Agriculture

Chatham County Extension and Community Association looks to the future
[Oct. 22, 2005] Chatham County Extension and Community Association celebrated their Annual Achievement Day banquet on Thursday, October 20, 2005. The banquet theme, “Look to the Future” was a celebration of the association’s 70th year. Their guest speakers were Lynn Glasser, Phar.D, with Siler City Pharmacy discussing Food and Drug Interaction and Evelyn White, S.H.I.P.P. Coordinator for the Council on Aging –Medicare Supplement. By Phyllis Smith

Chatham County Farm and Industry Tour
[Sep. 8, 2005] Tickets are now on sale for the annual Chatham County Farm and Industry Tour conducted by the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. This is part of Chatham County’s celebration of National Farm-City Week. The tour will be on Thursday, September 22, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. By Glenn Woolard, County Extension Director
Also: Chatham Cooperative Extension

Voles and moles
[Jul. 15, 2005] Moles are carnivorous. They feed largely on insects and worms and are usually found in lawns or other grassy plantings. They do not feed on plants. Those who dissect them find about two dozen different types of insects/worms in their stomachs. Voles are vegetarians. They feed on plant roots and on the lower bark of woody trees and shrubs. By Al Cooke, Extension Agent

Deer managment tools
[Jul. 14, 2005] I'm enjoying the deer discussion on the Chatham Chatlist listserve, and that's the kind of comment I make when I don't have T-H-E answer. So in this case, maybe I'll comment about the discussion as much as about the topic of controlling deer. My strongest observation is that we seem to be a product oriented bunch. Whether it's a commercial product that we can spray on plants, or a non-commercial product that we can pick out of our hairbrush or that the hairdresser is saving for us, we seem to rely on a product that will solve our problem. By Al Cooke, Extension Agent

Check out the newest Farm Photo of the Week
[Jun. 25, 2005] Chatham County Agricultural Extension agent Debbie Roos has added a new feature to the Chatham County Cooperative Extension Growing Small Farms website recently - the Farm Photo of the Week. By Debbie Roos
Also: Growing Small Farms
Also: Farm Photo of the Week

Plant swapping is an old southern tradition
[Jun. 15, 2005] Swapping plants is an old southern tradition that is not limited to the south. It's just where I happen to have spent most of my life and notably also the home of two authors (Stephen Bender and Felder Rushing) of the book Passalong Plants, which is a riotous 200 pages about plants that lend themselves to easy propagation and sharing as well as some down-home southern philosophy that immigrants could find useful. By Al Cooke, Extension Agent
Also: Al Cooke's Home Page
Also: Holly Hill Daylily Farm

Ubiquitous millipedes
[Jun. 15, 2004] Perhaps a good starting point for a discussion of the problem of the ubiquitous millipedes is to quote a ChatLister: "Get used to it.....it's here to stay." First let me correct the misconception that when you're at your wits' end, you can still pull out the pesticides and solve the problem. Regardless of your opinion of pesticides, they are frequently a short term solution to a long term problem. By Al Cooke
Also: Al Cooke's web site

Is water testing a marketing ploy?
[Feb. 12, 2004] For the second time in less than six months someone has left near my driveway a plastic bag containing a small bottle and what appears to be an information form for having a water test performed. Different companies, different addresses. But the forms are similar. And in my skeptical, cynical mind the forms look rather like a market survey. By Al Cooke
Also: Extension Agent Al Cooke

Register for February 4 tax workshop
[Jan. 29, 2004] The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension will offer a tax workshop as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Series on Wednesday, February 4, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Extension Agricultural Building in Pittsboro. By Debbie Roos

Siler City Stockyards Mirror Cattle Farmers' Recent Hard Times
[Jan. 13, 2004] Siler City - Mad cow disease was detected on the West Coast before Christmas. But the effects still are being felt in North Carolina. The uncertainty in the industry is perhaps most evident at Carolina Stockyards in Siler City, where, twice a week, farmers bring in cows from across the region for market. By WRAL-TV - WEB RUN

Enhancing Sustainability Workshop: Crop Rotations for Enhancing Sustainability
[Jan. 2, 2004] "Crop Rotations for Enhancing Sustainability" will be presented by Peregrine Farm's Alex Hitt as part of the Enhancing Sustainability Workshop Series. By Debbie Roos
Also: Growing Small Farms

2002 Chatham Ag Department Program Success Highlights
[Jan. 2, 2003]