habits, or a lack of physical activity, these beliefs are an inaccurate generalization. There are several factors outside of a person’s control that contribute to obesity, such as genetics, stress, grief, and trauma, medications, sedentary jobs, lack of access to healthcare, food deserts, and lack of safe spaces for recreation.

The Understanding Obesity as a Chronic Disease program, outreach of the Obesity Association™, a division of the ADA, focuses on understanding obesity as a chronic disease, addressing stigma, roadblocks to care, and evidence-based strategies for prevention and management. The program emphasizes why obesity treatments involve more than just an eating plan and physical activity. As of August 2026, Clemson Extension’s RHN Agent, Camilla Herndon, and RHN Associate, Danielle McFall, had facilitated 6 program sessions for communities across the Upstate.

If you or your organization is interested in the Understanding Obesity as a Chronic Disease program, check Eventbrite for upcoming sessions or email Camilla at herndo3@clemson.edu to schedule.

Drew Jeffers
Horticulture Agent
Greenville

It has been a busy spring and summer for horticulture programming in Greenville County, and the pace is not slowing as we head into fall and begin looking ahead to 2027.

Over the past several months, much of my work has focused on helping homeowners, Master Gardeners, and green-industry professionals make better horticultural and pest-management decisions. That has included educational programs, professional training, diagnostic assistance, research, and the continued development of new Extension resources.

This summer also provided several opportunities to share some of that work beyond Greenville County. In August, I presented three research projects at the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference in Dallas. Those presentations focused on consumer demand for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services, Master Gardener knowledge of IPM, and factors affecting long-term retention of Master Gardener volunteers.

Closer to home, work has continued on the South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional program, including efforts to update and strengthen the curriculum for future participants. We have also been developing new educational resources for the green industry, including an IPM video project with the Clemson Campus Research Greenhouses and the transition of commercial pesticide applicator exam-preparation material into a more applied, online, on-demand IPM course.

A Full Fall Ahead

Fall 2026 is already shaping up to be busy.

Our Greenville County Master Gardener Training Course began in September and will continue through February 2027. Over the next several months, participants will work through topics ranging from soil and plant physiology to pest management, trees and shrubs, diagnostics, and other core horticultural subjects.

On October 17, I will be at the Kilgore Lewis House Fall Festival and Plant Sale, presenting Increasing Biodiversity in the Landscape and answering gardening questions at a horticulture Q&A booth.

October will also bring our annual IPM Symposium, which provides continuing education for landscape, nursery, greenhouse, and other green-industry professionals. The program focuses on practical, research-based approaches to pest identification, diagnosis, pesticide stewardship, and Integrated Pest Management.

In November, Jackie Jordan and I will present a hands-on Microscope and Diagnostics Workshop at the South Carolina State Master Gardener Conference in Myrtle Beach. The workshop will give Master Gardeners an opportunity to strengthen their diagnostic skills and gain experience with microscopes and other tools for investigating plant problems.

Looking Ahead to 2027

We are already planning a full slate of horticulture programs for next year.

For green-industry professionals, 2027 programs will include live webinars on plant diagnostics, biological controls, ornamental diseases, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and scale insects. We are also planning pesticide applicator training opportunities, a Greenhouse & Nursery Growers Summit, and continued IPM programming.

Homeowners will have several opportunities as well. Programs already planned include:

• Landscaping with Sun Perennials
• Landscaping with Shade Perennials
• Ornamental Landscape IPM
• Vegetable Garden Pest Management
• Using Shrubs in the Landscape

I am also planning to expand public outreach through garden center Q&A booths during the spring gardening season. These informal events will provide an opportunity for homeowners to stop by, ask gardening questions, learn about Clemson Extension resources, and receive research-based information as they make decisions for their landscapes and gardens.

Another longer-term goal is the development of an advanced diagnostics and IPM training program for experienced Master Gardeners. This will likely be a collaborative effort involving Extension agents and specialists, focusing on practical diagnosis, scouting, symptom recognition, and pest management decision-making.

Staying Connected

One of the goals of Clemson Cooperative Extension is to make research-based horticultural information practical and accessible, whether you are managing a commercial landscape, growing plants professionally, volunteering as a Master Gardener, or simply trying to keep your own lawn and garden healthy.

As registration opens for these programs, details will be shared through Clemson Extension and Greenville County program announcements.

There is a lot ahead in 2027, and I look forward to continuing to work with homeowners, volunteers, and horticulture professionals throughout Greenville County and across South Carolina.

Heather Nix
Upstate Regional Water Resources Agent
Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, & Spartanburg

Water Chats Webinar Series

The 2026 Water Chats webinar series is happening this fall! The webinars are free and focus on relevant, timely water related topics. Register in advance for each of the upcoming webinars: Water Chats Webinar Registrations. Upcoming topics include Smart Waters: AI & Data Centers and Connected Waters: Conservation & Watershed Planning.

Drought & El Niño

Considering that the past year in SC is the driest September to August in 130 years (since SC started keeping records!), it’s not a surprise that we continue to have low water levels in ponds and reservoirs. The dry weather, accompanied by the prolonged heat has resulted in many people seeing extremely low water levels in ponds. See the recent “Why Are Some Ponds So Low?” blogpost for more information.

While conditions can vary significantly between locations and timing, in the past, strong El Ninos often bring average or above average precipitation to South Carolina over the winter. So hopefully our water supplies will gradually recover this winter. See the State Climatology Office’s El Nino/Southern Oscillation website for more information.

Andy Rollins
Upstate Commercial Horticulture Agent
Cherokee, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, & York

In Upstate SC, I set up four on-farm tomato demonstrations with varieties coming out of Dr. Dilip Panthee’s NCSU tomato breeding program. Wayne Morgan, a research technician in the program, has been instrumental in getting Dr. Panthee’s varieties into growers’ hands for these demonstrations. The first two plantings in York County were unsuccessful.  More than 50% of the plants died within the first two weeks.  The extreme heat under which they were planted is believed to be the cause of their failure.  The second two, planted approximately 4 weeks later in Spartanburg County and Greenville County, have done well.

On September 14th, we harvested our first demonstration at the Estrada Farm.  We primarily took yield weights for each variety in the field at that time. We also kept ten representative fruit for further evaluation.  After refrigeration, I took the best 6 of the 10 and measured size, weight, pressure, and sugar content for each.  Then, a representative picture is taken of each variety from multiple angles (top, bottom, and side) and also sliced horizontally and vertically to see internal characteristics.  More extensive evaluations are done at the Mountain Horticultural Research Center in Mills River, NC.

There are two replications of nine large, fruited varieties and nine plum type varieties on each farm. There are common varieties, such as Mountain Fresh Plus (standard) that are compared to newer varieties, such as Mountain Defender and Mountain Ruby. Crown is a standard plum type we are comparing to other plum types. We are also looking at many advanced selections in both tomato types. Many of the newer varieties have a heat set gene and seem to have less white tissue spread from the stem ends. These varieties have handled this hot summer better than others.  Many of the new varieties also have a deeper red internal color as well as being meatier than older varieties in general.

Moving into early fall, I will continue to harvest and evaluate the rest of the demonstrations we have left.

Christopher LeMaster, Livestock and Forage Agent, Clemson Extension
Heather Nix, Water Resources Agent, Clemson Extension

It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about drought when you drive around and see lush, green pastures. While we’ve been very fortunate to receive some recent rainfall, you can still see quite a few nearly dry ponds across the landscape. 

Many livestock producers rely on groundwater-fed ponds to provide drinking water for their animals. Several producers have contacted us with concerns that their ponds remain unseasonably dry despite the rain. Some of the recent groundwater maps from the South Carolina Drought Response Committee—including the groundwater drought monitor for August 15–21, 2026—suggest that groundwater levels may still be declining in some parts of the state. 

One possible explanation is that rainfall and groundwater conditions are not always telling the same story. 

This distinction matters because a heavy rainstorm can produce plenty of runoff without fully replenishing groundwater. If the soil is dry or compacted, or if rainfall arrives in a rapid, intense event, much of that water may move quickly into ditches and flow swiftly downstream. It may not soak deeply enough to restore groundwater supplies, which maintain the steady seeps and springs that support healthy ponds and normal streamflow. 

Our rapidly developing areas may also be a contributing factor. As vegetated areas are replaced by roads, rooftops, parking areas, and other impervious surfaces, more rainfall runs off the ground surface and less water can infiltrate into the soil. Over time, that can significantly reduce groundwater recharge and change how water moves through a watershed. 

Many ponds also began the summer below normal after an exceptionally dry fall and winter. High temperatures then increased evaporation rates, accelerating declining water levels further than expected during typical droughts. So even though the landscape looks green again, some water resources are still recovering from the earlier deficit. 

Of course, drought is not the only possible explanation for a low pond. The following questions may help pond owners identify some possible causes: 

• Is there a visible problem with the dam? 
• Are pipes, spillways, and other outfall structures functioning properly? 
• Have any inflowing streams or drainage areas been redirected?
• Has the pond recently been dredged, reshaped, or otherwise disturbed? 
• Has the pond reached similar levels during previous droughts?
• Are there new withdrawals for irrigation, livestock, or other uses? 

What if livestock depend on the pond? 

Low water levels deserve extra attention when livestock rely on a pond, creek, spring, or well. The main considerations are reliability: Is enough clean water available to support a healthy livestock herd? And how long is the water supply likely to last if hot, dry weather returns? Now is a good time to have a backup plan, whether that means supplementing the existing water source or being prepared to move animals to a more reliable source. Keep a close eye on water levels as the season continues. 

Clemson Extension’s publication Livestock Ponds in South Carolina provides additional information about pond water quantity, water quality, and management practices for livestock ponds. 

Livestock need clean water, and water quality is impacted by weather. As a pond becomes smaller and shallower, the water may become warmer and more stagnant. Sediment, nutrients, and other contaminants may also become more concentrated. Livestock traffic around the remaining water can add manure, stir up sediment, and increase erosion. These conditions may increase the risk of problematic algae, including harmful algal blooms. 

For more information about harmful algal blooms and the risks they can pose, see our recent article, “Protecting Your Herd: Managing Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).” 

If the pond develops an unusual odor or color, surface scum, a heavy algae bloom, dead fish, or other noticeable changes, livestock should be kept away until the water can be evaluated. 

Recent rain is good news, and green pastures are encouraging. But rainfall does not always immediately restore groundwater levels or pond levels. For livestock producers, this is a good reminder to pay attention to both the quantity and quality of the water available to their animals. 

In our next newsletter, we’ll discuss ways to improve groundwater infiltration in pastures—and how livestock can be part of the solution rather than the problem. 

Andy Rollins
Commercial Horticulture Agent
Spartanburg County

I will also continue my work on thinning peaches using Ethylene. I have experienced difficulty thinning varieties such as Scarlet Prince and July Prince. To address this, I will use a two-pronged approach: thinning during bloom with Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS), followed by thinning at the fruitlet stage with Ethephon 2 SL. Peach growers currently rely on hand thinning, which is the most expensive labor input in peach production. This makes the development of effective chemical thinning strategies especially important for peach growers in the Upstate of South Carolina.

My final spring training for Upstate vegetable growers will be held on March 12.

By: Andrew Jeffers, Greenville County Horticulture Agent

Greenville County Extension is excited to announce a new partnership with the Greenville State Farmers Market, strengthening opportunities for agricultural education, horticulture outreach, and community engagement in Greenville County.

This partnership creates a shared space where Extension programming and the Farmers Market’s mission intersect—connecting residents with practical, research-based information while supporting local agriculture and green industry professionals.

Through this collaboration, Drew Jeffers, Horticulture Agent for Greenville County, will work with market leadership to deliver educational workshops, demonstrations, and trainings that serve homeowners, Master Gardeners, landscapers, growers, and the general public. Planned programming will focus on topics such as urban tree care, sustainable landscaping, pest management, seasonal gardening practices, and homeowner horticulture education.

In addition, Amie Mabe, 4-H Agent for Greenville County, is actively planning youth-focused programs at the Farmers Market that will support agricultural literacy, hands-on learning, and community engagement. These efforts will expand opportunities for young people to connect with food systems, horticulture, and environmental stewardship in a highly visible public setting.

Other Greenville County Extension agents are also exploring the possibility of scheduling future programs and workshops at the Farmers Market, reflecting a broader interest in using the site as a hub for Extension education across program areas.

The Greenville State Farmers Market provides an accessible, high-traffic location that attracts a diverse audience—from experienced growers to first-time gardeners. Hosting Extension programs at the market allows education to meet people where they already gather, reinforcing Extension’s role as a trusted source of science-based information.

By combining Extension expertise with the Farmers Market’s strong community presence, this partnership enhances Greenville County’s capacity to promote sustainable practices, informed decision-making, and long-term stewardship of landscapes and natural resources.

Details on upcoming programs and events hosted through this partnership will be announced in future newsletters and through Greenville County Extension communication channels.

For more information on Extension programs and educational opportunities, contact Greenville County Extension.

By: Andrew Jeffers, Greenville County Horticulture Agent

Urban trees are more than landscape features—they provide shade, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and add long-term value to our communities. To help homeowners, landscapers, and Master Gardeners better understand how to establish and care for trees in developed environments, Greenville County Extension recently hosted an Urban Tree Workshop led by Drew Jeffers, Horticulture Agent for Greenville County.

The workshop attracted 42 participants from across the county and focused on practical, research-based strategies for improving tree survival and long-term performance in urban and suburban landscapes.

One of the primary topics covered was proper tree planting techniques, including correct planting depth, identifying the root flare, and the importance of wide, shallow planting holes. Participants learned that many common tree problems begin at planting and that improper installation can shorten a tree’s lifespan by decades. Common issues such as girdling roots, buried root flares, and compacted soils were discussed, along with methods for correcting or preventing them.

The workshop also addressed mulching and watering practices, areas where well-meaning maintenance often causes unintended harm. Participants learned how excessive mulch can damage tree trunks and restrict oxygen to roots, as well as why consistent, moderate watering is more effective than infrequent heavy irrigation. Proper mulch placement and irrigation timing were emphasized as simple, low-cost practices that significantly improve tree establishment.

Another key focus was urban tree stress. Trees growing in developed environments face unique challenges, including limited rooting space, reflected heat, soil compaction, and mechanical injury. Understanding these stressors helps explain why trees in landscapes often decline prematurely and highlights the importance of proactive management rather than reactive treatments.

The workshop concluded with a discussion on long-term tree care, including structural pruning, monitoring for pests and diseases, and recognizing when professional arborist services may be needed. Participants were encouraged to view tree care as a long-term investment that benefits both individual properties and the broader community.

Educational programs like this Urban Tree Workshop support Greenville County’s commitment to healthy landscapes, resilient urban forests, and informed environmental stewardship. By improving how trees are selected, planted, and maintained, residents can help ensure Greenville County’s trees thrive for generations to come.

For information on upcoming Extension programs and educational opportunities, contact Greenville County Extension.

By: Andrew Jeffers, Greenville County Horticulture Agent

Clemson Extension recently hosted the 8th Annual Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Symposium in Greer, bringing together professionals from across the region for a full day of applied, research-based education.

The symposium attracted 93 participants, including landscapers, nursery and greenhouse professionals, pesticide applicators, Extension personnel, and industry representatives. The event focused on practical IPM strategies designed to improve pest control outcomes while reducing unnecessary pesticide use and minimizing environmental and economic risk.

Sessions emphasized the core principles of IPM, including accurate pest identification, monitoring and threshold-based decision making, resistance management, and the integration of cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control tools. Speakers highlighted how improper timing, overreliance on single modes of action, and reactive management approaches can contribute to control failures and resistance development.

Participants also received updates on current pest issues affecting ornamental landscapes and production systems, along with guidance on selecting appropriate control options based on site conditions, plant material, and pest pressure. Emphasis was placed on making informed management decisions that protect both plant health and applicator safety.

The symposium provided an opportunity for professionals to earn pesticide recertification credits while engaging directly with Extension specialists and peers. Attendees were encouraged to take information from the program back to their operations to improve long-term pest management efficiency and sustainability.

Educational events like the IPM Symposium reflect Clemson Extension’s commitment to supporting South Carolina’s green industry through science-based training and professional development. By promoting IPM principles, Extension helps ensure that pest management practices remain effective, economical, and environmentally responsible.

Information on future IPM programs and educational opportunities will be shared through Clemson Extension and Greenville County Extension communication channels.

For more information, contact Greenville County Extension.