Marshall County Extension e-News
October 2023
424 Blount Ave. Ste. G21
Guntersville, AL 35976
Phone: (256) 582-2009
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Okay Alabama, it is October 2nd and the heat index is 90 degrees with no measurable rainfall in over a month. What gives?! While we wait for some rain and cooler temps, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to watch the harvest of our producers through social media--you all know how much I love to learn about what you are doing. Please keep sharing and let me know when I can come visit!
September was packed full of the first 4-H club meetings of the year, United Way Day of Caring, a very successful 4-H Chick Chain show and auction, Job Success and Career Countdown programs as well as some serious planning for Farm-City events.
We are gearing up for our best Farm-City Tours yet to be held October 27th, and also planning for a wonderful Awards Ceremony to be held in November. More Career Countdown and Job Success programs along with Serv-Safe en Espanol. We also have a Farm-City Photography Contest open to anyone over the age of 5 happening now; check out information below and enter your best Ag-related photo today.
There are several educational opportunities embedded right here into this newsletter- click on anything you may be interested in for more information.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in activities from your County Extension Office!
I hope everyone has a smooth back-to-school experience and that your August is fantastic. Please let me know any way I can help you out by connecting you to needed resources.
Sincerely,
Kristen Roberson
County Extension Coordinator
Visit our Webpage at: www.aces.edu/counties/marshall
or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/marshallalextension |
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DATE: December 14-December 15
LOCATION: Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System agronomic crops team is excited to announce the 2023 Alabama Row Crops Short Course. This statewide conference is held each year. Join the team for an opportunity to hear the latest information from researchers, industry representatives, and Extension professionals about row crop management and production in Alabama. CEU's will be provided.
READ MORE HERE
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Drought conditions are a yearly occurrence and have been prolonged in several areas over the past several years. These conditions can have severe impacts on cattle, and every cattleman should have a plan in place to minimize the effects of drought on the farm’s finances. The ultimate effect of drought is decreased forage production, resulting in diminished feed available for cattle. This can lead to problems such as reduced pregnancy rates, loss of body condition of the cow, and lower milk production, which lowers weaning weights. With the decreased availability of nutrients coming from forages, producers need to either supplement to meet nutritional requirements, and/or decrease the nutritional requirements of the cattle. Supplemental feeding will add to the cost of production; therefore, supplemental feed costs need to be kept as low as possible and purchased feed should be kept to a minimum.
READ MORE HERE... |
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A feed tag is an important tool that can be used to evaluate the general nutritional value of a feed supplement. Feed supplements are used to provide additional nutrients in beef cattle diets.
Read More Here... |
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Each year, Extension and university professionals from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida partner to provide a tristate list of cool-season annual forage variety recommendations. These recommendations include annual ryegrass, cereal rye, wheat, oat, and triticale. The Alabama Variety Trial Testing Program, directed by Henry Jordan, provides Alabama producers with an objective evaluation of both commercially available and experimental varieties of these forage species. The tables below represents the recommended varieties of each forage species based on a rolling three-year average.
Not all commercially available varieties are entered into the trial, so this is not a comprehensive list. These recommendations are based on three regions of Alabama (north, central, and south). Any recommended variety has a yield performance above average during the last three years. Due to an early-season freeze event in December 2022, recommendations for north Alabama are based on data from previous years.
READ MORE HERE...
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Profit profiles is a weekly market report for common Alabama agricultural commodities. It contains futures prices for nearby and harvest months, Alabama steer and heifer prices, hay prices and selected feed and fertilizer inputs prices. Futures prices reflect commodity closing prices as of Friday afternoon. Other prices are current as they are published.
Download the current profit profiles of commodities.
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Aloha from Alabama Extension! On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Amanda Scherer and Scott Graham welcome colleagues from Auburn University and the University of Hawaii to the podcast. The two institutions are currently working on a USDA funded project that focuses on the organic production of sweet potatoes. Both Alabama and Hawaii have small-scale productions when it comes to sweet potatoes, and both face similar growing challenges. The group talks about the partnership between the two universities and some of their findings.
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2023 4-H Chick Chain Winners
Top Left-Daphne Pearce/Grand Champion Showman
Top Right-Rachel Grace Adams/Reserve Champion Showman
Bottom Left-Dominic Reed/Grand Champion Pen (pictured with Marshall County Farmers Federation President John Bevel (Platinum Sponsor)
Bottom Right-Ava Hawkins/Reserve Champion Pen (pictured with North Alabama Poultry & Egg Association President Wade Adams (Platinum Sponsor)
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Learn more about the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s popular Master Gardener Program and its more than 40 years of success. Podcast host Brian Brown welcomes three of Alabama’s master gardeners including one of its founders to speak about the program in episode 6 of the From the Ground Up! Podcast.
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Learn—month by month—the necessary gardening activities for lawns and shrubs, annuals and perennials, fruit and nut trees, and bulbs, roots, and tubers. Included is a timeline for activities such as soil testing, planting, pruning, fertilizing, pruning, mulching, indoor plantings—from cauliflower to okra, from camellias to dahlias to heirloom roses...
Click here for your September Guide |
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Alabama Cooperative Extension System Farming Basics Podcast Host Olivia Fuller welcomes Extension Economist Wendiam Sawadgo to discuss an agribusiness market study of sweet potatoes in collaboration with Sweet Grown Alabama.
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The Sweet Grown Alabama campaign is at the forefront in episode 12 of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Farming Basics Podcast. Host Olivia Fuller sits down with the Sweet Grown Alabama team to talk about how the campaign helps not only the state’s consumers, but farmers as well.
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Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources |
Norm Haley (256) 630-4248 |
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October 11th (12:00-1:00 pm): "Threatened & Endangered Species of Alabama-What You Should Know"
Register Here
October 25th (12:00-1:00 pm): "Classifying Hardwood Timber for Harvest Purposes"
Register Here
READ MORE HERE
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Deer hunters across the United States are eagerly awaiting the leaves to change, temperatures to cool and the thrill of the hunt to begin. Until then, the responsibilities of wildlife enthusiasts and land managers are seemingly never-ending. Spraying weeds, tending to food plots, burning, equipment cleaning and maintenance are just a few examples of a hunter’s seasonal checklist. However, there is one hunting item on the list that is often cast to the wayside by accident: safety.
Safety measures can be the difference between a successful hunting trip and a tragedy. These recommendations and precautions should be seriously considered and not taken lightly. By making safety a priority, hunters can set examples for others – ensuring that the next generation is ready for a proper hunting experience.
According to Alabama Cooperative Extension System wildlife management professionals, no deer in the woods is worth the risk of a hunting injury. In 2022, Alabama recorded its safest deer hunting season, with only 15 nonfatal hunting accidents reported. This is an impressive feat considering the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) reported more than 228,000 deer hunters in the state. These near a quarter of a million hunters spent a combined 4.9 million days in pursuit of white-tailed deer.
READ MORE HERE...
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Empowering Through Awareness: Navigating the Journey of Breast Cancer
Cancer is such a devastating disease that does not discriminate based on social status, race, or age. It affects people from all walks of life, Steve Jobs lost its battle against pancreatic cancer. A toddler may be losing his battle at St. Jude’s Hospital at this minute. Martina Navratilova has had two scares with breast cancer, she is now publicly sharing her journey battling this devastating disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic, after skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.
As a survivor myself, I know the importance of early detection and annual screenings, it can save your life. October is here, which means Breast Cancer Awareness month is in full swing. There is a lot to be done, starting by continuing to educate the public. Workshops and other events are happening this month, a lot of them aim both to educate and promote support for research to improve treatment and finding a cure.
However, prevention and early detection are so important. Monthly self-examination, annual mammograms and leading a healthy lifestyle that help reduce the risk of breast cancer. It has been established that alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, as well as obesity. Control what you can to reduce your risk. Talk to your health professionals to monitor your risk based family history and other factors.
Treatments that are so far advanced that survival rates are higher, deaths are increasingly declining. There is still a lot to be done in the fight against breast cancer.
Many organizations and companies go pink. Breast cancer takes center stage. Wearing pink is awesome. But take beyond that, do what you are able to, spread the word, donate, or volunteer during Breast Cancer Awareness month activities near you. Encourage others to do the same. Cancer survivors and people who are undergoing treatment will truly appreciate it.
Remember that awareness and support are ongoing efforts, stay informed not just during October but all year long.
Juani Macias-Christian
Regional Extension Agent
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SNAP-Ed |
Della Bramley (256) 737-9386 |
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Live Well Alabama is a SNAP-Ed initiative developed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University. The Live Well Alabama initiative includes nutrition education for youth and adults, social marketing campaigns, and policy, system, and environmental change strategies. The ultimate goal is to educate and equip Alabamians to make healthy and economical food and physical activity choices.
Eat Better. Move More. Make A Change.
Alabama is consistently among the highest in the United States for adult and child obesity and related health issues. Many individual, environmental, and societal factors also contribute to the difficulties Alabamians face in achieving a healthy lifestyle. Sustainable change requires a comprehensive approach with many sectors of society working together.
There is great potential for positive change and many local successes happen every day. With strong partnerships at the local, state, and national level, widespread and lasting change is right around the corner. Helping individuals and families develop healthy eating patterns and physically active lifestyles and building partnerships to improve the health of communities are among key Live Well Alabama efforts.
Find SNAP-Ed Services in Alabama
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) uses evidence-based strategies to support the health of Alabamians. SNAP-Ed’s statewide network of nutrition educators provides nutrition education for youth and adults and engages community partners to improve the environment around health and wellbeing for Alabamians. SNAP-Ed serves food assistance participants and others with limited resources in all Alabama counties. All services are provided by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University and Alabama A&M University) and the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Read More Here...
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