Extension Calling

Improving the quality of the beef on the consumers plate is more than just making sure you have the correct amount of marbling, and the right species mix of cattle. It's making sure you are doing all you can to care for the animal as it's being raised and brought to market. Caring for the animal includes handling, managing medications, keeping it clean and safe, and protecting it from injury. All of these will help your animals gain and have a higher value at the market, while also making your life easier too! 

Summer is a working season for some and a vacationing season for others. Sometimes family will visit the farm. Are you doing all you can to help keep them safe? How about keeping yourself safe? We go over several recommendations for working around equipment, electricity, and more. Stay hydrated and stay safe!

As we get outside more to enjoy the nice weather, it is important to remember about those little blood suckers hiding in the grass. Even well manacured lawns can be home to ticks. Know the risks, use repellents, and always do tick checks.

It's finally here! The time for planting is now! Memorial Day weekend is commonly looked to as our official frost free date and when soil temperatures are in 60's. So if you're dreaming of sweet corn roasting on an open fire later this year, it's time to get out and get it planted. 

Rhododendrons and azaleas are some of the most beautiful plants in our spring landscape. They are tough and the deer don't prize their foliage. However, they do have problems. Most often the issues are caused by poor growing conditions which invite disease to take hold. We go over some of the big ones today. Images and more details can be found here: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/azaleas-and-rhododendrons-identify-and-manage-problems/ 

Turf grass takes effort. If you want a healthy lawn, there are some steps you can't ignore. Sharpening your mower blades is just one of them. Please check out our website: https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/lawn for more information after the show. 

Storm damage can be rough. A tree failure in a storm can be devastating. There are several things you can do to help your trees weather storms better, but you may be thinking of the wrong ones and making the risk greater.

Guest Erika Lyon from OSU Extension joins us to discuss the news surrounding highly pathogenic avian influenza including symptoms and biosecurity steps. We also give some quick tips for consumers.  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/defend-the-flock https://u.osu.edu/poultry/files/2022/04/Avian-Influenza-Trifold.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/inhumans.htm https://u.osu.edu/poultry/2023/02/23/understanding-the-current-avian-influenza-outbreak-and-its-impact/

Quickly remove all flood debris, including poisonous plants, from fields.  Vaccinate all livestock, including horses, exposed to flooded areas during or immediately after the flood.  Check with your veterinarian about which clostridial and tetanus vaccines to use for your animals and if you will need boosters. Closely inspect all livestock that were exposed to flooded areas for injuries.  Open wounds need a tetanus antitoxin.  Always follow label directions. Learn more at your local extension office, or online at https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding/forage-livestock-management-after-flooding 

Flooded hay and baleage can cause illness or death to livestock.  Discard dry hay that has been soaked by flood water, do not use for feed.  Inline wrapped baleage that was not fully sealed on both ends should not be fed to livestock.  Individual baleage rolls wrapped in undamaged plastic may be useable if certain conditions are met. Contact your local extension agent for details.    If in doubt, don’t risk it, throw it out. Document all lost forage. For more information contact your local extension office or visit: "http://ext.wvu.edu/disasters/flooding/forage-and-livestock-management-post-flooding":http://ext.wvu.edu/disasters/flooding/forage-and-livestock-management-post-flooding

Following are Flood Recovery tips from the W.V.U. Extension Service. Until tested, flooded feeds should be considered harmful to animals.  After a flood, wet feed and grain will begin to heat and mold very quickly, leading to spoilage, mycotoxins, and potential spontaneous combustion.  Remove unaffected grain and bales immediately and store them separately; moisture will quickly spread.    Flooded seed grain, hay, and silage are likely a complete loss.  When in doubt, don’t risk it, throw it out!  Learn more at your local extension office, or online at https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding

If flood waters have covered your garden, consider the produce unsafe to eat for humans or animals.  If flood waters have contacted the edible portion of a crop it is illegal to sell.  If touched by flood waters discard: leafy vegetables, fleshy fruits or vegetables (like tomatoes, berries, & summer squash), corn, grains, and even produce with a hard protective skin.  Root crops that are ripe or near harvest should also be discarded.  Record all losses.  If the edible portion develops after flood waters recede it should be safe to eat.  Underground vegetables roughly four months from harvest should be safe at maturity. Discard greens, wash, and disinfect in a weak bleach solution. Then peel and cook thoroughly before eating. Segregate non-flood affected crops and sanitize yourself and your equipment between fields to avoid cross contamination When it comes to food safety: When in doubt, throw it out. Your county Extension agent has more information. https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-s

Remove livestock from flood damaged pastures.  Provide clean water and clean forage.  Flooded forages should not be fed.  Cut flooded pasture and hay fields to a 2 to 4-inch stubble height.  Don’t breathe silt dust, wear a mask.  Document amount of lost forage. Do not make hay from or graze flooded fields until grass has regrown to a height of 8-10 inches. For more information contact your local extension office or visit: https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding/forage-livestock-management-after-flooding 

Floodwaters can make foods unsafe. If you have a question about the safety of any food item, throw it out. Undented cans of food without rust can be saved if they are washed and sanitized before opening. To sanitize steel cans: Put on rubber gloves then remove paper labels and set aside.  Wash cans in a strong detergent solution. Use a brush to remove any dirt. Rinse well.  Soak the clean, rinsed containers for 15 minutes in solution of 1 cup of chlorine bleach in 5 gallons of lukewarm water.  Dump and make new solution whenever it starts to get cloudy. Remove cans from the bleach solution and allow them to air dry completely. Relabel with permanent marker and include expiration date then discard label as it may hold toxins. Use disinfected cans as soon as possible because they may rust. For added safety, boil food before eating.  More information can be found on the CDC disaster webpage or your county health department. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/floodsafety.html Note: do not use y

Food touched by floodwaters can make you very sick.  Discard any and all food if it came in contact with flood water. The only exceptions are foods canned by a manufacturer.  Flooded foods you must discard include anything that was open, fresh produce, meat, and eggs. Throw out any food in boxes, plastic containers, and other packages, including glass jars, even if still sealed.  You must discard home-canned foods if contacted by floodwaters.    Manufactured cans that are dented, leaking, bulging, or rusted; or cans that have been moved by waters and are far from their normal storage spot must also be discarded.  Finally throw out any and All foods that may have been contaminated with industrial waste water, including unopened cans. When in doubt, throw food out! Be sure to record all food that was discarded due to the flood. More information can be found on the CDC disaster webpage or by contacting your county health department.  https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/floodsafety.html https://exte

Unroll or spread Flood damaged hay to allow it to decompose more quickly and prevent fires.  Place hay in areas which need erosion control or nutrients.  Protect your lungs, wear a mask the entire time you work with flood damaged forages.  Do not unroll hay in areas where livestock are currently or will be placed before the hay fully decomposes.  Do not feed flood damaged hay.  For more information contact your local extension office or visit: https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding/forage-livestock-management-after-flooding

Humans aren’t the only ones displaced by floods.  Snakes and other animals are also moved and frightened.  Watch out for poisonous snakes that may have come into buildings with flood waters.  Use a stick to poke through debris before entering an area.  Pets often get separated from their owners.  Take a photo or description of your lost animal with a contact number to your local animal shelter.  If you have found a pet, send a photo and contact number to the local animal shelter. Scared animals should be dealt with very carefully.  Even the most docile of creatures can become dangerous after a traumatic experience.  If you encounter a scared animal be CALM and cautious, avoid quick movements, be patient – do not prod the animal, move slowly , be gentle, do not shout or yell or wave your arms, and have a planned escape route should the animal feel threatened.  If you are not familiar with livestock handling techniques, please contact your extension office and notify them of the location of the loose anim

Most counties experiencing a flood will be under a boil order until plant operations can be restored.  Use bottled water, clear water that has been boiled for 5-10 minutes, or chemically disinfected water (5 drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water) for handwashing, food prep, and drinking. Undamaged water heaters often hold water but it should still be boiled before drinking.  Before using your tap water check that water lines and sewer lines are undamaged.  If you do find damage to your lines, contact your local water company.  Flood waters can creep into wellheads and wells should be tested before drinking their water. Your county health department can assist with well testing.   Animals and livestock should also not drink flood waters as they can contain toxic chemicals and high levels of bacteria.  Move livestock to watering areas fed by springs or unaffected by flood waters.     Learn more at your local extension office, or online at https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-sa

Once an area has been cleared for you to return, stay out of any buildings where flood waters remain. Avoid using candles or open flames.  Instead use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights to reduce fire hazards.  Before entering, examine walls, floors, doors, windows, and staircases to see if the building has shifted.  Inspect foundations for cracks and other damage.  These are indicators that the building may no longer be safe.  Once you have determined the structure is sound, look for fire hazards.  Broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged gas or electric appliances can all cause fire hazards.  Flammable materials such as gasoline can travel on floodwaters and explosive gases can collect in confined areas. If you hear any blowing or hissing noises, immediately leave the building and call 911.  Learn more at your local extension office, or online at https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding and stay safe.

This is WVU Extension reminding you to sanitize private water supplies before drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth, washing and preparing food, or making ice. Floodwaters carry organisms that can lead to illness or death. Disinfect all wells, springs, cisterns, pumps and pipes exposed to flood water. Use bleach containing 5.25% available chlorine.  Mix one gallon of bleach with four gallons of water. Remove all debris from the reservoir. Pour in 2 ½ gallons of the disinfecting solution. Start the pump and open all taps until the water from each tap has a distinct chlorine odor, then close the taps.  Pour the other 2 ½ gallons of the solution into the reservoir and let sit closed for 12 to 24 hours. Do not use any water from the supply for at least 12 hours. After the waiting period, pump the water supply to waste until the chlorine odor disappears. Contact your county health department to test samples before using the water. Note: Fresh water entering the supply may be contaminated. To insure safety