NC State Extension

08/26/2026

We are excited to announce that Ryan Hamberg will soon join NC State as the new Extension w**d specialist! 🎉

In this position, Hamberg will develop an Extension and applied research program focused on w**d management in soybean and small grains. He will collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders across the state, including county Extension agents and growers, to address current and emerging challenges in sustainable w**d control while developing research-based recommendations, publications, training and other outreach resources. He will also teach the w**d science course at NC State’s Agricultural Institute.

Hamberg currently is completing a doctorate in agronomy with an emphasis in w**d science at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on developing innovative nonchemical w**d management technologies for row-crop production systems, including directed-energy and electrical w**d control.

Read more about him and the position at the link in our comments. 💬

08/23/2026

Did you participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census this weekend, North Carolina? 🐝📝 Drop a photo of the pollinators you observed in the comments!

Great Southeast Pollinator Census Page

08/21/2026

It's time for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! 🐝📝🦋 Ready to help us preserve pollinators? We've got your official counting sheet right here for you.

Happening from Aug. 21–22, the census is a community science project that invites people of all ages to observe and count pollinators in their yards and neighborhoods.

Here's how to participate:
🔍 WATCH: Pick one blooming plant and watch it closely for 15 minutes
🐝 COUNT: Tally every pollinator that lands on the plant
🛜 SUBMIT: Enter your counts online, joining thousands across six states

Learn more and submit your counts: http://ncst.at/2ORg50ZCtYu

08/19/2026

When asked how they could make more of a difference for the people of North Carolina, the NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers had a clear answer: pollinator conservation. 🐝🦋

Our Master Gardener volunteers are becoming pollinator ambassadors through a new specialized curriculum. They're equipping themselves with research-based knowledge to help North Carolinians understand the critical role of pollinators and learn practical strategies for creating and managing habitat.

“We want the volunteers to grow their knowledge and skills and to feel confident and empowered to deliver education on these topics in their counties,” said Charlotte Glen, NC State Extension Master Gardener program manager. “Ultimately we want them to reach more people with this information, which will lead to more high quality pollinator habitats being planted and maintained in community gardens, home gardens and public landscapes.”

Discover how our volunteers are helping North Carolinians protect pollinators at the link in our comments.

08/12/2026

NC State Extension is helping aspiring farmers realize their dreams through NC Farm School. 🚜🌱

NC Farm School teaches participants how to assess their land and set reasonable goals. Students learn about financial projections and marketing strategies.

“We are not a skills program; we don't teach people how to plant tomatoes or how to put up fences,” said Derek Washburn, an Extension expert in agricultural and resource management and director of NC Farm School. “We help them put together a business plan with the idea of a feasibility focus.”

Students gain a practical understanding of the economics of farming and how to create a viable strategic plan, giving them the best chance for success and equipping them to become farmers and entrepreneurs who can add resiliency to local food systems.

Read more about NC Farm School and hear the stories of graduates at the link in our comments.

08/10/2026

🐝 Passionate about pollinators? 🐝 You can help us protect them by participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census on August 21 and 22 is a community science project that invites folks of all ages to observe and count pollinators in their yards and neighborhoods. This annual event aims to collect data on pollinator population levels and educate the public on the importance of pollinators.

Learn more about the census, save the date and join the count at the link in our comments.

07/30/2026

07/28/2026

The first finding of the yellow-legged hornet has been confirmed in North Carolina, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is asking beekeepers to watch for the invasive predator hornet.

This first established presence was discovered in Matthews, North Carolina. Survey, trapping and response efforts by NCDA&CS and USDA-APHIS-PPQ are ongoing.

The yellow-legged hornet is a predator of honey bees, native bees and other insects. They exhibit "hawking" behavior by hovering near the entrances of honey bee hives and capturing honey bees as they exit or enter the hive.

"Yellow-legged hornets are not an increased risk to humans (the risk of stings/attacks is similar to other native relatives), but they are dangerous to honey bees," said Matt Bertone, director of the NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. "This is a species that will actively hunt honey bees and destroy hives, making it a destructive pest for beekeepers."

The invasive insect is about an inch long, with its most distinctive feature being that the bottom half of all its legs are yellow. Their hives can grow larger than other hornets' nests and have a reddish, muddy color.

Read more about the yellow-legged hornet and learn how to report any suspected sightings at the link in our comments.

07/23/2026

As cases of cyclosporiasis grow in North Carolina, you may be wondering what you can do to keep you and your family safe. 🦠 Our NC State Extension food safety expert, Ellen Shumaker, has the answers.

Check out the Q&A at the link in our comments.

07/23/2026