Montgomery NC Cooperative Extension

2012-01-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

Animal Waste Management System Operators Continuing Education Training

January 20, 2012

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension

8:30-9:00am - Registration

9:00-10:00am - Pasture Weed ID and Control

10:00am-11:00am - Fire Ant Control on Livestock Farms

1:00am - Noon - Screening Plants for Livestock Operations

Noon-1:00pm - Lunch on your own

1:00-2:00pm - Frequently Asked Questions About Lagoons and

Reports

2:00-3:00pm - Record Keeping with Computers

3:00-4:00pm - Cost Share Opportunities Through NRCS

One hour of K, N, O, D and X pesticide credits will also be offered at each session from 9:00am-Noon for a total of 3 hours pesticide credits.

For more information or to register for this event, please contact Jamie D. Warner (576-6011).

2012 NC Forage and Grassland Council Winter Conference

2012-01-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

The NC Forage and Grassland Council has announced their 2012 Winter Conference Series. The three sites for this year's events are Kenansville, Greensboro and Morganton, NC. The Keynote speaker for each event will be Ray Archuleta, Conservation Agronomist with NRCS in Greensboro, NC. His presentation, "Healthy Soils Reduce Chemical Inputs on Grazing and Cropping Systems" will be offered in conjunction with a tradeshow and local producer panel "Dealing with High Input Cost". Registration is $15 for members of the council, $25 for non-members and only $10 for students.

Tradeshow and registration will begin for each event at 12:30pm, the program will be from 1:00-6:00pm and the social hour from 6:00-7:00pm.

For more information on this event, or to attend one of these sessions, please call Jamie (910-576-6011).

2011 NC Southern Piedmont Area Beef Cattle Conference

2011-12-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

North Carolina Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce the 2011 NC Southern Piedmont Area Beef Cattle Conference. The event will be held at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center on December 13, 2011 from 1:00-5:00pm. The registration fee for the event is $10 and is payable at the door. A light meal and refreshments will be included as well as a tradeshow.

The speakers for this event are Dr. Garry Lacefield and Dr. Don Ball, authors of Southern Forages, Modern Concepts for Forage Crop Management, and Dr. Matt Poore, Ruminant Nutrition Specialist with NC State.

Registration for the even begins at Noon. Please come mingle with fellow cattlemen while you learn how to make your forages profitable!

For more information on this event, please contact Jamie D. Warner at 910-576-6011.

North Carolina Equine Activity Liability Statute

2011-11-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

For many North Carolinians horseback riding and equestrian events are relaxing and fun. The last thing anyone wants to think about is getting injured. However, accidents do happen and the best way to be prepared is to know the law and how it is going to affect you. The North Carolina Equine Activity Liability Statute can be found online at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_99e.html.

All horse and equine owners should read and be familiar with this law. Just because you are unaware of your legal responsibilities, does not excuse you from them. According to the law “equine” includes horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and hinnies. Be aware that the statute protects but only to a limit. It covers injuries categorized as “inherent” risks but not those caused by negligent acts. Inherent risks are those that are an “integral part of engaging in an equine activity”. They consist of damage or death caused by unruly animal behavior and the reaction of the animal to its surroundings specifically sounds, movements, unfamiliar objects, people and other animals but does not cover accidents involving motor vehicles. Just because the injury falls into one of the categories above does not mean that an owner will not have a lawsuit filed against them by the injured.

All equine owners should always have appropriate insurance coverage. Talk to your local insurance agent to make sure that your current policy covers injuries sustained by your animals. If not, you may seriously think about upgrading it. The law requires a specific warning be posted “in a clearly visible location” anytime an equine professional or equine activity sponsor holds an event. Signs can be purchased through the NC Horse Council online (http://www.nchorsecouncil.com/store.htm).

For more information on the statute, please feel free to contact the NC Horse Council in Raleigh by calling 1-800-529-9206.

Food Safety Tips for Preparing a Holiday Turkey

2011-11-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

Safe Thawing

The USDA recommends three ways to defrost turkeys: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the

microwave.

Never defrost a turkey on the counter!!!

Refrigerator Thawing

Plan ahead for slow thawing in the refrigerator. For every 5 pounds of turkey allow approximately 24

hours of thawing time in a refrigerator set at 40°F. After thawing, keep turkey refrigerated for only 1-2

days, or use the following chart to help you countdown to the holiday.

Size of Turkey Thawing Time in the

Refrigerator

8 to 12 pounds 1 to 2 days

12 to 16 pounds 2 to 3 days

16 to 20 pounds 3 to 4 days

20 to 24 pounds 4 to 5 days

Cold Water Thawing

If you forget to thaw the turkey or don’t have room in the refrigerator for thawing, don’t panic. You can

submerge the bird or cut-up parts in cold water in its airtight packaging or in a leak-proof bag. Allow

about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. Change the water every 30 minutes to be sure

it stays cold. The following times are suggested for thawing a turkey in water.

Size of Turkey Hours to Defrost

8 to 12 pounds 4 to 6 hours

12 to 16 pounds 6 to 8 hours

16 to 20 pounds 8 to 10 hours

20 to 24 pounds 10 to 12 hours

Turkeys thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately.
Microwave Thawing

Follow the oven manufacturer’s instructions when thawing a turkey in the

microwave. Check the instructions for the size turkey that will fit in your

oven, the minutes per pound, and the power level to use for thawing. Plan

to cook immediately after thawing because some areas of the turkey may

begin to cook during microwave thawing.

Safe Cooking

Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F. Preheating the oven is not necessary.

Place turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan large enough to hold the turkey and a meat thermometer.

For food safety and uniform doneness of the turkey, cook stuffing separately in a casserole dish. Use a food thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the stuffing has reached 165°F in the middle, thickest part.

Check the temperature in several locations, being sure to include the wing joint. Whole poultry is safe when the meat is cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. All turkey meat including any that remains pink is safe to eat as long as all parts reach at least 165°F. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. For reasons of personal preference, it is still best to cook turkey to higher temperatures such as 180° F to remove pink appearance and rubbery texture.

If the turkey has a “pop up” temperature indicator, it is also recommended that a food thermometer be used to test in several places, including the innermost part of the thigh.

Many factors can affect the roasting time of a whole turkey:

• A frozen or partially frozen turkey takes longer to cook than a completely thawed turkey.

• A turkey will cook faster in a dark roasting pan.

• The use of a foil tent for the entire cooking time can slow cooking.

• Putting a lid on the roasting pan speeds up cooking.

• An oven-cooking bag will shorten cooking time.

Judging cooking time for your turkey will be easier if the following chart is used. The times listed are for a fresh or thawed turkey in an oven at 325°F. These times are approximate; the only way to determine doneness is by using a thermometer.

Size of Turkey

Estimated Cooking Time

8 to 12 pounds 3 to 3.5 hours

12 to 14 pounds 3.5 to 4 hours

14 to 18 pounds 4 to 4.25 hours

18 to 20 pounds 4.25 to 4.75 hours

20 to 24 pounds 4.75 to 5.25 hours

When turkey is removed from the oven, let stand 20 minutes.

Storing Leftovers

Cut the turkey into small pieces; refrigerate turkey and stuffing separately in shallow containers within

2 hours of cooking.

Use left over turkey and stuffing within 3-4 days; gravy within 1-2 days; or

freeze these foods.

It is safe to refreeze leftover turkey and trimmings – even if you purchased

them frozen. Wrap tightly for best quality.

Reheat leftovers thoroughly to a temperature of 165°F or until hot and steaming.

2nd Annual Montgomery County Livestock Show

2011-08-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

2nd Annual Montgomery County Livestock Show this Saturday August 20th at the Ag Center on Glen Road in Troy, NC. The show begins around 10am with the heifer show, followed by the goat show. Come support the youth of Montgomery County! For more information, call Jamie at the Extension Office 576-6011.

Season's Harvest!

2011-06-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Things are sure brewing here in Montgomery North Carolina! The great thing is that it is the time of year to start canning your bountiful harvest!

Are you interested in learning the basics of water-bath canning? If so you need to come to our canning class being held on June 30th. This will be a hands on training where you will learn the basics of canning tomatoes that you will be able to take home with you. The class will be held from 1pm to 4pm at the NC Cooperative Extension office in Troy. The registration deadline is June 27th with a fee of $10.00. For more information please contact Molly Alexi or Hayley Napier at (910) 576-6011.

We will also have a Pressure Cooker test day July 14th at the Troy Farmers' Market (417 N. Main St, Troy, NC).

There are other festivities going on at the markets as well.

July 7th at the Troy Farmers' Market Montgomery Cooperative Extension will be showcasing Dezern Farms Blackberries, so be sure to stop by 3-6pm for some delicious foods!

Farmers' Markets

2011-04-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, it's that time of year again! Spring has coined a new term for our farmers' and ourselves, it means we have to SPRING into action.

That's a good thing right? For the most part it is (minus all of the work), the great part is that everyone is getting outside and planting! It is also awesome because our Farmers' Markets are starting to open.

Troy, NC Farmers' Market is already opened and has a great assortment of goodies, the market is open Thursday's 3-6pm at 417 N. Main St. The market boasts a variety of LOCAL vendors who provide meats, baked & canned goods, plants, fresh eggs, handmade crafts, and much more!

Here are some of the current farms and what they provide:

Whipowill Hill Farm-Montgomery County: Pastured PORK and POULTRY (will have fresh poultry soon!) and some produce (salad mixes and spinach for now!)

Uwharrie Heirloom- Montgomery County: Provides HEIRLOOM variety plants (flowers, herbs, and plants for your vegetable gardens!)

Fox Squirrel Farm- Moore County: Provide fresh PRODUCE, right now they are bringing spinach, salad mixes, bok choy, radishes, and more!

Dezern Farm- Randolph County: Canned & BAKED goodies as well as a variety of plants in decorative planters for your home garden!

Hope Farms- Montgomery County: Every week Hope Farms provides FRESH eggs and handmade cloth rugs!

A Wing and A Prayer Farm- Stanly/Montgomery County: This farm family works in Stanly but has a farm in Montgomery County. They provide a unique assortment of HANDMADE goats milk lotions, lip balm, soap, and even helps to increase the population of a variety of butterflies.

Delicious Creations from McAllister Farms- Montgomery County: Come try what makes the South great! McAllister Farms provides SCRUMPTIOUS baked goods and canned items!

Parson's Farm - Montgomery County: Parson's provides a variety of locally grown produce items, they currently have STRAWBERRIES in season!

Ingold Farm- Randolph County: This Santa Gertrudis farm has delicious GRASS FED beef and will even show you how to cook it!

Walkapaca Farm- Montgomery County: If you are interested in wearing some of the finest fiber in the world, Walkapaca can help you! They provide an assortment of Alpaca fiber clothing, the farm also provides fresh poultry EGGS!

Be sure to check the market out! The markets' are gearing up for an eventful season and each week something new is showing up!

If you are a locavore (people who like buying LOCAL) join our 10% Campaign if you are interested in whats available there is also a great Seasonality Chart which provides whats in season, and even the availability of NC Seafood!

4-H PLANT SALE

2011-03-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

Anyone in the Montgomery County Area - We have LOTS and LOTS of plants (landscape and edible) at the 4-H office for sell. Please stop by to check them out on Wednesday (9 AM - 5 PM), Thursday (8 AM - 7 PM) and on Friday (8 AM - 5 PM). All proceeds help to support the 4-H youth programs offered in the county!

Eat LOCAL during the Holidays!

2010-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Ahh the Holidays are here! It is truly amazing how things arrive so quickly. For most individuals they believe it is difficult to eat local in the winter months, this however is not the case. There are a wonderful assortment of meats, cheeses, and even some fruits and vegetables. The great thing is there are farms located right here in Montgomery County who have taken the time to prepare for this holiday season. Contact your local poultry farm to see if they have any turkeys, chickens, or pheasants available for your lovely Christmas dinner. Or maybe you would like some fresh smoked bacon for your roasts or filet mignons? Dessert is not complete without a decadent apple dumpling topped with our fresh pecans. The point is this, it is the season for celebrating and sharing and just because it is cold outside doesn't mean you have to stray from your local food campaign.

For more tips on eating local join us in the 10% Campaign

If you need help creating your wonderful local dishes contact your local foods coordinator at your extension office (Montgomery County Staff) for their 10% Campaign Holiday Recipes or visit the Produce Lady's website for recipes and instructions on preparing your local meals:The Produce Lady

We here at the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension office hope you and your family have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Central Park NC & STARworks Annual Gathering

2010-10-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Things are surely stirring in this melting pot of Montgomery County! Yesterday was a true testament that things are changing. STARworks hosted its Annual Gathering last night and it was a success, people from all over the state came to hear Joel Salatin and what is going on with the local food movement in North Carolina.
We had two of our farms on the panel, Whipowill Hill Farms and Hilltop Angus. They did an EXCELLENT job and we are so proud of them for representing this county!

Seeing the enthusiasm for this movement is enlightening and we believe that many positive things are going to start happening in this great state of North Carolina. Here is a great picture of our farms from last night's event.

2010 Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Event

2010-10-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

October 2 was our annual Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Event. It was a success. Thanks to everyone who participated. Check out our photo album on facebook for pictures from the day. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troy-NC/Montgomery-County-Cooperative-Extension/117219574995061?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=27268&id=117219574995061

Ag Heritage Day 2010

2010-10-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

October 1 was Ag Heritage Day. Local 5^th graders were in attendance and learned about their agricultural heritage past and present. There were farm animals, agricultural equipment, pottery demonstrations and much more for the kids to enjoy. This event was sponsored by Farm Bureau and the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Office was lucky enough to help out. Check out all the great pictures. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troy-NC/Montgomery-County-Cooperative-Extension/117219574995061?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=28956&id=117219574995061

We're here and FINALLY on Twitter, Facebook, and NOW we are BLOGGING!

2010-09-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our office is FINALLY, yes FINALLY embracing this awesome new movement of social media. We have SO much to offer our counties citizens so please check us out!
Here are our accounts:
Find us on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
Website: http://montgomery.ces.ncsu.edu/

We have some awesome events coming up, please let us know if you would be interested in attending:

RAFI Grant Informational Session: Monday 20th, @ 6:00pm at the Cooperative Extension office

Two Angry Mom's @ Montgomery County Community College Sep. 21st @ 5:30pm

GAP Training in Union County ($10.00 Registration fee) RSVP by Sep. 29th. September 30th- October 1st.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Day: October 2nd from 8am-12pm @ the AG Center (Glen Rd., beside County Jail)

As more events come about we will keep you posted!