Autauga County - Alabama Extension

10/15/2026

Wildlife habitat management starts with understanding the land! 🌿 Edge habitat forms where two or more habitat types meet, providing wildlife with access to different sources of food and cover. Learn how managing edge habitat can benefit wildlife and why creating too much edge can sometimes have negative effects.
Read more: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/managing-edge-habitat/

10/15/2026

Clean hands can make a big difference!

October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a reminder that a simple daily habit can help protect you, your family and your community from germs and illness, including colds and flu.

Follow five steps: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry. Use soap and clean, running water, and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Remember the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails!

Make handwashing part of your routine before eating or preparing food and after using the bathroom, coughing, sneezing or handling pets.

Find more handwashing tips in the Links section on our page.

10/15/2026

What’s all the buzz about bumble bees?

These pollinators have a special way of collecting pollen. By vibrating muscles in their thorax (the middle section of their body) they shake loose pollen trapped inside flowers. This process is called buzz pollination!

Learn more about this Pollinator of the Month and others on our website or click here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6968

10/14/2026

🚜 Need Your Alabama Private Applicator License? 🌱

Skip the classroom and complete your training online!

✅ Train at your own pace
✅ Available anywhere with internet access
✅ Only $60 (includes ADAI permit processing fee)
✅ Earn your certificate and apply for your permit

To receive your permit, be sure to submit your application and certificate to ADAI within 6 months of completing the training.

💻 Get started today: aces.catalog.auburn.edu


https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/alabama-private-applicator-online-training-program/

10/14/2026

🧡💙 🧡💙 Hey Day is a reminder of what makes the Auburn Family special.🧡💙🧡💙

Auburn University's Hey Day tradition began in 1947 as a way to reconnect students returning from World War II and foster a stronger sense of community. Students were encouraged to wear name tags and greet one another with a friendly "Hey!" Now,79 years later, Hey Day remains one of Auburn's most cherished traditions, celebrating friendship, belonging, and the Auburn Family spirit.

As part of Auburn University, Alabama Extension, those same values guide our work every day. Extension connects people, communities, and resources across Alabama through education, outreach, and service. Just as Hey Day encourages meaningful connections on campus, Alabama Extension is committed to building relationships that strengthen families, support agriculture, and improve lives throughout our state.

🧡💙🌾

10/14/2026

Fall houseguests aren’t always welcome! As temperatures cool, brown marmorated stink bugs may gather around homes and slip through cracks and openings in search of winter shelter.

Recognizable by their shield-shaped bodies and white bands on their antennae, these insects can become an unwelcome indoor nuisance and release an unpleasant odor when crushed.

Help keep stink bugs outside with a little fall pest-proofing:

Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and utility entry points.
Repair torn screens and replace worn weatherstripping.
Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
Keep shrubs trimmed and store firewood at least 20 feet from your home.

Taking these steps now can help keep your home cozy without inviting unwanted guests! Learn more about Stink bugs and other pests and ways to protect your home here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6983

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

Eligible non-industrial private forest landowners can now apply for the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. Applications will be open until Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.
The program is administered through the Alabama Forestry Commission with temporary grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
“Periodic southern pine beetle outbreaks in Alabama have resulted in millions of cubic feet of pine timber killed on thousands of acres,” said Drew Metzler, forestry program specialist with the AFC. “The goal of this program is to minimize the risk of southern pine beetle outbreaks by assisting landowners with proactive management practices to improve forest health and lessen the susceptibility of pine stands to southern pine beetle attacks.”
Funds offer a cost-share for commercial or non-commercial thinning of loblolly or shortleaf pine stands, as long as certain conditions are met. The program is intended for prevention practices only and does not include individual tree removal. The maximum reimbursement per landowner is $10,000.
The online application is the first step in determining eligibility for the program. AFC staff will review all applications and contact eligible landowners with further instructions.
Guidelines and eligibility details are available within the application portal. To apply, visit forestry.alabama.gov and click on the link for the Landowner Assistance Application Portal. Then, select 2026 Alabama Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program. Applicants will be asked to login. To receive reimbursement, eligible applicants also must be enrolled as a vendor with the state of Alabama using the STAARS Vendor Self Service website.

10/13/2026

🌲 2026 Fall Landowner Tour 🌲

Join us on Friday, November 6, 2026, for the 2026 Fall Landowner Tour in conjunction with Farm-City Week! This educational tour will be held at the beautiful Tommy and Ann Rainwater Property in Billingsley and will feature valuable information for landowners and outdoor enthusiasts.

Topics include:
🐝 Auburn University Bee Lab & Pollinators
🌱 Carbon Sequestration Income Opportunities
🔥 Benefits of Growing Season Burns
🌲 Pine Straw Revenue Sources

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m., and the tour starts at 9:00 a.m., followed by lunch. The cost is $20 per person and includes the tour and lunch. Trailers will be provided for the riding tour. Participants can also earn 4 CFE Points and 4 PLM Credits.

🎉 Plus, enjoy great door prizes and two convenient ways to register, including online registration using the QR code located on the flyer.

For more information, contact Kim Johnson at [email protected] or 334-361-7273.

10/13/2026