Filtering by tag: Agriculture & Food ✕

Winter Grazing Options for Horse Pastures

Fall is the perfect time for planting winter annuals such as annual ryegrass, oats, wheat or cereal rye in your pastures for grazing; however, the term “winter” can be misleading. Although these…

Video: Tomato Tests in the Research Garden

The Polk County Research Garden is beginning to get an abundance of produce. As we start to harvest, we'll focus this week on the three different varieties of tomatoes that we trialed in the garden…

Tips for Helping Fescue Pastures Survive the Summer Heat

Keep forage stubble height high- A higher forage stubble height increases your cool season pasture’s water-holding capacity and re-growth potential. This is due to several factors. One, a greater…

Farm Management Checklist for May

√ Complete spring vaccinations if haven't done so already.√ Deworm livestock and horses if necessary.√ Implement a fly control program (manure removal/composting, fly predators, sprays, dusts,…

Weed of the Month: Buttercup

I’ve observed many area pastures dotted with the yellow-flowering buttercup over the past month--a sure sign of spring. Buttercup is toxic to all grazing animals, including horses, cattle and sheep.…

WNC District Livestock Newsletter - Spring 2021

Livestock owners can benefit from the knowledge of our local Extension experts with this quarterly edition of the WNC District Livestock Newsletter. Topics covered in this issue include: Forage…

Strategies to Prevent Laminitis in Grazing Horses

Laminitis is a debilitating systemic disease which manifests in the horse’s hoof, causing significant pain and lameness. Although there are a number of causes of the disease in horses (severe fever,…

Equine Calorie Consumption: Hay vs Pasture Grazing

The N.C. Cooperative Extension of Polk County office held a field day last Tuesday, February 23, 2021, which was graciously hosted by two of our Extension Advisory Council members, Terry and Jane…

2021 Farmer Veteran Fellowship Grants Available

Are you a: U.S. veteran? New farmer? If you meet both of those qualifications then you are eligible to apply for direct assistance in the form of an award from the Farmer Veteran Coalition. The FVC…

Polk County NC 2021 Berry & Asparagus Sale

2021 Berry & Asparagus Sale Is Here!

As if we in Polk County aren't excited enough about 2021, it also means that it's time for N.C. Cooperative Extension of Polk County's annual berry & asparagus sale! "In the bleak mid-winter" we…