Breaking News

Ag and Extension

Good news and bad news

The heat and lack of rain are a concern not only for our lawns, gardens and fields but it could also affect the insects in our area as well. There are some insects that prefer cooler weather and then there are those that prefer the hot weather. The good news is that the insects that cause certain problems such as cutworms in our tomatoes or seedcorn or onion maggots do not do well in the heat. The bad news is that aphids, thrips and spider mites love the hot weather. We may even see a tick up on grasshoppers as well but they like weather that is hot and dry. The bad news about ...

2021Minnesota State Cattleman’s Summer Beef Tour and Trade Show

The Rock-Nobles Cattlemen’s Association will host the 2021 Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Summer Beef Tour & Trade Show on Tuesday, July 13. Rock and Nobles counties are located in extreme southwest Minnesota along the Buffalo Ridge, the wind corridor of the upper Midwest, with the largest towns in the counties being Worthington (Nobles) and Luverne (Rock). The trade show and tour headquarters will span the spacious and well-equipped Worthington Arena. The arena is located on the Nobles County Fairgrounds, just off of Interstate 90 near U.S. 59 and Minnesota 60. The tour ...

A positive change

One of the biggest positive changes, in my opinion, since COVID started is that we have turned back to some of the simpler things in life one of which is gardening. There are so many of us now making our backyards our own little oasis or our private garden of Eden. It is like an extension of our living rooms complete, at times, with televisions and even some special furniture. As we plant flowers in our gardens, we are doing more for just our own well-being and mental health but it also helps pollinators. Through each and everyone’s differences on what they like for flowers, shrubs ...

Raising herbs

Herbs can be a fun way to connect gardening with cooking particularly with children. My daughter recently became very interested in herb gardening from seed after her science teacher introduced to her class how to raise herbs from seed. I think at this point it is more a matter of how does this grow rather than what do I do with it once it does grow. Herbs can be a bit tricky to raise from seed. A few are very easy to raise such as dill or parsley. These two herbs in particular are fun to raise even if you are not interested in the herb as much as the interest they raise in the garden ...

Jumping worms

There has been many questions about jumping worms. If you have seen any videos showing these little devils, well, they are somewhat creepy. These are an invasive species to Minnesota. We do not have them here at this time. For those gardeners who live around the Twin Cities metro area, it is most unfortunate that they are dealing with these little critters. Unlike our native worms who live within the top 6 feet, jumping worms live within the top few inches of soil. They also reproduce at a much faster rate, which is one of the basic problems that we have with these worms. Because so ...

Ag and Extension Briefs

U of M Extension to host Summer Beef Essentials webinar series The University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a webinar series titled: Summer Beef Essentials Webinar Series. Zoom meetings will be on May 13, 17, 20, 24, and 27 from 8-9 p.m. CST. This webinar series will focus on different considerations to prepare for parasite and fly control, summer stressors on the cow herd, pasture and weed management, and practices to help producers extend the grazing season. Farmers, 4-H members, ag business professionals who work with farmers, and those interested in beef cows are invited to ...