Leadership Clay County 2012

Leadership Clay County

What is Leadership Clay County?

Leadership Clay County is a community leadership development program.  Its mission is to enhance the leadership skills of local residents for community and economic development.  Through education, awareness, and networking, Leadership Clay County will help lay a foundation for the development and growth of leadership potential.

What does the program include?

Sessions will be conducted on the third Thursday of each month, typically from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. from January thru May.  Sessions will include presentations on leadership, tourism, hospitality, public speaking, County Service Agencies, and financial planning, among others.

Who can participate in Leadership Clay County?

To represent a cross section of the community, Leadership Clay County brings together a diverse group in terms of race, sex, and occupation.  Participants need not share a common lifestyle or career – only a vision for “Leading with Diversity”.  Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

How are participants chosen?

Applications are available at the Chamber of Commerce office and the Extension office, and will be accepted through January 4th by mail or drop off.  Download Leadership Clay County application:  Leadership Clay County Application (24) Applications should be returned to The Clay County Chamber of Commerce, P. O. Box 85, Lineville, AL 36266 or The Clay County Extension Office, 93 County Rd. 31, Ashland, AL 36251.  The cost of the program is $100 per participant and is due by January 12.  The program’s steering committee members will review all applications and select participants representative of Clay County’s geographic areas and professional categories.

What are you asked to do?

Program participants will attend the January through May sessions and must not miss more than one session in order to graduate from the leadership program.  Participants must also participate in a group project, which includes written and verbal presentations.

For more information concerning the program, contact:

Tonya Tomlin at the Clay County Extension Office – 256-354-5796, or

Mary Patchunka-Smith at the Clay County Chamber of Commerce – 256-396-2828

2012 Clay County Leadership Schedule:January – May the 3^rd Thursday of each month
8am – 2:30pm
Lunch will be provided

The first meeting will be at the Clay County Chamber of Commerce office in Lineville.

January 19^th

February 16^th

March 15^th ~ Legislative Day (Montgomery)

April 19^th 

May 17^th ~ Graduation

Leadership Clay County – Application – Deadline January 4, 2012

USDA To Launch High Tunnel Pilot Study

If any of you are interested in getting a cold frame now may be the time to do it. Cold frames can be a great thing. Auburn and other schools as well have been doing a lot of research with cold frames over the past few years. If you need to talk about the best uses of cold frames in fruit and vegetable production just give me a call.

Learn more > Read this USDA Press Release [Download not found]

Chip

Chip East
eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

Recent Cancellations Involving Furadan Insecticide

Recent Cancellations Involving Furadan Insecticide

On May 11, 2009, the EPA announced they were formally revoking all food tolerances for the insecticide carbofuran, trade name Furadan, effective December 31, 2009. Furadan has been registered and used in Alabama for more than 30 years, and currently has a label that allows for applications to corn, soybeans, alfalfa, potatoes, and rangeland/pastures. While EPA has not cancelled the actual label for the product, it will do so sometime in 2010. The fact that they revoked the food tolerances means that after 2009, if any food commodity is found to contain any residue of carbofuran, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would have authority to condemn and order destruction of that commodity, and EPA would have authority to take enforcement action against the applicator of the Furadan, if they could determine where the residue came from.

It is critical for all applicators, who currently have Furadan, to understand there is no recall program for unused Furadan after 2009.  Any inventory found after December 31, 2009, will be ordered disposed at the expense of the owner.  Landowners and applicators with Furadan are asked to use the product according to label directions before December 31, 2009, and contact a licensed waste disposal contractor for any remaining product.  If there are questions, please contact ADAI at (334) 240-7237.

Tony L. Cofer – Division Director
Pesticide Management and Professional Services
P.O Box 3336
Montgomery, AL  36109-0336
tony.cofer@agi.alabama.gov
334-240-7237 (office)
334-240-7168 (fax)

Tomato Disease Identification

Growers,
I have been getting several questions about tomato disease so I am sending this to everyone. Here is a publication with pictures of tomato diseases. The link below provides information that might be helpful to you.

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0895/

Sugar cane beetles in corn and late blight on tomatoes have been bad this year. Hope all your crops are doing well.

Chip

Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

Sugar Cane Beetles in Corn

Growers,
Some growers are having trouble with sugar cane beetles on in their corn. If anyone is having trouble with this pest please let me know – contact info below.   These things are in the ground and insecticides can not get to the insect very well.  Read more at link that follows:

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG271/corn_sorghum/sugarcane_beetle.html

Chip

Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

Mites on Strawberry Plants

Growers,

We are starting to see some two-spotted spider mite outbreaks.  Hot dry weather favors these outbreaks.  It is important to scout your fields regularly.  Spider mites will usually show up first on the underside of the oldest leaves.  If you find mites on five of twenty leaf samples, it is probably time to treat.

The product of choice right now is Acramite.  It has only a one day pre-harvest interval.  It is packaged so you can also get just enough to treat one or two acres.  Important: read the label.  Also, don’t treat if you don’t have mites, you’ll just be wasting money.

The two photos below, I took this morning, showing what the mites look like and how small they are in relation to a key.  Most people can not see them with out the aid of a magnifying lens.

Mike

Mike Reeves
Regional Extension Agent,
Commercial Horticulture,
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
PO Box 98
Hartselle, AL 35640
office-256-773-2549
cell-256-612-7588
Fax-256-773-2540

Soil Testing and Fertilizer Information

Soil Testing and Fertilizer Information

The following information is provided by Chip East, Regional Extension Agent for Commercial Horticulture with the Alabama County Extension Office.

Fertilizer – How Much To Apply
Don’t Pay for Nutrients That Are Not Needed
If you are going to fertilize a crop it is important to perform a soil analysis in order to find out how much of what type fertilizer is needed.

Download the full document (pdf)  Fertilizer – How Much To Apply (4711)

Interpreting Soil Test Results
Learn how to read your soil test results and how to respond with the right fertilizer and other products your soil needs.

Download the full document (pdf)  Interpreting Soil Test Results (321)