Pottawatomie County
Agriculture & Horticulture
News & Updates
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Pottawatomie County Cattlemen Elect Officers
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The Pottawatomie County Cattlemen's Association had their Annual Christmas Banquet in December to celebrate the year and plan for 2020. During the banquet, the new officers for 2020 were elected and are listed below. Thank you to all who attended the meetings this year and have been a part of this organization! The Board wishes you a Happy New Year and invites you join them for more programs in 2020.
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President John Boy Stanley
President Elect Vernon Prough
Out-Going Pres. Jeff Streller
Sec/Treas. Chad Meiler
District 1 Board Bob Freeman
Tony Grasso
District 2 Board David Turner
Dorn Weaver
District 3 Board William Payne
Jerry Mays
OSU Ext Advisor Carla Smith
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Shawnee Beautification Awarded Environmental Excellence Award
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Members representing the Shawnee Beautification Committee accept an Environmental Excellence award on stage at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center for the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Annual Awards Celebration. This is for Downtown Shawnee Beautification projects that are a team effort by many volunteers. Thanks to all the Master Gardeners who have worked on beautification projects, the community volunteers who support these endeavors, and the City of Shawnee Parks Department.
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Woodpecker Damage Management
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Typical damage from a yellow-bellied sapsucker consists of numerous shallow holes about the size of a pencil eraser. These are sometimes in very orderly rows and columns and are usually found on maples, pines, viburnums, and fruit trees.
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Oklahoma is home to eleven species of woodpecker. But there are 2 species in particular that result in most damage complaints. They are the yellow-bellied sapsucker and the northern flicker. The yellow-bellied sapsucker causes damage to healthy living trees and is a widespread winter resident in Oklahoma. This woodpecker typically shows up in late October and departs in early March. It creates numerous small round depressions along the bark of trees (Figure 1). This is primarily confined to the trunk, but may be evident on large limbs as well. These shallow holes are made to allow sap to rise and the woodpecker eats the sap and insects that are trapped in it. Maples, pines, viburnums, and various fruit trees are commonly damaged. While this damage can create openings for disease and harmful insects, trees normally respond well and the damage is mostly superficial. As woodpeckers are protected by law, lethal control is not an option. Exclusion is rarely practical for this type of damage and repellants and scare tactics do not work. Therefore, the only practical recommendations are to avoid trees that are commonly damaged by sapsuckers or to tolerate the damage.
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Pecans - Keep them fresh!
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Many people may use pecans in the fall, as harvest time and the holidays come and go. For raw pecans, they should be kept refrigerated for best quality. The oil content in pecans is high, and they will become rancid if stored in a warm place. One way to tell is if the color is dark rather than golden brown. Pecans will stay fresh when frozen, for about one year at 32 degrees. Store them in a moisture proof container or bag with the date labeled.
Never store pecans at room temperature!
Pecans are rich in nutrients and are a high energy food and one of Oklahoma's best horticulture crops!
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Local Request
: Beekeeper, Dr. Yoon Kim is searching for canola or alfalfa fields during bloom stage for bee hives next season. Contact him directly, by email at drkimhoney@gmail.com if interested.
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Just a year end note
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Several I have spoken to have commented on life events or challenges. This poem by Robert Fulgham came to mind in our world of sometimes chaos. Basic kindness and courtesy get lost in today's society at times. This is a good read for young and mature alike!
Link to Poem
Thank you to all who sent or came by with Merry Christmas wishes! Our clients make our job enjoyable and we appreciate you so much!
Happy New Year!
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What is coming up in Pottawatomie County?
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Multi-County Master Gardener
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January 15th, 2020 9:30 am to about noon
Business meeting will be followed by educational segment on plant propagation by Linda Smith and Carla Smith. Let's jump start those plant sale plans! Come if you can!
This class is open to the public! Just come at 10:30am for the Education Only portion of the day.
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Gardening with the Experts, sponsored by Shawnee Beautification
January 25th, 2020
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Program: 9am to noon
Tickets $10 each
Speakers will include local Beekeeper, Dr. Kim, Rain Garden Design by Qing Luo, OSU Dept of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, and The Pierce family with Gardening in a Box, a container garden system,
A continental style breakfast will be served at 8:30 with registration. Booths will be present to browse before and during breaks. Come Join Us!
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What is coming up around the State?
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University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR
January 7-8, 2020
Horticulture Industries Show
January 10-11, 2020
Owasso, OK
Fruit Tree Field Day by Becky Carroll
Feb. 15th
Grape Workshop by Becky Carroll
Feb. 19th
Season Long Hands-On Courses at Cimarron Valley Research Station/ Perkins, OK:
Pecan Management Course - Sign up by Feb. 14th
Details
Grape Management Course - Sign up by Feb. 21st
Details
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Poultry Waste Management Education
Link
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Average Fertilizer Prices
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Current Price Last Reported
Urea (46-0-0)......... $410/ton steady
DAP (18-46-0)........$472.5 down from $505/ton
Pot Ash (0-0-60).... $400/ton steady
These prices are based on an average of two different bulk fertilizer dealers. 12-27-19
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For Hay and Cattle prices:
Red
will indicate a drop in price,
Green
will indicate a raise in price.
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Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
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Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information,
visit
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