Fayette County- Alabama Extension

10/07/2026

Join us to learn more about modern grazing systems and how to maximize your pastures! We have two in-person opportunities to attend.

Date: November 10
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Tennessee Valley Research & Extension Center
Address: 9494 Experimental Loop, Madison, AL 35756
Registration: https://www.aces.edu/event/pasture-perspectives-virtual-fencing-grazing-systems-2/

Date: December 3
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Northwest Alabama Livestock Auction
Address: 14330 AL-243, Russellville, AL 35654
Registration: https://www.aces.edu/event/pasture-perspectives-virtual-fencing-grazing-systems/

10/07/2026

10/05/2026

Farm to School Month: Celebrating Alabama Farmers and Good Food
Farm to School connects students with local farms through school meals, nutrition education, and hands-on learning. It helps students discover where their food comes from while supporting Alabama farmers and local communities. https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/efnep/farm-to-school-month-celebrating-alabama-farmers-and-good-food/

10/02/2026

🐸The Extension Mobile Nutrition Unit is at Frog Level this weekend! Be sure to stop by their location outside BankFirst in downtown Fayette.

10/02/2026

Powerful Tools for Caregivers gives participants the skills to take care of themselves while caring for someone else. By taking care of your own health and well-being, you become a better caregiver. Six class sessions held once a week are led by experienced class leaders. Class participants are given the Powerful Tools for Caregivers Workbook to accompany the class and provided additional caregiver resources. Classes will be held at Fayette Long Term Care Station 1 Dining Room on Thursdays beginning October 15, 2026, at 1 PM.

Pre-registration is required to ensure class materials are available for everyone. Call the Fayette County Extension Office to register at (205) 932-8941.

10/01/2026

Our Master Gardener Interns spent today’s lab session visiting The Westbrook Farm to learn about the farm’s history, seasonal crops, and growing practices. From pumpkins and zinnias to strawberries they’ll soon be planting, interns explored a variety of crops and learned about the farm’s drip irrigation system. We also had a friendly baby kitten to follow us around!🌻💐

A special thank you to The Westbrook Farm for welcoming our group, showing us around, and sharing your knowledge with our interns!

10/01/2026

Seeing patches of chewed grass or caterpillars moving across your lawn? Fall armyworms may be the cause.

These striped caterpillars feed on turfgrass, especially bermudagrass, and are most active on lawns in the early morning and late afternoon or evening. Look for an upside-down “Y” on the head, green droppings in the turf or birds repeatedly feeding in one area.

Can’t spot any caterpillars? Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap with 1 gallon of water and pour it over 1 to 2 square feet of lawn. If larvae are present, they may come to the surface.

Check how many you find and how much damage has occurred before deciding whether treatment is needed. Natural enemies can reduce their numbers, and some lawns can recover with proper care. If you use an insecticide, choose a product labeled for caterpillar pests of turfgrass and follow its label directions.

Find resources on managing fall armyworms on our website through the Links section of our page.

09/29/2026

The annual Fayette County Farm-City Contests are back! Students have the opportunity to share their creativity and celebrate the connection between farms and communities through art, writing, and video. Poster Contest entries are open to students in grades K-6, while Essay and Video Contests are available for students in grades 7-12. Contest guidelines and entry information are available through the Fayette County Extension Office. Message us or call the office if you'd like a copy. Contest entries are due by November 5, 2026.

09/29/2026

Alabama Extension invites you to the third annual Alabama Regenerative Growers Conference. This two-day event—hosted in partnership with Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network and Jones Valley Teaching Farm—focuses on agroecological methods of fruit and vegetable production, with session tracks for both commercial farmers and home/community gardeners. The conference features educational sessions, farm tours, vendors, lunch, and networking: a convergence of commercial and community growers interested in soil health, biodiversity, agroecology, community food resilience, and related topics.

When: November 7 and 8

Where: Jones Valley Teaching Farm, 701 25th Street N., Birmingham, Alabama 35203

The two day event is $20 and includes a catered lunch by chef Ama Shambulia from A Beautiful Life Enterprises LLC.

Preregestration is required. Click here to register: https://www.aces.edu/go/6896