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Ag and Extension

Preserving the harvest

The garden is in the zone of just keeping up with weeding and then picking all of the wonderful vegetables that are coming. Cucumbers, green beans, and yes, some tomatoes are all starting to come at once and so keeping up with all of the harvest is a challenge. If you would like more information on Preserving the Harvest, please attend my presentation 6:30 p.m. today at the Marshall-Lyon County Library on just that-preserving the harvest. If you are like me and have been canning a good long while, this is for you too. There are many advancements in the world of canning and other ...

Becoming a master gardener

Think globally, act locally. It’s a phrase that applies so well to University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners in Lyon County. We are the University of Minnesota, on the ground — often literally — delivering science-based practices to our communities. As volunteers, Master Gardeners learn not only from scientific research, but from one another and the communities we serve. And sometimes we surprise people. Many are familiar with Master Gardeners as reliable resources for questions about flowers or grass because horticulture skills are a cornerstone of our work. But did you ...

Tracy Area Public School District awarded grant for STEM studies by farm program

The Tracy Area Public School District was awarded a $25,000 grant to enhance its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum through America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Bayer Fund. The Tracy Area Public School District will use the Grow Rural Education funds to enhance STEM education in their CTE courses by purchasing new state of the art welders and wood CNC. In addition, through Nov. 1, farmers in Minnesota will have the chance to direct $2,500 to their favorite local nonprofit organization through the America’s Farmers Grow Communities ...

Ag Briefs

Minnesota Master Naturalist Program invites volunteers to serve on National Public Lands Day at Lac qui Parle Mission The University of Minnesota Extension Master Naturalist Program, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, Chippewa County Historical Society and CURE, invites area residents to participate in National Public Lands Day (NPLD) from 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 28. National Public Lands Day is the largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Since 2012, the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program has facilitated this effort at sites across the state. More than ...

Minnesota county cropland rental rates available

Average, Median, Ten Percent Lowest Average Rents and Ten Percent Highest Average Rents are listed by county in a recently released publication titled “Cropland Rental Rates for Minnesota Counties.” The rental rates come from rents paid by farmers who participate in Adult Farm Management ...

The last seeds of summer

The fairs are here which means that the end of summer is right around the corner. I am hoping that many of you who may have things to share for the open class exhibits at the fair are able to participate. I often find new flowers that I think I should add to my garden or some new vegetable that I should try. This also means that it is time to start thinking about planting those last seeds of the summer as well. Green beans, peas, lettuce and so forth can be planted now so that you will have time before frost (yes, I said frost) to harvest them. This is also the time, about mid-August, ...