Fayette County Soil & Water Conservation District

07/17/2026

07/17/2026

Back-to-school shopping can add up quickly, but Alabama’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday can help families save on eligible purchases.

From 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 17, through midnight Sunday, July 19, Alabama will waive state sales and use taxes on certain clothing, computers, and school supplies. Everyone can take advantage of the holiday, not only families with school-aged children.

Not every item on a school supply list is tax-exempt. Items such as tissues and other classroom supplies may not qualify, even when requested by a school. Eligible items are also subject to specific price limits. In addition, local participation varies, so city and county taxes may still apply in some areas.

Before shopping, check the article links for the complete list of eligible items and participating Alabama counties and municipalities.

Find out complete details here: https://www.aces.edu/go/5206

07/17/2026

Thinking about growing more of your own food, starting a farm stand, or learning new homesteading skills?
Save the Date!
- September 25, 2026
- 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Fayette County Extension Office
Join us for a day of learning, networking, and hands-on homesteading education. Registration details coming soon!

07/17/2026

Sweet Grown Alabama Day is almost here, and celebrating is as easy as choosing local! 🌾❤️

On Saturday, July 25, show your support for Alabama's farmers, fishermen and producers by:
🛒 Shopping at your local farmers market
🍅 Choosing Sweet Grown Alabama products at the grocery store
🍽️ Dining at a restaurant that features Alabama-grown or caught ingredients
🌻 Visiting a local farm or agritourism operation
💐 Picking up fresh Alabama-grown flowers
📸 Sharing your local finds and tagging Sweet Grown Alabama using

Every local purchase makes a difference. Join us in celebrating the people who grow, raise and harvest the best of Alabama!

07/17/2026

🌾 Torpedograss (Panicum repens)

Originally brought to the U.S. Gulf Coast before 1876 as potential cattle forage, torpedograss quickly escaped cultivation and is now listed as invasive in Alabama and a noxious w**d in Alabama, Hawaii, and Texas. Recognized as one of the world's most problematic w**ds, this invasive perennial grass poses major challenges in both land and water systems across the Southeast, even infesting more than 70% of Florida's public waters. Long-term control on your property requires an integrated management plan combining herbicides, active scouting, and site restoration.

Here is what to look for when identifying this fast-spreading invader:

Stems & Rhizomes: Rigid aerial stems with a distinct white appearance as they break through the ground, as well as sharp, pointed rhizomes with torpedo-like tips.

Foliage: Linear, flat leaves typically 1 to 10 inches long, often featuring a waxy or whitish coating.

Inflorescence: A loose, open, or upright panicle (flower cluster) 3 to 9 inches long, with small, smooth, oval spikelets.

Growth Habit: A perennial, rhizomatous grass that forms incredibly dense monocultures up to 3 feet tall.

Habitat: Commonly crowds out native species in wetlands, lakeshores, marshes, shorelines of both brackish and freshwater systems, coastal sand dunes, lawns, landscapes, and disturbed uplands in south Alabama.

Learn more about identification and control on the Alabama Extension website:
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/fish-water/torpedograss-identification-control/

🌿 Join the 2026 Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to raise awareness, improve identification skills, and take action against invasive species. Visit the ACES Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to learn more and take the pledge.

07/17/2026

Protecting Alabama's forests from the ground and the sky! ✈🌳

AFC Forest Health Coordinator has been diligent in Southern Pine Beetle detection across the state to ensure our forests are protected. Through aerial surveys and satellite imagery, Drew and his team have been able to gather crucial beetle activity data to share with Alabama's landowners.

07/08/2026

ALSWCC welcomes new USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief, Colton Buckley

07/08/2026

The AACD Standing Committee on Forestry & Wildlife hosted its Summer Workshop on June 25-26 in Cleburne County. We couldn’t have asked for a better event.

Day 1 at the beautiful JSU Mountain Center featured a full line up of informative presentations on topics including black bears, bald and golden eagles, the White Oak Initiative, privet control, and so much more. We appreciated all of the speakers for sharing their knowledge and passion for Alabama’s forests and wildlife.

Day 2 took us to the beautiful Penny Creek Farms for an incredible tour. It was a great opportunity to see conservation and land stewardship in action while enjoying one of Alabama’s beautiful working farms.

A big thank you to everyone who had a part in making this workshop a success. We always enjoy the opportunity to learn, connect, and share ideas with others who are passionate about conservation.

07/04/2026

As you build your burgers this holiday weekend, take a moment to thank the farmers who make every layer possible. From the bun and beef to the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, cheese, and even the flag on top, agriculture is part of it all.

This Fourth of July, we celebrate the people who help feed, clothe, and support our communities every day. From the bun to the beef, every layer starts with agriculture.

Visit www.aces.edu to learn more.