Q&A- Mower Debate, Changes in Ag in NC & Ringworm
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Collapse ▲Some excellent questions came into the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Caldwell County Center this week, and I’d like to share three of them with you. I hope you find these questions and their answers helpful. If you have a specific question not answered here, please contact the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Caldwell County Center.
QUESTION: I have an older side discharge mower. Should I get a mulching mower to improve my lawn?
ANSWER: The Great Mower Debate: Mulching vs. Side Discharge. Grady Miller, NC State Turf Specialist, recently had the same question about side discharge mowers vs mulching mowers.
To answer this question, Dr. Miller grabbed different mowers, from small to large and side discharge or mulching. He mowed two popular types of grass found in North Carolina lawns – tall fescue and zoysiagrass. Then, he looked at the grass clippings left behind.
Turns out, the type of grass and the size of your mower matter more than side discharge vs. mulching deck. You’d think mulching would make clippings tiny, right? Nope! It actually made them longer in some cases.
However, whether you mulch or side discharge, it’s not a huge deal. But if you want a neater lawn, side discharge might be the way to go since it produces less visible clippings.
The bottom line is don’t stress about mulching vs. side discharge. For tall fescue lawns, be sure to set your mower deck at about 4 inches, keep the blades sharp, and get on a regular mowing schedule.
QUESTION: How is agriculture changing in North Carolina & Caldwell County?
ANSWER: Last month the 2022 Census of Agriculture was released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This Census is conducted every five years, and it is intended to provide a snapshot of the nation’s agriculture industry. The first Census was conducted in 1840.
One of the points that stood out to me is North Carolina ranks 15th in the nation with loss of farmland during 2017 to 2022. However, with projected population growth in the State, the American Farmland Trust ranks NC second in the country for projected farmland loss over the next 15 years. This is a predicted loss of over 1 million acres of farm and forestland by 2040 in NC.
In Caldwell County, 1,606 acres of farmland was lost from 2017 to 2022. This is 15% of the total farmland in the county.
QUESTION: What is ringworm?
ANSWER: Ringworm is caused by infection of the hair and skin by fungi. It occurs in all species of animals and can spread to people, too. Fungal infections cause little, if any, permanent damage. However, because ringworm is transmissible, animals with lesions are barred from exhibitions or shows.
Infection of the skin and hair is most frequently due to Trichophyton verrucosum. This fungus produces spores which can remain alive for years in a dry environment. They can be spread from animal to animal and through equipment such as halters and grooming equipment.
Ringworm is typically more severe in confined animals during the winter. There are no vaccines for ringworm. Cleaning and disinfecting barns with a strong detergent and then bleach solution does a good job of killing spores. Halters and grooming equipment should be disinfected, too. At the first sign of ringworm, topical treatment should be started. Consult with your veterinarian for the best coarse of action in your situation.
For answers to your agriculture questions, call the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Caldwell County Center at 828-757-1290 or visit us online any time.
— Seth Nagy is the Caldwell County Cooperative Extension director. The Caldwell County Cooperative Extension Center, 120 Hospital Ave. NE, #1 in Lenoir, provides access to resources of N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University through educational programs and publications.