Weather Alert

Another winter weather event is headed our way. This one could surpass the size and damage of the one in December. If you have nursery/greenhouse structures be prepared to add additional bracing and keep your brooms handy for snow removal. Check to make sure that all generators are working and that you have them full of fuel. It is hard to tell when the storm will arrive- but early predictions show it hitting in full force by early afternoon. This should allow you the morning to purchase any supplies, extra fuel, food etc. Check the link above in the title line for more information about the track of this storm event. While driving back from the Turf Conference in Raleigh, I noticed that NCDOT were out in full force "salting" the highways. They are preparing for a severe weather event for the entire state.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Green Tips

The Green Tips Newsletter is now posted at: GreenTips.
With all of the winter weather we have had, we are still gathering information about damage to crops, structures, etc. Please visit the survey at:
Weather Survey



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Weather Alert

The attached weather alert update shows temperatures expected below those originally predicted. Growers should use all precautions necessary to protect their crops. See the attached predictions at: Weather Alert



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Drought Monitoring

Here is a link to the Drought Monitor website,which is a risk management
tool to convey current and predictive information about drought conditions
throughout the U.S. This link is for North Carolina. In the table, there
are a number of drought levels given for each time frame over the last year.
The numbers in the table are the percent of area in the state (shown on map)
that are experiencing that drought type. It looks like the current area in
exceptional drought (46.2%) and extreme drought (78.6%) has changed ± 5%
since last fall. Of course 100% of the state is still in severe drought
conditions: Drought Monitoring

The good news from this map is that many of the counties in Western NC have moved from Exceptional drought conditions to Extreme drought conditions, but the bad news is that the areas east of us, where our larger urban markets are located, have actually gotten dryer; moving from Extreme drought conditions to Exceptional drought conditions. The uncertainty of the weather is very real and it behooves us all to develop solid, research based, risk management strategies!

Waver: Do not open and read this website if you are prone to panic attacks!

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Drought Conditions May Warrant Another Crop Disaster Declaration

Farmers including Nursery, Sod, and Flower producers, are asked to begin assessing crop damage due to the prolonged drought conditions. Please begin reporting these losses or any association crop damage to your local Farm Service Agency. In Henderson and Transylvania Counties NC, your contact is Kelly Springs. He can be reached at 693-1406. In Buncombe County the contact is Christopher West. His number is 828-254-0916.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Weather Update

Gov. Mike Easley has expanded water conservation directives to state agencies in 17 counties in Western North Carolina, including Henderson County, that are in an extreme or severe drought. Transylvania County was already in the directive.

Easley directed all state agencies stop non-essential water use and asked businesses and residents across the state to voluntarily cut back their use by about 10 percent.

Easley also repeated the importance of state and local governments continuing to conserve water because drought conditions are worsening.

"I have expanded my direction to state agencies to an additional five of the hardest-hit counties to stop using water for anything that is not related to public health and safety, as water supplies become limited in those counties," Easley said. "We are just starting the summer recreational season when demand for water increases for everything from home gardening to neighborhood pools. It is critical that all North Carolinians limit all non-essential uses of water and observe any water restrictions that are ordered by local authorities."

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News_FullStory.asp?id=3919

Please use any measures you can to recycle or save water.  While some relief appears to be in site, most extended forecasts do not show major rain events.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Severe Drought Conditions Prevail

Most of Western NC is being impacted by drought conditions. It has become so dry that the governor has issued a request that 12 western counties stop non-essential water use. See attached:

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News_FullStory.asp?id=3919

Landscapers should reduce mowing and pruning operations during this time to conserve on water as well as cutting off all irrigation systems on established turf, trees, and shrubs.  Encourage to use of drip systems in areas with color or newly planted ornamentals to reduce the use of water where possible.

Nurseries and Greenhouse operations may need to consider utilizing shade in some areas to minimize water loss.  Watering should be done earlier in the day to avoid evaporation loss.  Any and all measures that can be taken to conserve water should be considered.  Establish a triage system that priortizes water use to those plants that are most vulnerable to the drought conditions.

Continue to monitor the situation on your own site as you may be getting passing showers that others in the surrounding area are not.

We will try to keep you updated as the situation continues to develop.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.