Food Preservation Workshop

The WVU Extension Service and “Grow Appalachia” will hold a Food Preservation Workshop Monday, August 27, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Pretty Penny Café in Hillsboro. Participants will learn how to can food using both a pressure canner and boiling water bath.  This free workshop is open to the public.  Spaces for the workshop are limited, so call the WVU Extension Office at 304 799-4852 by Monday, August 20, to register.

2012 Pocahontas County 4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Sale

Attention buyers: save the date.
Pocahontas County  4-H and FFA members will hold their annual livestock show and sale on Saturday, August 25.  The show will begin at noon and the sale will be held that evening at 7:30 p.m.  Lunch will be available through the Brushy Flat Bushwhackers 4-H Club from 11a.m. to noon, and dinner will feature lamb and pork, served by Morgan and Kim McComb starting at 5 p.m. 
We encourage everyone to come out and support the local 4-H and FFA youth and the culmination of their hard work with their livestock projects.  For more information please call the WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852.
 
Natural Gas Leasing Education program

Hundreds of Pocahontas County residents facing expiring mineral leases have a lot of questions as to what they need to do to renegotiate their lease or keep their lease from automatically renewing.  The WVU Extension Service has collaborated with Eight Rivers Council to organize a leasing workshop for residents of Pocahontas County and the surrounding area.  The meeting will be held Thursday, September 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Marlinton Municipal Building, and will feature William Thurman, West Virginia Oil and Gas leasing attorney, and cover basic leasing issues, what to look for in your lease, what to negotiate in your lease and more.  This will be followed by a general question and answer session.
All presentations and more information are available at the WVU Extension Service’s Oil and Natural Gas Website   http://anr.ext.wvu .edu/oil_gas.
For more information please contact WVU Extension Agent Greg Hamons at 304-799-4852.

Downy Mildew confirmed in West Virginia

Downy mildew has emerged as one of the most devastating diseases of Cucurbits (cucumber, squash, melon and water melon) in recent years. This disease can spread very rapidly under cool, moist condition and can cause significant yield and quality losses. Early diagnosis and prophylactic application of efficacious products can slow down the spread of the disease. The causal agent Pseudoperonospora cubensis produces angular (because lesions are bound by veins), chlorotic lesions on the foliage. Temperature around 590F coupled with six to12 hours of moist foliage (day or night) will support profuse sporulation and spread. Lower surface of leaf with water soaked, black sporulation is more diagnostic of the disease. This is a completely different disease compared to powdery mildew and will need different products to control. Conventional growers can use Previcur Flex (propamocarb, Bayer), Tanos (fenamidone + cymoxanil, DuPont), Ranman (cyazofamid, FMC), and Gavel (zoxamide + mancozeb, Dow AgroSciences). Organic options include copper, neem, biofungicides (e.g., Serenade®), peroxides (e.g., OxiDate®), and bicarbonates (e.g., Kaligreen®). However, copper has shown the highest efficacy in organic trials conducted so far.  For more information about plant diseases and treatments visit http://anr.ext.wvu.edu/pests/.

Pocahontas Producers Fall Sale Schedule for 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2 p.m. - Regular Sale
Saturday, September 8, 2 p.m. - Regular Sale
Friday, September 21, 7:30 p.m. - Yearling Cattle Sale
Saturday, September 22, 2 p.m. - Regular Sale
Friday, September 28, 7:30 p.m. - Steer Calf Sale
Friday, October 5, 7:30 p.m. - Heifer Calf Sale
Saturday, October 13, 2 p.m. - Regular Sale
Friday, October 26, 7: 30 p.m. - Clean-up Calf Sale
Saturday, October 27, 2 p.m. - Regular and Cow Sale
Saturday, November 10, 2 p.m. - Regular Sale
Saturday, December 8, 2 p.m. - Regular Sale
For more information please contact PPCA Manager Sherry Sullenberger at 540-499-2718 or the WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

Historical Family Garden Tour and Ice Cream Social
 
Join the folks at the Pearl S. Buck birthplace on Sunday, August 26, starting at 2 p.m. as they host an afternoon of educational fun.  Events include:
 
A draft horse plowing demonstration
A sythe weed cutting demonstration
A session about good and bad bugs
A session about gardening techniques from Hillsboro Elementary Students
The secrets behind the Good Earth Garden heirloom tomatoes.
 
Following the sessions, an Ice Cream Social, featuring homemade ice cream, will be held in the Pearl S. Buck orchard.