Farming

The Harrison County Conservation District is offering two new local cost share programs available to county landowners and homeowners.  
Applications will be accepted July 1 through July 31 for the Gateway and Barn Access Erosion Control Program and the Rain Barrel/Compost Bin Program.
The purpose of the Gateway/Barn Access Erosion program is to assist landowners with the necessary means to repair gateways and barn entrances to reduce degradation, soil erosion, and pollution.  

Powdery mildew is probably the most common garden fungus around.  
It is not too terribly picky about where it spreads, it likes humid weather, thrives in the heat of the summer and is hard to control once it has started.  
The trick here is to prevent it from happening by proper plant selection, spacing, pruning and treatment before it spreads.
Powdery mildew is caused by several different fungi, I won’t bore you with their names because they all act the same way.  

It seems that we have been spoiled: A decade of mostly mild winters has led us to believe that all those borderline hardy plants would never get knocked back by a cold winter.
Well, I have seen quite a few crape myrtles, figs and French hydrangeas that are struggling to come back on old wood.
Fear not, however, because these plants are root hardy and will sprout new growth from the roots.