Cooperative Extension Service Shelby County Newsletter

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1117 Frankfort Road ● Shelbyville, KY 40065 ● (502) 633-4593 ● Fax: (502) 633-6713 ● www.ca.uky.edu

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

AG Programs

Leadership is

M.O.R.E. Series

Master

Haymaker

Program

Industrial Hemp

Project

4-H ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT

BANQUET Thursday, December 14 at 7 PM

ONLINE REGISTRATION

IS HERE!

Simply go to our website;

Shelby.ca.uky.edu Click on the “Online Registration” tab,

and follow the links to set up your profile;

then you are ready to sign up for

upcoming classes, any time day or night.

Call the office if you have questions.

502-633-4593

Veterans Appreciation

Reception Sunday, November 5, 2—4 p.m.

Healthy Holiday

Cooking & Eating

Program 10 a.m. on Friday,

November 17

(page 2 for more information)

4-H is collecting food for the Backpack Program at the Achievement Banquet.

November is

Diabetes Awareness Month Healthy choices in food and exercise can

help prevent diabetes. Diabetes can be

controlled—by choosing healthy foods, staying

physically active and knowing and managing

blood sugar numbers.

Healthy Holiday Cooking and

Eating with Diabetes Program As part of November’s National Diabetes

Awareness Month, there will be a special program

at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 17, at your

Shelby County Extension Office. Participants will

learn about healthy lifestyle habits to prevent and/

or manage diabetes. The program will include

cooking demonstrations, food sampling, free

recipes, and answers to your questions. There

will be new recipe food sampling at noon. There

will be a mini-health fair at 9 a.m. with blood

pressure screenings, AlC tests and community

partner information booths.

The Oldham, Henry, Spencer and Shelby

County Cooperative Extension services and the

North Central District Health Department are

sponsoring this program.. To register for this

FREE program, please call 633-4593.

First Saturday Walk Abouts Mark your calendar and join us at the Clear

Creek Park Family Activity Center at 8:30 a.m. on

Saturdays—November 4, December 2, and

January 6 for a walk to de-stress, strengthen your

bones, and improve your overall health. All

participants receive a FREE day pass to the Family

Activity Center. We walk inside on cold, rainy or

snowy days.

Gifts from the Sewing Machine Join us at the monthly Sewing Circle on

Tuesday, November 7 from 3 to 8 p.m. at your

Shelby County Extension Office. You can make

several gifts from the sewing machine including

coasters, ornaments, dinner napkins, quilt as you

go table runner, fabric gift bags, and jewelry roll.

Just email rachelle.sharar@uky.edu or call

633-4593 to request the supplies list. You can join

us anytime from 3 to 8 p.m. Dinner is served at 5

p.m.

Veterans Appreciation Reception On Sunday, November 5, the Shelby

County Extension Homemakers would like to

honor all veteran and active duty military

personnel. The homemakers would also like to

recognize all military families.

All veterans, their families and friends are

invited to attend the Veterans Appreciation

Reception at your Shelby County Extension Office

from 2 until 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 5.

Refreshments will be served and there will be a

short ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Come join us to thank

our veterans and military families for the freedoms

we have in our great country!

Want Lower Car Insurance? Plan to attend the AARP Driver

Improvement Program for drivers age 55 and older

on Wednesday, November 15, from 12:30 p.m.

until 4:30 p.m. at your Shelby County Extension

Office. The class costs $20. Please call 633-4593

for more information and to reserve a space.

Kentucky Law requires that car insurance

companies give a reduction in premium to drivers

55 and older who complete an authorized driving

course. Check with your insurance company on

costs you will save!

Holiday Cookie Exchange Bring four dozen homemade cookies, and

the recipe, to the Holiday Cookie Exchange at 10

a.m. Friday, December 15. You will leave with a

delightful, delicious assortment of cookies to share

with your family and friends, and a recipe booklet

mailed to you after the program.

Art Classes Holiday Themed Painting—$50

Monday, December 4, 1-4 p.m.

Winter Themed Painting—$50

Monday, January 8, 1-4 p.m.

Drawing Class - This is one of the best ways to

improve your artistic abilities. The Class

covers the essentials for creating great art: line,

shape, design, value, form and texture. This

eight week class meets on Mondays from 1 to

4 p.m.. The class dates are 1/29/18—3/19/18.

This class series costs $200.

All the Art Classes are taught by Artist

Beverly Bruntz. To enroll for any of the classes,

please contact Beverly at 502-220-5077. PAGE 2

F AM I L Y

&

CON S UME R S C I E N C E

S

PAGE 3

Articles By: Sheila Fawbush Cooperative Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences

F AM I L Y

&

CON S UME R S C I E N C E

S

Simple Living and Better Health Many people living in the United States

today feel a need to reduce stress levels by trying

to find a simpler way of living. Keeping family

schedules to a manageable number of

commitments is a priority for many households.

Some seek ways to manage stress through

meditation or physical activity. Others have

chosen to reduce the number of belongings in

their home or even choosing a smaller home to

reduce financial obligations and the amount of

space they need to clean and maintain. Keeping

only a core number of garments in your closet can

help simplify getting dressed each day while

looking your best in clothes carefully chosen for

their quality and fit. Gardening and cooking

simple meals at home gives you more control over

the foods you eat and can be ways to reduce

stress. Unplugging from technology and turning

off electronics can give overworked brains a rest.

Some people have learned to use technology to

help simplify their lives to make shopping,

cooking and scheduling more manageable.

Regardless of how you pursue a simpler

lifestyle, there may be health benefits. A simpler

way of living values family and environmental

benefits over material possessions and

consumption. Research conducted by Dr. Heidi

Freeman, an assistant professor at University of

the Sciences in Pennsylvania, found those

surveyed about pursuing a simpler life reported

improved physical and mental health. She

recommends these tips to help you simplify:

Decide what is not necessary. Identify what is

most important to you like spending time with

family or learning a new language. Then eliminate

activities or expenses that do not support the

things you most value.

Start with small changes. Learn a few simple

recipes your family likes and rely on those each

week with variations to make meals easy to

prepare.

Learn to say no gracefully. Try responding to

invitations with a “thank you for thinking of me,

but…” to limit intrusions on your simpler

schedule.

Move more. Look for ways you can walk or

bike to destinations instead of driving and looking

for parking.

Spend less money. The less you buy, the

more you save. Preparing meals at home as a

family can help you spend more time together and

eat healthier meals.

Simple lifestyle changes in eating and

activity behaviors have been shown to reduce risk

of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and

diabetes. People who earnestly find their way to a

slower way of peaceful living can make choices

about how to make their values a priority while

decreasing time and energy spent in things that

matter less to them.

Source: Janet Mullins, Extension Specialist for

Food and Nutrition, University Of Kentucky;

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Key to Embracing Aging:

Stress Management Everybody experiences both good and bad

stress. It can come from mental activity (for

example, working on an important project),

emotional activity (for example, having a

milestone birthday) and/or physical activity (for

example, walking to school). The way we

interpret stress is unique and personal. What may

be relaxing to one person may be stressful to

another. Good stress can be healthy and useful. It

helps us get to an appointment on time or meet a

deadline. When stress becomes overwhelming, it

becomes distress or bad stress. Bad stress can lead

to chronic stress, which can leave you feeling

nervous, on edge and tense. It also puts you at

greater risk for numerous health problems,

including heart disease, sleep problems, digestive

problems, depression, obesity, memory

impairment and various skin conditions, such as

eczema. Learning what causes stress and different

ways we can cope with it helps us to be more

balanced and healthy throughout life. For more

information about managing stress, call your

Shelby County Extension Office at 633-4593.

Source: Amy Hosier , Extension Specialist for

Family Life, University of Kentucky; College of

Agriculture, Food and Environment

2018 MASTER GARDENER CLASSES

The Extension Master Gardener program offers

residents a chance to pick up a wide range of

horticultural knowledge while serving the

community as “green” volunteers.

Master Gardeners take a series of classes on

topics from trees and shrubs, to soils, to plant

diseases and insects before completing hours of

community service to earn their title.

Shelby County Extension will offer Master

Gardener classes in the fall of 2018. If you are

interested in the classes or just want more

information, give us a call, 633-4593, or email

walt.reichert@uky.edu. We’re starting a new

“interested” list now.

WHATCHA WANNA LEARN?

We will soon be making up the schedule for

spring gardening classes. We will

have a few of the staples: fruit

trees, herbs and garden tours. But

we would also like to know what

gardening subjects would interest you. If you

have a topic you would like to learn more

about, email walt.reichert@uky.edu by the

middle of December.

DON’T SPREAD DISEASE

Compost piles are a great way to recycle yard

and garden waste. A properly constructed

compost pile (send me an email if you would

like a publication on how to make a compost

pile) will turn lawn clippings, vines, tree leaves

and food scraps (no meat, please) into a

wonderful, natural time-release fertilizer.

But as you clean up the garden this fall, be

careful not to throw plants that have died of

disease onto the pile. That may include your

squash, tomato, melon

vines as well as bean

and other plants.

While most plants die

naturally, those

species often succumb

to disease so watch them carefully before

putting them into your compost pile. Even if the

compost pile heats up, it may not kill all of the

disease organisms and when you spread the

compost as fertilizer, you will be unwittingly

spreading the disease.

APPLY DORMANT OIL

Using dormant oils, also called

horticulture oils, on your fruit

trees is a way to control some

insects organically. Dormant oils

work by suffocating over-

wintering insects and insect eggs

when the tree is thoroughly

covered. It is especially effective

against scale insects.

Dormant oils are safest for the tree when they

are applied during dormancy (when the tree has

lost its leaves). Many fruit growers apply

dormant oils in late winter/early spring, but they

can just as well be applied in the fall. Always

follow label directions, but dormant oils should

be applied on a day when the temperature will

not drop below 40 degrees and heavy rain is not

expected within 24 hours. Often those

conditions are easier to achieve in fall than in

late February or early March when dormant oils

are most commonly applied. As a disease

control measure, you can also add liquid copper

to the dormant oil following label directions.

FALL IS FOR PLANTING

Get a jump start on next year’s garden by

planting your trees and shrubs now.

UK recommends fall planting for trees and

shrubs because the plants are

able to put down and grow

roots in still-warm soil,

making them better able to

handle the stresses of the hot

months of summer. Fall is an

especially good time to plant

balled-and-burlap trees.

Unfortunately many trees – and many more

dollars – are lost because trees are planted

improperly. Improperly planted trees may live

for several years after planting, but they seldom

thrive for very long. Here are the latest

balled-and-burlap tree-planting guidelines,

courtesy of the University of Kentucky’s

Department of Horticulture:

PAGE 4

H O R T I C U L T U R E

PAGE 5

Articles By: Walt Reichert Horticulture Technician

H O R T I C U L T U R E

1 Make sure the planting hole drains well. After

digging the hole, pour in a bucket of water. If the

water is still sitting in the hole after 24 hours,

find another spot or choose a tree species that

will tolerate a wet spot, such as bald cypress.

2 Go wide rather than deep. The hole should be

at least twice the width of the root ball – three to

four times wider is better. Dig the hole no deeper

than the depth of the root ball. After digging the

hole, roughen the shiny glazed soil from the edg-

es of the hole by stabbing it with your shovel.

3 Plant the first order roots (highest roots coming

out of the trunk) no more than two inches below

the soil surface.

4 When moving the tree’s root ball, be careful

not to drop it or break it apart. Because many

root balls can weigh several hundred pounds, it

often pays to have professionals plant larger

trees.

5 After the tree is placed in the hole, it is im-

portant to remove the twine and burlap from the

root ball. Those were formerly left in place with

the mistaken notion that they would rot, but

much of the burlap used today is synthetic and

will never rot; meanwhile, the tree’s roots girdle

as they circle around their wrappings. If the root

ball has a wire basket, cut it away also; its pres-

ence can damage roots as they grow.

6 Put only native dirt back into the hole. This

probably runs counterintuitive because many

trees are planted in less-than-desirable, heavy

clay soil. But adding soil amendments such as

bagged topsoil, compost or peat moss does not

improve growing conditions but rather creates a

bowl effect – the tree’s roots stay in the bowl and

don’t move out into native soil.

7 Firm the soil by watering rather than dancing

around the tree like it’s a maypole and you’re a

monkey.

After trees are planted, they should be kept wa-

tered during dry spells for at least three years.

Put down mulch around the tree to a depth of two

to three inches. Mulch keeps the ground moist

and keeps lawnmowers away from the trunk.

MEET THE NATIVES

If you are planting a tree this fall, consider

planting a species native to Kentucky. Here are a

few native trees that ought to be planted more

often:

Amur maple – small tree with fragrant flowers

Serviceberry – small tree or large shrub with

edible fruits

American hornbeam – interesting bark and yel-

low fall color

Fringetree – small tree, often multi-trunked,

white flowers in spring

Yellowwood – Small tree, white flowers in late

spring

Kentucky coffeetree – the state tree for a time,

tolerates city conditions

Carolina silverbell – small tree, likes shade, pink

or white blooms

Blackgum – stunning maroon fall color

Willow oak – tolerates wet ground

Sumac – brilliant fall color, can form colonies

American elm – get disease resistant varieties

PAGE 6

4 - H

Y O U T H

D E V E L O P M E N T

4-H Achievement Banquet

The 2017 4-H Achievement Banquet is

approaching quickly. This year’s banquet will be

at the Shelby County Extension Office at 7 p.m.

on December 14. All 4-H members and their

families are invited to attend. We will be

recognizing each club and project group in

Shelby County 4-H at our event.

We would like to have a slide show of

various club activities and events. If you have

photos you would like to submit for use in the

slide show, please send them to Candice Fulcher.

Email pictures to candice.fulcher@uky.edu or

they can be downloaded from an SD card. If you

have questions about submitting pictures, please

call us. We would like to have all clubs and

groups included in the slide show. All pictures

need to be in BEFORE November 15.

Award winners for the Outstanding

Senior, “I Dare You Award,” and Matt Edwards

Award will be announced at the banquet.

Nominations by club leaders, parents, or 4-H

members are due to the Shelby County 4-H office

by November 15. If you have questions about

these awards, please contact Candice Fulcher or

Regina Browning

Shelby County 4-H will be providing

fried chicken and drinks. We ask that 4-H

members bring a salad or side dish if they are a

girl, and a dessert if they are a boy to share with

the group.

In addition, all 4-H members are

encouraged to bring food for the Backpack

Project as a community service project. This

program provides food for young people in need

by filling a backpack with food, on weekends and

breaks from school. Food that can be easily

opened by a child without a can opener is needed.

Examples of items that can be donated include:

pop-tarts, cereal bars, granola bars, fruit cups,

fruit snacks, pudding cups, cheese crackers and

canned foods with pop tops. No foods with

peanuts or peanut butter can be accepted.

Country Ham Project If you are interested in the Country Ham

Project, the contracts are available now. The

contract and $60 fees, are due to the Extension

Office by December 1. The hams typically go

into cure around the Martin Luther King, Jr

holiday.

The 4-H Country Ham Project gives

members two raw hams to take through the

curing process. In August, they give a speech

about the project and if completed, get two

country hams to take home. To receive hams

after the State Fair, youth must complete all

requirements, including attending project

meetings and giving a speech at the State Fair.

All project meetings are held at the Shelby

County Extension Office. Adults may also

participate in the Country Ham Project and will

meet at the same time as 4-Hers. Contact the

Extension Office for adult pricing.

Enrollment Forms All 4-H members and volunteers should

complete new enrollment forms each year. The

form for 2017-2018 is now available. Please

submit your form as soon as possible so that you

can continue to receive mailings and updates.

Enrollment forms are available on our

website or at the Extension Office. If you have

questions, please give us a call.

4-H Participation Across

County Lines If you do not live in or go to school in

Shelby County, you must meet the qualifications

of the State 4-H Cross County Participation

Policy to participate as a Shelby County 4-H

member. As a general rule, 4-Hers must

participate in the county in which they reside or

go to school. If a program is not available in

their county of residence or where they go to

school then they may participate in another

county. A request form to participate in another

county must be submitted to the agent in your

county of residence. The request must be

approved by the 4-H Council of your county of

residence and by the county that you want to

participate in. You can not move 4-H

membership because a county has a better

program or to gain a competitive advantage.

Also, you cannot transfer membership based on

the location of your livestock or horse project. It

is based on the location of the youth, not the

animal. If your county offers a Horse Program or

Shooting Sports Program you cannot transfer

participation because of a specific discipline.

Members participating in another county

other than their county of residence will be

responsible for having a copy of their completed

and approved forms in their possession at 4-H

events. Once the Cross County waiver is

granted, a 4-Her does not have to reapply every

year. Forms are available at the Extension

Office or on our website. If you have any

questions, please call or email the office.

Project Books Remember– we have project books to

guide you through your 4-H projects.

These books will provide you with

education and a list of supplies,

resources, and guidelines that you

will need to complete your project.

These books cannot be mailed out but will be

provided free of charge to interested 4-H

members. If you would like a project book, stop

by the Extension Office and pick them up at your

convenience.

4-H Camp Dates The dates for Shelby County 4-H Camp

have been set. We will be camping June 5-8,

2018. We will be camping with Henry and

Pulaski counties. Applications for campers will

be available February 1. Camp slots are filled on

a first-come, first-served basis.

Application for 4-H Camp Teen Leaders,

Counselors in Trainings (CIT) and Adult Leaders

will also be available on February 1 at the

Extension Office and on our website.

Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum “Rolling Out the Green Carpet for

Volunteers” The Kentucky Volunteer Forum (KVF)

will be held February 8-10. 2018 at the Hyatt

Regency in Lexington, Kentucky. This is a

statewide event created to celebrate and

recognize our 4-H Volunteers. Hundreds of

workshops and seminars will be offered on a

variety of subjects during the event. It is a great

networking and idea sharing opportunity with

volunteers from across the state of Kentucky.

There are educational, youth entrepreneur, and

commercial exhibits set up to view. A banquet

and awards program is held as a way to honor

the wonderful volunteers that make the

Kentucky 4-H program so special.

Regardless of your role as a volunteer in

4-H, there are sessions, classes and trainings that

will be beneficial to you. KVF is an excellent

opportunity for those needing recertification

hours in Horse or Livestock to get their

educational hours.

Registration information will be out soon

for KVF. Shelby County 4-H will assist current

volunteers with the cost of attending if you are

interested. We will post information to our

website as soon as it becomes available. This is

a great program and I encourage all volunteers to

attend!

Online Registration The Extension Office now has the ability

for online class registrations. Simply go to our

website; Shelby.ca.uky.edu, click on the “Online

Registration” tab, and follow the links to set up

your profile. Once completed you are ready to

sign up for upcoming classes, any time day or

night. Not all 4-H activities will be available to

sign up online.

Leadership is M.O.R.E. Series Shelby County Extension is known for

having a strong and active volunteer base of

individuals with exceptional leadership skills. Many

times, volunteers wish to expand their skills before

taking on additional leadership responsibilities. The

Leadership is M.O.R.E. series is designed to

encourage and facilitate the development of skills and

to foster the self-confidence needed to accept

leadership roles within Extension and the community

as a whole.

A large part of being a leader is recognizing

and encouraging leadership development in others.

Leadership is M.O.R.E will aid participants in taking

an active role in facilitating leadership development

among their peers.

Leadership is M.O.R.E is a five-part series

beginning on Wednesday, November 15 from 6—9

p.m. Remaining sessions will be held on Monday,

November 20, and Wednesdays, November 29,

December 6 and December 13.

Session topics will include:

Color Me a Leader

Speaking to Be Heard

Meetings That Matter

Making Connections

Becoming MORE

The Leadership is M.O.R.E program is open

to anyone, including those outside Extension. If you

or someone you know would like to participate,

please call 633-4593 to register for this valuable

training program.

PAGE 7

Articles By: Regina Browning Cooperative Extension Agent for

4 - H

Y OU T H

D E V E L O PME N T

PAGE 8

Leadership is M.O.R.E. Series Shelby County Extension is known for having

a strong and active volunteer base of

individuals with exceptional leadership

skills. Many times, volunteers wish to

expand their skills before taking on

additional leadership responsibilities.

The Leadership is M.O.R.E. series is

designed to encourage and facilitate the development

of skills and to foster the self-confidence needed to

accept leadership roles within Extension and the

community as a whole.

A large part of being a leader is recognizing

and encouraging leadership development in others.

Leadership is M.O.R.E will aid participants in taking

an active role in facilitating leadership development

among their peers.

Leadership is M.O.R.E is a five-part series

beginning on Wednesday, November 15 from 6—9

p.m. Remaining sessions will be held on Monday,

November 20, and Wednesdays, November 29,

December 6 and December 13.

Session topics will include:

Color Me a Leader

Speaking to Be Heard

Meetings That Matter

Making Connections

Becoming MORE

The Leadership is M.O.R.E program is open

to anyone, including those outside Extension. If you

or someone you know would like to participate, please

call 633-4593 to register for this valuable training

program.

Master Haymaker Program We are excited to offer a new extension

Master program in 2018, Master Haymaker.

Beginning January 17, you are invited to

expand your knowledge and skills regarding stored

forage production. The course

will include seven sessions

and cover topics including soil

management and fertility,

warm season and cool season

crops, weed control, forage

storage, and hay making

machinery. Specialists from

the University of Kentucky will conduct the classes

and will cover the seven topics in-depth. A

registration fee of $75 will cover the cost of meals and

materials.

Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings

from January 17 – February 28 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

and will rotate between the Shelby and Henry County

Extension Offices. For more information or to

register for the Master Haymaker Program, please call

633-4593 by January 10, 2018.

Industrial Hemp Project

Application Period Opens

Producers interested in applying for the

Industrial Hemp Pilot Project for 2018: applications

are due on or before November 15. See the

announcement from Commissioner Quarles below:

Hemp Program Now Taking Applications for 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles

announced that the Kentucky Department of

Agriculture (KDA) has opened the application period

for Kentuckians wishing to participate in the state’s

industrial hemp research pilot program for the 2018

growing season.

“I am proud to report that our program

participants grew more than 3,200 acres of hemp this

year, the most ever under the industrial hemp research

program,” said Commissioner Quarles. “My vision is

to expand and strengthen our research pilot program to

put industrial hemp on a responsible path toward

commercialization. Our increased production and

processing is welcome news for the industry.”

Industrial hemp is one of several alternative

crops, including hops and kenaf, that have made

headway in Kentucky’s agricultural economy in recent

years. In 2017, Kentucky’s farmers planted 3,200

acres of hemp, up from 2,350 acres in 2016, 922 acres

in 2015, and 33 acres in 2014, the first year of the

program. In addition to 194 grower participants, 48

hemp processors are conducting research as part of the

KDA program.

Applications may be downloaded from the

KDA website at kyagr.com/hemp. Grower

applications must be postmarked or received by

November 15, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Processor/Handler applications are preferred

by November 15, 2017, with a final deadline of June

1, 2018.

Public Input on Draft Administrative Regulations

The KDA is also opening a public comment

period for preliminary draft regulations governing the

industrial hemp research pilot program. Earlier this

year, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate

Bill 218, tasking the KDA with promulgating

administrative regulations for the program. Once the

process is complete, program rules will be found in

administrative regulations, as the law prescribes.

Department officials ask that interested

members of the public submit their comments in

writing by October 31 so that the agency can consider

those comments prior to filing the regulations with the

Legislative Research Commission later this year. The

draft administrative regulations will be used as the

policy to guide the program in 2018.

The draft regulations are available at

kyagr.com/hemp. Written comments may be

A G R I CUL TURE

PAGE 9

submitted by mail to KDA Hemp Program, 111

Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601 or by email to

hemp@ky.gov with “Hemp Reg Comments” in the

subject line.

KDA operates its industrial hemp research

pilot program under the authority of state law (KRS

260.850-260.869) and a provision of the 2014 federal

Farm Bill (7 U.S.C. § 5940) that authorizes state-

managed hemp pilot programs.

Freezing Effects on Forages Prussic Acid (Cyanide) Poisoning

As temperatures continue to decrease, it is

important to know and understand how various

species of forages react to frosts and freezes in order

to best utilize these forages and to avoid possible

health problems. Freezing changes the metabolism

and composition of plants. Depending on plant

species, this can create possible forage-related

animal disorders or the need to alter grazing

management practices.

Plants such as sorghum, sudangrass,

sorghum-sudan hybrids, Johnsongrass, wild cherry,

and others contain cyanide-producing compounds.

When these plants are damaged by frost or drought

conditions, a reaction produces larger quantities of

cyanide. It is important to use extreme caution when

grazing these species during damaging conditions.

Soils high in nitrogen and low in phosphorous have

greater potential of producing harmful levels of

cyanide. Leaves, new shoots, and tillers have higher

levels of cyanide. If there is a non-killing frost, wait

10-14 days with no additional frost action before

grazing. It is advised to keep livestock off these

pastures for up to three days after a killing frost.

If large amounts of cyanide, often referred to

as prussic acid, are consumed, the compound

interferes with oxygen utilization and livestock can

die from respiratory paralysis. Symptoms appear

quickly after forage is consumed. These symptoms

may include cherry red colored blood, staggering,

labored breathing, spasms, foaming at the mouth,

falling, thrashing, severe convulsions, and death.

Immediate treatment by a veterinarian is needed to

save livestock suffering from cyanide poisoning.

When cut for hay, cyanide content decreases

significantly during the curing process. A fair

amount of this poison escapes as gas during

fermentation when used for silage. Although it is

usually safe to feed these species as hay or silage, it

is important to be cautious when grazing any forage

that can potentially have high cyanide levels.

Using caution when grazing these forages

during times of stress can usually eliminate the

possibility of cyanide poisoning in livestock. Wait

the recommended time before grazing after a frost.

Mixing nonthreatening forages into the diet can be

beneficial as well. Using “test” animals is another

option rather than turning the whole herd onto a

field.

The risk of cyanide poisoning this season

can be reduced by following these practices:

Wait 10-14 days after non-killing frost with no

additional frost action before grazing.

Do not graze after a killing frost until plant

material is dry (the toxin usually dissipates within 72

hours.)

Do not graze at night when frost is likely. High

levels of toxins are produced within hours after frost

occurs.

Delay feeding silage for six to eight weeks

following ensiling.

Effects of Freeze on Alfalfa

A few other commonly used forages,

including alfalfa, are affected by freeze which may

affect best management strategies. Although frost

damaged alfalfa is not toxic, it is important to be

cautious when grazing alfalfa after a hard freeze (less

than 25F). After a freeze, the threat of bloat slightly

increases for a few days. Once wilting starts or the

plant starts growing again, bloat is less likely.

Waiting a few days after a freeze can be a good

practice to decrease risk of bloat when grazing

alfalfa. Continue to use recommended practices to

reduce the potential for bloat. If forage is needed and

you plan to cut the alfalfa for hay, it is suggested to

wait to cut until the first hard freeze or until early to

mid-November (even without a freeze there is very

little regrowth after this date). After a hard freeze

occurs, cut as soon as possible to reduce losses in

nutritive value. If cut after a non-killing freeze,

plants can start to regrow which will use stored

carbohydrates that would otherwise be used for

overwintering and spring regrowth.

Grazing Tall Fescue after a Freeze

Damaging frosts significantly reduce

forage quality in most forage species. Tall fescue

is unique because it has waxy layer which

lessens the damage caused by colder

temperatures and forage quality remains high in

comparison to other species. The quality loss

from leaf deterioration is lower compared to

other cool-season forages. Another unique

attribute of tall fescue is that after experiencing a

freeze, sugar content increases. This makes tall

fescue ideal for stockpiling and winter grazing

use.

Source: UK Master Grazer Program

Articles By: Corinne F. Belton Cooperative Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

A G R I CUL TURE

PAGE 10

C A L E N D A R

O F E V E N T S

PAGE 11

NOVEMBER

1 AG For Rookies Session 5, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

2 4-H Teen Council, 4 p.m. Extension Office

4 FCS First Saturday Walk About, 8:30—9 a.m. FAC

4,18 4-H Equus Horse Club, 10 a.m. Leader’s Farm

5 FCS Veterans Appreciation Reception, 2-4 p.m. Extension Office

7 FCS Sewing Circle, 3-8 p.m. Extension Office

9 4-H Saddles N Spurs Horse Club, 7 p.m. Extension Office

13 4-H Livestock Club, 7 p.m. Extension Office

13 4-H Fur & Feathers, 7 p.m. Extension Office

14 HORT Master Gardener Executive Board, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

14 4-H Zappy Zippers 4-H Sewing Club, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Extension Office

15 ALL Leadership is M.O.R.E., 6:00 p.m. Extension Office

15 FCS Plate It Up Cooking Club, noon Extension Office

15 FCS AARP Driver Class for Over 55, 12:30—4:30 p.m. Extension Office

17 FCS Healthy Holiday Cooking and Eating, 10 a.m. Extension Office

20 ALL Leadership is M.O.R.E., 6:00 p.m. Extension Office

20 4-H Dairy Club, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

21 AG Farm-City Banquet TBA

23-24 ALL CLOSED for Thanksgiving Extension Office

29 ALL Leadership is M.O.R.E., 6:00 p.m. Extension Office

DECEMBER

2,16 4-H Equus Horse Club, 10 a.m. Leader’s Farm

2 FCS First Saturday Walk About, 8:30-9 a.m. FAC

5 AG/HO Hort & Ag Advisory Council, 6:00 p.m. Extension Office

6 ALL Leadership is M.O.R.E., 6:00 p.m. Extension Office

8 FCS Holiday Cookie Exchange, 10 a.m. Extension Office

8 HORT Master Gardener general meeting, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

11 4-H Livestock Club, 7 p.m. Extension Office

11 4-H Fur & Feathers, 7 p.m. Extension Office

12 4-H Zappy Zippers 4-H Sewing Club, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Extension Office

13 ALL Leadership is M.O.R.E., 6:00 p.m. Extension Office

14 4-H Achievement Banquet, 7 p.m. Extension Office

18 4-H Dairy Club, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

25-1 ALL Closed for the Holidays Extension Office

KEY

4-H 4-H Youth

Development

AG Agriculture

HORT Horticulture

FCS Family and

Consumer

Science

THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED FOR

THE HOLIDAYS, DECEMBER 25

THROUGH JANUARY 1