Upcoming Events
4-H Dates
November 15
4-H Leader Training Walpole School
more info. to come
More Dates of Interest |
In 2014 UNH Cooperative Extension reaches a major milestone - its 100- year anniversary! Participate in the celebration by making an investment in Extension, or the 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire. Your investment will help ensure that our work for New Hampshire continues far into the next century. Private donations are a critical part of Extension's funding mix. Go to extension.unh.edu and click DONATE to Make a Gift, See impacts, and Hear from other donors.
|
Want a tree bug identified?
Send us a picture!
|
|
|
|
|
Emerald Ash Borer or Ash Yellows?
Identifying Problems With Your Ash Tree
It has been a busy summer in Cheshire county when it comes to helping landowners identify declining ash tree health. Fortunately, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has not been found in the county however, there has been a lot of ash declining or even dying from Ash Yellows.
Learn how to identify both EAB and Ash Yellow:
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
Ash Yellows
If you have a tree you suspect may be infested with EAB, be sure to report it here.
How to Identify and Manage Ash Yellows in Forest Stands and Home Landscapes
Ash yellows is a recently discovered disease that causes slow growth and decline of ash (Fraxinus) species. Ash yellows went undetected until the 1980's because its symptoms were not differentiated from those of decline caused by adverse environmental factors such as drought, shallow soils, flooding, or parasitism by opportunistic fungi. Current knowledge supports the theory that ash decline can result from various causes, and ash yellows can be, but is not always, a causal factor. Ash yellows is caused by wall-less microbes called mycoplasmalike organisms (MLOs) which invade the tree systemically (phloem sieve tubes) and are presumed to be transmitted by leafhoppers or related insects. White ash (F. americana) and green ash (F. pennsylvanica) are the most frequently affected species.
|
|
Youth and Family
Monadnock Table "Future Farmer"
Mason became in- terested in agriculture
after visiting his aunt and uncle's dairy farm in Chesterfield when he was five years old. Soon after, he began attending 4-H meetings as a "Cloverbud" (the name of the 4-H Club's youngest participants, ranging in age from five to eight) with the Switch 'n Horns 4-H Club; at the age of eight he transitioned to being a regular member of the Switch 'n Horns 4-H Club. "I started out by showing dairy cattle for my aunt and uncle," says Field. He showed dairy cattle for Mike and Nancy Plante for two years, then made the transition to beef cattle, which he currently shows at several agricultural shows throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. (Read Full Article) |
NH 4-H Trebuchet Challenge 2014
|
NH 4-H Trebuchet Challenge 2014 was held at Wellington State Park in Bristol. All 4-Hers, families and friends were invited to attend as a participant or spectator. 4-H Science engages New Hampshire youth and adults in exploring and understanding the science behind our natural and built world. Contact us for information on how your 4-H club, after-school program, or school can be involved in STEM!
|
|
Agriculture Late Blight Alert Late blight is a devastating fungal disease that affect tomatoes and potatoes; under the right conditions, infected plants can die off completely in a matter of days. While the fungus that causes the disease does not survive our winters, it does occasionally migrate up from the south during the growing season, and it appears that this is one of those years. First identified in Maine in early July, late blight has also appeared in Massachusetts, and it has now showed up in several spots in southern NH. If you're not familiar with the symptoms of late blight check out Extension's page to learn more. In the meantime, consider using protectant fungicides (note: there are options for organic gardeners out there) that will help prevent your plants from getting infected. If your plants are already infected, these fungicides won't do you much good. In that case, the best thing to do is remove the plants from the garden, tie them up in a garbage bag, and dispose of them. If you can, let them sit covered with a tarp in the driveway to bake in the sun for a few hours; this will kill the plant tissue, and the fungus along with it. Building Your Grazing Plan Course Begins September 16 A seven-week course designed for farmers who graze ruminant animals and want to maximize their pasture production begins September 16. Build Your Grazing Plan, designed by UNH Cooperative Extension Field Specialist Daimon Meeh, will run from September 16 to October 31. The course is conducted primarily online but will also include three traditional classroom sessions. (Read More)
|
|
Food & Nutrition
Stay Hydrated! Recipes for Fruit-Infused Water Bring Good Flavor Without the Calories
Water with a twist of lemon or lime is a standard restaurant offering, and I have long enjoyed flavor-infused seltzer-water, but several years ago a student intern introduced me to something a little different: cucumber-infused water. It became the "Mystery Drink" at many summer workshops that year, surprising many and delighting...some. Cucumber water was fun, but it was never one of my biggest hits. Since that time, fruit-infused water has been gaining in popularity. Here are some recipes suggested by the West Virginia University Extension Service. Try using frozen fruit when fresh is unavailable.
|
|
|
|