Carlton County Extension Connection
November 2026
As we come into November, it feels especially important to pause and give thanks. There is so many things to be thankful for including family, friends, and community. Something that I have noticed and is weighing on my mind, is we have lost a lot of gathering places that are important places in our community where people come together. This gathering of community is part of what makes Carlton County so special. With this in mind, I am hosting Muffins with Mercedes. All are welcome. This will be held on Wednesday November 18th from 7-11am at the Village Pump in Tamarack (111 Tamarack Blvd W Tamarack, MN 55787). All are welcome. Farmers, gardeners, just looking for someone to chat with, please come on down and bring someone to catch up with. You can chat with me if you have questions, or not, take the time to gather with friends. Consider it a chance to connect with others, catch up, and share what's on your mind. Perhaps I can answer some questions you have had for awhile. Dessert is on me. Hope to see you there, and hear what's on your mind.
Producers have until Dec. 18 to apply
New funding is available to Minnesota livestock producers to help prevent wolf attacks. A total of $25,000, funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, will be awarded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) through the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants.
“Livestock depredation by wolves is a serious threat to farms in Minnesota,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Receiving this funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and being able to administer it to farmers experiencing this hardship is a crucial step to help curb this conflict.”
The grants provide reimbursement for costs of approved practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. Eligible expenses for the grant program include:
- Purchase of guard animals
- Veterinary costs for guard animals
- Wolf-barriers which may include pens
- Fladry and fencing
- Wolf-deterring lights and alarms
- Calving or lambing shelters
Eligible producers must live within Minnesota’s wolf range, as designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or on property determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts. Any animal species produced for profit and documented to have been killed by wolves in Minnesota in the past is eligible.
The funding requires an 80:20 matching cost-share, meaning 80% of eligible project costs will be reimbursed by the grant and the remaining 20% will be paid for by the grantee.
Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on December 18. Work for this grant must be done and expenses reported by October 31, 2027. The application and more information can be found on the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grant webpage.
In addition to this funding, the MDA has been able to take vital steps in easing the burden of wolf livestock depredation on farmers by providing a compensation fund for livestock lost by wolf depredation. In 2026, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services provided the MDA with an additional $55,000 to compensate farmers for previously lost livestock. This funding was available to aid more farmers and supplement the state investment in livestock compensation allocated by the Walz-Flanagan Administration. More information on the Wolf Compensation Depredation Fund is available on the MDA website.
Horse Education in a relaxed atmosphere
Uncork the charm of wine and horses! Relax with a beverage of your choice over dinner while gaining equine insights from University of Minnesota experts and educators to support your horse’s health and nutrition for your horse operation. Everything Equine and Wine is open to anyone but is geared toward horse owners ages 18+.
Date: East Central MN - November 5, 2026
Times: 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Cost: $30.00 (includes a meal)
Minnesota winters can be tough on backyard poultry flocks—but with the right know-how, your chickens can stay healthy, comfortable, and productive all season long. University of Minnesota Extension is offering a free online webinar designed specifically to help chicken owners prepare their coops and care routines for winter.
The online event will be held Tuesday, November 10 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and will feature practical tips and research-based best practices for raising chickens in Minnesota’s coldest months.
Participants will learn how to:
• Select winter-hardy breeds that thrive in cold weather
• Provide nutrition and general care to keep birds in top condition
• Prepare coops and runs for winter, with special focus on ventilation, lighting, and heating
• Understand egg sales basics for those interested in marketing eggs
“This webinar is a great opportunity for chicken owners to get ahead of the cold weather and make sure their coops are ready,” said Colleen Carlson, Scott & Carver County Extension Educator. “Whether you’re brand new to chickens or a seasoned poultry keeper, you’ll come away with practical steps to keep your flock safe and comfortable.”
This free event is open to anyone interested in backyard poultry. Register online at
Want to be more self-reliant, but don't have hours of free time or acres of land?
The Modern Homesteading Conference is designed for everyday people who want practical skills they can actually use, whether you live on a small acreage, in the country, or in town.
Join us November 21, 2026, at Park Rapids High School for a full day of learning, with breakout sessions covering: growing your own food, vegetable fermentation, saving garden seeds, small engine maintenance, pasture and livestock
management, small flock care, sourdough, family dairy cows and goats, elderberry processing, energy-efficient homes, buying land, and livestock health.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to build on skills you already have, you'll leave with practical ideas you can put to work at home.
Learn more and register: z.umn.edu/homestead
Nov 19 @ 7:00pm Central Time
Dr. Angela Varnum, DVM, will discuss critical care measures and "to-do's" especially in the first 24 hours of life for lambs and kids. Register here.
Join UMN Extension for a lambing & kidding workshop Thursday, December 10th in Cloquet at the Cloquet Public Library ( 320 14th St, Cloquet, MN 55720), from 6:00-8:30pm. Anyone who is expecting lambs or kids in the spring is welcome. The workshop will offer a combination of classroom training in what to expect by veterinarians and Extension professionals plus hands-on practice with a lambing and kidding simulator. This event is being held in partnership with Carlton County 4-H. Any actively enrolled Carlton County Youth 4-H member that has interest in the workshop is welcome and it is free for them to attend. Pre-registration is required, closing 1 week in advance. Spaces are limited to encourage lots of hands-on experience. There is a $15 cost to attend. Payment will be collected either cash or check at the door.
Please register each time for each individual attending.
Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/Carltonlambingandkidding. Pre-registration is required, closing 1 week in advance. Spaces are limited to encourage lots of hands-on experience. There is a $15 cost to attend. If you need to register via phone or email, please reach out to Deena at 218-384-8680 or olso7219@umn.edu.
For questions about the event or for help registering, contact Dr. Angie Varnum by email at gebha048@umn.edu or by phone at (320) 203-6064 ext 286064.
Filling a Gap: How Non-Native Plants Find Our Gardens
I spent the better part of last summer battling non-native plants: stinging nettle, Canada thistle, and a field of tansies, just to name a few. Instead of going into battle with my usual disdain, I began to approach the task with curiosity.
I learned, for example, that tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) was brought to the US hundreds of years ago as an integral medicinal herb, treating everything from gout to intestinal worms. In medieval texts, the tansy was believed to ward off the plague and was so important that it was brought to the New England Plymouth colony by John Winthrop Jr. in 1631 (USDA.gov). It quickly escaped cultivation, and its voracious spreading habit was even noted in texts from the early 1800s. Now, you can see tansies most commonly in old farm fields, ditches, and disturbed areas. As we come out of the spooky season, think of tansies as the ghosts of old farm fields.
Filling a Gap
Disturbed and over-worked soil is where you will see many invasive weeds such as tansy, Canada thistle, and Queen Anne’s lace. All of these plants thrive in full to partial sun, in open fields, prairies, and ditches. Disturbed sites, where people have shifted and exposed soil, leave a gap where non-native plants can sneak in.
What’s interesting about non-natives, is that they have a strong relationship with humans. It’s often not mutual, but invasives just love us. After all, we brought them overseas, often intentionally for medicine or beauty, and at one point we tended and cared for them. These plants aren’t inherently bad, many hold value to humans, we just don’t see it, need it, or know it anymore. If you’re interested in learning more about our relationship to plants, I write ethnobotanical essays on my site, goodrootsfamilyed.com.
Old farm fields are the perfect disturbed areas for our former friends. There are a few general reasons why non-natives grow more prolifically in these areas than their native counterparts. Non-native plants can exploit the excess nitrates in old farm fields better than native plants (NIH). Both invasives and non-natives can colonize old fields, of course. My field is filled with goldenrod, which also takes advantage of excess soil nutrients and open areas. Invasives just tend to have the upper hand.
This is in part because invasives also have less natural predators. They can spread so aggressively because there isn’t much that can naturally keep them in-check. And if you examine invasive species’ growth habits, you will also notice they grow in dense stands, making it near impossible for other plants to gain a foothold. I will often notice that invasives grow in dense drifts across open fields. We have created the perfect habitats for our non-native ex-friends, and it often takes human intervention to correct the landscape.
Non-Natives in the Garden
Invasives spread in many different ways, depending on the plant. We carry invasive plants on our vehicles (notice the amount of invasives on our roadsides, especially along major highways), through ornamental plant trade, and from our shoes and clothing (NPS). Once invasives take hold, as many of you know, the battle begins. They often take hold in our gardens simply because the soil is available. Think of it as a disturbed area, we expose and turn the soil, uncovering a seed bank that has been lying in wait for ages. Or, we are exposing the soil for a seed that just happens to be floating on by.
So what can we do about it? First, get a soil test if you haven’t already. You can grab one at the Carlton County Extension office. An imbalance or excess of nutrients should be amended to minimize weed pressure and grow healthy plants. Second, cover exposed soil. Layering cardboard and mulching deeply minimizes the risk of one of our ex-friends dropping by without invitation. Awkward. Lastly, pulling weeds often and early, and preventing flowering can help eradicate invasives.
In Closing
It can often feel like an unending battle of invasive plant removal. If you have a particular invasive, it can be helpful to research the plant to understand its life cycle and growth habits, so you can more effectively eradicate it. There are plenty of resources online from your local Extension Office and you can always reach out to a Master Gardener!
