qa trainings—online or february 9—pre registration
TRANSCRIPT
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143
Phone (606) 474-6686 Fax (606) 474-8542 extensioncaukyedu
facebookcomCCESAG
WebinarsmdashBeef Poultry Forestry Gardening amp Horticulture - Details Inside
Ag Development Board MeetingmdashFebruary 8th 600 httpsukyzoomusj82558005750
BQCA TrainingsmdashOnline or February 9mdashPre registration required
Pesticide Applicator TrainingsmdashOnline or February 16mdashPre registration required Please let me know if
you also need paraquat or dicamba training
Strawberry Raspberry amp Blackberry Orders Due February 25th
Ready Set Grow The Seed Seriesmdash Receive free seeds by watching videos on Facebook on Tuesdays at
Noon in March
Face coverings and social distancing are required when visiting the Extension Office All non-essential
group meetings must be held virtually at this time
We hate that we have not been able to have our normal Livestock Association meetings during this time As a thank you to our members who paid dues in 2020 or 2021 we have created a ldquomeeting in a bagrdquo The bag contains a 2021 Beef IRM Calendar with timely tips and calving dates numerous beef publications and items donated by Keersquos Farm Supply and UK Health Care Although we were not able to include one of Beckyrsquos tasty meals or one of our memberrsquos delicious homemade desserts we have included some beef recipes from
KCA and supplies to help ensure that your beef is cooked safely
Bags may be picked up after February 9th from the Carter County Extension Office from 800-430 Monday-Friday If you would prefer not to come inside please call us and we can bring your bag out to you or place it outside for you to pick up
Enjoy your newsletter
Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent for Agriculture
amp Natural Resources Education
2
Any of these webinars will count for the CAIP Educational Credit
If you do not have internet access but would like to have any of these webinars or previous
webinars on a DVD please let us know
Reaching Out While Locked Inmdash Beef Webinar Management Series
Registration is necessary however if you have registered for previous webinars you do not need to reregis-ter To register send an email to dbullockukyedu with Beef Webi-nar in the subject line and your name and county in the message You will receive the direct link with a pass-word the morning of each meeting This invitation will directly link you to the site and you will be asked for the password which can be found just below the link Each session will be recorded and posted for later view-ing All meeting times are 800pm ET700pm CT
February 16 Weed Management for Pastures ndash JD Green Professor
March 2 The importance of body condition scoring and the cost of milk production ndash Jeff Lehmkuhler Associate Professor and Katie Van-Valin Assistant Professor
March 16 Practical Considerations for Improving Hay Quality ndash Chris Teutsch Professor
Night 1 Social Media and More Strategies for Farm-ers amp How to Maximize Time amp Resources Spent on Marketing
Night 2 Beyond Fresh Creating Value Added Prod-ucts amp Cultivating and Retaining Customers
Night 3 Agriculture Producer Panel
For more info and to register httpskyhortcouncilorgdirect-ag-marketing-summit
mdashWednesdays 1100 AM wwwfromthewoodstodaycom
mdashFebruary 23mdashVery limited seating Call to register
3
At the beginning of each month beef equine sheep amp goat grazing and gardening tips will be posted to the Carter County Agriculture Ex-tension Service Facebook page Also new webi-nars and other infor-mation is shared through-out the month
Videos about frost seed-ing clover bluebird boxes and succulents have also been added to the Face-book page and the Carter County KY Agriculture Extension YouTube Page
4
From Kentucky Department of Agriculture Beelines Newsletter
The days are getting longer in February and so plants are responding to increased daylight by produc-ing pollen Willows and maples will begin providing pollen in the next few weeks Skunk cabbage will also pro-vide pollen and this plant is unique because due to a process called thermogenesis skunk cabbage also pro-vides heat to insects that land on this plant
In Kentucky some hives may already have small amounts of brood (some patches about the size of your hand) As more pollen becomes available in the landscape the for-ager bees will bring pollen into the hives triggering the queen bees to lay more eggs As the bee population increases inside the hives the bees will need more room wanting to expand ldquoup and out so adding another super or taking the bottom super (if it is empty) and placing it on top of the hive provides more room
If beekeepers have not provided space for this interior expansion the bees will begin swarm preparation Swarms have happened as early as March 04 in Kentucky in some years In general preparations begin at least two weeks prior to a swarm
Please note Do not ldquoreverserdquo if the bottom super has bees Every hive is different responding to environmental cues and for reasons we may never know some bees in some hives may stay put all winter
Marking Queens 2021 Color Is White Remember to use water-based non-toxic marker to paint your queenrsquos thorax
httpswwwkysheepandgoatorgsrqa
5
If you raise livestock you know it is very important to feed your animals nutritious hay to keep them healthy You can take many practical steps to improve your hay quality
You must first get and maintain a good forage stand Making sure your soil has adequate nutrients is key to getting good stands A soil test is important because it will let you know the nutrient levels in the soil so you only apply what is needed
Your extension agent can help you learn how to effectively test your soil and can submit your samples to one of UKrsquos soil testing laboratories Agents can also help you understand the results
Soil tests with adequate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen but low levels of potassium are becoming common across Kentucky hay fields Inadequate potassium can increase the amount of broomsedge a very undesirable forage There may be a couple of reasons for low potassium levels When you cut hay potash is removed at nearly three times the amount that phosphorus is and the soil is not able to replenish this nutri-ent to sufficient levels on its own Repeatedly using only lsquobalancedrsquo fertilizers like triple-19 (19-19-19) will de-plete potassium in hayfields In tight financial times producers may skip potash applications to save money
Controlling weeds at the right time and using the right herbicide will help you improve hay quality With many weeds like buttercup by the time you see the blooms they are much harder to control University of Kentucky has an extension publication AGR-207 Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky that contains common pas-ture weeds when to treat each and which herbicide you can use for effective control This publication is available online at httpwww2caukyeduagcommpubsAGRAGR207AGR207pdf You can also get a paper copy at the Carter County Extension office
The stage of maturity when you cut your hay is the most important factor affecting quality You must harvest at the right time when the plant is switching from a vegetative to a reproductive (flowering) stage Many times this means cutting the hay earlier than normal Of course the challenge of cutting hay in the spring in Kentucky is our wet weather However we often get a string of days with good sun and dry weather in late April and early May Being ready to cut early when the weather allows is extremely helpful
Using legumes especially the tall ones like red clover and alfalfa provide high yields and will add nitro-gen to the soil over time They are higher in protein and energy than grasses and continue to yield well in the summer when many of our cool-season grasses are suffering from the heat Research shows that red clover in particular is good at minimizing the adverse effects animals get from consuming too much toxic endo-phyte-infected tall fescue
Tedding and raking hay are integral parts of harvesting But if you ted or rake the hay when it is too dry it can lead to leaf shatter This hurts hay quality because the high-quality nutrients are concentrated in the leaf
Making good hay means baling at the right moisture content and protecting hay from the weather Prop-er moisture at baling will prevent heating and molding of stored hay Covered storage structures are best for hay storage If you donrsquot have covered storage space breaking the contact between the bale and the ground is important since most moisture enters the hay from soil contact You can prevent moisture absorption by using materials such as old tires andor crushed rock to elevate the hay off the ground
You can also wrap your hay in plastic which will provide some protection from the rain Hay should be as dry as possible before cov-ering in plastic and should be fed out in the year it was made
After you have done a good job harvesting hay remember to feed it efficiently to minimize losses There are many methods of feeding hay but the best ensure that there is minimal waste Live-stock tend to eat high quality hay quickly which also lowers waste
6
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
2
Any of these webinars will count for the CAIP Educational Credit
If you do not have internet access but would like to have any of these webinars or previous
webinars on a DVD please let us know
Reaching Out While Locked Inmdash Beef Webinar Management Series
Registration is necessary however if you have registered for previous webinars you do not need to reregis-ter To register send an email to dbullockukyedu with Beef Webi-nar in the subject line and your name and county in the message You will receive the direct link with a pass-word the morning of each meeting This invitation will directly link you to the site and you will be asked for the password which can be found just below the link Each session will be recorded and posted for later view-ing All meeting times are 800pm ET700pm CT
February 16 Weed Management for Pastures ndash JD Green Professor
March 2 The importance of body condition scoring and the cost of milk production ndash Jeff Lehmkuhler Associate Professor and Katie Van-Valin Assistant Professor
March 16 Practical Considerations for Improving Hay Quality ndash Chris Teutsch Professor
Night 1 Social Media and More Strategies for Farm-ers amp How to Maximize Time amp Resources Spent on Marketing
Night 2 Beyond Fresh Creating Value Added Prod-ucts amp Cultivating and Retaining Customers
Night 3 Agriculture Producer Panel
For more info and to register httpskyhortcouncilorgdirect-ag-marketing-summit
mdashWednesdays 1100 AM wwwfromthewoodstodaycom
mdashFebruary 23mdashVery limited seating Call to register
3
At the beginning of each month beef equine sheep amp goat grazing and gardening tips will be posted to the Carter County Agriculture Ex-tension Service Facebook page Also new webi-nars and other infor-mation is shared through-out the month
Videos about frost seed-ing clover bluebird boxes and succulents have also been added to the Face-book page and the Carter County KY Agriculture Extension YouTube Page
4
From Kentucky Department of Agriculture Beelines Newsletter
The days are getting longer in February and so plants are responding to increased daylight by produc-ing pollen Willows and maples will begin providing pollen in the next few weeks Skunk cabbage will also pro-vide pollen and this plant is unique because due to a process called thermogenesis skunk cabbage also pro-vides heat to insects that land on this plant
In Kentucky some hives may already have small amounts of brood (some patches about the size of your hand) As more pollen becomes available in the landscape the for-ager bees will bring pollen into the hives triggering the queen bees to lay more eggs As the bee population increases inside the hives the bees will need more room wanting to expand ldquoup and out so adding another super or taking the bottom super (if it is empty) and placing it on top of the hive provides more room
If beekeepers have not provided space for this interior expansion the bees will begin swarm preparation Swarms have happened as early as March 04 in Kentucky in some years In general preparations begin at least two weeks prior to a swarm
Please note Do not ldquoreverserdquo if the bottom super has bees Every hive is different responding to environmental cues and for reasons we may never know some bees in some hives may stay put all winter
Marking Queens 2021 Color Is White Remember to use water-based non-toxic marker to paint your queenrsquos thorax
httpswwwkysheepandgoatorgsrqa
5
If you raise livestock you know it is very important to feed your animals nutritious hay to keep them healthy You can take many practical steps to improve your hay quality
You must first get and maintain a good forage stand Making sure your soil has adequate nutrients is key to getting good stands A soil test is important because it will let you know the nutrient levels in the soil so you only apply what is needed
Your extension agent can help you learn how to effectively test your soil and can submit your samples to one of UKrsquos soil testing laboratories Agents can also help you understand the results
Soil tests with adequate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen but low levels of potassium are becoming common across Kentucky hay fields Inadequate potassium can increase the amount of broomsedge a very undesirable forage There may be a couple of reasons for low potassium levels When you cut hay potash is removed at nearly three times the amount that phosphorus is and the soil is not able to replenish this nutri-ent to sufficient levels on its own Repeatedly using only lsquobalancedrsquo fertilizers like triple-19 (19-19-19) will de-plete potassium in hayfields In tight financial times producers may skip potash applications to save money
Controlling weeds at the right time and using the right herbicide will help you improve hay quality With many weeds like buttercup by the time you see the blooms they are much harder to control University of Kentucky has an extension publication AGR-207 Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky that contains common pas-ture weeds when to treat each and which herbicide you can use for effective control This publication is available online at httpwww2caukyeduagcommpubsAGRAGR207AGR207pdf You can also get a paper copy at the Carter County Extension office
The stage of maturity when you cut your hay is the most important factor affecting quality You must harvest at the right time when the plant is switching from a vegetative to a reproductive (flowering) stage Many times this means cutting the hay earlier than normal Of course the challenge of cutting hay in the spring in Kentucky is our wet weather However we often get a string of days with good sun and dry weather in late April and early May Being ready to cut early when the weather allows is extremely helpful
Using legumes especially the tall ones like red clover and alfalfa provide high yields and will add nitro-gen to the soil over time They are higher in protein and energy than grasses and continue to yield well in the summer when many of our cool-season grasses are suffering from the heat Research shows that red clover in particular is good at minimizing the adverse effects animals get from consuming too much toxic endo-phyte-infected tall fescue
Tedding and raking hay are integral parts of harvesting But if you ted or rake the hay when it is too dry it can lead to leaf shatter This hurts hay quality because the high-quality nutrients are concentrated in the leaf
Making good hay means baling at the right moisture content and protecting hay from the weather Prop-er moisture at baling will prevent heating and molding of stored hay Covered storage structures are best for hay storage If you donrsquot have covered storage space breaking the contact between the bale and the ground is important since most moisture enters the hay from soil contact You can prevent moisture absorption by using materials such as old tires andor crushed rock to elevate the hay off the ground
You can also wrap your hay in plastic which will provide some protection from the rain Hay should be as dry as possible before cov-ering in plastic and should be fed out in the year it was made
After you have done a good job harvesting hay remember to feed it efficiently to minimize losses There are many methods of feeding hay but the best ensure that there is minimal waste Live-stock tend to eat high quality hay quickly which also lowers waste
6
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
3
At the beginning of each month beef equine sheep amp goat grazing and gardening tips will be posted to the Carter County Agriculture Ex-tension Service Facebook page Also new webi-nars and other infor-mation is shared through-out the month
Videos about frost seed-ing clover bluebird boxes and succulents have also been added to the Face-book page and the Carter County KY Agriculture Extension YouTube Page
4
From Kentucky Department of Agriculture Beelines Newsletter
The days are getting longer in February and so plants are responding to increased daylight by produc-ing pollen Willows and maples will begin providing pollen in the next few weeks Skunk cabbage will also pro-vide pollen and this plant is unique because due to a process called thermogenesis skunk cabbage also pro-vides heat to insects that land on this plant
In Kentucky some hives may already have small amounts of brood (some patches about the size of your hand) As more pollen becomes available in the landscape the for-ager bees will bring pollen into the hives triggering the queen bees to lay more eggs As the bee population increases inside the hives the bees will need more room wanting to expand ldquoup and out so adding another super or taking the bottom super (if it is empty) and placing it on top of the hive provides more room
If beekeepers have not provided space for this interior expansion the bees will begin swarm preparation Swarms have happened as early as March 04 in Kentucky in some years In general preparations begin at least two weeks prior to a swarm
Please note Do not ldquoreverserdquo if the bottom super has bees Every hive is different responding to environmental cues and for reasons we may never know some bees in some hives may stay put all winter
Marking Queens 2021 Color Is White Remember to use water-based non-toxic marker to paint your queenrsquos thorax
httpswwwkysheepandgoatorgsrqa
5
If you raise livestock you know it is very important to feed your animals nutritious hay to keep them healthy You can take many practical steps to improve your hay quality
You must first get and maintain a good forage stand Making sure your soil has adequate nutrients is key to getting good stands A soil test is important because it will let you know the nutrient levels in the soil so you only apply what is needed
Your extension agent can help you learn how to effectively test your soil and can submit your samples to one of UKrsquos soil testing laboratories Agents can also help you understand the results
Soil tests with adequate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen but low levels of potassium are becoming common across Kentucky hay fields Inadequate potassium can increase the amount of broomsedge a very undesirable forage There may be a couple of reasons for low potassium levels When you cut hay potash is removed at nearly three times the amount that phosphorus is and the soil is not able to replenish this nutri-ent to sufficient levels on its own Repeatedly using only lsquobalancedrsquo fertilizers like triple-19 (19-19-19) will de-plete potassium in hayfields In tight financial times producers may skip potash applications to save money
Controlling weeds at the right time and using the right herbicide will help you improve hay quality With many weeds like buttercup by the time you see the blooms they are much harder to control University of Kentucky has an extension publication AGR-207 Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky that contains common pas-ture weeds when to treat each and which herbicide you can use for effective control This publication is available online at httpwww2caukyeduagcommpubsAGRAGR207AGR207pdf You can also get a paper copy at the Carter County Extension office
The stage of maturity when you cut your hay is the most important factor affecting quality You must harvest at the right time when the plant is switching from a vegetative to a reproductive (flowering) stage Many times this means cutting the hay earlier than normal Of course the challenge of cutting hay in the spring in Kentucky is our wet weather However we often get a string of days with good sun and dry weather in late April and early May Being ready to cut early when the weather allows is extremely helpful
Using legumes especially the tall ones like red clover and alfalfa provide high yields and will add nitro-gen to the soil over time They are higher in protein and energy than grasses and continue to yield well in the summer when many of our cool-season grasses are suffering from the heat Research shows that red clover in particular is good at minimizing the adverse effects animals get from consuming too much toxic endo-phyte-infected tall fescue
Tedding and raking hay are integral parts of harvesting But if you ted or rake the hay when it is too dry it can lead to leaf shatter This hurts hay quality because the high-quality nutrients are concentrated in the leaf
Making good hay means baling at the right moisture content and protecting hay from the weather Prop-er moisture at baling will prevent heating and molding of stored hay Covered storage structures are best for hay storage If you donrsquot have covered storage space breaking the contact between the bale and the ground is important since most moisture enters the hay from soil contact You can prevent moisture absorption by using materials such as old tires andor crushed rock to elevate the hay off the ground
You can also wrap your hay in plastic which will provide some protection from the rain Hay should be as dry as possible before cov-ering in plastic and should be fed out in the year it was made
After you have done a good job harvesting hay remember to feed it efficiently to minimize losses There are many methods of feeding hay but the best ensure that there is minimal waste Live-stock tend to eat high quality hay quickly which also lowers waste
6
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
4
From Kentucky Department of Agriculture Beelines Newsletter
The days are getting longer in February and so plants are responding to increased daylight by produc-ing pollen Willows and maples will begin providing pollen in the next few weeks Skunk cabbage will also pro-vide pollen and this plant is unique because due to a process called thermogenesis skunk cabbage also pro-vides heat to insects that land on this plant
In Kentucky some hives may already have small amounts of brood (some patches about the size of your hand) As more pollen becomes available in the landscape the for-ager bees will bring pollen into the hives triggering the queen bees to lay more eggs As the bee population increases inside the hives the bees will need more room wanting to expand ldquoup and out so adding another super or taking the bottom super (if it is empty) and placing it on top of the hive provides more room
If beekeepers have not provided space for this interior expansion the bees will begin swarm preparation Swarms have happened as early as March 04 in Kentucky in some years In general preparations begin at least two weeks prior to a swarm
Please note Do not ldquoreverserdquo if the bottom super has bees Every hive is different responding to environmental cues and for reasons we may never know some bees in some hives may stay put all winter
Marking Queens 2021 Color Is White Remember to use water-based non-toxic marker to paint your queenrsquos thorax
httpswwwkysheepandgoatorgsrqa
5
If you raise livestock you know it is very important to feed your animals nutritious hay to keep them healthy You can take many practical steps to improve your hay quality
You must first get and maintain a good forage stand Making sure your soil has adequate nutrients is key to getting good stands A soil test is important because it will let you know the nutrient levels in the soil so you only apply what is needed
Your extension agent can help you learn how to effectively test your soil and can submit your samples to one of UKrsquos soil testing laboratories Agents can also help you understand the results
Soil tests with adequate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen but low levels of potassium are becoming common across Kentucky hay fields Inadequate potassium can increase the amount of broomsedge a very undesirable forage There may be a couple of reasons for low potassium levels When you cut hay potash is removed at nearly three times the amount that phosphorus is and the soil is not able to replenish this nutri-ent to sufficient levels on its own Repeatedly using only lsquobalancedrsquo fertilizers like triple-19 (19-19-19) will de-plete potassium in hayfields In tight financial times producers may skip potash applications to save money
Controlling weeds at the right time and using the right herbicide will help you improve hay quality With many weeds like buttercup by the time you see the blooms they are much harder to control University of Kentucky has an extension publication AGR-207 Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky that contains common pas-ture weeds when to treat each and which herbicide you can use for effective control This publication is available online at httpwww2caukyeduagcommpubsAGRAGR207AGR207pdf You can also get a paper copy at the Carter County Extension office
The stage of maturity when you cut your hay is the most important factor affecting quality You must harvest at the right time when the plant is switching from a vegetative to a reproductive (flowering) stage Many times this means cutting the hay earlier than normal Of course the challenge of cutting hay in the spring in Kentucky is our wet weather However we often get a string of days with good sun and dry weather in late April and early May Being ready to cut early when the weather allows is extremely helpful
Using legumes especially the tall ones like red clover and alfalfa provide high yields and will add nitro-gen to the soil over time They are higher in protein and energy than grasses and continue to yield well in the summer when many of our cool-season grasses are suffering from the heat Research shows that red clover in particular is good at minimizing the adverse effects animals get from consuming too much toxic endo-phyte-infected tall fescue
Tedding and raking hay are integral parts of harvesting But if you ted or rake the hay when it is too dry it can lead to leaf shatter This hurts hay quality because the high-quality nutrients are concentrated in the leaf
Making good hay means baling at the right moisture content and protecting hay from the weather Prop-er moisture at baling will prevent heating and molding of stored hay Covered storage structures are best for hay storage If you donrsquot have covered storage space breaking the contact between the bale and the ground is important since most moisture enters the hay from soil contact You can prevent moisture absorption by using materials such as old tires andor crushed rock to elevate the hay off the ground
You can also wrap your hay in plastic which will provide some protection from the rain Hay should be as dry as possible before cov-ering in plastic and should be fed out in the year it was made
After you have done a good job harvesting hay remember to feed it efficiently to minimize losses There are many methods of feeding hay but the best ensure that there is minimal waste Live-stock tend to eat high quality hay quickly which also lowers waste
6
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
5
If you raise livestock you know it is very important to feed your animals nutritious hay to keep them healthy You can take many practical steps to improve your hay quality
You must first get and maintain a good forage stand Making sure your soil has adequate nutrients is key to getting good stands A soil test is important because it will let you know the nutrient levels in the soil so you only apply what is needed
Your extension agent can help you learn how to effectively test your soil and can submit your samples to one of UKrsquos soil testing laboratories Agents can also help you understand the results
Soil tests with adequate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen but low levels of potassium are becoming common across Kentucky hay fields Inadequate potassium can increase the amount of broomsedge a very undesirable forage There may be a couple of reasons for low potassium levels When you cut hay potash is removed at nearly three times the amount that phosphorus is and the soil is not able to replenish this nutri-ent to sufficient levels on its own Repeatedly using only lsquobalancedrsquo fertilizers like triple-19 (19-19-19) will de-plete potassium in hayfields In tight financial times producers may skip potash applications to save money
Controlling weeds at the right time and using the right herbicide will help you improve hay quality With many weeds like buttercup by the time you see the blooms they are much harder to control University of Kentucky has an extension publication AGR-207 Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky that contains common pas-ture weeds when to treat each and which herbicide you can use for effective control This publication is available online at httpwww2caukyeduagcommpubsAGRAGR207AGR207pdf You can also get a paper copy at the Carter County Extension office
The stage of maturity when you cut your hay is the most important factor affecting quality You must harvest at the right time when the plant is switching from a vegetative to a reproductive (flowering) stage Many times this means cutting the hay earlier than normal Of course the challenge of cutting hay in the spring in Kentucky is our wet weather However we often get a string of days with good sun and dry weather in late April and early May Being ready to cut early when the weather allows is extremely helpful
Using legumes especially the tall ones like red clover and alfalfa provide high yields and will add nitro-gen to the soil over time They are higher in protein and energy than grasses and continue to yield well in the summer when many of our cool-season grasses are suffering from the heat Research shows that red clover in particular is good at minimizing the adverse effects animals get from consuming too much toxic endo-phyte-infected tall fescue
Tedding and raking hay are integral parts of harvesting But if you ted or rake the hay when it is too dry it can lead to leaf shatter This hurts hay quality because the high-quality nutrients are concentrated in the leaf
Making good hay means baling at the right moisture content and protecting hay from the weather Prop-er moisture at baling will prevent heating and molding of stored hay Covered storage structures are best for hay storage If you donrsquot have covered storage space breaking the contact between the bale and the ground is important since most moisture enters the hay from soil contact You can prevent moisture absorption by using materials such as old tires andor crushed rock to elevate the hay off the ground
You can also wrap your hay in plastic which will provide some protection from the rain Hay should be as dry as possible before cov-ering in plastic and should be fed out in the year it was made
After you have done a good job harvesting hay remember to feed it efficiently to minimize losses There are many methods of feeding hay but the best ensure that there is minimal waste Live-stock tend to eat high quality hay quickly which also lowers waste
6
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
6
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
7
Source John Strang
During the winter months home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles But hold off on any pruning until after the worst of the cold winter weather has passed
Rabbits and voles injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots This damage may kill or severely weaken the trees
If grass has grown up around the base of the trees it should be removed so as not to provide cover for rabbits and voles If your trees are mulched pull the mulch back for five to six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away
Pick up and discard any fruit that remains beneath the trees to avoid attracting the rodents Cleaning up fruit from the ground should be a part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup
Finally install rodent guards around the lower trunk These may be plastic wrap guards that are commer-cially available Home orchard owners can also construct their own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth
The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk During the winter months inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity Use snap traps when vole activity is noted
Prior to spring growth prune out dead and diseased wood Pruning increases air movement within the tree can-opy potentially reduces pest problems improves spray coverage and promotes high-quality fruit production Late February March or early April usually is the best time to prune
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546
Carter County 94 Fairground Drive Grayson KY 41143 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID GRAYSON KY PERMIT 94
Upcoming Events Pg 1
NEALA Meeting in a Bag Pg 1
Upcoming Webinars Pg 2-3
Gardening Series Pg 2
Beef Webinars Pg 2
Direct Marketing Summit Pg 2
Horticulture Webinars Pg 3
Poultry Webinars Pg 3
Virtual Shop Talks Pg 3
Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Pg 4
In the Apiary Pg 4
Ready Set Grow Seed Series Pg 4
Ways to Improve Hay Quality Pg 5
Soil Sampling Pastures amp Hayfields Pg 6-7
Winter Fruit Tree Care Pg 7
Procedure for Filing a Complaint
The College of Agriculture Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research education infor-mation and other services only to indi-viduals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race color ethnic origin creed religion political belief sex sex-ual orientation gender identity gender expression pregnancy marital status genetic information age veteran sta-tus or physical or mental disabil-ity Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments Section 504 of the Reha-bilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportuni-ty Office College of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Ken-tucky Room S-105 Agriculture Science Building North Lexington Kentucky 40546