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Ag and Extension

Lavender plants

I usually compile a list of must-haves for my garden each year. Last year, for some reason, I had lost three lavender plants that I had for almost 4 years. Lavender can be a tricky one to grow in our area. I have used some tamed varieties of catmint (or cat nip — you choose) for their place instead but once in a while, I can get lucky and can grow actual lavender. This past year would have been a good time to do it but who can predict how much snowfall a person gets each year. The snow acts as wonderful insulation. You can still grow lavender to your hearts content here but it just ...

Ag and Extension Briefs

‘Strategic Farming — Maximizing Return on Investment’ Montevideo workshop March 7 What tactics are worth the investment when managing weed problems, disease and insect pests, SCN and IDC? What should we be looking for when making seed and technology trait decisions? What best management practices for clean seed will help ensure the marketability of grain? Hear the latest University research and information addressing these questions and more at the 2019 “Strategic Farming — Maximizing Your Return on Investment” workshop scheduled from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at ...

Citrus plants

A long cold winter makes me start to think more about my houseplants and how I could add to them so that there is living proof of something green in the world. My houseplants sit in the basement of my house and are grouped together under a grow light. My small little garden in our winter wonderland. As I was looking up another fellow gardener’s houseplant problem, I ran across some interesting information on growing citrus in our homes. I have seen lemon trees for sale in various magazines, but I have never tried to raise them. They look very interesting and there are several kinds ...

Landscaping

The word, “landscaping,” sometimes strikes fear into a homeowners mind mainly because of the cost. If you are a gardener who is setting up a perennial garden or if you are taking a do over with your landscaping near or around your house, the next few weeks will help you through the process. The first step is deciding how much work you are able and willing to do during the growing season. This means starting with some clean up in April or early May all the way through fall clean up in October. There are many who want to have some landscaping now with the thought that as kids grow ...

Ag and Extension Briefs

Cottage Food Producer Food Safety Training is Feb. 26 in Marshall Do you make and sell baked goods, home-canned pickles, salsa, jam and jellies? Are you a cottage food producer? If you are, attend the Cottage Food Producer Food Safety Training from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the SW WC Service Cooperative, Marshall. This advanced safe food handling course focuses on aspects of cottage food products including baked, confectionery, dried, fruit preserves and, acid and acidified fruit and vegetables. You will learn how to produce, package and label a safe food product.  Wonder ...

Moorses and Olsons attend American Farm Bureau Convention

Grant and Denaca Moorse and Carolyn and Jonathan Olson of Lyon County attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 100th Annual Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana Jan. 11-16. Grant serves on the MFBF Board of Directors as the Young Farmers and Ranchers chair and is from Minnesota. Carolyn serves on the MFBF Board of Directors as the District III representative. Attendees had the opportunity to attend farm tours and sessions and hear from U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The farmers and ...