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

AUGUST

JULY

Pesticide Disposal Rinse & Return

Thursday, July 16

from 9 a.m. until Noon

at the Shelby County Road Department.

4-H Food-A-Rama

Wednesday, July 19

10 a.m.

Summer Cooking Series

HORTICULTURE

BEGINNING

BEEKEEPERS

SCHOOL

INSECT TROUBLES

Details on Page 4 & 5

Kids in the Kitchen Thursday, July 27 9-11 a.m.

Thursday, July 27 1-3 p.m.

Driver Safety for Over 55 Wednesday, August 16 noon—4:30 p.m.

Farmers Market Demo

Saturday, August 19 8—11 a.m.

See pages 2-3 for more information on Kids in the Kitchen and Driver Safety

See Page 7 for more information.

Upcoming Events

Extension Field Day—July 13

4-H Food-A-Rama—July 19

Kids in the Kitchen—July 27

Sit and Sew If you enjoy sewing, you are invited to the

Sit and Sew Days at your Shelby County

Extension Office. From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. people

will be sewing on the following Tuesdays —July

21 and August 9. Bring your current sewing

project and lunch.

Kids in the Kitchen Youth (ages 5 – 12) are invited to participate in

this year’s Kids in the Kitchen; a delicious, fun,

learning adventure! The youth will enjoy hands-

on cooking experiences and nutrition education.

Registration is required for this free program on

Thursday, July 27 at your Shelby County

Extension Office. Call 633-4593 to reserve your

child’s spot in the 9 – 11 a.m. session or the

1 – 3 p.m. session. Space is limited to 45 youth

per session.

Want Lower Car Insurance? Plan to attend the AARP Driver Safety

Program for drivers age 55 and older on

Wednesday, August 16 from noon 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. A 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!

Beginning Sewing Classes Shelby County’s Master Clothing

Volunteers will teach a Beginning Sewing Class

from 3 to 8 p.m. on September 5 and October 3.

Mark your calendar if you would like to learn to

sew! For intermediate sewers, the project for

September and October is a Four Square Bag with

an adjustable handle. Call 633-4593 to get the

supply lists needed for the sewing projects.

State Fair Demos Stop by the textiles area at the State Fair to

visit the Shelby County Extension

Homemakers and friends who will be doing the

following demonstrations:

Needlework—10 a.m.—2 p.m. August 24

Caning— 10 a.m.—2 p.m. August 25

Calling All Homemakers!!! You are invited to an Indoor Summer

Picnic at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8 at your

Shelby County Extension Office. Just bring a

salad to share. Drinks will be provided.

Following lunch we will have an hour of

Homemaker Training. This training will be

beneficial for all homemakers. We hope to see

you August 8 as we make exciting plans for our

new homemaker year. Call 633-4593 to RSVP.

Safe Canning Practices

Keep Everyone Healthy Gardens are beginning to bear the fruits of our

labor. Soon, it will be time to start thinking about

preserving some of the excess produce for winter

months. Safety is of utmost importance for those

of us who will be preserving food, because, let’s

face it, no one wants to get sick from poorly

processed food.

Bacteria, molds and yeast can grow quickly on

fresh foods, and fruits and vegetables contain

oxygen and enzymes that can cause food to spoil.

Safe home canning methods help prevent the

growth of these bacteria, yeast and molds in

addition to removing excess oxygen from the food,

which destroys spoilage enzymes and helps form

strong vacuum seals on the jars.

You should remember several key points of

proper food preservation to keep yourself and your

family healthy and safe from botulism, which can

be a deadly form of food poisoning.

Despite what you may find on the Web or

social media, only two methods are acceptable for

home canning safe, quality products. They are the

boiling water canning method and the pressure

canner method. The type of food you are

preserving will dictate which method to use.

Boiling water canners can be used on fruits and

other products that have a high concentration of

acid, such as salsas or pickles with enough lemon

juice or vinegar added. Acid helps prevent the

growth of harmful bacteria in canned food.

Vegetables, poultry and meats do not contain

enough acid to prevent the growth of bacteria. For

these foods, a boiling water canner will not reach a

high enough temperature to destroy the bacteria

that can cause botulism, so you must use a pressure

canner to ensure safe processing.

Make sure to use up-to-date equipment that’s

in proper working condition. It’s never a good idea

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F AM I L Y

&

CON S UME R S C I E N C E

S

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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

to purchase a pressure canner at a yard sale as

replacement parts and manufacturer’s instructions

may be no longer available. Pressure canners

made after 1997 were designed with more safety

features and weigh less than older canners. Follow

the manufacturer’s instructions on canner care and

maintenance. For dial gauge pressure canners, the

accuracy of the gauge should be tested each year.

This can be done at your local Extension office.

Remember to always use tested, research-

based recipes to preserve foods. These recipes are

available in Cooperative Extension Service home

canning publications, in the U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s Complete Guide to Home Canning

or on the National Center for Home Food

Preservation’s website. Follow each recipe as

closely as possible. Do not make additions or

changes unless options are provided in the recipe.

Not following the recipe precisely or using a

recipe that is not research-based, may not

completely kill all bacteria and result in sickness.

Use only Mason-type canning jars and self-

sealing lids. Do not reuse old jars like those that

previously contained peanut butter or mayonnaise.

After processing, allow the jars to cool naturally.

This helps form a good vacuum seal.

Source: Debbie Clouthier, extension associate,

University of Kentucky

Plan to visit your Shelby County

Cooperative Extension Service office where home

canning publications are available. They cover

the basics of safe home canning and provide

tested recipes for canning a wide range of

products — everything from jams and jellies to

soups and stews. You’re sure to find recipes that

will please your family!

Just in Time Parenting Did you know that a baby’s cry is a call

for help? The baby is trying to tell you

something. The baby may be hungry, lonely, wet,

sleepy, in pain, too cold or too hot, or maybe the

baby is overstimulated. Want to learn more about

babies and young children? Go to

www.extension.org and choose “family” under

Resource Areas. Then choose “parenting” to sign

up for a very helpful “Just in Time Parenting”

newsletter. Babies and young children do not

come with instruction sheets! This educational

newsletter could really help!

Drink Water First Water is nature’s thirst quencher. Water

has ZERO calories! Your body needs water to

function with top performance of all body

systems. Water makes up 60% of body weight.

Some signs of mild dehydration are

headaches, nausea, irritability and fatigue. In hot

temperatures you may need more water. If you

sweat a lot or if you are taking certain

medications, you may also need more water.

When you feel thirsty, you are usually already one

cup short of water. If you are getting enough

water, your urine will be colorless or slightly

yellow. Dark yellow urine is a sign of

dehydration.

How much water do you need daily? This

depends on your body weight and activity level.

The general rule of thumb is eight, 8-ounce

glasses of water a day. This keeps you well-

hydrated and allows your body and brain to

function optimally. If you are outside on triple

digit days, you will need more water to stay

hydrated. For more information and support, visit

www.drinkwaterfirst.com.

Food Facts—Dairy Dairy includes milk, yogurt, cheese and

calcium-fortified soy beverages (soymilk).

Choose fat-free (skim) and low-fat (1%) dairy

foods.

Consuming dairy products provides health

benefits. They make your bones stronger. Foods

in the dairy group have nutrients that are vital for

health and care of your body. Calcium is used for

building bones and teeth and to maintain bone

mass. Vitamin D’s job in the body is to keep

proper levels of calcium and phosphorous, which

help to build and maintain bones. Diets rich in

potassium may help to keep healthy blood

pressure.

Source: Healthy Choices for Healthy Families,

June/July 2017.

Call your Shelby County Extension Office at

633-4593 to request the entire copy of Healthy

Choices which includes recipes.

Bee school

Every fall, the Extension office

hosts a Beginning Beekeepers

School and this year is no

exception. Beginning Beekeepers

School will be held on Monday

and Tuesday Oct. 23 and 24 from

6:30 to 8:30 here at the Extension

office. The classes will be taught by Shelby

County beekeepers.

The classes are free but we ask you to register

so we are sure to have enough space.

Call 633-4593 to register.

Water, water, water

Newly planted trees and shrubs often don’t get

a chance to get established their first year

because their owners plant them

in spring when it’s typically cool

and rainy and then forget about

them. Newly planted shrubs need

watering through dry spells at

least through their first summer

and into fall. Newly planted trees need watering

during dry spells for up to three years.

This doesn’t mean water every day. Watering

should be done deeply, no more than once a

week should rains fail. There are a couple of

ways to do that, but neither involve standing out

there with a hose splashing water around;

you’re just playing in the water. A good way to

water is with a soaker hose that directs water at

the base of the plant. Another approach is to put

a five gallon bucket near the trees with three or

four holes drilled in the bottom and allow the

water to seep into the ground next to the tree or

shrub. For trees, you can also buy bags that can

be filled with up to 20 gallons of water with a

hose, and the water is slowly released to the

tree. Research shows those work very well in

getting trees through their first and second

summers.

If you do water with a hose, turn on the water

so the stream is about the size of your little

finger and set it near the base of the plant; go

away, have a cup of coffee or pull weeds

somewhere and come back in about an hour and

move your hose to the next plant.

Remember to also keep weeds from growing up

around newly planted trees and shrubs.

Research shows that grasses and weeds can

outcompete small trees for water. Mulching

around the base of the plants does double duty;

it keeps in moisture and it keeps weeds away

from the plant.

Problems, problems

Many folks feared a “buggy summer” because

the winter was so mild. So far, we are having a

“buggy summer,” but Dr. Lee Townsend,

Extension entomologist, says that some bugs at

least are benefitted more by last year’s wet

summer than the mild winter.

Take Japanese beetles, for example. They

arrived early this year and

are expected to be as

plentiful, if not more so,

than last year. Dr.

Townsend said a rainy

July produces more

Japanese beetles the

following year because their grubs hatch and

survive well (Japanese beetle and chafer beetle

grubs are the C-shaped guys that can damage

lawns in some years.) Except when they cluster

on ripening fruit, such as peaches and

blackberries, Japanese beetle damage is mostly

cosmetic, though they can severely damage

small plants if their numbers are high. If

possible, covering the plant with light polyester

fabric works well for the short time the beetles

are out. Also, Sevin (carbaryl) will kill them but

is hard on bees; use the liquid spray in early

morning and evening when bees are less likely

to be foraging and avoid spraying blossoms.

We’re also seeing damage from fall webworms

earlier than normal. Webworms

are often confused with tent

caterpillars, but tent caterpillars

are typically a problem in

spring, while fall webworms

appear in mid-summer. This

year, they’re out in late spring.

Fall webworms gather parts of the plant inside

their tent and eat the leaves as they develop.

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

Their nests will be on the outside edges of

branches. Webworms are hard to kill when

they’re in their tent. The best strategy is to prune

away the branch with the web and throw it away.

Another insect causing problems this

summer is scale. Many experienced

gardeners are unaware of scale, but

they can do a lot of damage in a hurry

if their numbers are left unchecked.

Dozens of kinds of scale exist. They

are sucking insects that rob trees and

shrubs of their juices and can

eventually kill the plant. The females typically

produce a hard shell (calico scale) or a cottony

mass for protection while they incubate their

eggs. Thus protected, they are hard to kill with

chemicals. But about this time of year their

babies, called crawlers, hatch and can be seen

with the naked eye (as long as eyesight is keen)

moving about the plant. That is when the insect

is vulnerable to sprays of malathion, Sevin,

pyrethrin (organic) or spinosad (organic). To be

sure of a kill, spray when you see crawlers and

again about a week later. Alternately, you can

spray dormant oil on trees and shrubs in winter

when leaves are off the branches. The oil will

smother the insects even though they are

protected in their shells.

Information provided by Dr. Lee Townsend, UK

Extension entomologist

Tough times for blue spruce

If you have noticed, most of the

Colorado blue spruce around the

county are looking pretty sad. I’ve

had lots of “What’s wrong with my

tree?” calls on that species this year.

Not all, but most, of the damage is

done by a disease called needlecast.

Needlecast disease first shows as needles turning

a purplish brown; usually those toward the

bottom of the tree are first. The disease moves up

the tree as the needles gradually

fall off. The disease is usually, but

not always, fatal.

The disease has become noticeable

this year thanks primarily to the

two extremely wet summers we’ve

had in the past two years. Colorado blue spruces

are most at home in a climate that is cool and

dry. When we have hot, wet summers, especially

day after day of rain, the disease spreads. If the

tree isn’t too far gone, you can take steps to save

it. First, get away the diseased needles from the

bottom of the tree; those continue to spread the

disease upward. Second, during dry spells this

summer, keep the tree well-watered so that new

growth can commence. Next spring, fertilize the

tree with at least five pounds of a high nitrogen

fertilizer. Finally, when new growth begins in

spring, you can spray the tree with a fungicide,

such as mancozeb, or one containing

cholorothalonil or copper. Spray fungicide twice

about two weeks apart and that will offer some

protection. Meanwhile, if you choose to plant

another Colorado blue spruce, make sure it is in

full sun and in a place where it gets good air

flow. That will help keep the disease at bay.

Wounds on trees

Weekend lawn warriors often do major damage

to their trees with their mowers and string

trimmers. A little too close and parts of bark get

chipped off. A natural inclination is to want to

wrap the wound in some

sort of “band aid” or paint

it with some sort of

covering. Don’t.

Research shows that

wrapping or painting wounds on trees does little

good and can do harm. Allow the tree to heal

itself. If you are feeling bad about your actions,

mulch around the tree at least two to three feet

out from the trunk to keep your lawn mower

farther away. But please don’t make those little

volcanoes that so many landscapers do. Those

cause the tree to rot and, let’s face it, look stupid.

PAGE 6

4 - H

Y O U T H

D E V E L O P M E N T

4-H Floral Hall Class Champions

4-H Arts & Crafts

Jr. Acrylic Still Life-Opal Best ( Grand Champion)

Jr. Pen & Ink-Blake Wilson

Jr. Art Trends-Mixed Media-Emma Browning

Sr. Art Trends-Mixed Media-Destiny McDonald

4-H Crops Alfalfa Hay-Blake Wilson (Grand Champion)

Timothy Hay-Anna Woods Other Grass-Riley Martin

4-H Electric Electromagnetic Circuits-Kyle Stine (Grand

Champion)

4-H Food Preservation Salsa-Bristol Wallace (Grand Champion)

Dill Pickles-Bristol Wallace

Strawberry Jam-Bristol Wallace

Green Beans-Bristol Wallace

4-H Food Exhibit Oatmeal Muffins-Hannah Suter

Cheese Muffins-Madeline Burbage

Rolled Biscuits-Kyle Stine

Scones-Lilly Phillips

Coffee Cake-Katie Stine

Three Chewy Granola Bars-Katie Stine

Brownies-Kyle Stine

Snickerdoodles-Riley Martin

Chocolate Cake-Kyle Stine

Carrot/Zucchini Cake-Brianne Sharar

Chiffon Cake-Katie Stine (Grand Champion)

Cinnamon Twists-Katie Stine

Pretzel-Kyle Stine

Oatmeal Bread-Katie Stine

Honey Wheat Bread-Kyle Stine

4-H Horticulture Beets-Maddy Raizor

Cabbage-Shelby Wallace

Onion-Maddy Raizor

Potatoes-Shelby Wallace

Squash-Maddy Raizor

Turnips-Maddy Raizor

Blueberries-Bristol Wallace

Vegetable Container Garden-Destiny McDonald

Annual Container Gardens-Blake Wilson

Herb Container Garden-Destiny McDonald

Cucumbers Slicing-Maddy Raizor

Green Beans-Maddy Raizor (Grand Champion)

4-H Needlework Crochet-Hannah Suter (Grand Champion)

4-H Photography Fun with Shadows-Katie Stine

Directing the Light-Abby Hodder

Bird’s Eye View-Katie Stine

Hat Tricks and Magic-Destiny McDonald (Grand

Champion)

Black and White-Abby Hodder

4-H Horticultural Photography Single Black & White-Abby Hodder

Single Color-Abby Hodder

Sequence of 4 Black & White Photos-Destiny

McDonald

Collection of Photos-Katie Stine

4-H Sewing Unit I Clothing: Lets learn to Sew Shorts, paints,

or skirt)-Lilly Phillips

Unit II Beginner Skills; Skirt, Shorts, or Pants-

Kyle Stine (JR Grand Champion)

Unit II Non-Clothing Option-Opal Best

Unit III Clothing Option-Kaleb Barnes

Let’s Be Casual-Katie Stine (SR Grand Champion)

Let’s Be Casual Non-Clothing-Katie Stine

Creative Expression-Destiny McDonald

4-H Tobacco Projects Flying-Shelby Wallace

Lugs-Shelby Wallace

Leaf-Shelby Wallace

Tip-Shelby Wallace

4 Grades-Shelby Wallace (Grand Champion)

Best Potted Growing Plant of Burley Tobacco-

Bristol Wallace

If a 4-Hers’ items qualified to go to the State

Fair, we will send you a letter with details about

entering your project. The KY State Fair

requires a Social Security Number when we

enter your items. We do not keep the numbers

on file, so we will need to collect them from

each exhibitor prior to entry. We will take the

items to 4-H Cloverville and check them in.

Shelby County will be well represented in

Cloverville this year! I encourage everyone to

go and see all the 4-H entries from across the

state. Cloverville is in the West Hall during the

Kentucky State Fair and is where the 4-H

exhibits are located. Kentucky 4-H hosts several

hands on activities and demonstration each day

of the fair.

The Kentucky State Fair is August 17-27.

Shelby County 4-Hers will participate in the

Sheep, Swine, Beef, Dairy, Goat shows, and

Country Ham Contest in addition to Cloverville.

4-H Food -A- Rama

All 4-H members are invited to participate in

4-H Food-A-Rama on July 19 at 10 a.m. This is

a fun cooking contest for youth. Participants

bring in their favorite recipes so our judges can

evaluate their dishes and make their selections.

While the judges are at work, a demonstration is

presented on a foods topic for the attendees.

Afterwards, participants sample all the dishes

and vote on their favorites. Prizes are awarded

in each category and a Grand Champion is

selected. The participants also vote on a

“Taster’s Choice” award for a special prize.

This year’s categories include:

Appetizer

Bread

Soup

Dessert

Casserole

Main Dish

Vegetable/Side Dish

Miscellaneous (anything that doesn't fit the

above categories)

Bring your completed dish and two copies of

the recipe for the contest. A 4-Her may enter as

many items as he or she want. A Cookbook of

all the entries will be sent to the participants

following the contest.

Extension Field Day Shelby County Extension will host a Field

Day on July 13 from 3-7p.m. at Mulberry

Orchard. We will provide a

free meal and educational

opportunities for the entire

family. Everyone is invited!

The FREE meal will be

provided to the first 200 people.

Anyone that would like to volunteer to help

with the field day should call the office. We

need volunteers to help with set up, assist with

registration, man display tables and assist in

clean up.

The Extension Field Day is an opportunity

for Shelby County 4-H to show off all the

wonderful things we have to offer. All clubs and

4-H groups are invited to set up a display or

provide an activity for field day visitors. Let

Regina or Candice know if you would like to

participate.

4-H Summer Culinary Series

A Summer Cooking Series will be offered in

July to Shelby County 4-H members. The series

will focus on different cuts of meat, ways to

prepare them and cooking techniques.

Participants are not required to

attend all four sessions but are

encouraged to. 4-Hers who do

complete all four sessions will

receive a certificate for their

achievement. The series is in its final stages of

planning, so, while we do not have an agenda for

each day, we do have dates secured. Dates

include: Tuesday July 18, Thursday July 20,

Tuesday July 25 and Friday June 28. All

sessions will be held at the Shelby County

Extension Office with the exception of one,

which will be announced soon. Please check our

website or contact the Shelby County Extension

Office for more information.

Changes to Horse, Livestock &

Diary Leader Recertification

Effective immediately, the recertification

period for 4-H leaders has changed. The yearly

recertification period is now September 1

through August 31. All currently certified

volunteers must receive the minimum of two (2)

hours of approved continuing education by the

new deadline of August 31, 2017. After

attending a meeting, session or training, The

leader must take a confirmation form with him

or her to be signed by the instructor or

facilitator. We must submit the completed

confirmation form to the State 4-H Office for

approval. Nearly any opportunity will be

approved so leaders have freedom to choose

something they feel would benefit them. The

two hours must be completed every 4-H program

year to maintain certification.

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Articles By: Regina Browning Cooperative Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development

4 - H

Y OU T H

D E V E L O PME N T

PAGE 8

Pesticide Disposal Rinse & Return Mark your calendars for the

upcoming Rinse & Return day to be

held Thursday, July 13 from 9 a.m.

until noon at the Shelby County

Road Department.

To participate in the

program, farmers and commercial applicators

must be certain their containers are properly

rinsed. The lids should be removed, as should the

plastic sleeves and any label booklets. Farmers

and applicators are encouraged to store their

containers in a dry, secure location until they

transport them to the local collection site.

Preventing Hay Fires You can prevent hay bale or barn fires if you

bale hay at appropriate moistures and monitor the

temperature of recently baled hay. Generally, hay

will go through a heating phase within one to two

weeks after baling. During this time, you should

monitor the hay to make sure it doesn’t reach

temperatures that can damage the hay or lead to

spontaneous combustion.

It is not unusual for the temperature within a

bale of hay to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and it

may go as high as 130 degrees before beginning

to decline. If the temperature peaks below 130

degrees, there may be some loss of quality but no

danger of fire. With free air circulation around a

bale, both heat and moisture can dissipate. A

single bale rarely heats enough to catch on fire,

but when you place bales

close together or stack with

other bales that are also

heating, it is much more

difficult for the heat to leave

the bales. A good practice is

to leave bales scattered in the barn for three to

four weeks before placing them in a stack.

If the bales are wetter than they should be, the

temperatures can easily rise above 130 degrees.

At 140 to 150 degrees, more microbial growth

and chemical reactions within the hay cause it to

generate heat at an increasingly rapid rate.

If hay temperatures reach 150 degrees, you

need to move bales to allow for better air

circulation and frequently check the temperature.

At 180 degrees, fire is imminent, and at 200

degrees, it is likely present. In either case, you

need to notify the fire department. It is best to

wait for them to arrive before removing the hay

from the stack in case of a flare up.

Smoke from hay treated with an acid

preservative may contain toxic fumes, so keep

people away from the smoke and inform the

firefighters of any treatments you applied.

To check hay temperature, you may use

several types of thermometers. Find one that is

durable, easy to use and will measure up to 200

degrees.

Attaching a string or a thin wire and lowering or

pushing it into a probe that has been inserted into

the hay is one way to use a simple glass

thermometer. Do not insert them directly into the

hay because they easily break. It is best to use

only spirit-filled glass thermometers to prevent

accidentally contaminating hay with mercury

from a broken thermometer.

You can use electronic thermometers with

remote sensors and a digital readout. Avoid LED

displays as they are often hard to read in bright

light. An LCD is a better choice. Some electronic

moisture meters also measure temperature.

Long stem thermometers, commonly called

compost thermometers, are probably the most

rugged and reliable. With these types, the price

increases with the dial size and length of the stem.

It may be tempting to stick these directly into a

hay bale, but the stem can be easily bent and the

accuracy or operation of the thermometer could

be destroyed.

It is best and necessary in most cases to use

some kind of hay probe. You can make one for

yourself using steel pipe or electrical conduit or

you can purchase commercial probes.

Measure the wettest hay first. Probe square bales

from the side, round bales from the end. Insert

the probe near the center of the bale. In round

bales, if the core is loosely formed, probe 6 to 12

inches away from the center where the hay will be

more tightly packed.

In large stacks, it may be difficult to reach the

center, but it is important to get at least 5 to 10

feet down from the top or in from the side. The

most critical factor is to reach where the wettest

hay is stored. It is best to probe at several

locations and at different depths within a stack to

locate the warmest spot. (Source: Ray Smith)

A G R I CUL TURE

PAGE 9

You Can Control Flies on Cattle Warmer weather brings more pest problems.

Horn flies and face flies are key pests of

Kentucky cattle. Both species breed in fresh

manure piles, but they present different threats

and management problems. Fortunately, you

have a variety of fly control options.

Horn flies are blood feeders. They remain

on animals most of the time, taking 20 to 30

small blood meals per day. More than 100

flies along the sides and backs of each

animal every day during the fly season can

mean 12 to 15 pounds lower weaning

weights for spring calves and poor gains for

older animals. The close association between the

horn fly and the animal, however, does make

many control methods quite effective.

On the other hand, face flies spend about 90

percent of their time resting and they only visit

animals to feed on liquids around the eyes and

face. This makes some fly control methods more

effective than others because face flies visit hard

-to-treat areas for very short time periods.

One control option is insecticide-

impregnated cattle ear tags which release small

amounts of an insecticide distributed over the

animal during grooming or rubbing. In general,

ear tags provide excellent, long-term control of

horn flies and some brands also reduce face fly

numbers. Another advantage is that animals only

have to be handled once.

Read the label before you use insecticide ear

tags. All tags are labeled for beef cattle while

only those with certain active ingredients are

approved for use on lactating dairy cattle.

For fly control, it is best to tag animals after

horn fly numbers reach 50 or more per side. This

reduces the chances of developing resistance to

the active ingredients that are being used.

Normally, tags provide 12 to 15 weeks of fly

control. Tagging too early in the season can

mean the tags are not providing control in the

fall that will help to control the overwintering

population.

Another method of control is pour-on

products. These are ready-to-use formulations

that are applied to animals in measured doses

based upon body weight. Horn flies are killed as

they land on treated areas of the animal and pick

up the insecticide through their body.

Typically, pour-ons provide about four

weeks of fly reduction so you must reapply at

intervals or use in combination with other

methods. The length of control will vary with

weather and other factors, so treat again when

fly numbers build back up to about 100 per side

but no sooner than the label instructions allow.

Many cattle producers like to use self-

application devices, such as dust bags, back

rubbers, or automatic sprayers for pasture fly

control. You can purchase ready-made or

assemble from easily found materials. These

devices can do a very effective job of horn fly

control and may provide satisfactory to excellent

face fly control. All require regular inspection

and service to be sure they are working properly

and may not be as mobile as other fly control

systems.

Location is important for these fly control

methods. You must put them where animals can

regularly use them. The number you need will

vary with herd size, pasture area and other

factors. The ultimate goal is to get each animal

regularly treated.

Horn flies and face flies breed in cattle

droppings in pastures. Animals consuming an

insecticide that passes through the manure can

make it toxic. Mineral blocks or loose

supplements are available which contain fly

control products. This method is only part of a

total fly-control program because horn flies and

face flies move in from nearby herds.

Supplemental control though the use of dust

bags or backrubbers is needed to deal with these

"fly-ins.”

Beef cattle producers have many alternatives for

pasture fly control. Cost, effectiveness, past

control history and herd management practices

help to narrow this list. (Source: Lee Townsend)

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

July 2017

6 AG Master Cattleman, 6 p.m. Henry CES

13 AG/HO Pesticide Disposal Rinse & Return, 9 a.m.-Noon SC Road Department

13 ALL Extension Field day, 4-7 p.m. Mulberry Orchard

15 FCS Homemaker Day Trip, Leave 8:30 a.m. Fayette Co. Ext.

18 AG Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association, 7 pm Extension Office

18 4-H Summer Cooking Series Session 10 a.m., RSVP Extension Office

18 4-H Zappy Zippers Sewing Club Meeting, 3:30-5:30 Extension Office

19 4-H Food-A-Rama, 10 a.m. Extension Office

20 AG Master Cattleman, 6 p.m. Shelby CES

20 4-H Summer Cooking Series Session 2, RSVP Extension Office

21 FCS Sit and Sew, 9 a.m.—4 p.m. Extension Office

25 4-H Summer Cooking Series Session 3, RSVP Extension Office

25 FCS Homemaker Day Trip Lexington

27 FCS Kids in the Kitchen (9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m.) Extension Office

28 4-H Summer Cooking Series Session 4, RSVP Extension Office

31 ALL Shelby Co. Extension Council, 6 p.m. Extension Office

August 2017 3 AG Master Cattleman, 6 p.m. Oldham CES

5 FCS First Saturday Walk About, 8:30 a.m. FAC

8 FCS Shelby County Homemaker Council, 10 a.m. Extension Office

8 FCS Homemaker Indoor Picnic & training, 11:30 a.m. Extension Office

9 FCS Sit and Sew, 9 a.m.—4 p.m. Extension Office

14 4-H Cloverville Entries Due by 9 a.m. Extension Office

15 4-H Zappy Zippers Sewing Club, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Extension Office

16 FCS Driver Safety Course (over 55), 12:30-4:30 p.m. Extension Office

17 4-H Country Ham Contest, KY State Fair Louisville, KY

17 AG Master Cattleman, 6 p.m. Henry CES

17-27 Kentucky State Fair Louisville, KY

24 FCS Homemaker Needlework Demo, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. KY State Fair

25 FCS Homemaker Caners Demo, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. KY State Fair

KEY

4-H 4-H Youth

Development

AG Agriculture

HORT Horticulture

FCS Family and

Consumer

Science