Accomack County Cooperative Extension - VA

🌙✨ 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.

🐝🦋🪰🪲Pollinator Week Begins — Let’s Celebrate the Helpers in Our Fields & Backyards

Pollinator Week is here! Across the Eastern Shore, bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and even bats help keep our farms productive and our native plants thriving. This week, we’ll highlight the pollinators that make our landscapes healthier and more resilient — and share simple ways you can support them at home.
Let’s grow a more pollinator‑friendly Shore together.

🌾 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.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is seeking an Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent for Accomack County. The successful candidate will lead the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational programs that address agricultural, environmental, and economic challenges. Serving as an educator and trusted information source, the agent assesses community needs, provides research based solutions, and supports problem solving for farmers, landowners, and stakeholders. The role requires strong collaboration with producers, industry partners, specialists, fellow Extension agents, and agency representatives to strengthen local agriculture and natural resource management. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree is preferred and must be earned by the sixth year of employment. Apply through: https://jobs.apply.vt.edu/jobs/associate-extension-agent-agriculture-natural-resources-accomack-county-accomac-virginia-virginia-united-states

🌱 The May 2026 edition of The Stalk is live!
This month’s issue is full of timely updates, practical guidance, and upcoming opportunities for our Eastern Shore agriculture community.

🔗 Read it here: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/uYdmBjI7BwZMACut?ref=Link

Inside this issue:
• A refreshed newsletter design that meets new online accessibility standards
• Program updates and announcements from ESAREC and Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Upcoming workshops, Coffee Hours, and community events
• Pest, disease, and field condition alerts for Eastern Shore growers

Take a moment to explore what’s new and share it with neighbors, colleagues, and anyone who benefits from research‑based, locally relevant ag information.

Thank you for staying connected and for supporting agriculture on the Eastern Shore. 🌾

📣 We’re Hiring an Administrative and Fiscal Assistant!

Accomack Virginia Cooperative Extension is seeking a full‑time Administrative & Fiscal Assistant to support the Accomack County Extension office.

This salaried, 40‑hr/week position plays a key role in keeping our programs running smoothly—handling procurement, travel reimbursements, monthly budget reconciliations, fixed‑asset tracking, grant paperwork, COOP coordination, and day‑to‑day administrative support. We’re looking for someone who is detail‑oriented, tech‑savvy, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.

Preferred candidates bring experience in university or Extension settings, strong accounting knowledge, and familiarity with systems like Excel, Banner, and Quicken.

📌 Apply here:
https://jobs.apply.vt.edu/jobs/administrative-fiscal-assistant-accomack-county-accomac-virginia-virginia-united-states

Help us spread the word!

🌱 Slug Season Starts Early on the Shore
With temperatures warming up, slugs are already on the move — and so is our ANR Extension agent. Our early‑spring monitoring traps are now active across local fields to track population presence and density.
Slugs remain one of the most persistent early‑season pests for corn and soybean growers on the Eastern Shore. They thrive in cool, wet conditions and are especially common in fields with cover crops, where they can be present nearly year‑round. Most hatch in April, right when young seedlings are at their most vulnerable.
Recent research from the ESAREC and VCE — supported by the Virginia Soybean Board — showed just how much cover crop species and termination timing can influence slug pressure. Rye, in particular, supported the highest slug populations, and very early termination dates led to greater feeding injury on emerging soybeans.
As we move into planting season, keep an eye on:
• Fresh feeding on cotyledons and stems
• Cool, cloudy stretches that slow crop growth but favor slug activity
• Fields with heavy residue or green cover
We’ll continue sharing updates from our monitoring network as the season progresses. If you’re seeing early damage or want help scouting your fields, reach out anytime to Helene Doughty [email protected]

🌿 Ready to start a native plant garden but not sure where to begin?
Join us for our next Perk Up & Learn Coffee Hour on Friday, April 10, 9–10 AM at the Eastville Community Center!
This month’s session, “Getting Started with a Native Plant Garden: Simple Steps for a Healthier Yard,” will walk you through everything you need to confidently plan your spring garden:
✨ How to choose the right native plants for your site
✨ Tips for laying out your garden for beauty, resilience, and pollinator support
✨ Practical guidance from local experts
✨ Where to find native plants and trusted resources to help you get started
We’re excited to welcome:
• Shannon Alexander (DCR / Plant Eastern Shore Natives)
• Laurie Jones (Wild Ones / Plant Eastern Shore Natives)
• Charlie Grizzard (Grizzard Farms & Nurseries)
Come learn, sip coffee, and get inspired to create a healthier, more vibrant landscape using plants that truly belong here.
📍 Eastville Community Center
17202 Courthouse Road, Eastville, VA
🎟️ Free & open to the public — no registration needed.
Let’s grow something beautiful together.


Grizzard Farms and Nurseries Wild Ones Plant ES Natives