Bc farm & garden newsletter april may 2016

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

Spring can be a busy time of year for both gardeners and producers.

In this spring edition of the Barren County’s Farm & Garden Newsletter, you will find friendly reminders of seasonal and timely tips to perform in and around the farm and garden.

“Around the Garden” highlights strategies for growing great tasting home-grown tomatoes in the garden, while the “In the Field” section discusses tips for beef producers on making a wise purchase for their next herd sire.

This newsletter also includes promotional flyers for the Totally Tomato Class, the Pollinator Paradise Garden Series, and the Barren County Ag Festival which allows Barren County citizens the

opportunity to help celebrate the vital role of agriculture in the best place to live in rural America. Page 7 also lists other upcoming Extension programs relating to both agriculture and horticulture that will take place during April and May. Lastly, to help celebrate Beef Month in May, the Food and Nutrition page features a tasty recipe for ribeye steaks! If you have suggestions of future feature articles, please forward them along to us. We want to help you grow ideas! Also, check out other upcoming Barren County Extension happenings listed on our website and Facebook pages.

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Tomatoes are the number one vegetable grown in home vegetable gardens.

Locally grown tomatoes bring many people together because of their unique flavors, ripeness, and fragrance. Here are a few strategies to practice during the growing season.

water in the root system, before pushing loose soil around the base of the plant.

Since tomatoes consist of 95 percent water, tomatoes require lots of water during the growing season especially during fruit development.

When transplanting Tomatoes require tomatoes in the garden 1 to 2 inches of (this would be May 5th rainfall a week, so for central Kentucky), supplement set plants a little irrigation when deeper than they were needed.

Water originally grown, so tomatoes in the lower leaves are near morning between the ground.

If the hours of transplants appear leggy, plant them at a 30 6:00am and 10:00am and deeply saturate degree angle in a trench long enough to the soil around the root system. Use an leave only the top 5 or 6 inches of the plant organic type of mulch such as leaves, straw, or compost to reduce soil water exposed. evaporation as well.

Space tomatoes so they can receive maximum sunlight and enough air To learn more about growing tasty movement to discourage harmful diseases. tomatoes in the home vegetable garden, Ideal spacing for home grown tomatoes is come out to the Totally Tomato Class that 24 to 36 inches between plants in the row will be taught at the Extension Office on and 3 feet between rows. Next, sprinkle a Tuesday, April 26th. Turn over to page 4 of teaspoon of lime in the planting hole and the newsletter for more details on the class!

A good way to reuse leftover newspaper is to use it as a mulch in the garden. Newspaper mulch will improve fruit cleanliness and plant growth, increase harvest yields, provide adequate weed control, and conserve soil moisture. By using newspaper as a mulch, it also keeps this recyclable material out of landfills and returns nutrients back into the ground as a soil amendment.

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When purchasing a bull there are four primary characteristics that should be assessed: reproductive soundness; structural soundness; visual evaluation; and performance characteristics.

body capacity, structure, sheath, and testicular development. There are no requirements for visual appraisal; however, producers are encouraged to carefully evaluate bulls for visual traits that are of economic or functional Reproductive Soundness – For a bull to importance to them. have any value to a beef producer he must be reproductively sound. The best means Performance Characteristics – The to determine the reproductive soundness of primary reason for purchasing a bull is the a bull is through a breeding soundness expected performance of his calves. If exam. If a bull passes this exam he should replacement females will be retained then have the physical capability to breed and this decision should not be short sided, settle cows. This exam does not measure because the impact will be long lasting. desire and bulls should be observed for Breeds differ on their level of productivity; their interest in females in heat. To receive therefore, the first decision will be on breed cost-share money, bulls must pass a type. Once a breed is determined, breeding soundness exam. selection between bulls for performance should be based on the Expected Progeny Structural Soundness – To be an efficient Differences (EPDs), whenever possible breeder a bull must be structurally sound. (For more information on EPDs please see This means that he should move without ASC-141). There is no such thing as the pain or discomfort and should have “Best Bull”; each individual beef producer appropriate angles at weight bearing joints. must make that determination based on There are no requirements for structural what they want to get from the bull. soundness; however, producers should Guidelines have been developed for six evaluate bulls for soundness to avoid specific bull types. Producers must problems with breeding and future select what type of bull they will problems in replacement females. purchase (2 choices can be made) on their application then purchase a bull Visual Evaluation – Many traits that are that meets the requirements for that bull important to beef producers can only be type.

Adapted from evaluated through visual observation.

Beef Sire Selection for Cattle These include, but are not limited to: Genetic Improvement Program, disposition, horned/polled, color, muscling, Dr. Darrh Bullock, UK Extension Beef Specialist Incorrectly constructed corners rank as the top mistake in fencing. The main issues are undersized posts and corner posts not set deeply enough. A good rule of thumb is the depth in the ground should be equal to, or greater than, the height of the top wire.

Post diameter depends on the strength of the fence. For light duty fence, such as a 1- or 2-wire, high-tensile pasture subdivision fence, only requires a 4” to 5” diameter post. A 5-strand wire fence a 6” to 7” diameter post is required. For woven wire fences, use an 8” diameter post.

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For more information and to reserve your booth space today, contact the Glasgow Barren County Chamber of Commerce at (270) 651-3161 or email chamber@glasgowbarrenchamber.com.

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Gardener’s Toolbox Class: Totally Tomato Learn everything needed to grow tomatoes in the home garden and cooking advice from new Barren County FCS agent Betsy Ann Tracy!

Tuesday, April 26th 6:00 PM, Barren Co. Extension Office Pollinator Paradise Garden Series Learn how to increase native pollinators to your garden such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Thursday, April 14th — Native Pollinators Introduction Thursday, April 21st — Gardening with Bees in Mind Thursday, April 28th — Butterfly Gardening Thursday, May 5th — Attracting Hummingbirds 6:00 PM, Barren Co. Extension Office Opening Day for the Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market Shop and buy local farm raised and value-added products grown from around the Barrens. Vendors will be set-up on the Glasgow square.

Saturday, April 30th; 8:00am until 12:00 Noon They will also be open every Saturday on the Square until October 29th.

2016 Tobacco GAP Training Get you required 2016 Tobacco GAP certification Tuesday, May 3rd 6:30 PM, Barren Co High School Please bring your GAP card for registration. No meal will be served.

Goat and Sheep Producers Meeting Dr. Ken Andries will conduct FAMACHA training.

Tuesday, May 17th 6:30 PM, Barren County Extension Office

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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:



2 beef Ribeye Steaks Boneless, cut 1-inch thick (about 12 ounces each)



2 cups grape tomato halves (about 10 ounces)



3 tablespoons water



3 teaspoons minced prepared roasted garlic, divided



4 ounces Brie cheese, shredded



2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil



Fresh basil (optional)

Directions: Combine tomatoes, water and 1 teaspoon garlic in large nonstick skillet. Cook, covered, over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes or until tomatoes are tender, stirring often.

Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

Remove from skillet; keep warm. Carefully wipe out skillet with paper towels.

Press remaining 2 teaspoons garlic evenly onto beef steaks. Place steaks in skillet over medium heat; cook 12 to 15 minutes for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.

Carve steaks into slices; season with salt and pepper, as desired. Add cheese and basil to tomatoes; stir until well combined.

Serve immediately with beef. Garnish with additional basil, if desired.

Source: KY Beef Network Nutrition information per serving (1/2 of recipe): 516 calories; 28 g fat (14 g saturated fat; 9 g monounsaturated fat); 166 mg cholesterol; 453 mg sodium; 7 g carbohydrate; 1.8 g fiber; 55 g protein; 13.5 mg niacin; 1.2 mg vitamin B6; 3.3 mcg vitamin B12; 3.5 mg iron; 59.1 mcg selenium; 9.5 mg zinc.