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Agricultural
Covered lagoon systems saving energ, farms
Research is being done all around the world to find a renewable source of energy that can sustain us as a people. Earth has just about seven billion people on it consuming energy. In the not so distant future, non-renewable energy such as fossil fuels will not be available. Renewable energy that is sustainable is the only answer. Energy needs are going up while the supply is going down. I was intrigued the other day when I saw an advertisem...
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Control options for large patch
Question: What could be causing brown patches in my lawn? Answer: It’s Back! Large Patch that is … You know it’s officially spring in North Carolina when there are giant patches of brown grass in bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass. These giant patches of brown grass are better known as large patch, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, and if you’ve ever had an outbreak of this disease, you now know why t...
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Six of the seven Built Ford Tough – FFA Scholarship winners met with Ford of Clinton owner Larry McPhail this week. From left to right are: Sarah Brewer, Hunter Johnson, Britnie Adams, Ford of Clinton owner Larry McPhail, John Jackson, Adam Bryant and Madison Pope.
Ford of Clinton awards FFA scholarships
Seven Sampson County high school seniors have each earned $1,000 FFA scholarships thanks to Ford of Clinton and the Ford Motor Company. The scholarships are the result of a Ford Motor Company initiative called the Built Ford Tough- FFA Scholarship Program and it’s designed to recognize FFA members’ talents and accomplishments while encouraging future academic achievement. The students who earned the award are: • Joanna Rackley, Hobbton HS...
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Weed control in pasture, hay fields
Now that summer is upon us and some dry days have arrived, producers have started making hay. With this increase in activity, I have received quite a few calls regarding weed control in hay fields. First of all, a weed is defined as any plant growing where you don’t want it. So we aren’t just talking about what we commonly think of as weeds. We are also including grass species other than the one we are cultivating, i.e. Bahiagrass in a bermud...
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Helping reduce mosquito populations starts with correcting problems
Question: How can I manage Mosquitoes around my landscape? Answer: As temperatures increase along with outdoor activities, so does the annoyance of mosquitoes. They have the potential to transmit disease organisms to humans and animals. Typically mosquitoes are active at night. Mosquitoes breed in open water sources because they require water to complete their life cycle. They lay eggs in areas where water will collect. People often creat...
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Managing financial risks
Financial risk has three basic components: 1) the cost and availability of debt capital, 2) the ability to meet cash flow need in a timely manner, and 3) the ability to maintain and grow equity. Cash flows are especially important because repayment and family living expenses. Your objective should be to manage this risk through sound planning and financial control. To do that, you should continually monitor your ability to bear financial risk...
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‘Deadheading’ extends blooming period of plants
Question: How can I make colorful flowers throughout my landscape last longer? Answer: When reading descriptions for flowering plants, you often see deadheading listed as one of the chores. Deadheading is removal of dead flowers from plants. A flowering plant’s main purpose in producing a flower is so it will be pollinated and produce seeds. A plant produces seeds as a survival mechanism. Deadheading a plant, by removing spent flowers, “tri...
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An update on Avian influenza (H7N9)
I am sure most of you have heard about the H7N9 strain of avian influenza outbreak in China. As of April 16, 2013, there were 63 cases of humans contracting the disease resulting in 14 deaths. I hope the following information will calm your concerns. Avian influenza is a disease of wild birds and domestic poultry caused by many different subtypes of Type A influenza virus. The natural reservoir for Type A influenza viruses is wild water bir...
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Pesticides will help control lawn, pest problems
Question: What chemical should I use to control my lawn and garden pest problems? Answer: Many types of pesticides are available for use including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, miticides, and nematicides. Using pesticides in a safe manner involves a combination of knowledge, common sense, and following label directions. When pesticides are used incorrectly there is the potential of poisoning occurring to the gardener, family members...
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Sooty mold can be spotted on plants
Question: What is the black mold growth on my plants? Answer: During these early spring months, many people are concerned about a black film coating the leaves of their trees and shrubs. This black film is referred to as sooty mold. Sooty mold is a fungus that can cause plants to appear dark and sooty or almost uniformly charcoal gray. It may form a continuous thin sheet on the leaf surface that eventually peels away. Sooty mold is intere...
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Deadheading can keep landscape colorful longer
Question: How can I make colorful flowers throughout my landscape last longer? Answer: When reading descriptions for flowering plants, you often see deadheading listed as one of the chores. Deadheading is removal of dead flowers from plants. A flowering plant’s main purpose in producing a flower is so it will be pollinated and produce seeds. A plant produces seeds as a survival mechanism. Deadheading a plant, by removing spent flowers, “tri...
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Identifying fire ants, then managing them
Question: How can I identify and manage fire ants? Answer: As warm weather approaches, those pesky fire ants become more active. Red Imported Fire Ants can be identified several ways. One way to identify this species of fire ants is by knowing their biological traits. The adult fire ants are reddish to dark brown color. There are several different adult fire ants you should know about. The first one is known as the minor worker fire ant. Th...
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To test or not to test?
If your car or boat has set around without being operated since last fall, would you get into either one and set out on a 90-day trip? I don’t think you would. Are you planting crops, gardens or other plants in the coming days? Have you tested your soil? If not, there is not much difference in planting your crops without a soil test and beginning that 90-day trip without checking your equipment. I know by now you may be saying, “You Extensi...
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Factors to consider before starting a garden
Question: What does starting a new vegetable garden involve? Answer: Many people choose to garden because homegrown fresh vegetables exceed supermarket quality in taste, quality of produce, and freshness. Many gardeners grow vegetables they enjoy, but are hard to find in the supermarket industry. There are several key factors to consider before starting a garden. The first consideration is site selection. For beginners, you should start s...
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Pictured are the eight Mount Olive College agriculture students that attended the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Green & Growin’ Conference in Greensboro, from left: Brian Carter from Clinton; Hannah Singleton from Goldsboro; David Thomas from Timberlake; Jessica Gordon from Staley; Cole Watkins from Hillsborough; Jessica Hogan from Goldsboro; Ryan Kovacs from New Bern; and d Reva Orr from Fayetteville. (Courtesy photo)
Ten MOC students attend nursery, landscape tradeshow
MOUNT OLIVE – Ten Mount Olive College agriculture students attended the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association’s (NCNLA) annual Green and Growin’ Tradeshow. This show provides a marketplace for plant material, equipment, supplies and services used in the production and sale of plants and installation of landscapes. Educational workshops were also available for those in attendance to gain further information about landscape and nurse...
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Waste odor and the effects on health
I have spent my entire life around the smell of hogs. My family has topping floors and each year we pump the waste on surrounding spray fields. We are fortunate in the fact that we never get complaints concerning smell as a nuisance or health hazard. This is in part because our surrounding neighbors are farmers as well and the people who are not — either don’t say anything — or they don’t smell it. Now, irrigators that are pumping on new spra...
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Be on the lookout for carpenter bees
Question: What type of insect makes holes in the wood of my porch? Answer: ALERT!!!! Be on the lookout for carpenter bees hovering around eaves of structures and other exposed wood areas such as porches, barns, and stacks of lumber. These bees become active during the spring and are black and yellow in color. People often mistake the carpenter bee for the bumblebee. One positive factor for determining which bee species you have is the small...
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In the picture, from left, are: Austin Wright, Ashley Sinclair, Sydney Simmons, and Landon Pope. (Courtesy photo)
FFA chapter participates in state poultry event
Raleigh, NC – The Clinton High School FFA Chapter participated in the North Carolina FFA Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event on March 15th 2013, at NC State University. Clinton FFA placed second in their FFA federation. Team members included Landon Pope, Ashley Sinclair, Sydney Simmons, and Austin Wright. Their FFA advisors are Mr. Chris Stroud and Mr. Ronnie Warren. During this event students evaluated production, processing, and m...
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Among the Sampson County participants in the NC State Tobacco Short Force were (seated): Kristal Jones and Brittany Tew Fann, who’s husband is Robert Fann (back row right). Others in the back row included Curtis Godwin (left) and Phillip Strickland (center). Will Strickland and Joe West were not available at the time the photograph was taken. (Courtesy photo)
Sampson County farmers, agribusiness men Attend NC State tobacco short course
Seven Sampson County farmers and agribusiness representatives were recently among 34 participants who took part in an NC State Tobacco Short Course held recently in Raleigh, NC. The Sampson County participants included: Robert and Brittany Fann of Salemburg; Kristal Jones and Will Strickland of Mount Olive; Curtis Godwin and Philip Strickland of Dunn; and Joe West of Clinton. Robert and Brittany Fann, a married couple, is part of the Fann F...
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Clinton pork producer provides input on Checkoff Programs
Mark Daughtry and James Lamb, farmers from Clinton served as delegates at the Pork Act Delegate assembly March 8-9 in Orlando, Fla. Daughtry and Lamb were named as delegates by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. They were two of 160 delegates who represented pork producers from across the country and importers who sell pork products in the United States. The delegates nominate members of the National Pork Board; establish how much of the...
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The lichen factor on trees, shrubs
Question: What is the gray mold like substance growing on the side of my tree? Answer: Lichens are a common site on branches of trees and shrubs. Seeing lichens can be an unusual site because it looks like a strange organism is taking over the plant. It is often thought that lichens are a fungus or disease that is damaging the plant but in reality that is not the case. Lichens are unique organisms. It is a fungus and algae combined to liv...
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Price remains important in meat purchasing decisions
The following article appeared in the February 28, 201, issue of “World Poultry Magazine”. I think you will find in interesting. Price and value continue to lead meat purchasing decisions however, the focus on price is no longer as strong as it has been in the past two years, as high income shoppers ease up on money-saving measures, according to the annual Power of Meat survey published by American Meat Institute (AMI) and Food Marketing In...
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