Barren County Farm & Garden Newsletter (April-May 2015)

Cooperative Extension Service Barren County 1463 West Main Street Glasgow, KY 42728 (270) 651—3818 Fax: (270) 651—3744 www.ca.uky.edu/ces

Barren County Soil Conservation District, the announcement of the 2015 Wheat Field Day, and upcoming Extension programs relating to both agriculture and horticulture. Lastly, for the food and nutrition section, clean out the grill prepare a delicious grilled salmon Thank goodness, it is finally topped with a fresh strawberry SPRING! First off, thank you for the salsa just in time for the farmers’ overwhelming positive response market season! received from our first edition. We If you have suggestions of future have had numerous requests from feature articles, please forward people who want to be added to them along to us. We want to help our mailing list. you grow ideas! Also, check out In the second edition of our other upcoming Barren County combined Farm and Garden Extension happenings listed on our newsletter, you will find seasonal website and Facebook pages. and timely tips and articles related to the farm and garden. “Around the Garden” helps homeowners get their lawns in shape to be the envy of the community with Do’s and Don’ts for Spring Lawn Care, while the “In the Field” section discusses the fast approaching beef breeding season. The newsletter also includes a message from the

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With the arrival of spring, homeowners are ready to fire up mowers and work on improving their home lawns to ensure a neat and attractive appearance. Here is a checklist of do’s and don’ts for the home lawn this spring!

DO have your lawn soil tested. It is important to see what nutrients as far as lime and fertilizer rates need to be applied to achieve optimum pH range for home lawns. To sample a home lawn, take a random sampling from 2 to 4 inches deep. Mix all core samples together in a clean bucket. After mixing, allow sample to dry on newspaper for a day. Bring in sample to the Barren County Extension Service to have tested. Samples take about a week to get back.

DON’T apply high nitrogen fertilizer this

cut on plant blades which increases lawn disease, affects the appearance, and increases fuel use and engine wear. A sharp mower blade ensures a clean and healthy cut each time. Make sure that blades are not put upside down when going back on the mower.

DON’T remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at a time. For a tall fescue lawn, a recommended height to maintain is between 3 to 4 inches tall. A mowing height lower than the recommended amount would decrease the depth of root system and increase plant maintenance.

DO apply a pre-emergent herbicide to control crabgrass in the lawn. The best time to control this grassy type weed is to apply a pre-emergent herbicide when the forsythia bush is in bloom. This date for central Kentucky would be between April 1 and April 15th. A second application may be applied around June 1st.

spring. High nitrogen in the spring attracts more disease, more weeds, and more frequent mowing. Wait to apply nitrogen until the fall of the year around September, October, or November to promote a deep- DON’T apply weed-n-feed lawn products to the home lawn. Most of the time, the er root system in the turf species. correct time to apply one product (fertilizer) DO get your mower blades sharpened is not the ideal time for the other product before making the first spring cutting. Dull (herbicide). mower blades will leave a torn and bruised

Quick TIPS!

 Before mowing the lawn, make sure that mower blades have

been sharpened. A nice clean cut from the mower blades will ensure a disease free lawn.  Wait to fertilize home lawns until the fall of the year since spring fertilization applications can attract more disease, weeds, and frequent mowing practices.  20-40% of the grasses’ fertility requirements can be met by returning clippings to the lawn which can reduce the amount of fertilizers applied to the turf.

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The breeding season replacing for those producers broken or wore choosing spring calving insulators will is right around the make sure your corner. Now is time for fence will hold making preparations for in your cows a successful breeding and bulls. If season. Consult your you have any veterinarian about the questions about pre-breeding any of the ideas vaccination program in this article, that best suits your feel free to herd. While talking with contact the your vet, go ahead and Barren County schedule to have bull Cooperative soundness evaluations (BSEs) for your Extension Service for more details. herd sires. Maybe 2015 is the year you decide to synchronize and artificially breed your replacement heifers. Securing your synchronizing supplies and make AI sire selections are tasks that need to be completed. Ensuring that your mineral supplementation program is what it should be, perhaps you will consider the UK Beef IRM mineral that is specially formulated for KY beef cattle. Producers need to make your fly control decision now and have on hand the materials you will be using to control flies in your beef herd. An evaluation of watering systems is needed.

Make sure tanks start out clean, and automatic water fountains are functioning properly. A tune up of your electric fencing energizer may be worth your time and effort. Adding additional ground rods, and

UK Wheat Field Day University of Kentucky Research Farm 1134 Hopkinsville Street Princeton, KY 42445 May 12, 2015

8:30am — Noon

Save the Date!

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This year, the spring grazing school will be held on May 20-21, 2015 at Woodford County Extension office and the Oran C. Little Research Center in Versailles, KY. This two day program will include hands-on exercises, such as building temporary paddocks and watering systems, assessing pasture production, and designing your own grazing systems. Classroom sessions include a variety of topics regarding forages, animal management, and grazing systems. Emphasis will be on spring and summer grazing management for ruminant species.

farmers to experienced grazers and all have gained new information and practical skills to implement on their operations. All grazing school participants have indicated that attending this program motivated them to make changes to their grazing systems to improve their operations and increase production.

The $50.00 registration fee includes all materials, grazing manuals, breaks, and lunch both days. To register, contact the Barren County Cooperative Extension Office.

Additional information can be found at the following link: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/grazer/Grazing_Sc hool_2015_Brochure.pdf.

Anyone interested in this program may apply, but we are only allowed to take a limited number of applicants, so apply early. Past participants have included new

The Barren County Soil Conservation District has equipment available to farmers for rent.

Producers can take advantage of no-till seed drills and tube-line hay wrappers. These specialized pieces of equipment are located throughout the county. For more information, contact Lindsie Logsdon at the NRCS Office by contacting (270) 629-6811.

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Pruning at the wrong time of year may reduce or even eliminate one season’s bloom. For this reason, follow these three guidelines in pruning your particular flowering shrubs.

1. Shrubs that flower before June should be pruned during or immediately after flowering. They bloom on wood formed the previous summer. Examples of early flowering shrubs in this category include barberries, flowering quince, smoke tree, cornelian cherry, forsythias, hollies, moutain laurel, magnolias, mock oranges, firethorns, common lilac, and viburnums.

2.

Shrubs that flower after June 1st should be pruned in the winter or spring before new growth begins. They Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub bloom on wood formed during the current spring or summer. Examples of summer flowering shrubs include glossy abelia, butterflybush, Rose of Sharon, oakleaf hydrangea, crepe myrtle, and hybrid tea rose.

3. Certain shrubs may be pruned lightly before and after flowering.

This will often increase flowering and fruit production and may result in a second bloom during the year. Examples of this group include glossy Butterflybush blooms in summer abelia, butterflybush, red twig dogwood, oregon grapeholly, snowberry, and weigela.

Forsythia blooms in the spring

Source: Pruning Landscape Shrubs, HO-59

Placing a thick layer of mulch around the trunk of a tree can lead to several bad things. The mulch will indeed hold moisture, but it will hold it around the tree trunk where it will create conditions for the bark to decay. This allows fungi, bacteria and insects to get under the bark and cause problems internally. Mulch volcanoes also can lead to circling roots. In this moist environment, a tree will begin to grow roots into the mulch instead of outward into the surrounding soil.

The proper way to mulch a tree is to spread an even 2 to 3 inch layer around the base of the tree.

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April 25th — Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market on the Square in Glasgow, KY from 8am until 12:00 Noon April 27th — Tobacco GAP Training Classes offered at 9:00 am and 6:00pm @ the BCEO May 2nd — Grand Opening for the Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market from 8am until 12:00 Noon June 20th — 3rd Annual Barren County Ag Festival Barren County High School from 9:00am until 3:00pm

Upcoming Events

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Like the Barren County Cooperative Extension Service Facebook page to stay connected on all the latest classes and programs offered!

Ingredients: Prepare at least one hour ahead. 

1 English or seedless cucumber, finely chopped



1 green onion, thinly sliced



1 TBSP cilantro, cut into strips



3—4 TBSP seasoned rice wine vinegar



2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced small



1 yellow pepper

Sauce:  1 stick unsalted butter 

1 clove garlic



1 TBSP honey



2 TBSP soy sauce



1 TBSP fresh lemon juice



6 Salmon fillets, skinless

Directions: Mix cucumbers, green onions, cilantro, yellow pepper and vinegar. Cover and chill at least one hour. Just before serving, add strawberries. In a small saucepan, melt butter with garlic over low heat. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice and cook for 2 minutes, set aside.

Prepare a charcoal grill, when ready brush sauce on salmon pieces and place on a well-oiled fish grilling rack. Place rack over coals about 4 inches from the fire and grill approximately 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Brush with the sauce again turning, and again when done. Transfer to warm platter and top with salsa. Yields: 6 servings.

Source: California Strawberries

calories 272, total fat 16 grams, saturated fat 10 grams, cholesterol 85 mg, sodium 318 mg, total carbohydrates12 grams, dietary fiber 1 gram, sugars 9 grams, protein 25 grams.