Upcoming Events

Enjoy the Harvest for Much Longer

Posted on by Christopher Becker

Canning Jars

One of the greatest benefits of a garden is enjoying the harvest!  Wouldn’t you like to enjoy it all year?

Well you can!

Canning is a great way to preserve quality food at home.  It can be quite rewarding sharing the abundant harvest with family and friends.

The Morgan County Extension Office is hosting an Intensive Food Preservation & Safety class taught by our Regional Extension Agent for Food Safety and Quality, Christy Mendoza.

Come and join us September 11th and 12th

Program will be from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm

The classes will be held at the First Baptist Church of Hartselle, 210 Woodland St NW.

REA, Christy Mendoza will cover in depth:

  • Pressure Canning
  • Water Bath Canning
  • Freezing Fruits and Vegetables
  • Drying Fruits and Vegetables
  • Food Safety
  • Pressure Canner Lid Testing

The fee for the classes is $15.00 which covers both days and lunch.

Register by contacting the Morgan County Extension Office

The deadline to register is September 7th

For informative food safety publications click here 

 

dried fruit

North Alabama Stored Grain Workshop

Posted on by Christopher Becker

red grain bins

July 20, 2017 – Regional Extension Agents and Specialists will provide farmers with practical advice for managing stored grain pests. The workshop is sponsored by the Alabama Wheat and Feed Grain Producers.

On-farm grain storage facilities help farmers to keep their combines running and to get the best prices for their grain.  However poor storage conditions can reduce grain quality resulting in price discounts that offset potential gains from grain storage.

Participants will learn by observing actual grain storage systems, by hands on demonstrations, and by interacting with stored grain experts from Auburn University, the University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, and industry.

Meeting Agenda

Registration is free. Pre-register by Monday, July 17 by contacting Jake McNeal, Agronomy REA

Pesticide recertification points and Certified Crop Adviser points available.

 

Workshop sponsored by

Alabama Wheat & Feed Grain Producers

2017 Limestone County Grassroots Survey

Posted on by Christopher Becker

team work pic

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the primary outreach organization for the land-grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, delivers research-based educational programs that enable people to improve their quality of life and economic well-being.  During our annual Grassroots meeting, our stakeholders have the opportunity to influence the coming years plan of work.

Please take a few moments and complete our online GRASSROOTS SURVEY.  Your involvement in the grassroots process is very important and will help Limestone County Extension better serve our stakeholders.  As always, the community can rely on Extension to deliver researched based educational opportunities in a multitude of different program areas.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.” 

Dr. Seuss

Planting for Pollinators

Posted on by Christopher Becker
Zebra Longwing butterfly
Zebra Longwing butterfly

The importance of pollinators can not be overstated.  Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce.

Some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, birds and bats, and beetles and other insects.

It is everyone’s responsibility to help protect our pollinators.  Join Taylor Reeder, our Home Grounds, Gardens and Home Pests Agent at our upcoming workshop and learn what you can add to your garden for pollinators.

Time/Date:  May 4th, 2017, 6 pm – 7 pm

Location:  Limestone County Extension Office

There is no charge for this workshop, pre-register for this workshop by calling our office @ 256-232-5510.

Workshop Flyer

Practical Equine Management Workshop

Posted on by Christopher Becker

Horse

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”  ~Winston Churchill

 

A hands-on workshop to help you develop and improve your equine management practices.

Tennessee Valley Research & Extension Center will be the site for this very informative workshop.

Topics:

Soil Sampling
Soil Sampling
Hay Quality
Hay Quality

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Aid
First Aid

 

 

 

 

 

 

as well as:

  • Feeds & Feeding

  • Trailer Repairs & Maintenance

  • Body Condition Scoring

 

Pre-Registration is REQUIRED: 

 

 

Auburn University-Equine-LogoFinal-VECTOR

 

 

Alabama Extension

 

Getting Dirty at the Library

Posted on by Christopher Becker

seedlings emerging

Do you enjoy gardening?

If so, then bring a sack lunch and enjoy Getting Dirty at the Library!

The Limestone County Extension Office is excited to be partnering with the Athens-Limestone Public Library to offer the Getting Dirty at the Library gardening series.  Starting in March and going through July on the 2nd Tuesday of each month we will discuss a different topic.

 

Click here for the schedule and topics.

 

The Athens-Limestone Public Library is a great community partner so check out all they have to offer.

 

Alabama Extension

Athens Library

2017 Limestone County 4-H Roundup

Posted on by Christopher Becker

Lucky Four Leaf Clover

The Limestone County Round-Up is an event for 4-H members to present their winning projects and compete against other 4-H members from the County, City and Special Interest Clubs.

County Round Up this year is scheduled for Friday, March 31st, 2017 at the Limestone County Event Center.

Deadline to register for Round Up is Friday, March 10th, 2017.

If you placed 1st or 2nd in a club event you may choose to compete in ONE of those events OR choose from one of the many open events listed below:

Please contact us with any questions, 256-232-5510.

Open Event Rules:

limestone4h

2017 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar series

Posted on by ACES Administrator

butterfly on coneflower

First Friday of the Month 1:00 pm

Join us for the 2017 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar series

Please join us for this webinar series for information you can use about good and bad insects.  We used your feedback to bring topics that you suggested.  We will discuss troublesome insects such as invasive ants, landscape pests, vegetable pests, and house dwellers as well as arachnids too.  Not all insects are bad, though, come and meet some of our native pollinators!

This year, topics will include:

  • Don’t Let Tramp Ants Take Over Your Home, February 3.
  • Protect Your Veggie Harvest From Hungry Insects, March 3.
  • Mosquitoes and Insect Borne Diseases, April 7.
  • Ticks, May 5.
  • Aphids, Scales and Whiteflies, June 2. 
  • Drain Flies, House Flies, and Fungus Gnats, August 4.
  • Meet Our Native Pollinators, September 1.
  • New Invasive Ants to Know About, October 6.
  • Pantry Pests, Carpet Beetles, and Clothes Moths, November 3.
  • Don’t Let Bed Bugs Hamper Your Vacation Plans, December 1.

Each webinar is recorded and archived so you may watch at your convenience.  Recorded webinars can be found below.

The 2017 Webinars are brought to you by the Ant Pests and Urban IPM eXtension Communities of Practice; and by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the University of Georgia Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Clemson Cooperative Extension.  Series Coordinators: Dani Carroll and Kathy Flanders, Auburn University.  Marketing: Amanda Tedrow, University of Georgia Extension.  Webinar Text Chat Moderators: Tim Davis, University of Georgia Extension, and Vicky Bertagnolli-Heller, Clemson Cooperative Extension.

 

Alabama Extension

Texas A&M Extension

 

 

 

Georgia Extension

Clemson Extension