[{"id":2410,"date":"2026-11-12T15:43:31","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2410"},"modified":"2026-11-12T15:43:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:43:31","slug":"growing-a-more-beautiful-cherokee-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/growing-a-more-beautiful-cherokee-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing a More Beautiful Cherokee County"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Haven Blackwell
4-H Youth & Development Agent
<\/em><\/strong>Cherokee County<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sidewall<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cherokee County 4-H\u2019s brand-new Grow Through Gardening Club<\/strong> is putting down roots and making a difference in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The club met for the first time in October, when members helped spruce up the flower beds surrounding the local Farm Bureau office. As they planted mums, cabbage, and other beautiful plants, members learned about fall planting and saw how their work could brighten a shared community space.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Plants<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Throughout the year, club members will continue to explore planting techniques and develop their gardening skills. Their goal is to make Cherokee County a more beautiful place, one plant at a time, while learning how gardens can also help provide food for neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, the club\u2019s next project will take members to Cherokee County Meals on Wheels. There, they plan to plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, basil, collards, spinach, and strawberries in the organization\u2019s raised beds. Most of the plants and seeds for the project were generously donated by Cherokee Feed and Seed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meals on Wheels will be able to tend the garden and use its fruits, vegetables, and herbs in meals prepared for homebound members of the community. The project gives young gardeners an opportunity to see how the skills they are developing can support others close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From welcoming flower beds to productive vegetable gardens, the Grow Through Gardening Club is just getting started. Cherokee County 4-H looks forward to continuing its work in beautification and food production while helping young people grow as gardeners and community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kids<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Haven Blackwell4-H Youth & Development AgentCherokee County Cherokee County 4-H\u2019s brand-new Grow Through Gardening Club is putting down roots and making a difference in the community. The club met for the first time in October, when members helped spruce up the flower beds surrounding the local Farm Bureau office. As they planted mums, cabbage, and other beautiful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2421,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410\/revisions\/2421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2410"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2398,"date":"2026-10-30T20:34:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T20:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2398"},"modified":"2026-10-30T20:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T20:34:20","slug":"johnsongrass-in-the-fall-is-it-safe-to-bale-or-graze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/johnsongrass-in-the-fall-is-it-safe-to-bale-or-graze\/","title":{"rendered":"Johnsongrass in the Fall: Is It Safe to Bale or Graze?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHRISTOPHER LeMASTER
Livestock & Forage Agent
<\/em><\/strong>Cherokee, Spartanburg, & Union Counties<\/em>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we move further into fall, I’ve received several questions from producers about Johnsongrass in their hayfields, particularly whether hay containing Johnsongrass can be safely baled and fed to livestock. With much of our region continuing to experience drought conditions and the possibility of frost approaching, it’s a good time to revisit a couple of potential toxicity concerns associated with this grass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnsongrass is a warm-season perennial grass commonly found in pastures, hayfields, and along field borders throughout the Southeast. While it can provide useful forage, it also has the potential to cause prussic acid and nitrate poisoning<\/strong>, particularly when plants experience environmental stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Prussic Acid<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prussic acid, also known as hydrogen cyanide, is a naturally occurring toxin that can be released from certain plants, including Johnsongrass, sorghum, and wild cherry. These plants contain compounds that can release cyanide when plant tissues are damaged, such as during wilting, frost injury, or other stressful conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once consumed, prussic acid interferes with the animal’s ability to utilize oxygen at the cellular level. In severe cases, poisoning can occur rapidly and may result in death. Symptoms can include rapid breathing, muscle tremors, staggering, and collapse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young, rapidly growing Johnsongrass and new growth following drought or frost are generally of greater concern than mature plants. However, drought stress and frost injury can increase the potential for toxicity, making plant condition an important consideration when deciding whether to graze or harvest a field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I Bale Hay Containing Johnsongrass?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that properly cured Johnsongrass hay generally presents a low risk of prussic acid poisoning.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike nitrates, prussic acid dissipates as forage dries and cures during the haymaking process. For producers harvesting hay containing Johnsongrass before frost, particularly when the plants are mature, prussic acid is generally not a major concern once the hay has been thoroughly dried and properly baled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an added precaution, allowing hay to remain in storage for approximately three to four weeks before feeding can provide additional time for prussic acid to dissipate. However, storage time is not a substitute for proper curing, and questionable forage should be evaluated before feeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also worth considering the maturity of the Johnsongrass being harvested. Much of the Johnsongrass still standing this time of year has already headed out and become fairly mature. While it may still provide usable forage, its nutritional quality is likely considerably lower than that of younger, vegetative growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About Grazing?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While mature Johnsongrass can be grazed under favorable conditions, I would be cautious about intentionally grazing it this late in the season, particularly with the drought conditions affecting much of our region. Much of the Johnsongrass still standing has already headed out and become fairly mature, meaning its nutritional value is likely limited. When you combine that with the potential for drought stress and the approaching risk of frost, there may be little benefit in asking livestock to utilize this forage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where available, I would prefer to see producers utilize stockpiled tall fescue or take advantage of remaining crabgrass and bermudagrass before these warm-season forages lose additional quality. Producers may also choose to simply mow mature Johnsongrass rather than graze it. However, avoid allowing livestock to consume freshly cut, wilted Johnsongrass, particularly when plants have been stressed. Any tender regrowth following mowing should also be treated cautiously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As temperatures begin to fall, frost becomes another concern. Frost-damaged Johnsongrass can release prussic acid, and young regrowth following a light frost can be particularly hazardous. A conservative recommendation is to keep livestock off frost-damaged Johnsongrass for at least 14 days following a killing frost and until the affected vegetation has completely dried. Following a light frost, continue to monitor for regrowth and avoid grazing potentially toxic young shoots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t Forget About Nitrates<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While prussic acid receives considerable attention during the fall, nitrate accumulation is another concern, particularly given our recent drought conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnsongrass can accumulate elevated nitrate concentrations when plant growth is restricted by drought, cloudy weather, or other environmental conditions, especially where nitrogen availability is high. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike prussic acid, nitrates do not dissipate during the normal hay-curing process or subsequent storage.<\/strong> Hay containing elevated nitrate concentrations can remain hazardous even after it has been properly dried and stored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitrate poisoning interferes with the blood’s ability to transport oxygen throughout the body. Producers harvesting drought-stressed forage, particularly from heavily fertilized fields, should consider nitrate testing before feeding the hay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bottom Line<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Johnsongrass doesn’t automatically make hay unsafe. For producers baling hay containing mature Johnsongrass before frost, proper curing generally reduces prussic acid to levels that are unlikely to cause problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, drought stress, frost injury, and young regrowth deserve additional caution when grazing. Given the maturity of much of the Johnsongrass still standing, producers may be better served by utilizing other available forages rather than intentionally grazing it this late in the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitrate accumulation remains a separate concern that cannot be resolved simply by allowing hay to dry or remain in storage. As with any late-season hay harvest, a forage analysis can help producers better understand both the nutritional value and potential nitrate concerns before feeding livestock this winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CHRISTOPHER LeMASTERLivestock & Forage AgentCherokee, Spartanburg, & Union Counties As we move further into fall, I’ve received several questions from producers about Johnsongrass in their hayfields, particularly whether hay containing Johnsongrass can be safely baled and fed to livestock. With much of our region continuing to experience drought conditions and the possibility of frost approaching, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92296,52346,92114,92459],"tags":[],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cherokee","category-livestock-forages","category-spartanburg","category-union"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2398"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2400,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398\/revisions\/2400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2398"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2380,"date":"2026-10-22T15:19:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2380"},"modified":"2026-10-22T15:19:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:19:33","slug":"the-laurens-county-dog-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/the-laurens-county-dog-project\/","title":{"rendered":"The Laurens County Dog Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lauren Smith
4-H Youth Development Agent<\/em>
<\/strong>Laurens<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hannah
Hannah and Gracie Lou<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hope, Ty, and Gracie Lou are just a few of the dogs from the Laurens County Dog Project helping their young humans learn responsibility, gain confidence, and develop new skills. Youth in the project explore topics such as dog care, grooming, nutrition, health, safety, behavior, and responsible pet ownership. As they work with their dogs, members learn how to set goals, practice new skills, solve problems, and celebrate progress along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three 4-H members were excited to share their story about their work with the Dog Project.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Ruthie<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hannah, from Saluda, wrote about her dedication to doing her best at her first show. She prepared for the Laurens County Youth DogShow by watching reference showmanship videos and practicing daily with her Pomapoo, Gracie Lou. Hannah’s learning didn’t stop at the show ring. Through the 4-H Dog Project Activity Book, the youth also spent time learning about different dog breeds and expanding her knowledge of dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"John\"
John<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

One Laurens County 4-H member, Ruthie, had the opportunity to take her dog to a local school event and share what she has learned through the 4-H Dog Project. The youth talked with students about responsible dog ownership and the importance of properly caring for their pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then finally Abbeville 4-H member, John, taught his dog to sit, stay, and lie down. John later competed at a local dog show and, although he was nervous, he had a great time. He gave back to this community by spending time at the dogshelter reading to dogs needing some love and attention. He now aspires to learn about hunting dogs and teach his dog to track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through experiences like this, the 4-H Dog Project gives youth opportunities to learn by doing, share their knowledge, and make a difference in their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Laurens County 4-H Dog Project runs from March through August, making it a great summer project for young people. The project gives members a fun and meaningful way to spend their out-of-school time learning about dogs, practicing new skills, and building a stronger bond with their pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lauren Smith4-H Youth Development AgentLaurens Hope, Ty, and Gracie Lou are just a few of the dogs from the Laurens County Dog Project helping their young humans learn responsibility, gain confidence, and develop new skills. Youth in the project explore topics such as dog care, grooming, nutrition, health, safety, behavior, and responsible pet ownership. As […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91743],"tags":[13303],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-laurens","tag-4-h"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2380"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2396,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380\/revisions\/2396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2380"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2375,"date":"2026-10-21T20:44:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2375"},"modified":"2026-10-21T20:44:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:44:50","slug":"laurens-county-hosts-a-hybrid-master-gardener-course-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/laurens-county-hosts-a-hybrid-master-gardener-course-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Laurens County Hosts a Hybrid Master Gardener Course"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bryan Smith<\/strong>
Area Extension Agent \u2013 Agricultural Engineer<\/strong>
Laurens<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Laurens County Extension Office is currently hosting a hybrid Master Gardener course.  The Master Gardener course began on August 11, 2026 and will meet each Tuesday through December 1.  This year\u2019s course has 21 students.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Master<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Students in the course will complete 16 three-hour classes on subjects including lawn care, vegetable gardening, urban tree care, soils and plant nutrition, tree fruits and small fruits, and many more.  Each class is presented by an Extension Agent or a Master Gardener graduate that has experience in the subject matter, which allows them to provide practical experience along with research-based information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s course is once again a hybrid model, which includes 12 in-person presentations and 9 presentations by video (21 presentations in total will be presented over the 16 week course).  The hybrid model is an attempt to provide the same training to Master Gardener students across the State so they will all have the same base knowledge in the \u201cCore\u201d subjects.  The in-person classes allow coordinators to tailor the course for each county\u2019s needs by offering local topics most useful to their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing the course the students will provide 40 hours of community service over the next 12 months to become Certified Master Gardeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information about the program visit https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/extension\/mg\/<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bryan SmithArea Extension Agent \u2013 Agricultural EngineerLaurens The Laurens County Extension Office is currently hosting a hybrid Master Gardener course.  The Master Gardener course began on August 11, 2026 and will meet each Tuesday through December 1.  This year\u2019s course has 21 students. Students in the course will complete 16 three-hour classes on subjects including […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91743],"tags":[905],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-laurens","tag-horticulture"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2375"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2379,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375\/revisions\/2379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2375"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2363,"date":"2026-10-21T20:38:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2363"},"modified":"2026-10-21T21:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T21:01:16","slug":"new-laurens-agricultural-center-and-laurens-county-extension-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/new-laurens-agricultural-center-and-laurens-county-extension-office\/","title":{"rendered":"New Laurens Agricultural Center and Laurens County Extension Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bryan Smith<\/strong>
Area Extension Agent \u2013 Agricultural Engineer<\/strong>
Laurens<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The
The Laurens Spotlight on Agriculture Awards banquet held in the new Laurens Ag Center in March 2026.  Over 400 attended the banquet.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Laurens County residents voted to approve a 1 cent sales tax increase for a number or projects in Laurens County.  One of those projects included an Agricultural Center and a new Extension Office.  Both of these facilities were built on the old Laurens Fairgrounds property (behind Aldi\u2019s and Ingles in Laurens).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new Laurens Ag Center has been open since the fall of 2025 and has been busy hosting youth livestock shows and other Ag events.  The Laurens County Youth Livestock Show utilized the facility in both 2025 and again in 2026.  The Laurens County Spotlight on Agriculture awards banquet was held there in March of 2026 and had over 400 in attendance.  It is an excellent facility that includes a climate-controlled main area, an attached pole barn for livestock staging, livestock wash racks, and more.  A separate horse arena is under construction and nearing completion.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Laurens
The new Laurens County Ag Center<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The
The new Laurens Extension Office building, 61 Ag Center Drive, Laurens.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The new Laurens Extension office is located right beside the Laurens Ag Center at 61 Ag Center Drive, Laurens.  The Laurens Extension staff began moving into the new building on June 15, 2026.  The move took quite a bit of time and effort, moving accumulated knowledge resources and materials collected over decades of service to the county.  The Extension Office was open for business in the new location on June 16 and the move was completed over the next two months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new office is a beautiful facility including a large meeting room, offices, a break room, and a storage area.  The Laurens Extension staff will host an Open House for the building on Thursday, October 1 form 10:00 am \u2013 4:00 pm.  Stop in and see the new office!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bryan SmithArea Extension Agent \u2013 Agricultural EngineerLaurens Laurens County residents voted to approve a 1 cent sales tax increase for a number or projects in Laurens County.  One of those projects included an Agricultural Center and a new Extension Office.  Both of these facilities were built on the old Laurens Fairgrounds property (behind Aldi\u2019s and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91743,52346],"tags":[],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-laurens","category-livestock-forages"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2363"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2387,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363\/revisions\/2387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2363"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2224,"date":"2026-10-21T20:10:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2224"},"modified":"2026-10-21T20:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:10:10","slug":"adventures-from-the-area-forestry-and-natural-resource-agent-jeff-fellers-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/adventures-from-the-area-forestry-and-natural-resource-agent-jeff-fellers-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Adventures From the Area Forestry and Natural Resource Agent, Jeff Fellers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Portable Sawmill<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The past year I have been helping Dr. Patrick Hiesl with Chainsaw Safety Workshops, Tree Felling Workshops, and Portable Sawmill Workshops.  This summer we started building a sawmill shed that will house our portable sawmill.  This project takes the tree, from standing, all the way to a finished product of the shed. We felled white pines in the spring of 2026 and have been milling the trees into dimensional lumber\/timbers during the summer.  In August, we had enough lumber\/timbers to begin the frame.  We will be cutting some more trees in the fall to mill so that we can finish the sawmill shed this winter\/spring.  The sawmill shed will provide an example of what landowners can do with portable sawmills.  We have also made picnic tables and storage boxes with the wood we have milled off the Clemson Forest.  Our plan is to expand the program and offer more courses to landowners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Frame
Frame of the Sawmill Shed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Treated
Treated Timbers before being put into the ground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Milling
Milling a white pine log.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"August
August meeting of the Newberry Forestry Association.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Newberry Forestry Association<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n