Please note the following deadlines are fast approaching:

The deadline to obtain crop year 2013 NAP (Noninsured Crop Assistance) is October 1, 2012, coverage is for crops such as wheat for forage and barley for forage.

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The recent salmonella outbreak traced to cantaloupes grown in Indiana has many Kentuckians concerned about consuming melons, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to abstain from eating this fresh summer delicacy.  When properly handled, melons can be a safe, satisfying treat.

Here are some tips on how to safely handle melons:

Buy melons from a local, reputable source. The shorter the distance food has to travel from farm to table, the less of a chance that microorganisms have grown on the produce. Microorganisms need time to multiply.

My name is Kelsey Knight and I am a Pendleton County 4-H Teen Club member.  I am writing this letter to tell you about an upcoming service project opportunity.  The Pendleton County 4-H Teen Club is doing a service project for Operation Christmas Child.  The Operation Christmas Child is an organization that sends shoes boxes filled with toys, tooth brushes and tooth paste, bars of soap, hard candy and more, to give to children as Christmas presents.  These boxes are sent to children in third world counties, who typically have nothing; some may have to share a tooth brush with 20+ other people, some may live in a small area with multiple people, some do not have anything to drink out of on a regular basis, and they probably have nothing to call their own.

Anyone can fall, but the risk of falling and being seriously injured by a fall increases with age.  One in three adults over the age of 65 falls each year, causing the majority of injury and injury-related deaths among seniors.  National Falls Prevention Awareness Day is the first day of fall, September 22.  This day brings attention to the seriousness of falls and the ways to prevent them.

Four simple ways to reduce the risk of a fall include exercise, healthy vision, safe home environments and smart medication usage.

Exercise, especially an activity that improves balance and coordination such as tai chi, is a key in preventing falls.  Lifting weights can reduce the risk of a fall as it strengthens muscles and bones and helps you feel better and stronger. It’s important to consult with a physician or health care provider before starting an exercise program to find one that is right for you.

Everyone is cordially invited to the 2nd Annual 4-H Country Ham Auction scheduled for 6 p.m., September 21 at the Extension office. Supper will be provided prior to the auction and all ham participants, family, and potential buyers are invited to come. This will operate very similar to the way it did last year and the way our livestock show and sale runs. We hope you will consider buying one of the 4-Her’s country hams but add-ons are always welcome as well!

RSVP to the Extension office if you plan on attending to ensure that we have enough food for everybody.

Please contact the office for questions. Thanks for your support of Pendleton County youth!

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The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that continuous sign-up for the Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) started on July 23, 2012. Kentucky received a total allocation of 39,400 acres to enroll in the HEL CRP program. Offers will be accepted until either the state acreage allocation limit is reached or September 30, 2012 whichever occurs first.

The Pendleton County 4-H Teen Club is doing a service project for Operation Christmas Child. The Operation Christmas Child is an organization that sends shoes boxes filled with toys, tooth brushes and tooth paste, bars of soap, hard candy and more, to give to children as Christmas presents. These boxes are sent to children in third world counties, who typically have nothing; some may have to share a tooth brush with 20+ other people, some may live in a small area with multiple people, some do not have anything to drink out of on a regular basis, and they probably have nothing to call their own. These children generally do not know what Christmas is or who Jesus Christ is. With your help, we can potentially give these children their first interaction with Jesus and their Christmas present.

The Pendleton County Teen Club will be collecting:

Empty shoe boxes

Boys and girls toys for children ages 2-14 (include batteries)

Bars of soap (no liquid items)

Tooth brush and tooth paste

Hard candy (No chocolate or dated food)

Socks

Underwear

Shoes

Hair brush

Empty water bottles

Any other item that could be given as a present

Each box costs $7 to send across seas, so we are also asking for monetary donations; I know we are asking for a lot, but we are asking for whatever you are willing to give. After the collections are taken up, The Pendleton County Teen Club will also be having a Packing Party to pack boxes on October 10th at 10 am at the Pendleton County Extension Office.  If you would also like to donate your time, we would appreciate that.

Please consider helping us with the great cause.  We would love to see a lot of items donated and have a lot of people come out to pack.  We thank you in advance for any donations you are willing to give. If you have any questions you can contact me at kkelseykknight@aol.com or 8594457254.  You could also contact the 4-H Agent, Shelley Meyer at shelley.meyer@uky.edu or 859-654-3395.

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The 2012 LABO/4-H International Exchange Program brought 15 Japanese exchange students to Kentucky.  Pendleton County had two families volunteer to host two of those 15 Japanese exchange students. Theresa, Clark, Audrey, Dallas, and Marshall Emery hosted Hiroshi Takeuchi while Kenna, Tim, Moriah, Kelsey, and Clay Knight hosted Masahiro Fukata. The duration for this program lasted from July 22– August 18. These Pendleton families were able to present an excellent opportunity to their host Japanese youth, allowing them to experience cultural differences and partake in numerous, fun American and Kentucky adventures.

You have probably heard that the cost of food is expected to rise next year. You can do several things to reduce your current grocery expenses and hopefully prepare yourself for the expected price increase.

One of the easiest things to do is to plan ahead. That includes making a meal plan for the week and making a shopping list based on the ingredients you need to fulfill your plan. Check weekly store sale ads and product coupons in the newspaper and online to find the best prices for the items you need. However, don’t buy something you don’t have plans for just because it’s on sale. Make sure sale items ring up with the correct price at checkout.