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Ag and Extension Briefs

Paul & Brenda Zeug Family recognized as a 2020 ‘U of M Farm Family’ The Paul and Brenda Zeug family of Morgan has been named Redwood County’s “2020 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota. Paul’s family originally ran a dairy operation, but it was transitioned to a farrow-to-finish swine business. The current Zeug farm is a small operation focused on sustaining the rural way of life as much as the land itself. The family raises corn, soybeans and alfalfa in rotation. The farm is mainly a cow-calf beef operation. The Zeugs sell feeder cattle; they finish ...

Attend U of MN Virtual Cover Crop Field Day

Extension educator in Crops At 1 p.m. on Aug.18, U of MN Extension will host a virtual Cover Crop Field Day: Setting up for Success. Through this live webinar, researchers and educators will highlight U of MN research that provides management tips and considerations to help farmers and ag professionals successfully incorporate cover crops into Minnesota cropping systems. The program will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m., with presentations from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by a cover crop roundtable from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Although there will be time for questions and answers after each ...

Invasive lily leaf beetle

Japanese beetles, Emerald ash borer, so what could be next? The next invasive insect to knock on our Minnesota doors is not green this time but red. Some of the most beautiful or captivating insects that grace our doors are some of the most destructive insects that we can come into contact with and this one is out looking for lilies. The Invasive lily leaf beetle has been found in the metro area of Minnesota and has been confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. These are very tiny insects that have a taste for lilies. The adults are quite small but are very loudly red in ...

JBS USA to invest $2.6 million in Worthington to support local community

GREELEY, Colo. — Through its Hometown Strong initiative, JBS USA recently announced plans to donate $2.6 million to help Worthington respond to needs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and invest in the community’s future.  JBS USA is working with local leaders to identify where the funds can best help meet immediate and longer-term community needs. All projects will be determined by the end of the year. Community members may send suggested proposals for investment to hometownstrong@jbssa.com.  “Worthington is home to one of the nation’s signature pork production ...

Japanese beetles

It is interesting that we have two pests that are metallic green that cause so much widespread problems in the gardening world. They are also both invasive pests too. For the purpose of this column today, I am not going to go into any detail about Emerald Ash Borer except that the Minnesota Department of Ag is keeping an eye on it. We know that for Lyon County the closest place that has it is Sioux Falls. It is also in Stearns County and Martin County, with all of Iowa being also quarantined for it. This week the metallic green insect that we are focusing on is Japanese beetles. If ...

Ag and Extension Briefs

Nominations open for the 2020 County Committee elections The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages all farmers, ranchers, and FSA program participants to take part in the FSA County Committee election nomination process. FSA’s county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs. Committees are comprised of locally elected agricultural producers responsible for the fair and equitable administration of FSA farm programs in their counties. ...