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Ag and Extension

University of Minnesota helping farmers adapt to changing growing conditions

Note: This is the third in a series of articles detailing the University of Minnesota’s outreach to farmers in Greater Minnesota and around the country. Farmers already facing a difficult year financially didn’t need anything else to complicate their planting window this spring. Then it started to rain. In each of the last three months, the U.S. broke its mark for the wettest year on record, according to federal scientists. Through May — planting season — Minnesota had experienced its third-wettest year and the waves of rainfall hit farmers especially hard. Many delayed ...

Financial counseling a key aspect of University of Minnesota assistance for farmers

Note: This is the second in a series of articles detailing the University of Minnesota’s outreach to farmers in Greater Minnesota and around the country. Data shows 2018 to be one of the worst years for Minnesota farm income in decades. By all accounts, 2019 looks like more of the same. As difficult finances become the new normal, the University of Minnesota is offering a suite of assistance programs for farmers in Minnesota and around the country. Extension educators say their training programs, financial counseling and economic management courses have been popular with ...

Lincoln County Corn and Soybean Growers and their checkoffs are hosting a “Farmers Share” breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Saturday at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. “We want to raise awareness of the actual monetary amount farmers receive,” said Tim Jerzak, president of the Lincoln County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. “It is important for us to share our story and connect consumers with producers.” The breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, eggs and a drink, all for 35 cents to replicate the amount a farmer actually receives. This event is open to all ages and is done in part with the Lincoln County Fair and the Lincoln County 4-H. “We welcome everyone to come out to the county fair and support our area farmers and county 4-H program,” Jerzak said. “We look forward to sharing our message while supporting our youth program through the Lincoln County 4-H.” The Lincoln County Corn & Soybean Growers Association is affiliated with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, which oversees the investment of soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of the nearly 28,000 farmers in Minnesota. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program that requires all soybean producers pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. Checkoff dollars are used to promote, educate and develop market opportunities for soybeans.

Lincoln County Corn and Soybean Growers and their checkoffs are hosting a “Farmers Share” breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Saturday at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. “We want to raise awareness of the actual monetary amount farmers receive,” said Tim Jerzak, president of the Lincoln County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. “It is important for us to share our story and connect consumers with producers.” The breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, eggs and a drink, all for 35 cents to replicate the amount a farmer actually receives. This event is open to all ages and is ...

MN Soybean showcasing innovation at 2019 Farmfest

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) are laying out the blueprints for innovation throughout the state. The dual organizations will be highlighting their product developments and various successes in booth #620 during the 2019 Farmfest Aug. 6-8 at Gilfillan Estates in Morgan. “We wanted to highlight the many uses of soybeans, and you can literally walk on one of these when you enter our tent,” said Minnesota Soybean CEO Tom Slunecka, referencing the asphalt road protectant RePLAY. A pad of asphalt with a ...

The Master Gardner program

The Lyon County Master Gardener program is always looking for area residents to join our group and volunteer as a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener volunteer. We will soon be taking applications for the program. We can really use your skills that you have as a gardener or even as someone who is learning how to garden. There are so many ways to volunteer within your own neighborhood or city and especially within our county. I started with the Master Gardener program after watching PBS’s show, “Prairie Yard and Garden.” I watched the show and pointed the program out ...

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, S.D. 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. ...