Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home

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...

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.os...

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...

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 dou...

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.     Floo...

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 o...

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 lo...

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, rinse...

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 disca...

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 infor...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 o...

There are many dangers hiding after floodwaters recede.   Be sure to wear sturdy shoes.   The most common injury following a disaster is cut feet.   Cuts or open wounds that are exposed to flood waters can invite serious infection, including tetanus, and warrant medical attention.   Rubber gloves and rubber boots with hard soles are recommended. Pay close attention to smells of gas or something bu...

Before You Enter a Flooded Basement conduct the following steps to keep you safe.   Turn off the electricity and gas.   Check outside cellar walls for possible cave-ins, evidence of structural damage, or other hazards.   Open doors and windows.   If you need to pump the water out of your basement, do so in stages. Remove no more than one-third of the water each day. Water in the basement helps bra...

WVU Extension sends these tips to help during flood recovery efforts. As the flood waters recede and you are allowed back into your home or business to assess the damage make sure you take lots of pictures of the building and its contents to document damages for insurance claims. Keep watch for electrical dangers and report downed power lines immediately.   As you enter buildings look for loose pl...

The West Virginia University Extension Service sends these tips to help keep you safe during disaster recovery efforts. While we all want to help, for now, stay away from disaster areas.    Your presence can interfere with rescue and emergency operators as well as putting yourself at risk.   Contact local coordinators of volunteer efforts such as Volunteer West Virginia to find out how and when yo...

Quick tips to stay safe in flood conditions.

Wheeling's new Tree City USA status brings questions about Bradford Pears, and spring temperatures signal the Belmont County Plant Swap, but mostly we cover some core concepts for using pesticides safely.

This is a brief begginers guide to help you be a better bunny lover.  We need your feedback! Please share your thoughts and ideas at: https://bit.ly/ExtensionCallingEvaluation . 

Adding native shrubs to your landscaping is a fun way to improve the habitat of local birds and butterflies. We offer several options and discuss their characteristics. More great info can be found here: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5813

If you have more than a few trees in your backyard, you may be wondering what you can do with them. A lot of what you can do is determined by what you want to have in 50 or 100 years. Trees and forests take time to grow and one mistake can last generations. Start off on the right foot by listening in!