WVU cider schoolMARTINSBURG — Consider joining WVUES for the upcoming Cider School taking place over the next few weeks. This was planned as a ‘lunch and learn’ style educational opportunity. Pre-registration is required for these free events here, https://bit.ly/3wEYXMB.
Agenda:
• June 15 – Session 4: Apple diseases and their treatment, presented by Mahfuz Rahman, 12:00-1:00 pm
• June 16 – Cidery Tour 1 at Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead, 1-4pm
• June 23 – Cidery Tour 2 at Swilled Dog Hard Cider & Spirits, 1-4pm
• June 29 – WV Cider Advisory Board Meeting, 12:00-1:00pm
• July 13 – Session 5: Economic Feasibility of the Cider Industry, Marketing Opportunities and Legal Considerations, presented by Doolarie Singh-Knights, Jesse Richardson and Lisa Jones, 12pm-2pm
Workshops on agricultural diversification are offeredMARTINSBURG – The WVU expansion in Berkeley and Jefferson counties features three farming workshops in rabbit production, poultry processing and small ruminant production.
These workshops are made possible by a grant from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative, which makes it possible to provide supplies to the first 20 farms/families that apply to start or grow businesses.
The dates and topics are as follows:
• Small Scale Poultry Processing – June 14 at 18:00 and includes poultry production, biosecurity and backyard processing at Red House Farm, Bunker Hill.
• Getting Started with Small Ruminants – 7 July at 6:00pm and covers Small Ruminant Nutrition, Breeding and Herd Health and takes place at Rawlings Farm, Summit Point.
To register, visit www.rebrand.ly/FarmWorkshops.
For more information, contact Jefferson County Extension Representative Emily Morrow at 304-728-7413, email Emily.Wells@mail.wvu.edu or Berkeley County Extension Representative Mary Beth Bennett at 304 -264-1936 or mbbennett@mail.wvu.edu.
Accepting applications for the Master Gardener Training ProgramMARTINSBURG — Applications for the 2022 Fall Extension Master Gardener classes beginning August 15 are now open. Registration deadline is July 1st.
For more information on the Master Gardener Program, see: https://extension.wvu.edu/files/d/bdf70fa9-f174-4e76-b7e2-d00f8c0dd49b/berkeley-jefferson-emg-brochure-2019.pdf.
Extension with programs for cattle and horsesMARTINSBURG – This month, the Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering three training sessions to help plan and establish a cattle herd. On June 17th, join the hands-on workshop for producers considering artificial insemination as a means of improving their herd. Join the Virginia Tech MARE Center. Sign up at bit.ly/VCEBeef22. Team Northern Valley Extension has partnered with Team Northern Piedmont Extension to offer these programs.
Description of the workshops:
• June 17: Morning and evening classes. Assisted reproduction workshop. A hands-on workshop for producers considering artificial insemination as a means of improving their herd. This program includes working with cattle breeding tracts and observing the insemination of heifers.
They also offer a lecture series on equine nutrition: biomolecules and your horse’s health:
Additions: Tuesday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. (virtual)
Equine Feed Labels: Tuesday 26 July at 18:30 (virtual)
Equine Life Phases: Wednesday 24 August at 18:30 (virtual)
Use the link https://bit.ly/VCE220428 #VaCoopExt to register for one of the following Zoom horse courses.
In 2022 the Berkeley County Youth Fair will take place
MARTINSBURG — The 75th annual Berkeley County Youth Fair “celebrates 75 years of timeless traditions.” The Miss Youth Fair competition is scheduled for Friday 30th July 2022 with the competition at 7pm. For more information on the 2022 Berkeley County Youth Fair, visit: https://berkeleycountyyouthfair.org/.
Applications for the 2022 Miss Berkeley County Youth Fair are now being accepted. Note that the application must be postmarked as a US mail on or before July 1st. For more information, see https://berkeleycountyyouthfair.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Miss-Berkeley-Youth-Fair-Queen-Application.pdf. There is a fillable PDF application on the website and contact information if anyone has any questions.
Mountaineer Farm Talk Podcast set for Friday
MARTINSBURG – Mountaineer Farm Talk is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with extension service professionals and other farming experts on topical issues important to West Virginia farming.
Upcoming topics and guests at the Mountaineer Farm Talk:
• Today – “Produce healthy lambs and kids”. Brad Smith, WVU Extension Service Ag/NR Agent Grant County.
This week’s special guest is Brad Smith, WVU Extension Service Ag/NR Agent for Grant County, who will be speaking on Producing Healthy Lambs and Kids.
Wood County Extension is inviting individuals to a scheduled Zoom meeting today at 10:00 a.m. To join the Zoom meeting, go to https://wvu.zoom.us/j/98991307779.
Upcoming future programs of interest:
• Friday 17 June: “WV Branded Beef Project”. Dickinson Gould, President of Buzz Foods and Neil Bumgarner, President of the WV Cattlemen’s Association.
• Friday, June 24: “Home Canning Food and the Start of the Canning Season.”
• Friday, July 1st: “Farm Pond Management”.
For more information, contact JJ Barrett at 304-424-1960 or his cell phone 304-483-4257 or email JJ.Barrett@mail.wvu.edu.
Important upcoming dates
• July 30 – August 6, 2022 – 75th Berkeley County Youth Fair
• 13th-16th August 2022 – 80th Annual West Virginia Dairy Show
• 11th-20th August 2022 – West Virginia State Fair
• 21st-27th August 2022 – Jefferson County Fair
Tips for the garden
• Seed corn, beets, pumpkins and winter squash.
• Pinch of blackberry sticks.
• Start controlling bagworm.
• Seed basil as a tomato companion plant.
• Side fertilize sweetcorn that is knee high with supplemental nitrogen.
• Deadhead annuals to encourage more blooms.
• Transplant thyme.
• Pinch of blackberry sticks.
• Plant peppers.
• Prune spring flowering shrubs.
• Control cabbage worms with DiPel® or row cover
• Renovate strawberries after the last harvest (e.g. defoliate, fertilize, etc.).
• Pinch back garden moms.
• Dill seeds
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