Woods County OSU Extension

06/17/2026

Upcoming FREE Webinar from AgriSafe

Agricultural Dust and Your Health
Thursday, July 16, 2026

12 PM - 1 PM Central Time

Email from AgriSafe Network Join us July 16 at 12 PM CT Upcoming FREE Webinar   Agricultural Dust and Your Health Thursday, July 16, 2026 12 PM - 1 PM Central Time   Summary: This presentation will p

06/16/2026

Our OHCE leader lesson on Garden to Table: Small Space Gardening & Recipes will be held on Thursday, June 18th at 1:30 pm in the Woods County Courthouse Conference Room.

As always, our meetings are open to the public. We would love for your to attend!

06/16/2026

🇩🇪🇲🇽 Salsa and Sauerkraut Workshop 🇲🇽🇩🇪

Choose from: July 7 in Alva
July 9 in Fairview
July 29 in Cherokee

Learn the basics of both salsa making and sauerkraut making.

There is no fee for these workshops, funds are provided through a grant.

Please let us know by June 30th if you plan to attend. Class size is limited to 12 for each location.

To RSVP for the Alva location, call 580-327-2786

06/16/2026

Be sure to get out and vote today!

Polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm

06/15/2026

We've gotten a lot of questions about musk thistle control lately.

These are fact sheets about thistles and thistle control to help you identify what type of thistle you have and decide how to control it if it is an invasive species.

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/thistles-in-oklahoma-and-their-identification

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/musk-thistle-management-action-list

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/integrated-management-of-invasive-thistles-in-oklahoma

In early May, OSU extension hosts weevil round-ups where you can catch some weevils that feed specifically on musk thistle. You can then take weevils home with you to apply to your land. Watch for one of these events next spring!

06/14/2026

Tips For Harvesting Homegrown Garlic
Shelby Mendoza, OSU Student Farm Assistant Manager

It is almost time to harvest garlic in Oklahoma! One of the first signs garlic is almost ready to harvest is yellowing of the lower leaves closest to the soil. As these leaves begin to yellow, stop watering the plants about two weeks before harvest. Allowing the soil to dry helps the bulbs toughen up in preparation for being harvested.

When harvesting, wait until the soil is dry. Gently loosen the soil around the bulb with your hands or a garden tool before gently lifting the garlic from the ground to avoid damaging the bulb. It is helpful to harvest one plant first as a test to check bulb size and maturity before harvesting the entire planting.

After harvesting, gently wipe away excess soil from the bulbs and if desired, remove the lower leaves. Leave the roots and tops attached during curing. Garlic is a crop that is cured to improve storage life and enhance flavor. Cure garlic in a dark, dry area with good airflow by bundling 5-10 plants together and hanging them upside down for 3-4 weeks. Once the roots are dry and brittle and the outer bulb wrapper feels papery, trim the roots and tops before storing the bubls in a cool, dry location until ready to use.

06/13/2026

New World screwworm has been confirmed in a calf in South Texas, marking the first confirmed U.S. detection in decades. Federal and state animal health officials are responding aggressively to contain the pest and prevent its spread. New World Screwworms are NOT currently present in Oklahoma (6-5-26).

In this update, Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, explains what Oklahoma livestock owners need to know about the recent detection, how New World screwworm affects cattle and other livestock, and the steps producers can take now to reduce risk and protect their operations.

Topics covered:
• What New World screwworm is and why it matters
• Current status of the Texas detection
• Livestock management and biosecurity recommendations
• Resources available to Oklahoma producers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNonrpSD5WI

06/12/2026

New World Screwworm (NWS) has not yet been reported in Oklahoma, but there are some things that producers, wildlife enthusiasts, and pet owners should be doing now to protect animals and prevent spread.

💡Understand how NSW makes its way into warm blooded animals --
Screwworm infection occurs when NWS flies lay eggs in open wounds or orifices. These eggs hatch into dangerous parasitic larvae, and the maggots burrow into flesh as they feed, causing painful and potentially deadly damage. Minimizing open wounds on animals is key to preventing infection.

⚕ If you don't already have working relationship with a veterinarian, establish one.

👁 Frequently inspect all livestock and pets for wounds, This includes navel wounds in newborns, dehorning/castration sites, tick bites and any other open injuries.

🚜 Check equipment and fencing to determine if repairs are needed to prevent animals from creating wounds.

🕷️ Practice good tick control. Tick feeding sites on animals provide opportunities for screwworm growth.

🧐 Recognize that NWS larvae burrow into and consume LIVING TISSUE. Do not assume that maggots are just cleaning up dead tissue.

🚩 Watch for red flags -- foul smell; tissue that seems to worsen quickly; restless animals, licking/biting at wounds; visible larvae

🦌 Monitor game cameras frequently for wildlife with cream-colored larvae in wound tissue and unusual wound enlargement.

🤳Report suspicious wounds or suspected cases of NWS immediately to your veterinarian, OSU County Extension Agent, or the ODAFF State Veterinarian at 405-522-6141

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

Tips For Harvesting Homegrown Potatoes
Shelby Mendoza, OSU Student Farm Assistant Manager

When the foliage on potato plants begins to yellow and die back, it is a sign the potatoes are ready to be harvested. Gardeners can either allow the foliage to die back naturally or cut the foliage back early to begin the harvest process sooner. In either case, stop watering about two weeks before harvest. Allowing the soil to dry helps toughen the potato skins, which improves storage life and reduces damage during harvest.

It is important to harvest potatoes on a day when the soil is dry. Gently dig around the plants with your hands or a garden fork or shovel, taking care not to cut or bruise the potatoes. Damaged potatoes should be used first because they will not store well.

After harvest, you can gently wipe away excess soil from the potatoes, but do not wash them. Washing adds moisture which can encourage rot during storage. Allow the potatoes to air dry briefly in a shaded area with good airflow, but avoid leaving them in sunlight for extended periods, as sunlight can cause potatoes to turn green and develop solanine, a naturally occurring compound that can be toxic if consumed in large amounts.

Potatoes can be eaten immediately after harvest or cured for longer storage. To cure potatoes, place them in a dark, cool location with good airflow for about two weeks. Ideal curing temperatures are around 50-60°F with moderate humidity. During curing, small cuts and scrapes heal and the skins continue to toughen, improving storage life. After curing, gently brush off any remaining soil and store potatoes in a cool, dark, dry location. Do not wash potatoes until you are ready to use them.