Virginia Cooperative Extension - Northampton County

06/18/2026

🌙✨ Join us for an educational magical summer night on the Eastern Shore!
Ever heard of mothing? It’s the simple, family‑friendly practice of observing moths as they’re drawn to light after dark — and it’s one of the easiest ways to discover the incredible diversity of nighttime pollinators right in our own backyards. Moths aren’t just pretty wings in the night sky; they play a huge role in supporting farms, gardens, and native plants.

Bring the family, settle in under the stars, and watch the night come alive.

🦋 MOTHS AFTER DARK: A Family Night for Pollinator Week
Thursday, June 25
8:00–10:30 PM
Location: The Nature Conservancy’s Brownsville Preserve, 11332 Brownsville Road, Nassawadox

What to bring: a chair or blanket, insect spray, and your curiosity.
Free & open to all ages — no registration needed.

Let’s celebrate the pollinators who work the night shift.

06/16/2026

Now that school is out, don't forget to get the kids signed up for summer camp! 4-H has Adventures in Nature Day camp happening June 24 and 25 from 9am - 3pm at the Wildlife Refuge for $15. Cost includes workshop materials, make and take crafts, and snacks. This is open to youth ages 9 -13.

Looking for overnight camp? 4-H has that as well. July 27 - 31, kids ages 9 -13 are welcome to camp with us at Airfield 4-H Center in Wakefield, VA. Cost is $450, however scholarships are available!
Don't let the opportunities of this summer pass you by!
For more information on either of these camps contact Erin Morgan - 4-H Agent by email: [email protected] or by phone 757-678-7946 ext. 2

06/16/2026

Snap beans are growing on the Eastern Shore! One of the crops that makes Northampton County #1 in vegetable production for the state of Virginia. Do you know the stage pictured here is critical for production?

🌱 The pin pod stage is one of the most critical periods in snap bean production.

At this stage, tiny pods have just formed after flowering and yield potential is on the line.

🔍 Scout for pests: Tarnished plant bugs, thrips, and other insects can damage developing pods, causing deformities and yield loss.

💧 Maintain moisture: Water stress during flowering and pin pod development can cause blossoms and young pods to abort, reducing harvestable yield.

Pin pods mark the beginning of pod fill and are an early indicator that harvest is just a few weeks away.

Protecting snap beans during the pin stage helps maximize pod quality, yield, and profitability. Small pods today become tomorrow's harvest.

06/12/2026

🌱 Tune in to this week’s CabCast!
Our latest episode—produced by Northampton and Accomack VCE and the Eastern Shore AREC, Virginia Tech —breaks down how plant disease diagnoses happen in the lab and shares timely insect and crop updates with a spotlight on potatoes.

CabCast is for everyone: growers, gardeners, and anyone curious about agriculture on the Eastern Shore.

📅 New episodes every Wednesday by 4 PM
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/-vc8863/videos
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hscmB7Jic6mhQ94FnWAwh

💬 We’d love to hear from you—send your questions or topic ideas to Hélène Doughty at [email protected].
👍 Like and subscribe to support local ag education.

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Weather, fluctuating input costs, and market volatility can cause chronic stress, especially for farmers and their loved ones. Thankfully, help is only a phone call or text away. The AgriStress Helpline, which you can call or text at 833-897-2474 anytime, any day, is a great start to accessing mental health resources.📞 If you or someone you love needs help, contact the AgriStress Helpline today.

🔗 Access additional tools and resources: https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/education-farmer-stress.shtml

06/05/2026

🌾 The June 2026 edition of The Stalk is live!
This month’s issue brings timely updates, seasonal guidance, and research‑based insights for our Eastern Shore agriculture community.

🔗 Read the full edition: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/J1eUIuIYnBr3Swn4?ref=Link

Inside this issue:
• New 2026 CabCast podcast episodes
• ESAREC updates: new hires, student awards, land expansion, Climate‑Smart Ag initiatives
• Research highlights: w**d science publication, plant pathology case study, plant bug pressure, blackberry fertility, and student graduation
• Extension updates: monitoring efforts, Coffee Hour recap, insect scouting

Take a moment to explore and share with growers, partners, and community members who rely on research‑based, local information.

06/05/2026

🌱 Showcasing Eastern Shore Agriculture with State LeadershipVirginia Cooperative Extension Northampton County was proud to support a daylong agricultural tour for Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Deputy Secretary Ben Rowe, and Assistant Secretary Caroline Buscaglia from the Commonwealth of Virginia. ANR Agent Hélène Doughty joined Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Marketing Specialist Ursula Deitch during their organized tour across the Eastern Shore to highlight the diversity, innovation, and economic importance of our region’s farms and aquaculture. The tour featured several cornerstone operations that represent the strength of Shore agriculture:
- Tomato Production with Lipman Farms in Painter
- Aquaculture Innovation at HM Terry Co. in Willis Wharf
- Green Bean Production and Fresh-Market Processing at C&E Farms
- Viticulture at Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek.
The day concluded with a producer roundtable at Chatham Vineyards, where local growers shared priorities, challenges, and opportunities shaping agriculture on the Eastern Shore.
This collaborative visit underscores the value of strong partnerships between producers, state leadership, and Extension as we work together to support a resilient, thriving agricultural community.

06/03/2026

Join us for this event on June 18th at 5:30pm. Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension agent Hélène Doughty will be part of the panel discussion in partnership with DCR Coastal Region Steward Shanmon Alexander, Birding Eastern Shore Director Roberta Kellam, and Wild Ones Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter Laurie Jones.

Please join us for a magical night with The Extraordinary Caterpillar! This special community screening will be followed by a live panel discussion with local experts who bring the Eastern Shore’s ecology to life!

05/30/2026

🐦☕ May Coffee Hour Recap: Why Birds Choose the Eastern Shore

On May 29th, we gathered at the Northampton VCE office for our monthly Virginia Cooperative Extension Coffee Hour, hosted by Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent Helene Doughty. This month’s topic—birds of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and why this region matters—sparked lively discussion and deep appreciation for the place we call home.

We were honored to welcome Roberta Kellam, Director of Birding Eastern Shore, who shared her expertise on the Shore’s extraordinary role in supporting both resident and migratory bird species.

🌍 Why the Eastern Shore Matters for Birds
Roberta highlighted that the Eastern Shore of Virginia is one of the most significant bird corridors on the Atlantic Flyway. With barrier islands, marshes, lagoons, forests, and coastal habitats, our region provides essential stopover, breeding, and wintering grounds. According to Birding Eastern Shore, more than 439 species have been recorded here—making this peninsula one of the most diverse birding regions in the country.

Key takeaways included:
- The Shore’s unpredictable and exciting migration seasons, when almost anything with wings might appear.
- The importance of local hotspots like Kiptopeke State Park, known for its fall raptor monitoring, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a globally recognized haven for birds and wildlife.
- Specialty species such as the Saltmarsh Sparrow, which depend on our unique coastal ecosystems.

🗣️ Community Questions & Curiosity
Attendees asked thoughtful questions about:
- How to attract birds to backyards and farms
- Where and when to view peak migration events
- Changes in species movement due to habitat shifts and climate patterns

Roberta emphasized that birding “like a local” means understanding the rhythms of our landscape—and that the Shore’s mix of habitats creates unmatched opportunities for both new and seasoned birders.

A huge thank‑you to Roberta for sharing her passion and to everyone who joined us for conversation, coffee, and community learning.

Stay tuned for next month’s Coffee Hour!

EasternShoreBirding