Welcome to the Newsletter from Lincoln County Cooperative Extension. We are pleased to have such a great community to serve and help support the mission and vision of Cooperative Extension in this wonderful county that we live in. Thank you for your continued support and dedication! Keep an eye on this monthly publication for upcoming events and information from our Agents.

September is Here

by Rachel Evans

September marks a major transition for agriculture in Western North Carolina, bridging the late-summer harvest with fall preparations. Orchards take center stage as peak apple harvesting begins. Down in the fertile river and creek bottoms, vegetable growers wrap up late summer yields while transitioning fields to cool-season produce like pumpkins, winter squash, and greens. Livestock producers spend the month establishing cool-season annual forages such as cereal rye, oats, and crimson clover for winter grazing, while mountain Christmas tree farmers begin final prep work ahead of the winter holiday rush.

Farmers' Harvest

by Tanya Binafif

As Lincoln County farmers move into harvest season, the Cooperative Extension office is here with the resources and support our agricultural community depends on, from soil testing and pest management guidance to 4-H youth programs that keep the next generation connected to agriculture.

We encourage local producers to reach out with questions about crop rotation, livestock care, farmers market support, or home horticulture help. Supporting our farmers is the foundation of a thriving Lincoln County community, and we thank the hardworking men and women who keep our local agriculture strong.

4-H Youth Development

by Tanya Binafif

The Lincoln County 4-H SPIN Club kicks off this month, focusing on life skills through a long-term project that will sew the fabrics of the future, literally! Our 4-Hers will be piecing together a quilt and picking up embroidery techniques along the way, learning patience, precision, and creativity one stitch at a time. And it's not all needle and thread, members will also keep stirring up new recipes and cooking skills throughout the program, whipping up tasty dishes while building confidence in the kitchen. It is the perfect mix of hands-on learning and hands-on fun.

As the school year gets underway, we have updated our 4-H School Enrichment Menu with a wide variety of hands-on educational programs for teachers to bring into their classrooms. If you are a parent, guardian, or educator who hasn’t explored the menu yet, be sure to check it out here (2026-2027 4-H School Enrichment) and discover the programs that best match your students interests and learning needs.

If your childs’ teacher hasn’t heard about our 4-H programs yet, feel free to share the menu with them. It is a great way to introduce them to the many opportunities 4-H has to offer. We are excited about the new school year and look forward to piloting additional programs that will give our community youth even more opportunities to develop essential life skills, explore new interests, and prepare for the future.

Horticulture

by Trevor Reese

September is a busy month for home gardeners and lawn-lovers so here are a few tips for both as we reach the end of summer. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and spinach can be started indoors while temperatures are still high to be planted later in September or October once temperatures begin to drop. Starting indoors and transplanting later will prevent leafy greens and brassicas from bolting or becoming stunted from temperatures in the high 80's and low 90's. Root vegetables can be sown directly as temperatures fall towards the end of the month, but still be cautious of high temperatures especially at germination to avoid drying out of seedlings.

Hold out a little longer on planting those woody shrubs and trees. While woody perennials can be planted in early spring with success, fall is an excellent time to plant them as well. Doing so gives the roots a chance to develop while temperatures are low and water evaporates from the soil less quickly. You will still want to water trees and shrubs planted in the fall throughout winter, but not as frequently as you would in the summer. Hold off on fertilizing woody perennials until after the first year of growth to prevent the plant from overexerting after planting.

Mid-September is the ideal time to consider renovating and over-seeding your Fescue lawn. If weeds dominate your lawn try to kill them off several weeks before over-seeding. Be cautious of pre emergent herbicides that may impact the germination of grass seed. Aeration and dethatching can be used to increase the success of overseeding, but are not always necessary. When overseeding, be sure to keep Fescue seed moist throughout germination and the first few weeks of establishment. Thinly laying out dried straw after overseeding can help trap in moisture without completely covering the new seed. The best time for over-seeding is when temperatures are consistently below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Since temperatures are never a guarantee in September don't be afraid to wait until later in the month or even until the first couple of weeks into October.

WolfPack Harvest

Wolfpack Harvest is a new fall tradition designed to bring together alumni, students, faculty and friends of CALS—not just in Raleigh, but wherever the Pack calls home. Join one of five, family-friendly events across the state on Sept. 19 to share stories, celebrate your journeys and reconnect with the Pack.

Register today:

Link: https://cals.ncsu.edu/alumni-giving/alumni/wolfpack-harvest/

Livestock & Field Crop

by Bella Roeske

Happy September! We are finally headed into Autumn this month which should allow us a break from the sun and intense heat. This also marks the continuation of corn harvest for some and the beginning of harvest for others, with soybean harvest just around the corner. With this in mind, submissions are open for both the 2026 Corn Yield Contest and the 2026 Soybean Production Yield Contest. Victor Gomes started August 1st as the new Extension Corn Agronomist for NCSU and will be accepting submissions for the Corn Yield Contest. We are still in the process of selecting a new Extension Soybean Agronomist, but the contest will continue as usual. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

I recently launched the Field Crops and Livestock newsletter that includes updates on grants, funding opportunities, local events, and relevant news from our state universities. To receive the newsletter, please visit the Lincoln County Extension website and subscribe to the Livestock and/or Field Crops newsletter options. Although there are separate subscription options, I will send just one monthly email covering both topics. I’ll also continue doing my best to share information in person with as many growers and producers as possible.

We want to know which wheat varieties you would like entered into the OVT in 2026 for yield and quality data. The top 10 varieties selected by farmers will be included in our research project on producing milling quality wheat in the Piedmont. Please use this link to fill out the survey.

Additionally, for Lincoln County cattle farmers, please join the Catawba Valley Cattlemen’s Association meeting on September 8th at 6pm located at 6793 Startown Rd., Maiden, NC. Food is provided, including a special dessert prepared by our kind host, Howard Reinhardt. Clint Barden, the Conservation Biologist for our region, will be speaking about how to manage black vultures on your property, and I will follow-up with more information on techniques to prevent vulture attacks on cattle.

Lastly, Lincoln County Cooperative Extension will be offering our final pesticide recertification classes of the year in early September. Mailers have been sent to active license holders with class information, as well as to individuals with expired licenses who may be interested in renewing by retaking the private applicator exam. Two opportunities to earn Private V credits will be held on September 10 from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln County Center, with each session providing two V credit hours. An X-credit class will also be offered on September 10 from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at the Lincoln County Center, providing two X credit hours. If you are unable to attend on September 10, additional credit opportunities will be available through Cleveland County Cooperative Extension. Please contact the Lincoln or Cleveland County Extension Centers for more information. As a reminder, private pesticide applicators must earn 2 hours of V credit and 2 hours of X credit by September 30 of the third year following certification to maintain their license.

FCS

Family & Consumer Sciences

Pesticide Credits

September 10th Pesticide Credits available in Lincoln County:

Calendar of Events

NCSU Farmers Market - Each week Cooperative Extension provides a venue for our local farmers to connect with our community members at the Farmers Market Pavilion on East Waters Street. Our hours are unique, Tuesday from 8:00am til 1:00pm, which helps our farmers within our community to have an additional day to sell items. In addition, we invite a food truck to set up during the Farmers Market. Come Out and visit us each Tuesday until the end of November!

Donation Station - The Donation Stations seek to improve access to fresh, locally-grown food while supporting the farmers who grow it. It is designed to combat local food insecurity whole raising awareness that a healthy local food system must include every member of the community.

Fried Apple Pies - Order your fried apple pies from the ECA on Mondays or Tuesdays in October before the Apple Festival to be picked up the following Thursday or Friday. Call (704) 736-8461 between 10am and 2pm to place your orders. Pick up time will be communicated at time of order, pick up location will be Citizen Center in Lincolnton.

4-H Stablemates Club Meeting - The Lincoln County Stablemates 4-H club is for youth interested in horses. Contact the Club Leader with any questions: Karen Williams- kkwill2025@yahoo.com September Meeting Cancelled

4-H Fishing Club - The Lincoln County 4-H Fishing Club is for youth interested in fishing. Contact the Club Leader with any questions: Edward Stroup- edwardstroup@gmail.com