If you live anywhere in the Midwestern or Eastern United States, its time to stop pruning your oak trees for the year. Why, you ask? With the onset of spring, the worry of oak wilt grows anew. Caused by a fungus, oak wilt has existed in the aforementioned regions of the United States for some time. Red, black and pin oak are most susceptible to oak wilt, though white and bur … [Read more...] about Oak Wilt and Pruning
Avian influenza confirmed in wild birds in Florida
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been notified by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory of confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain: H5 2.3.4.4 in a lesser scaup, black vultures and other avian species. There is a low risk of HPAI transmission to humans and, to date, there have been no known human infections in … [Read more...] about Avian influenza confirmed in wild birds in Florida
NWTF and USFS Recognize Conservation Achievements
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Making Tracks with the USDA Forest Service awards recognize people and projects that best incorporate conservation education, partnerships and wild turkey management. The NWTF presented the awards during its 46th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak, to projects and programs that bolstered NWTF’s Save the Habitat. … [Read more...] about NWTF and USFS Recognize Conservation Achievements
Winter Homestead: How to Save a Frostbitten Chicken
So, you found a frozen chicken on your homestead. What do you do? Set the microwave to defrost? Fire up the fryer? Just kidding. If the chicken is still alive, there are ways to help save her. This happened to us recently. One of our Americuanas didn’t come into the coop at night and was caught outside in a freezing rain storm. We found her the next morning huddled beside a … [Read more...] about Winter Homestead: How to Save a Frostbitten Chicken
Farmyard First Aid: Creating a Kit
While first aid may not seem exactly in the purview of the humble homesteader, reality (and mother nature) oftentimes force us to tackle situations and scenarios far outside our comfort zones. As a result, its oftentimes a good idea to learn some basic first aid principles, in case you run into trouble around the farm. After all, many of us like to live a decent trek from … [Read more...] about Farmyard First Aid: Creating a Kit