News

GPS Goes to the Dogs

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:26:11 -0500

Workshop trains small-town K-9 officers to assess and document dogs' skills Twenty K-9 handlers and their dogs gathered October 26 at the N.H. Police K-9 Academy in Newington for a workshop on using geospatial technology to assess the scent-tracking skills of the dogs. "It was the first time I'd worked with police officers and the first time I'd worked with a group who had such specific ideas about what they wanted me to do. It went extremely well," says Shane Bradt, UNH Cooperative Extension geospatial technology specialist, who taught the workshop. "We had gorgeous weather and a lot of fun. The group made tremendous strides in their use of GPS and their mapping skills." Police K-9 Academy supports small-town K-9 units The New Hampshire Police K-9 Academy, a nationally accredited K-9 training site on the grounds of the Pease Air Force National Guard base, allows small-town K-9 units to train by holding training sessions every Monday year-'round. "Most towns can't afford to be without an officer for the 12 weeks it takes to go through the State Police K-9 training," says Mark Ericson, who chairs the board of the Working Dog Foundation, a non-profit that founded, operates, maintains, and raises funds for the Academy. Since its founding in 1995, the Foundation has raised more than $200,000 to purchase dogs, bullet-proof vests for police dogs, and to retrofit police cruisers for qualifying police departments in New Hampshire, Maine, and northeastern Massachusetts. Erickson says the Foundation purchased 10 GPS units, two computers, and the mapping software, but, "We soon found ourselves behind the 8-ball. We found there was more to this GPS stuff than we'd realized. We started looking around for someone who could teach us to use it. We're lucky we found Shane." Officers learn to use high-tech tracking and mapping equipment During the morning session, Bradt taught the handlers to "take points," to mark a trail, and to navigate using the hand-held GPS units. "I put together short manuals on the specific GPS units they were using," said Bradt. "Most GPS units have similar functions, but each has different buttons and menus to learn. It's fairly simple, once you figure out which buttons to click." "They asked very specific questions, like, 'What if I'm tracking in the woods at night and catch the bad guy, how do I notify my partner where I am?', Bradt says. "The answer: 'You collect a way point that records your GPS coordinates; the unit has a built-in radio which sends your partner the point where you're located.'" "After lunch, we went back outside to work with the dogs," Bradt says. "The officers worked in pairs, each with their own dog. One would lay down the trail; the other would track him with his dog. Then they'd reverse roles. "Afterwards they went to the computers to download and map the data they'd collected and project their tracks and trails onto the computer monitor. I installed free GIS software and loaded high-resolution aerial photos on the computers for the officers to map their tracks. We were able to see buildings and roads clearly, even cars in parking lots." "It was a lot more chaotic than I'm used to," says Bradt with a laugh. "I'm usually the one doing all the talking. I'm not used to workshop participants taking that much initiative. These people all know each other and train together. They had specific things they wanted to learn, and helped each other do more and more as the day wore on. By the middle of the afternoon, I was standing on the sidelines and they were teaching each other. Objective GPS records replace hand-drawn maps John Usher, head trainer at the Academy since 1995, says, "It was originally my idea to bring GPS to the Academy. Small towns often incorporate large areas of woods. In addition to its other benefits, GPS technology could prevent officers from covering the same area twice during searches, more accurately set a point if you found evidence somewhere out in the woods, and help officers get out of the woods at night." Retired from the Dover Police Department after 21 years, he now works full time on the Kittery, Maine, police force and part-time as dog handler for the Strafford County Sherriff's Department. Usher says police departments use the highly-trained dogs "to track and catch bad guys," as well as to find lost people. Some dogs are cross-trained to sniff for drugs and other substances. "We purchased the GPS units and the computers, but found we needed to put A and B together," Usher says "Shane was a great find. He did a great service for us and we had a great time. He stayed eight or nine hours, making sure everyone knew how to use the equipment and even said he'd make himself available in the future." "It was exciting to download both the scent trail and the path of the dog and actually see the tracks [projected onto a map]," Usher says. "We'd been evaluating the dogs by hand-drawing maps from memory on graph paper." In addition to providing objective validation of handlers' understanding of their dogs' skills, the GPS units will provide a standardized record of each dog's tracking skills that could stand up in court," Usher says, adding that he hopes to raise the funds to purchase GPS units for each Academy team (officer and dog) to use at home. View a slide show of the daylong training event. Click on "Show info" in upper left of photo to see captions. UNH Cooperative Extension's Geospatial Technologies Training Center Provides educational outreach programs that help community organizations, government agencies, and ordinary citizens make more informed decisions.Offers a wide variety of instructional workshops, from two-hour introductory sessions to 10-day intensive courses. Learn more New Hampshire Police K-9 Academy Working Dog Foundation Photo by Shane Bradt

Health Alert: State Health Officials Warn of Ground Beef Recall

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:42:01 -0500

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is urging New Hampshire residents not to eat ground beef recently recalled due to possible contamination with O157:H7 E.coli bacteria. The bacteria produce a toxin that's potentially deadly to people, especially young children and seniors. Three New Hampshire residents have been hospitalized because of illness suspected of being linked to the contaminated beef; one patient died of complications. The meat has been sold statewide. Health officials ask residents to review all the information about the recall, then check their refrigerators and freezers for affected products and throw them away. Each package containing recalled beef bears the number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. Symptoms of E. coli illness include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. If you have symptoms, call your doctor. Most people recover within 10 days, but a small percentage of people become extremely ill, with symptoms including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by the destruction of red blood cells and kidney failure. Most people recover from HUS, but it can be fatal. For more information about this recall and a full list of recalled products, visit the USDA recall site. If you have questions, call the DHHS Division of Public Health Services, Communicable Disease Control Section at 271-4496 or 1-800-852-3345 x4496. Labels of recently recalled ground-beef products Information on handling, storing, and preparing ground beef Photo: yoppy, Some rights reserved.

Seeking Flu Information? Looking For a Flu Shot?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:32:17 -0500

State Opens 211 Line for H1N1 Questions A second wave of H1N1 cases has hit the U.S. this fall, with most states, including New Hampshire, reporting widespread and increasing incidence. Intense media focus has raised public awareness of the importance of vaccination against both seasonal influenza and the pandemic H1N1 strain, resulting in unprecedented demand for both vaccines. A slower-than-anticipated production of H1N1 vaccine and a shortfall of seasonal flu vaccine has forced postponement and cancellation of some clinics, left some private health providers without adequate supplies or either vaccine, and confused the general public. H1N1 vaccine arriving in spurts The federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) oversees distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. The agency distributes vaccines to the states based solely on population. State health officials distribute H1N1 vaccine in the Granite State through hospitals and private medical providers. CDC has established a priority list of people to receive the first-available doses of the H1N1 vaccine. First in line: pregnant women, young children at risk for flu complications because of underlying health problems, and health-care workers who provide direct care to patients. "Mass-event" clinics forecast for late November The second-round vaccine supply will be available to all children, adults who care for young children, adults and college-aged young people with underlying risk factors. State Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero says that sometime around Thanksgiving, the state should have enough H1N1 vaccine to begin holding "mass-event" clinics in schools and other community settings. Seasonal flu vaccine: supply may not stretch to cover everyone who wants it Unlike distribution of the the H1N1 vaccine, controlled by the CDC, hospitals, clinics and other providers order supplies of seasonal vaccine directly from the manufacturers. This year, demand has outpaced supply. "Supplies of seasonal flu vaccine will keep arriving throughout November into December," Montero says. People seeking a seasonal flu shot should "try to connect with your private provider" or a local site (pharmacy, malls, visiting nurse associations) that typically offers seasonal vaccinations. Consumers should check state's list of seasonal vaccine providers. The statewide 211 help line will also offer information on availability of either seasonal or H1N1 vaccine, though information about supplies of H1N1 vaccine will not be available until late November. Ultimately though, Montero says, "there may not be enough seasonal vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated." Call 211 with questions about H1N1 or seasonal flu The statewide, toll-free 2-1-1 New Hampshire help line is open to answer questions about H1N1 and other health-related concerns. While they may be able to direct callers to seasonal flu clinics or providers in their area, they won't have information about the H1N1 clinics until more substantial supplies of that vaccine arrive in New Hampshire--sometime around Thanksgiving. Learn more H1N1 Pandemic Influenza: Stay Informed. Scroll to find links to many online influenza resources. Photo credit: alvi2047. Some rights reserved.

Small-Farm Risk-Management Workshops

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:24:46 -0500

Small farms in New Hampshire grew to nearly 4,200 in recent years, with an increasing trend towards organic and small-farm production. To help navigate the inherent risks and learn new strategies for managing production, marketing and financing, a team of UNH Cooperative Extension staff will offer a series of workshops beginning Nov. 2 and continuing through spring of 2010. The workshops will provide tools and techniques for managing business risks while explaining the benefits of participating in crop and revenue insurance programs. November workshops: Marketing strategies, tree fruit 10+ Marketing Strategies and Tips to Consider When Selling Farm Products kicks off the series November 2 at the Rockingham County complex in Brentwood. Featuring a panel of expert growers, this workshop will talk about potential farm markets for next season and the importance of branding and pricing products, along with different views on the pros and cons of crop insurance. Tree Fruit: The Year in Review and Planning for the Future takes place November 14 at the Hillsborough County complex in Goffstown. The featured speaker is the Northeast's leading tree-fruit pathologist, Dr. David Rosenberger. Winter-spring topics Early December features a weekend seminar on growing specialty crops for New Hampshire's expanding ethnic populations. In January, the series continues with two events: the N.H. Small Family Farm conference in Concord, and the N.H. Women in Agriculture conference in the Keene area. In the winter and spring of 2010, the series will offer workshops for organic producers, dairy farmers and nursery operations. Financial support from the USDA Risk Management Agency has enabled UNH Cooperative Extension to offer these programs at minimal cost to participants. Other partners include the N.H. Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food and the USDA Farm Service Agency "UNH Cooperative Extension professionals have extensive experience in educational programming for farmers and a proven record of successful partnering with other agencies," says Extension agricultural business management specialist Mike Sciabarrasi. "Extension educators believe outreach education is the best way to help New Hampshire farmers discover what's available to them." Learn more and register 10+ Marketing Strategies and Tips to Consider When Selling Farm Products, November 2. Tree Fruit: The Year in Review and Planning for the Future, November 14. For more information about fall and winter workshops and conferences, contact the agricultural educator at your county UNH Cooperative Extension office or call Mike Sciabarrasi at 862-3234.

New Web Pages: Preparing for Emergencies

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:36:16 -0500

Granite Staters face big and small emergencies of many kinds, from floods, blizzards, ice storms, tornadoes, lengthy power outages, and house fires, to public health emergencies such as Lyme Disease and pandemic influenza. Preparation reduces fear, increases resiliency Studies suggest that getting accurate, real-time information about the nature of a threat and making plans to deal with it reduces people's fear and increases their resiliency during and after an emergency. Well-prepared individuals and families in turn lessen the burden on emergency responders, medical workers, utility crews, and many others whose work involves providing direct services in times of crisis. New Web pages Our new Web section, Preparing for Emergencies, offers New Hampshire residents information to help prepare and respond to a wide array of emergency situations. We've drawn our online disaster-information resources from a variety of organizations, including federal and state agencies, the American Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). In the coming months, we'll expand and update it regularly. If you note gaps or outdated information in the resources we've listed, please let us know.

Energy Answers: Info Line Opens For Energy-Related Questions October 15

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:28:47 -0500

Call 1-877-398-4769 for answers to your energy-related questions

What's this "phantom load" I keep hearing about that supposedly wastes electricity even when my computer and other appliances are turned off? We need to reduce our home heating-oil bills, but our funds are extremely limited, and we don't know where to begin looking for information. When should we consider trading our old hot-water heater for a new, energy-efficient model?

Energy We use many forms of energy in nearly every domain of daily life: to heat, cool and light our homes, power our appliances, mow our lawns, produce our food, and move ourselves around. Almost everyone wants to find ways to cut their household energy costs and consumption without quality-of-life sacrifices. But today's media-saturated environments bombard us with so many messages about energy, it's hard to know what to believe and how best to invest our energy dollars. Energy Questions? Energy Answers. Call 1-877-398-4769 On October 15, UNH Cooperative Extension will roll out its Energy Answers program, expanding the capacity of our toll-free Info Line in Manchester by staffing the existing lines with volunteers trained to answer energy-related questions or refer callers to experts and other outside resources who can. Since it opened in 2001, Extension's Education Center Info Line has answered tens of thousands of phone calls from the general public on topics as diverse as caring for lawns, landscapes and gardens, controlling insects, preserving food, dealing with nuisance wildlife, and raising children. The line is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Separate information from misinformation "We're excited to begin answering energy-related questions," says Education Center administrator, Alice Mullen. "We'll target our information for individuals and households. "Our research has told us that New Hampshire residents are out there looking for information about tightening up their homes, buying more energy-efficient appliances, investigating renewable energy sources, and taking advantage of government financial incentives for making energy improvements," Mullen says. "In the process, they're running into a lot of misinformation and conflicting messages. Energy Answers aims to empower decision-making by connecting callers with the best New Hampshire-specific information from experienced energy professionals throughout the state." Ask away: Energy efficiency, conservation, renewables, when to hire a pro, environmental impacts "We'll stress the primary importance of energy conservation and energy efficiency," says Mary Tebo, the Extension educator who coordinates the Energy Answers program. "For example, a lot of people don't understand the many things they can do to reduce their electric and home-heating bills that cost little or nothing. We can help them avoid expensive marketplace scams. We can help them understand the lingo surrounding energy products and services. "For people ready to move on to more extensive energy-conserving or renewable-energy projects, we can help them decide when and why it makes sense to hire an energy professional and how to find an experienced, competent service provider," Tebo says. "We can help them understand the ways reducing their energy use helps the environment." Photo credit: Pumping the insulation in, iLoveButter. Some rights reserved

NH Outside 2010 Calendar Now Available

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:17:23 -0500

Our beautiful 2010 NH Outside calendar is now available. The calendar contains excerpts from published NH Outside columns, illustrated with original artwork by volunteer artists and spiced with daily tips and tidbits to help increase awareness of the natural world. Our tagline, connecting you with the wisdom and wonder of the natural world, reflects the purpose of our collaborative writing project: to connect readers to nature in some concrete, meaningful way. We recruit volunteer writers with a passion for the natural world and offer training, professional editing, and ongoing support in exchange for their written work. Most of their essays reflect on a private experience or encounter with the world just outside their doorways. Every week we distribute a new essay to print media statewide and publish it to our NH Outside Web page. The 2008 and 2009 calendars both won first-place awards from the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE), an international association of communicators and information technologists. We think you'll find this year's edition every bit as gorgeous and useful as the first two. At $9.00 each, we expect the calendars to disappear quickly Order online

Cyanobacteria in N.H. Lakes: What's the story?

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:48:27 -0500

Spring and summer "blooms" (rapid increase in concentrations) of a primitive group of organisms, the cyanobacteria (sometimes mistakenly referred to as "blue-green algae"), have been documented in New Hampshire lakes this year, focusing attention on the potential health threats from the toxins they produce. The N.H. Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) posted beach advisories warning of cyanobacterial contamination in at least 21 lakes so far in 2009--a substantial increase over the 14 advisories posted last year. Beneficial algae differ from toxin-producing cyanobacteria Algae occur in all New Hampshire waters, providing oxygen and serving as an important food source that forms the base of the aquatic food chain. Occasional spring, summer and fall "blooms" (rapid increase in concentrations) of algae have been known to occur but are historically rare on all but a small percentage of New Hampshire lakes. It is also common during sunny, quiet summers to see cotton-candy-like green to almost white "clouds" of green filamentous algae floating in the shallows of the many lakes with aquatic plant beds. But cyanobacteria, which used to be called "blue-green algae," produce a range of compounds toxic to humans, pets and wildlife. When present in large-enough concentrations, as are found typically during bloom events and when the surface populations are concentrated due to wind and water currents, toxin concentrations can reach levels of concern. Potential human health effects from exposure to cyanotoxins Long-term exposure to these toxins is suspected to cause chronic symptoms and ingestion of the toxins over long periods may possibly damage the liver, kidney and nervous system. Short-term exposure to cyanotoxins through activities such as swimming and boating in cyanobacteria-contaminated water or showering in water drawn directly from contaminated lakes, may produce symptoms such as skin rashes, muscle pain, eye and ear inflammation or infection, nausea, disorientation, diarrhea and flu-like symptoms. Cyanobacteria don't always produce significant quantities of toxin capable of producing symptoms like those described above. Only five of the common cyanobacteria in New Hampshire waters have been shown to produce at least one toxin. Stay vigilant While there have been no documented cases of negative human health effects from cyanotoxin exposure in New Hampshire, it is best to be vigilant and cautious. Keep pets and children (who are at greatest risk) away from any surface scums, "blooms" or underwater "mats" that are green, yellow-green or bluish green. Other states have reported dog illnesses and deaths from cyanotoxins when dogs drank small volumes of heavily-contaminated water or licked contaminated water from their coats. Everyone should heed the posted warning signs and keep aware of cyanobacteria beach advisories by checking the NHDES beach program Web site. Current advisories are posted based on the amount of potentially toxin-producing cyanobacteria, rather than on any measured amount of toxins. Researchers are currently investigating additional methods to predict toxin concentrations, but as any cyanobacteria bloom may produce more than one toxin and not all toxins are easily and quickly identified, the microscopic analysis, as is done for the advisories, is still the best option. Learn more

NHDES Beach Program

NH Lakes Association

UNH biotoxins lab

Cyanobacteria under the microscope

Cyanotoxins and the health of domestic animals and humans

By Jeff Schloss, UNH Cooperative Extension Water Resources Specialist

October 14 Symposium: Partnering to Support Military Kids & Their Families

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:08:52 -0500

"Throughout New Hampshire, military units representing all branches of the armed services are preparing for large-scale deployments in 2010," says Charlotte Cross, the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development specialist who directs the state's Operation: Military Kids (OMK) project. "With more than 4,000 children from military families living in our state, there is a pressing need for support and services to address the unique challenges these youth and their families face before, during, and after a parent or loved one deploys." Symposium will mobilize community support for military kids & families To mobilize community resources for these "military youth" and their families, OMK will offer a symposium, Partnering to Support Military Kids and Their Families, Wednesday, October 14, in Concord. The event aims to attract community leaders and volunteers, educators, members of the faith community, and youth- and family-serving agencies and organizations. Organized by Cooperative Extension in partnership with all branches of the military, the New Hampshire Council of Churches, and the Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team, the symposium will take place at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center on 2 Institute Drive in Concord, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The morning program will feature speakers from each branch of the military and Operation: Military Kids who will discuss the different stages of deployment, how each stage differs among the various branches of service, and some of the support needs for children and families. A guest panel will then take questions from the audience. In the afternoon, participants will meet in small groups to develop strategies and channel resources that will best meet the unique needs of Granite State military families. "Because of the significant number of service members scheduled to deploy in 2010, New Hampshire's military youth and their families are facing many new challenges," says Cross. Number of children affected by a loved one's deployment to rise 10-fold "To illustrate the increasing need, OMK normally distributes between 100 and 200 "Hero Packs" each year, but in 2010, we expect to distribute more than 2,000 packs," Cross says. "Hero Packs, backpacks filled with items such as disposable cameras, calling cards, stationary, and age-appropriate fun items, are presented to military youth when a parent or loved one deploys, in recognition of the sacrifices these young people make. "We need donations of items to fill the packs, and donation drives are a wonderful opportunity for groups to engage in a worthwhile community service project." "We're also always in need of childcare providers," says Captain Ana McKenna, New Hampshire National Guard Family Program Director. "For example, military families join together at monthly Family Readiness Group meetings to offer support to one another and are routinely faced with the challenge of locating caring individuals to provide childcare that includes engaging youth activities. "There are many ways for individuals and community groups to get involved, and we are excited about the chance to explore ways to work together at the October 14th symposium," McKenna says. As an added benefit, after the symposium ends, attendees can explore the many Discovery Center exhibits until 5:00 p.m., at no charge. The symposium registration deadline is October 8th. Space is limited. Cost of $20 covers refreshments and lunch. Questions? Please contact the OMK office at 603-862-2297.

Download the Partnering to Support Military Kids and Their Families flyer

Learn more about Operation: Military Kids in New Hampshire

National OMK Web site

State Declares EEE Public Health Emergency, Offers Help to Towns

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:06:18 -0500

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health threat in more than 50 southeastern and central New Hampshire communities because of the risk of the mosquito-borne illness Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The emergency declaration loosens mosquito-control permitting requirements and releases mosquito-control funds to towns at greatest risk for EEE. A serious disease in humans EEE, a mosquito-spread disease of birds, sometimes gets transmitted (via mosquito bite) to horses and people. Although horses can be vaccinated against the illness, there's no vaccine or treatment for EEE in humans, which proves fatal in about a third of human cases. In 2005, seven New Hampshire residents came down with the illness, two of whom died. Mosquitoes active until cold weather arrives: protect yourself and your family Mosquitoes will remain active until hard frost hits the area, and officials warn residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites by using repellent sprays and wearing long pants and shirts with long sleeves. Learn more: Eastern Equine Encephalitis, 2009 This 14-page fact sheet presents New Hampshire-specific information about this virus and how to protect yourself. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Eastern Equine Encephalitis fact sheet New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Arboviral Illnesses fact sheet

Updated September 8, 2009

Manchester Workplace-Flexibility Initiative Aims to Strengthen Families

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:10:54 -0500

UNH Cooperative Extension is playing a central role in educating employers and recognizing effective workplace flexibility practices through When Work Works, a national initiative focused locally in greater Manchester. "The Manchester project is part of a family resource center founded by the Family Education Collaborative to strengthen families and individuals," says Sharon Cowen, the Extension Family and Consumer Resources educator who serves as project director. "The Collaborative includes Cooperative Extension, UNH-Manchester, the YWCA, and Child and Family Services." According to Cowen, Manchester joins 29 other When Work Works community and statewide initiatives throughout the U.S. Malcolm Smith, Extension's family education and policy specialist, received the grant that funded the project. Workplace flexibility important in stressful economic circumstances "A challenging economy, changing workforce demographics, and a dynamic and demanding workplace, have increased burdens on New Hampshire families and employers," says Cowen. "When Work Works encourages and recognizes effective workplace practices that help bridge the needs of working families and employers, promoting healthier individuals and families and a more productive workforce. The initiative provides national education, research, and resources," Cowen says. "According to Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute, a partner in the national initiative, 'Research consistently reveals that flexibility is linked to a return on investment. The perception of flexibility is changing from a perk...to a strategic tool for doing business,'" says Cowen. Local companies and organizations win Sloan Award for workplace flexibility When Work Works sponsors the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, an annual award honoring organizations that score in the top 20 percent of a national employers' survey. An employee survey is included in the Awards process. "Four Manchester area employers are winners of the 2009 Sloan Awards: Dynamic Network Services, Inc., Image 4, the YWCA, and Child and Family Services," says Cowen. "They'll be recognized locally and nationally for their accomplishments," she says, adding, "The Family Education Collaborative will present the Awards on September 22 at the Manchester YWCA. "We've been working to get the message out about the advantages of workplace flexibility to employers and employees. We're thrilled to recognize these exemplary New Hampshire employers." For more information about workplace flexibility, including research reports, business briefs, and other resources, please visit When Work Works, or contact Sharon Cowen at 641-6060.

Asian Long Horned Beetle Threatens New Hampshire Forests

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:54:03 -0500

"Beetle Blitz" will recruit and educate citizen monitors Forest health experts fear that an exotic pest called the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), which made its way into the U.S. in wooden packing crates from China more than a decade ago, could move into New Hampshire and devastate our forest landscape. To prevent an infestation, the state's Forest Pest Advisory Committee has planned a "beetle blitz" later this summer and fall to raise public awareness and recruit citizen volunteers to monitor forest and landscape trees for signs of the insect. Beetle not yet found in N.H. "So far, we haven't found ALB in New Hampshire," says UNH Cooperative Extension entomologist, Dr. Stan Swier. "But last summer, the beetle was discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts. State and federal officials have mounted a massive eradication program there, expected to last many years and to cost tens of millions of dollars." First discovered in Brooklyn in 1996, the beetle turned up in other New York sites, New Jersey, Chicago, Toronto before being discovered in Worcester. Beetle behavior "The female ALB chews holes in the trunks and branches of many hardwood species--especially maples, but also birch, elm, ash, poplar, willow, horsechesnut, and many more--to lay her eggs," says Swier. "The eggs hatch, and the larvae excavate large galleries inside the tree, disrupting sap flow, weakening and eventually killing it. ALB attacks many hardwood trees, but is most common in maple and birch." Beetle threatens forest values "New Hampshire's 4.6 million forested acres provide the scenic natural backdrop for the quality of life we all enjoy," says Swier. "Our timber industries are collectively worth $2 billion and support 21,000 jobs. Forests also help protect our water quality, prevent flooding, provide wildlife habitat, give us our maple syrup industry, and support many recreational activities for both tourists and residents alike. "Because the beetle attacks many different tree species, scientists fear an infestation could have long-lasting negative impacts on the entire forest ecosystem if it became established over a large area," Swier says. Prevention: first line of defense "Prevention is our first line of defense, followed by aggressive eradication programs if the beetle is found," says Swier. "The larva burrows deeply into the tree, making it extremely difficult to control. We currently have no biological control methods for this pest, although the USDA is conducting experiments testing the effectiveness of some insecticides. "Chemicals reduce the problem on landscape trees but aren't practical in a forest. Chemicals cannot eradicate ALB. "Once the beetle has been discovered, it becomes a very expensive search-and-destroy operation, involving cutting, burning and chipping." says Swier. A call to citizen action "With nearly five million forested acres in New Hampshire, we believe ordinary citizen observers are the most important key to identifying this potential threat," Swier says. "To that end, we're organizing a 'beetle blitz' of citizen awareness programs, beginning with two early-evening "twilight" meetings, August 18 in Manchester and August 25 in Portsmouth, from 5:30 to 8:30." "Volunteers will sign up to join specific groups for the survey in their community. Each group will survey for ALB the following Saturday morning, by inspecting suitable host trees within a specifically designated grid area for that group. "Cooperative Extension staff will follow the initial meetings with similar workshops in each of the state's 10 counties over the fall and winter, as well as with a series of train-the-trainer meetings for garden club members, master gardeners, community tree stewards, and others," Swier says. "As people learn to recognize the adult ALB and its emergence holes, we hope they'll alert the state authorities: the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, the Division of Forests and Lands, or their local Cooperative Extension office. Primary means for distribution: firewood moving in from infested areas "The primary way the beetle may move into New Hampshire is on firewood," says Swier. "People transport firewood long distances, especially to summer camps. In late May, both State and Federal regulators banned the movement of firewood into government-owned parks and the White Mountain National Forest. We've identified residents of the Worcester area who own property in New Hampshire and sent individual letters to them all, urging them not to bring firewood into the state and to notify us if they have. For more information Beetle blitz kickoff workshops, August 18 and 25 Learn more about the threat to forest and landscape trees, how to scout for and identify ALB signs, and how to participate as a citizen monitor. N.H. Asian Longhorned Beetle Web site Video clip: Dr. Stan Swier talks about ALB Contact information Dr. Stan Swier Dept Biological Sciences, UNH Spaulding Hall, 38 Academic Way Durham, NH 03824 Ph. ( 603) 781-8248 (cell) Fax: (603) 862-2717 Email: stan.swier@unh.edu

Late Blight Alert! Disease of Tomatoes, Potatoes Arrives in New Hampshire

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:34:36 -0500

earliest appearance on record; devastating disease spreads fast, kills quickly Late blight, a devastating fungal disease that infects tomatoes and potatoes, has been confirmed in Maine, upstate New York, Pennsylvania and in several areas of New Hampshire. Left unchecked, the fungus can quickly wipe out plantings of these popular vegetables. Premature arrival, probably on infected tomato seedlings "Late blight usually doesn't strike the Northeast until August," says Extension Plant Health Specialist Cheryl Smith. "Rainy, overcast weather has provided very favorable conditions for development and spread of the disease." "Some large, nationwide retail stores have apparently sold infected tomato seedlings. If you bought tomato seedlings at one of these stores, check your plants and keep on checking," Smith says. Symptoms "Classic symptoms include large, irregularly-shaped, water-soaked, olive-green-to-brown spots on leaves. Under wet or very humid conditions, a slightly fuzzy, white fungal growth may be visible on the underside of the leaf," says Smith." "Leaf lesions begin as tiny, irregularly-shaped dark green or brown spots. Brown to blackish irregular lesions also develop on upper stems. Firm, brown spots develop on tomato fruit, and infected fruit often looks bumpy". Advice to home gardeners "The late blight fungus produces many spores, which can travel long distances through the air. It's crucial that everyone who grows potatoes or tomatoes, including home gardeners, is monitoring for late blight to avoid being a source of spores that move on to infect potatoes and tomatoes in neighboring gardens and commercial fields. "There's no need to take action if your plants show no signs of infection," Smith says. But she urges home gardeners to heed this advice:

Thoroughly inspect potato and tomato plantings on a daily basis, because late blight moves fast and can be difficult to control once established in a planting.
Fungicides containing the active ingredient chlorothalonil are fairly effective in protecting plants from infection. Although copper fungicides are an option for organic gardeners, copper is not highly effective. Gardeners don't have access to fungicides effective for controlling the disease once plants are infected.
Don't attempt to treat infected plants with fungicides, even those labeled for late blight. Fungicides available to home gardeners can't cure plants that are already infected.
If you see signs of infection, pull all infected plants from the ground, bag them up, and dispose of the bags in the trash. Do not put them in the compost or in a refuse heap.
Put a few samples (include several stems plus leaves and/or fruit) into a plastic bag and bring it to your County Extension office, but don't wait for confirmation to pull out the infected plants.
Don't touch healthy plants after handling infected plants until you've scrubbed your hands with soap and water thoroughly.

Guidance for commercial growers Detailed information for commercial growers, who have access to methods and materials for controlling late-blight infected plantings not available to home gardeners. Cornell University's late-blight photo gallery Late blight/early blight photos Photos compare late blight with early blight. Cornell University vegetable disease updates Frequent updates about vegetable diseases in the Northeast, including late blight. Photo of late blight on tomato leaves by Eric Sideman, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

Free pressure-canner testing, food preservation workshops

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:07:15 -0500

Thinking about canning the abundance from your garden, CSA, or local farm stand? Before you harvest, make sure you're using current canning information and tested recipes. And make sure your equipment is in good working order. Test your pressure canner Test the pressure-canner dial gauge for accuracy each year before the canning season. Home food-preservers with Presto-made pressure canners* may bring their Pressure Dial Gauge or Pressure Tru Indicator to a UNH Cooperative Extension county office for testing. Please call your county Extension office in advance, rather than just walking in with your pressure gauge. If your county isn't conducting testing this year, the Family & Consumer Resources educator there can refer you to a site that will. The educator doing the testing can also inspect your equipment and provide you with recommendations for use based on its condition. Although weighted-gauge types of pressure canners don't require testing for accuracy, replace the weighted gauge if it's damaged in any way. *Brand names manufactured by National Presto Industries include: Magic Seal, Maid of Honor, Presto, and National. Canning workshops scheduled Although these workshops focus on water-bath canning, but instructors will answer questions about pressure canning, freezing, and drying. (Keep checking this space, as more workshops will be scheduled as the season progresses.)

August 13: Yes You Can, Exeter Seacoast Farmers Market, Exeter, 2:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Claudia Boozer-Blasco 679-5616
August 13: Yes You Can--Preserving Food at Home, Green Thumb Nursery, Rte 116, North Haverhill, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call Deb Maes at 787-6944
August 15: Yes You Can, Seacoast Farmers Market, Portsmouth, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call Claudia Boozer-Blasco at 679-5616.
August 18: Yes You Can, Tracy Library, New London, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, call Marilyn Sullivan, 225-5505.
August 18: Yes You Can, Applecrest Farm Orchards, 133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. For more information, call Claudia Boozer-Blasco at 679-5616.
August 20: Yes You Can, Wesley United Methodist Church, Clinton Street, Concord, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Small fee will be charged. Registration handled by the Concord Cooperative Market. Call Ruth Smith at 410-3099 for more information.
August 25: Yes You Can, Rye Public Library, 581 Washington Road, Rye, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. For more information, call Claudia Boozer-Blasco at 679-5616.
September 16: Yes You Can, Massabesic Audubon Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Small fee will be charged. Registration handled by the Massabesic Audubon Center. Call 668-2045 for more information.
September 17: Preserving Your Harvest, New Hampshire Technical Institute, Sweeney Building (student center) Room 225, 31 College Drive, Concord, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. For more information, call Marilyn Sullivan at 225-5505.

Photo credit: podchef at Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Ticks are Active Now. Protect Yourself.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:08:15 -0500

Blacklegged ticks (formerly called deer ticks) are active now throughout much of New Hampshire. June is especially important, because the nymphs (immature forms) of blacklegged ticks are active, and they can transmit Lyme Disease more quickly than the adults. American dog tick, which doesn't transmit Lyme Disease, will probably be active until some time in August (depends on rainfall). If you suspect a tick has been biting more than a few hours, consider having it identified once you remove it. (Tweezers or forceps can help with the removal.). To protect yourself:

Avoid thick brush and tall grass when ticks are active.
Use tick repellent on socks and pantlegs (or legs if you wear shorts).
Check yourself for ticks at the end of the day; remember that they can crawl under your clothing, between your toes, and behind or on your ears.
Remove attached ticks promptly.

New UNH Cooperative Extension publications that can help Insect Repellents includes information on several new active ingredients, including some that work on ticks. Biology and Management of Ticks in New Hampshire Comprehensive fact sheet has been updated and expanded to include much new information on diseases, tick species, and controls. Alan Eaton, UNH Cooperative Extension entomology specialist Photo credit (blacklegged tick biting): Alan Eaton