The Sand Mountain Elite Heifer Development Program is a forage-based development program for yearling heifers consigned by cattle producers in Alabama. The heifers are nominated in November and arrive at the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center in January. There, the heifers are:

• placed on cool-season annuals
• weighed every 28 days
• given a pre-breeding exam, including reproductive tract scoring and pelvis measurements
• artificially inseminated in April
• scanned for carcass merit using ultrasound
• picked up at the end of June

Selecting and developing beef heifers to replace underperforming cows or increase herd numbers impacts the economics of a cow-calf operation through genetics and longevity.

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Season 2, Episode 13: Mental Health in Agriculture

There is often a stigma surrounding mental health, especially in the agriculture industry. On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Adam Rabinowitz and Katelyn Kesheimer talk with Elizabeth Mooneyham about the A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm program through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. This program works with people that work in and around the agriculture industry to provide suicide prevention trainings as well as access to existing mental health resources in Alabama.

LISTEN HERE

Freezing foods is one of the best and safest ways to preserve foods throughout the year. This technique is especially true when considering the scale of the holiday season’s bounties. An Alabama Cooperative Extension System expert has the answers about how to properly freeze foods.

Why freeze food?

Janice Hall, Macon County Extension coordinator, said freezing is one of the safest and easiest preservation practices in long term storage.

“When foods are frozen, it stops any bacteria from growing and possibly spoiling foods,” Hall said. “For example, ground beef stored in the refrigerator can last for about two to three days before it begins to show signs of spoilage. If you freeze the same ground beef, it will last in the freezer for up to three months.”

The Danger Zone

Improperly refrigerating or freezing foods allows harmful bacteria to grow. When any food’s temperature measures between 41 and 135 F, it is in the ‘danger zone’ for food.

Like the classic rock anthem of the ’80s says, there is a highway to the danger zone–especially when it comes to food safety. To help guide consumers, the temperature danger zone should always be referenced when serving or storing foods.

This danger occurs most during holidays and tailgating season when foods are in non-refrigerated environments for longer periods of time.

“Do not put hot food in the refrigerator to cool,” Hall said. “Bacteria can grow on warm foods kept in the danger zone for more than two hours. Also, putting hot foods in the refrigerator can warm the inside temperatures, exposing other food to dangerous danger zone temperature levels.”

Garden-U is a horticulture course offered online only and taught by Alabama Extension agents and specialists. Classes include research-based gardening information on topics such as home lawns, trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers, and vegetable gardening. 

Who can participate?

Not interested in volunteering? Unable to travel? Interested in research-based gardening? Then you are eligible to register for the Extension horticulture training course as a Garden-U participant and receive a certificate upon completion of the training! Note that because there is no volunteer commitment, Garden-U participants do not become Alabama Master Gardeners.

How to Register

Register online before the January 23, 2023 deadline.

The Garden-U course is self-paced and participants will have access to online materials for one year. Course materials will be sent to your mailing address. The course fee is $250.

Gardeners are always planning for the next growing season. With the arrival of colder temperatures and shorter days, it can be hard to think about the warmer months of spring. But take heart fellow gardeners—a crisp fall day in November is the perfect time to get out in the garden. Between November and early December is an excellent time to plant and prepare your garden for spring bulbs.

What are bulbs?

Bulbs are a rounded underground storage organ present in some plants, notably those of the lily family. Bulbs consist of a short stem surrounded by fleshy scale leaves or leaf bases, lying dormant over winter. The term bulb can refer to true bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, corms, or rhizomes. When planting take care to distinguish between the three because planting depth, positioning, and growth habit vary.

How should you plant bulbs?

Bulbs prefer growing in acidic, nutrient-rich and well-draining soils with full to partial sun. Wet, soggy soils can cause bulbs to rot. Therefore, it is recommended to till in organic matter such as compost, blood/bone meal, or worm castings to heavy clay soils. Even if your garden has a well-draining sandy soil, adding additional organic material will increase the soil’s ability to hold water and nutrients.

When planting bulbs, a good rule of thumb is to plant in a hole three times as deep as the size of the bulb. Plant the bulb with the narrow end, or nose, pointing up. If you are unsure of which is the top or bottom, plant the bulb on its side and it will move itself in the right direction once the bulb starts to grow in the spring. Cover planted bulbs with 2 to 3 inches of backfill soil. Then, add a mulch. Adding a pine bark mulch will help reduce soil compaction, regulate soil temperature, limit moisture loss, and prevent weeds. A good watering at planting will help settle the soil. It will also be conducive for improved root development.

Why aren’t my pecan trees bearing anymore? This is a common question many people ask during the fall, especially if they have older trees in their yard or landscape. The following information outlines some common factors that can affect a pecan tree’s production.

Bearing in Alternate Years

Pecan trees–like most other nut or fruit producing trees–have a natural tendency to bear in alternate years. In nature this is called masting, which is a way for trees to overwhelm the birds and animals that eat their fruit or nuts. This is needed so that some of the seeds will be left to produce seedlings so the species can survive. Scientists have wrestled with this problem for years, and while some remedies have been developed, it is still a problem for commercial pecan farmers. This is one reason that most orchards contain more than one variety.

Diseases and Insects

Pecans are susceptible to a range of diseases. The biggest limiting factor for pecan producers in the Southeast is a disease called pecan scab. This disease attacks the foliage, nut shucks, and even young stem tissue. Most older varieties are susceptible to scab including popular varieties such as Stuart and Mahan.

Over time, a resistant variety may become susceptible to pecan scab because the fungus changes over time. Stuart was once resistant to pecan scab but began to show symptoms in the 1960s. A lot of people may remember picking up bucket after bucket of these pecans and now don’t understand why they can’t still do that. Pecan scab is the one most likely reason.

Habitat loss and fragmentation is a serious threat to wildlife not only in Alabama but around the world. Alabama is blessed with an abundance of biodiversity. However, sustaining the wildlife populations who call Alabama home is still important.

According to Alabama Cooperative Extension System Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Specialist Wesley Anderson, there is a road map for conserving and protecting Alabama’s wildlife. Through research and science, everyone has the ability to manage wildlife habitat.

Ranking Alabama

Alabama ranks first in biodiversity in states east of the Mississippi River and fourth among the rest of the country. When considering freshwater biodiversity in species including turtles, mussels, snails and crayfish, Alabama is number one in the United States.

“Thanks to a diverse geologic history and a vast system of aquatic resources in Alabama, there is no question that Alabama is one of the best states for biodiversity,” Anderson said. “Some people even refer to Alabama as ‘America’s Amazon.’”

Unfortunately, because so many animals call Alabama home, the state also leads in endangered and extinct species. This distinction provides further evidence of the need for conservation and protection of wildlife habitat in Alabama.

“Everybody in Alabama is a steward of the environment and its creatures­–whether they want to be or not,” Anderson said.

This is the time when Americans spend a staggering amount of money on holiday shopping. Inflation, supply chain issues, and higher consumer demands will impact prices and the availability of items this holiday season. The National Retail Federation, however, still estimates that holiday sales will increase by six to eight percent over last year and reach between $942.6 billion and $960.4 billion. Likewise, Alabama is projected to have one of its highest holiday retail sales on record this year with spending projections of around $18 billion.

Since some individuals and families have not fully recovered financially from the pandemic, holiday shopping may cause financial stress. Many people will feel pressured to spend money they do not have during the holiday season. This involves acquiring a large amount of debt because they feel obligated to buy gifts. While the holiday season should be the most wonderful time of the year—due to financial burdens, it has become one of the most stressful times of the year for many individuals and families.

This recipe is perfect for the fall season. Live Well Alabama’s Baked Apples and Squash is a sweet side dish to add to any meal without skipping vegetables. An added bonus: one serving of this recipe provides nearly 40% of the daily vitamin A recommendations.

“Adding apples to a meal is a great way to sweeten a dish and boost fiber without going overboard on added sugar.”

—Sofia Sanchez, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Specialist and Registered Dietitian

Ingredients

• 2 cups yellow squash, diced
• 2 cups apple, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt

Pro Tips

Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds before dicing. After 15 minutes of baking, sprinkle a tiny amount of orange juice and brown sugar and toss. Then resume baking.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix evenly.
3. Spread mixture onto metal baking pan.
4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until squash is soft.

Want to learn more? Step-by-step instructions for the Baked Apples and Squash recipe and an instructional video are available at LiveWellAlabama.com.