National 4-H Week - October 3-9

Look atﾠyour local 4-H, and you will find young people taking the lead in addressing today's challenges.ﾠ 4-H is where young people explore, learn and discover in a safe environment.ﾠ In 4-H, youth find their true passions, gain confidence and give back to their communities.ﾠ Celebrate 4-H as youth step up and take responsibility for their futures - and ours.ﾠ All youth between the ages of eight (before October 1, 2010) and 21 are invited to join one of our community clubs.ﾠ For more information, call your local Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

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Breast Cancer Awareness - The Good News

CEOS Clubs throughout the county are observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month during October. Women give a number of reasons for neglecting to have regular mammograms.ﾠ Of these, the fear of a cancer diagnosis is perhaps the most common.ﾠ According to the WVDHHR, the good news is that the vast majority of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive.ﾠ In addition to benefitting from new treatment methods, more and more women are increasing their chances for recovery by learning the importance of having regular mammograms in combination with clinical exams and monthly self-examinations.

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Gardening Workshop

The Gardening Workshop scheduled for Saturday, October 16, at Zendik Farm has been canceled.

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Master Gardeners

The WVU Extension Service and Pocahontas County Master Gardener Association has released the schedule of classes for this yearﾒs Master Gardener Program.ﾠ Everyone is invited to attend the upcoming fall classes.

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Thursday,October 7; 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the McClintic Library. Rakesh Chandran, WVU Extension Weed Specialist, will speak on Weed Identification and Control.

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Tuesday, October 19; ﾠ5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Marlinton Municipal Building.ﾠ Lewis Jett, WVU Extension Horticulture Specialist, will present a program on Vegetable Production.

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Thursday, October 21; 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the McClintic Library with Berry Crutchfield, WVDA Entomologist.

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Thursday, October 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the McClintic Library.ﾠJohn Jett, WVU Extension Horticulture Specialist, will present a program on Small Fruits.

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Thursday, November 4; 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the McClintic Library. Nathan Bean, WVU Doctoral Candidate, will speak on the topic of Botany and Propagation.

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For questions please contact Greg Hamons, WVU Extension Agentﾠ at 304-799-4852.

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Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a non-native, invasive insect recently discovered in North America. It is a pest of fruits, vegetables and farm crops. It becomes a nuisance pest when it invades structures to find a place to overwinter.

BMSB is a native insect of China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The first BMSBs in the United States were found in Allentown, Pennyslvania, in 1990s. It is suspected that they were on fruit shipped in packing crates from Asia. BMSB was detected in West Virginia in 2004. BSMB is now found in at least 26 states from Maine to California. It is expected to expand its range across North America.

Adults are about one-half-inch long and shaped like a ﾓshield.ﾔ They have varying shades of brown on both the upper and lower body surfaces. They differ from other stink bugs in that they have lighter bands on the antennae and darker bands on the membranous, overlapping part at the rear of the front pair of wings. The head and pronotum have small round depressions that resemble coppery or metallic-bluish colored punctures. Stink bugs get their name from the scent glands located on the dorsal surface of the abdomen and the underside of the thorax. BMSBs have small, elliptical-shaped eggs that are light yellow to yellow-red with tiny spines. They attach in rows on the underside of leaves in masses of 20 to 30 eggs that may be shield-shaped.ﾠ There are five immature stages known as nymphal instars. They range in length from 1/8 inch at the first stage to one-half inch at the fifth stage. They have deep red eyes and abdomens that are yellowish red in the first stage, progressing to off-white with reddish spots in the fifth stage. Bumps are found before each of the abdominal scent glands on the top surface. The legs, head, and thorax are black. Spines are found on the femur, in front of each eye, and on the lateral margins of the thorax.

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When the BMSB feeds on produce, it causes blemishes known as ﾓcat facing,ﾔ which makes it unappealing and unmarketable as a fresh product. Significant losses have occurred for farmers whose peach and apple orchards have been hit by BMSB. Although BMSBs do not pose a health threat to humans, once they enter a home they can cause alarm while flying around and emitting a strong odor when they are crushed.

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BMSBs become a nuisance for most people when they begin looking for warm places to spend the winter. The insectﾒs behavior is similar to that of the multicolored Asian lady beetle as it is attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days, especially following the first frost. BMSBs look for any entry point they can find into a structure. Cracks as small as 1/16 to 1/8 inch around windows, doors, eaves and overhangs, dryer vents, and other areas provide a means of entrance. The best method of controlling BMSBs is to prevent their entry into your home. Caulking with a silicone or silicone-latex caulk around window and door frames and replacing damaged window and door screens will help. Use weather stripping around windows and doors and remove window air conditioners following summer use. No insecticides are recommended that will prevent the entry of BMSBs to homes. Once BMSB enters a home, the only method of control is to vacuum. However, when the insects become alarmed or smashed, they will emit their stink. The best vacuums to use are handheld or bagless because the container can be emptied each time. If you have this type of vacuum, be sure to drop the insects into a disposable bowl or jar containing isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which will kill the insect. Releasing the insect outdoors will only cause it to come back in. It is not recommended to use insecticides indoors because the insects can avoid the chemicals by retreating into cracks and crevices. Also, the insecticide itself may be hazardous to humans and pets. Because BMSBs do not reproduce indoors, it is best to kill any that you find in and around your house and not let them reproduce outdoors next spring.

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4-H/ FFA Show and Sale pictures

The pictures from the 4-H/FFA Livestock Show and Sale were taken by Jeff Bartley Photography, Clifton Forge, Virginia.ﾠ Bartley is the father-in-law of Sammantha Bartley, the new Vo-Ag teacher/FFA advisor at PCHS.

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Frozen Food Sale

The 4-H Spring Frozen Food Sale is now in progress.ﾠ All orders are due in the Extension Office before September 28.ﾠ Order forms can be obtained by calling the Extension Office at 304-799-4852.ﾠ The frozen food sale is being sponsored by the Pocahontas County 4-H Leaders Association.

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4-H Achievement Night/Officer's Training School

All 4-Hers, leaders and families are invited to this year's 4-H Achievement Night and Officer's Training School which will be held at Pocahontas County High School on Wednesday, September 29. Pizza will be served in the PCHS cafeteria at 6 p.m., and the 4-H clubs will supply beverages, cookies and chips.ﾠ Officer's Training School and the Leaders Association Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by Achievement Night.ﾠ There will also be activities and classes for 4-Hers who are not officers, so everyone is encouraged to attend.

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4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Sale

Pocahontas County 4-H and FFA will hold its annual Livestock Show and Sale Saturday, August 28, at the Pocahontas Producers stockyards in Marlinton.ﾠ The show will begin at noon.ﾠ Lunch, available from 11 a.m. to noon, will beﾠ sponsored by the Brushy Flat Bushwackers 4-H Club. Dinner,ﾠ from 5 -to 7 p.m., will feature lamb and pork, available through Morgan and Kim McComb.ﾠ The evening will conclude with the sale at 7:30 p.m.ﾠ The annual auction of the 4-H cake will take place during the sale.

We encourage everyone to come out and support the local 4-H and FFA youth in the culmination of their hard work with their livestock projects. The public is invited to attend any or all of the dayﾒs activities.ﾠ For more information, call the Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

Reminder: All 4-H and FFA members must participate in both the show and sale in order to sell their market animals in the county sale.

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Master Gardener Program

The WVU Extension Service is making plans for the West Virginia Master Gardener Training Course to be held this fall.ﾠ The course will begin the first week in September.ﾠ Each class will last approximately three hoursﾠ for a total of 30 hours of classroom training.ﾠ Cost will be $70.ﾠ To register or for more informationﾠ call the WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

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4-H Project Exhibit Fair

4-H Project Exhibit Fair at the Opera House in Marlinton, Friday, August 6, noon to 7 p.m.ﾠ Homemade ice cream, cookies and drinks will be served.ﾠFolk dancing lessons from 5ﾠ to 7 p.m.ﾠ This event is free and open to the public .

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4-H Leadersﾒ Meeting

4-H Leadersﾒ Association Meeting will be held Friday, August 6, at 6 p.m. at the Marlinton Opera House during the Project Exhibit Fair.

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4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Sale

Pocahontas County 4-H and FFA will hold their annual Livestock Show and Sale Saturday, August 28, at the Pocahontas Producers stockyards in Marlinton.ﾠ This show will begin at noon.ﾠ Lunch, available from 11 a.m. to noon, will beﾠ sponsored by the Brushy Flat Bushwackers 4-H Club. Dinner,ﾠ from 5 -to 7 p.m., will feature lamb and pork, available through Morgan and Kim McComb.ﾠ The evening will conclude with the sale at 7:30 p.m.ﾠ The annual auction of the 4-H cake will take place during the sale.

We encourage everyone to come out and support the local 4-H and FFA youth in the culmination of their hard work with their livestock projects. The public is invited to attend any or all of the dayﾒs activities.ﾠ For more information, call the Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

Reminder: All 4-H and FFA members must participate in both the show and sale in order to sell their market animals in the county sale.

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Master Gardener Program

The WVU Extension Service is making plans for the West Virginia Master Gardener Training Course to be held this fall.ﾠ The course will begin the first week in September.ﾠ Each class will last approximately three hoursﾠ for a total of 30 hours of classroom training.ﾠ Cost will be $70.ﾠ To register or for more informationﾠ call the WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

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