Agriculture/Natural Resources • Family & Consumer Sciences • 4-H/Youth Development

Cooperative Extension Clay County P.O. Box 421 69 Jameson Road Manchester, KY 40962 (606)598-2789 Fax: (606) 598-2695 https://clay.ca.uky.edu

Extension

News March 2019

Homemaker Clubs

Rolling Pin Bakers—1st Mon. 5:30 pm Pins & Needles – 3rd Sat. – 10:00 a.m. Happy Homemakers – 3rd Mon. – 4:00 p.m.

●4-H Chefs in Training- Tuesday, March 5th at 4:30 pm at the Clay County Extension Office. Participants will be making St. Patrick’s Day pancakes! This class is free and open to any youth 8-14 years of age. Please call to register by March 1st.

●The 2019 4-H Summit Leadership Conference will be held March 7-9, 2019 at the Lake Cumberland 4-H Education Center in Jabez, Ky. Explore opportunities provided through 4-H like international travel, conferences, projects, and much more! Experience new things while taking workshops and funshops that interest you. Give back to the community through a service project, and build your leadership skills with the State Teen Council team leaders. There is also plenty of time to eat ice cream, play games and meet new friends. Contact Alissa at the Extension Office at 598-2789 for more information.

●Clay County Community Farmer’s Market will meet on Saturday, March 9th at 9:00 am to discuss the 2019 growing season. It will be at the EXCEL building. If you are interested in selling in the 2019 season, you are welcome to attend.

●Come learn how to do Free Motion Quilting that will be March 11th at 10:00 am at the Extension Office. Please call 598-2789 to register. Flyer enclosed. Program is free.

●There will be a Private Pesticide Applicator Training on March 12th at 10:00 am at the Extension Office. Anyone needing a pesticide card to buy chemicals need to attend this training. Please call 598-2789 to register.

●Pressure Cooking will be March 12th at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office. Using the Insta Pot, we will pressure cook a couple of foods. The new Insta Pots are not your old pressure cooker. Come learn how to prepare nutritious foods quickly. Free and open to the public but

you must call 598-2789 to register. This is the same program that was presented in January.

●4-H Clover Button Art will be on Tuesday, March 12th at the EXCEL building from 4:30-5:30 pm. Come and explore your creative side! Participants will be creating a clover out of buttons. The class is free and open to youth 8-18 years of age. Call to register by March 8th.

●2019 Grafting & Pruning Demonstration will be at 10:00 am at the Laurel County Extension Office on March 14th. Dr. John Strang, UK Horticulture Specialist, will demonstrate apple and pear grafting. We will meet at the Laurel County Extension Office at 1:00 pm and travel to the pruning site.

●Forestry Webinar - Wildlife and Woodlands will be March 14th at 7:00 pm at the EXCEL Building. Free and open to the public.

●Walking Program will be March 17th—May 31st. Call the office to sign up and receive the bi-weekly calendar to record your walks. You are encouraged to make this a family activity. Registration fee is $10.00 per person. Flyer enclosed.

●Pruning Demonstration will be March 19th at 1:00 pm. We will meet at the Clay County Extension Office and travel to the pruning site in East Manchester.

●Keep It Clean will be March 19th at 6:00 pm at the Clay County Extension Office. We will learn how to choose cleaning products that are safe and will clean your home. You will receive recipes for cleaning products that can be made from common household solutions. Free and open to the public, but you must call 598-2789 to register.

March 10, 2019 Daylight Savings Time

Begins.

SPRING FORWARD!

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Upcoming Programs

●4-H Paint Night—April 18th at 4:45 pm at the EXCEL building. Come and join us and paint your bee hive family! This is a kid-friendly paint night, and parents/guardians are encouraged to paint with their kid(s). This is a great opportunity to explore a new hobby & enjoy family bonding time. Snacks will be available and door prizes will be given away! FREE! Limited spots available. Please call 598-2789 to register.

●4-H Talk Meet and Demonstration Contest—April 11th—9:00 am—Red Bird Christian School. Flyer enclosed.

●Festive Food (Homemaker Leaders Training) - May 1st at 10:00 am— Clay County Extension Office.

●Don’t forget to register for the Needlework Seminar on March 21st from 9:30 am—2:30 pm at the EXCEL Building. You received a copy of the registration information in your January newsletter and a special mailing with that information. We have a variety of excellent needlework sessions planned. Call 598-2789 if you need a copy of the registration form.

●Forestry Webinar—Forestry and Wildlife Assistance in Kentucky will be March 21st at the EXCEL build-ing beginning at 7:00 pm.

●Grandparents Raising Grandchildren will be March 22nd at 9:00 am. Are you a grandparent or relative raising a child that belongs to someone else? This program will provide you with information that can help you. Program is free, but you must call 598-2789 to register so we will have enough food for lunch. The Clay County Cooperative Extension Service is co-sponsoring this program with the Clay County Youth Service Centers and Family Resource Centers.

●Evidence-Based Turfgrass Management Workshop will be March 22nd at the Laurel County Extension Of-fice beginning at 9:00 am. Pre-registration is $40. The cost is $50 on the day of event. There are 4 CEU’s for this training. Call Jeff at 598-2789 for more information.

●Homemaker Council Meeting will be March 25th at 11:00 am at the Extension Office.

●4-H Teen Club Meeting will be March 25th at 5:30 pm at the Extension Office.

●Tobacco GAP (Good Agr iculture Practices) and Vegetable PBPT (Produce Best Practices Training) will be March 26th at 6:00 pm at the Laurel County Ex-tension Office. Please call 598-2789 and let us know if you will be attending by March 22nd.

●Eating Healthy for Less (Homemaker Leaders Training) will be March 27th at 10:00 am athe Clay County Extension Office. Come learn about providing healthy entrees and get tips on meal preparation on a budget. This program is free and open to the public, but please call 598-2789 to register.

●A Garden Planning Meeting will be March 28th at 6:00 pm for Grow Appalachia at Red Bird Mission.

●NRESci Academy members will be traveling to Frankfort on March 28th for NRESci meeting.

4-H Natural Resource & Environmental Sciences Academy Opportunity

I f you are in 5th grade and enjoy learning about the outdoors and wildlife, this is a great opportunity for you! The NRESci Academy is a three-year program designed to teach youth about their natural environment. In the program, scholars participate in hands-on investigations to learn about Kentucky’s water, forest, entomology, and wildlife resources.Scholars also have the opportunity to visit natural areas throughout the Commonwealth, and

learn about the diverse natural resources in our state.

Kentucky 4-H believes that all youth should have opportunities for positive youth development in our four guiding concepts: mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity. This program fosters mastery by increasing environmental literacy, belonging by interacting and connecting with adults and youth with similar interests, independence by practicing leadership skills and independent thinking, and generosity by designing and completing a community service project. Applications are due April 26th and scholarship opportunities are available.

For more information regarding the program, please contact Alissa Ackerman at the Clay County Extension Office at 598-2789 or visit: https://clay.ca.uky.edu/NRESci

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Bull Buying Tips Dr. Darrh Bullock, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

W e are rapidly approaching bull buying season in Kentucky so there are few basics I would like to share. The genetics in the bull you are buying now will have a huge impact on your herd immediately and could linger for years to come if you keep replacements from him. For this reason it is important to get this decision right.

For commercial cattlemen, the first suggestion is to evaluate your crossbreeding program and make sure you are taking full advantage of heterosis (hybrid vigor). If your cow herd is made up of predominantly one breed then you might consider introducing a second breed and start a rotation system with those breeds. This can improve the productivity of your herd by greater than 10% with no additional costs. I am not an economist, but I think I am safe to say that should pay for itself! For more information on crossbreeding please see factsheet: ASC-168 (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/asc/asc168/asc168.pdf) Once you have decided on a breed the next decision is determining which bull within that breed is best for you. This should be guided by how you plan to market his calves, whether or not you will be keeping replacements, whether or not you will be breeding him to first-calf heifers and what level of management you have on your farm. If keeping replacements then you have to focus on both production traits to fit your market and maternal traits the bull will pass on to his daughters. The best tool for making decisions about production traits is Expected Progeny Differences (EPD). Focus on the traits that can put money in your pocket (weaning weight) or potentially take money out of your pocket (calving ease). The level of emphasis to put on each trait depends on your management and market, but in most cases extremes should be avoided. For more information on EPDs and how to use them in selection please see factsheets: ASC-141 (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/asc/asc141/asc141.pdf) ASC-165 (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/asc/asc165/asc165.pdf) ASC-211 (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/asc/asc211/asc211.pdf) Selecting a bull can be time consuming and represent a significant cost, so take your time, do your homework and buy the bull that is right for your farm and your management. For more information on buying bulls contact Jeff Casada at 598-2789.

Grass Tetany Start Preventive Measures Now

What is “Grass Tetany” and when are cattle most likely to have it? Grass tetany, also known as spring tetany, grass staggers, wheat pasture poisoning, winter tetany or lactation tetany, is a condition due to a low level of magnesium (Mg) in the blood. The disorder in adult cattle begins with muscle spasms and quickly progresses to convulsions, respiratory difficulty, and death. The amount of magnesium in the blood is completely dependent on the amount obtained from the daily diet. Deficiencies occur most often in beef cows when they are nursing a calf and grazing young, green grass in early spring. Fast-growing spring pastures are high in potassium (K+) and nitrogen (N+) and low in magnesium (Mg++) and sodium (Na+). Affected cattle often have low blood calcium concurrently. Fall calving cows may also experience grass tetany during the winter months. Will Feeding Plain White Salt to Cows Prevent Grass Tetany? This claim is shared every spr ing and, indeed, there are producers who do not have grass tetany that only feed salt. How can that be? Simply put, for those few lucky producers, the

minerals available in their soils and forages are enough to meet the needs of their cows. A number of complex factors contribute to the ability of magnesium to be absorbed through the rumen (stomach) wall. Primarily there is a “pump” mechanism that actively transports the dissolved form of Mg across the rumen wall to the bloodstream. This pump does not work when potassium in the rumen is high and sodium is low because this changes the electrical potential necessary to drive it. Adding salt to the ration will improve magnesium transport to the bloodstream only when sodium is low in the overall diet. Too much salt will increase urination and cause magnesium to be lost in urine. Salt, as with any substance, can be dangerous and even fatal at high levels. Research has shown that the negative effects of high potassium in early spring grass cannot be overcome by simply adding large quantities of salt. However, a second, passive transport system for Mg exists which is not influenced by potassium. This transport system only works when Mg in solution in the rumen fluid is high. High magnesium mineral mixes prevent grass (continued on page 4)

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Th

(Grass Tetany continued)

tetany by allowing magnesium to passively flow into the bloodstream of the cow without the need for the active transport pump. How Can Grass Tetany Be Prevented? Prevention is based on providing magnesium in the diet during times when conditions are right for grass tetany. As long as the active transport pump for magnesium is working well and driving magnesium across the rumen wall, grass tetany problems should not develop. However, when factors prevent this pump from working (such as when potassium is high in lush spring grass), the second or “backup” pathway depends on increasing levels of magnesium in the diet with a high magnesium mineral mix. A high rumen magnesium level will allow magnesium to passively flow into the bloodstream of the cow without the need for the active transport pump. Supplementation with high magnesium mineral should begin at least 30 days prior to calving. Cows require 20 grams of magnesium daily or 4 ounces per day of a 15% magnesium mineral mix, especially during the late winter and early spring if pregnant or lactating. Mineral feeders should not be allowed to be empty because consistent intake is important for clinical disease prevention. Do not offer additional loose salt or salt blocks at the same time! High magnesium mineral may be discontin-ued in late

spring once the grass is more mature, the water content of the forage is decreased, and daily temperatures reach at or above 60°F. Are there management changes that reduce the risk of grass tetany? Yes. These include: 1) Soil test and apply fertilizer based on soil test results and use no more potassium than recommended since grasses are luxury consumers of potassium; 2) Legumes are high in magnesium and will help offset the problem although their growth is often limited in late winter; 3) Feeding hay to cattle on lush pasture during susceptible periods or limit grazing to 2-3 hours per day will slow the rate of passage through the digestive tract and allow more time for absorption; 4) Graze the less susceptible or non-lactating animals (heifers, dry cows, stocker cattle) on the highest risk pastures. In summary, increasing magnesium intake by supplementing with magne-sium oxide, offering adequate salt to prevent sodium deficiency, and increas-ing total energy intake with good quality forage or supplemental feed are all effective tools in preventing grass tetany. These are exceptionally important when mov-ing from winter rations to young spring grass pasture, especially in lactating cows. Grass tetany is considered a true veterinary emergency requiring prompt treatment with magnesium to prevent death.

Caregivers Need a Time-out

Y ou spend your life taking time for others — parenting, caregiving, and volunteering, but how often do you actually take time for you? Being a good caregiver includes taking time for yourself, which can also lead to a long and healthy life.

In 2011, The American Heart Association recommended making a conscious decision to do some-thing that you enjoy every day. Whether it is reading a book, exercising, or shopping without distraction, taking time for you is good for your mind, body, and soul.

Aim for spending at least 10 minutes a day on you. Don’t know where to start? You can start by thinking about the things you know are good for you — getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. You can also make a “To Do” list to help you prioritize time for you in your busy day.

Taking a guilt-free break to relax is important. When the body can naturally unwind itself, you tend to sleep better, have more energy, and a stronger immune system.

It is also mentally healthy to take breaks from your routine. Slipping away doesn’t have to occur for extended periods of time, it can mean going to your bedroom with your door closed to sit, take a bath, or read a book uninterrupted. If it’s difficult for people to leave you alone, leave the house and go for a walk, meet a friend for coffee, see a movie, or go shopping.

Finding opportunities and people who make you laugh is also a way to take care of your-self. Laughter makes you feel good, reduces stress, lowers depression, and contributes to overall healthi-ness. Taking time for you is not selfish. In fact, the opposite is true. If you are not at your peak, you can-not take care of yourself or others.

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March 2019 Health Bulletins

Adult Health Bulletin

Topic: Kidney Health

Youth Health Bulletin

Topic: Protect Your Brain

Parent Health Bulletin

Topic: Brain Injury Awareness

Family Caregiver Health Bulletin

Topic: Identifying Elder Abuse

To check out these topics, please visit our website at: https://

clay.ca.uky.edu/healthbulletins

We are taking orders for Apple and Pear Rootstock at $1.00 each. Rootstock is not a fruit tree that can be planted. Root-stock must have scion wood grafted onto it to be a tree. Call the Extension Office at 598-2789 for more information about grafting and to place your order.

M ake a difference for our county’s

youth! We have a tremendous

opportunity to raise significant

funds to support 4-H through the

Ag Tag Donation, thanks to Commissioner of

Agriculture, Ryan Quarles. Many of today’s

farmers learned valuable lessons as 4-H mem-

bers, now there’s an easy way for them to give

back. Remind a farmer today to give back by

making the $10 donation when they renew each

of their farm license plates.

Alissa Ackerman Alissa Ackerman

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Clay County P.O. Box 421, 69 Jameson Road Manchester, KY 40962-0421 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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