Spring can be a busy time of year for both gardeners and producers. In this spring edition of the Barren County’s Farm & Garden Newsletter, you will find friendly reminders of seasonal and timely tips to perform in and around the farm and garden.

“Around the Garden” highlights strategies for growing great tasting home-grown tomatoes in the garden, while the “In the Field” section discusses tips for beef producers on making a wise purchase for their next herd sire. This newsletter also includes promotional flyers for the Totally Tomato Class, the Pollinator Paradise Garden Series, and the Barren County Ag Festival which allows Barren County citizens the

opportunity to help celebrate the vital role of agriculture in the best place to live in rural America. Page 7 also lists other upcoming Extension programs relating to both agriculture and horticulture that will take place during April and May.

Lastly, to help celebrate Beef Month

in May, the Food and Nutrition page features a tasty recipe for ribeye steaks! If you have suggestions of future feature articles, please forward them along to us. We want to help you grow ideas! Also, check out other upcoming Barren County Extension happenings listed on our website and Facebook pages.

Cooperative

Extension Service

Barren County

1463 West Main Street

Glasgow, KY 42728

(270) 651—3818

Fax: (270) 651—3744

www.ca.uky.edu/ces

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April / May 2016

Tomatoes are the number one vegetable grown in home vegetable gardens. Locally grown tomatoes bring many people together because of their unique flavors, ripeness, and fragrance. Here are a few strategies to practice during the growing season.

When transplanting tomatoes in the garden (this would be May 5th for central Kentucky), set plants a little deeper than they were originally grown, so lower leaves are near the ground. If transplants appear leggy, plant them at a 30 degree angle in a trench long enough to leave only the top 5 or 6 inches of the plant exposed.

Space tomatoes so they can receive maximum sunlight and enough air movement to discourage harmful diseases. Ideal spacing for home grown tomatoes is 24 to 36 inches between plants in the row and 3 feet between rows. Next, sprinkle a teaspoon of lime in the planting hole and

water in the root system, before pushing loose soil around the base of the plant.

Since tomatoes consist of 95 percent water, tomatoes require lots of water during the growing season especially during fruit development. Tomatoes require 1 to 2 inches of rainfall a week, so supplement irrigation when needed. Water tomatoes in the morning between the hours of

6:00am and 10:00am and deeply saturate the soil around the root system. Use an organic type of mulch such as leaves, straw, or compost to reduce soil water evaporation as well.

To learn more about growing tasty tomatoes in the home vegetable garden, come out to the Totally Tomato Class that will be taught at the Extension Office on Tuesday, April 26th. Turn over to page 4 of the newsletter for more details on the class!

A good way to reuse leftover newspaper is to use it as a mulch in the garden. Newspaper mulch will improve fruit cleanliness and plant growth, increase harvest yields, provide adequate weed control, and

conserve soil moisture. By using newspaper as a mulch, it also keeps this recyclable material out of landfills and returns

nutrients back into the ground as a soil amendment.

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April / May 2016

When purchasing a bull there are four primary characteristics that should be assessed: reproductive soundness; structural soundness; visual evaluation; and performance characteristics. Reproductive Soundness – For a bull to have any value to a beef producer he must be reproductively sound. The best means to determine the reproductive soundness of a bull is through a breeding soundness exam. If a bull passes this exam he should have the physical capability to breed and settle cows. This exam does not measure desire and bulls should be observed for their interest in females in heat. To receive cost-share money, bulls must pass a breeding soundness exam. Structural Soundness – To be an efficient breeder a bull must be structurally sound. This means that he should move without pain or discomfort and should have appropriate angles at weight bearing joints. There are no requirements for structural soundness; however, producers should evaluate bulls for soundness to avoid problems with breeding and future problems in replacement females. Visual Evaluation – Many traits that are important to beef producers can only be evaluated through visual observation. These include, but are not limited to: disposition, horned/polled, color, muscling,

body capacity, structure, sheath, and testicular development. There are no requirements for visual appraisal; however, producers are encouraged to carefully evaluate bulls for visual traits that are of economic or functional importance to them. Performance Characteristics – The primary reason for purchasing a bull is the expected performance of his calves. If replacement females will be retained then this decision should not be short sided, because the impact will be long lasting. Breeds differ on their level of productivity; therefore, the first decision will be on breed type. Once a breed is determined, selection between bulls for performance should be based on the Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), whenever possible (For more information on EPDs please see ASC-141). There is no such thing as the “Best Bull”; each individual beef producer must make that determination based on what they want to get from the bull. Guidelines have been developed for six specific bull types. Producers must select what type of bull they will purchase (2 choices can be made) on their application then purchase a bull that meets the requirements for that bull type.

Adapted from Beef Sire Selection for Cattle

Genetic Improvement Program, Dr. Darrh Bullock, UK Extension Beef Specialist

Incorrectly constructed corners rank as the top mistake in fencing. The main issues are undersized posts and corner posts

not set deeply enough. A good rule of thumb is the depth in the ground should be equal to, or greater than,

the height of the top wire.

Post diameter depends on the strength of the fence. For light duty fence, such as a 1- or 2-wire, high-tensile pasture

subdivision fence, only requires a 4” to 5” diameter post. A 5-strand wire fence a 6” to 7” diameter post is required. For

woven wire fences, use an 8” diameter post.

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For more information and to reserve your booth space today, contact the Glasgow Barren County Chamber of Commerce

at (270) 651-3161 or email chamber@glasgowbarrenchamber.com.

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April / May 2016

Gardener’s Toolbox Class: Totally Tomato

Learn everything needed to grow tomatoes in the home garden and cooking advice from new Barren County FCS agent Betsy Ann Tracy!

Tuesday, April 26th

6:00 PM, Barren Co. Extension Office

Pollinator Paradise Garden Series

Learn how to increase native pollinators to your garden such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Thursday, April 14th — Native Pollinators Introduction Thursday, April 21st — Gardening with Bees in Mind

Thursday, April 28th — Butterfly Gardening

Thursday, May 5th — Attracting Hummingbirds

6:00 PM, Barren Co. Extension Office

Opening Day for the Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market

Shop and buy local farm raised and value-added products grown from around the Barrens. Vendors will be set-up on the Glasgow square.

Saturday, April 30th; 8:00am until 12:00 Noon

They will also be open every Saturday on the Square until October 29th.

2016 Tobacco GAP Training

Get you required 2016 Tobacco GAP certification

Tuesday, May 3rd

6:30 PM, Barren Co High School

Please bring your GAP card for registration. No meal will be served.

Goat and Sheep Producers Meeting

Dr. Ken Andries will conduct FAMACHA training.

Tuesday, May 17th

6:30 PM, Barren County Extension Office

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Like the Barren County Cooperative Extension

Service Facebook page to stay connected on all

the latest classes and

programs offered!

Ingredients:

2 beef Ribeye Steaks Boneless, cut 1-inch

thick (about 12 ounces each)

2 cups grape tomato halves (about 10

ounces)

3 tablespoons water

3 teaspoons minced prepared roasted

garlic, divided

4 ounces Brie cheese, shredded

2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

Fresh basil (optional)

Directions:

Combine tomatoes, water and 1 teaspoon garlic in large nonstick skillet. Cook, covered, over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes or until tomatoes are tender, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Remove from skillet; keep warm. Carefully wipe out skillet with paper towels.

Press remaining 2 teaspoons garlic evenly onto beef steaks. Place steaks in skillet over medium heat; cook 12 to 15 minutes for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.

Carve steaks into slices; season with salt and pepper, as desired. Add cheese and basil to tomatoes; stir until well combined. Serve immediately with beef. Garnish with additional basil, if desired.

Nutrition information per serving (1/2 of recipe): 516 calories; 28 g fat (14 g saturated fat; 9 g monounsaturated fat); 166 mg cholesterol; 453 mg sodium; 7 g carbohydrate; 1.8 g fiber; 55 g protein; 13.5 mg niacin; 1.2 mg vitamin B6; 3.3 mcg vitamin B12; 3.5 mg iron; 59.1 mcg selenium; 9.5 mg zinc.

Source: KY Beef Network