Carlton County Extension Connection
November 2025
Join the Extension Office and Carlton Community Education for an evening of gazing at the universe.
Exploring the Night Sky: After the sun sets, the universe is ours to behold! But in the planetarium, the sun can set whenever we want. Explore the wonders of tonight's sky and learn about the stars, constellations, planets, and other objects we can see.
When: Thursday, November 13, 2025, 6-7:30 pm
Where: South Terrace Elementary School Gym, 530 Stine Drive, Carlton
Cost: $5 individuals, $10 per family
Each session takes 30 minutes. Times available are 6:00 pm or 6:45 pm.
Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Contact 218-384-8684 or mnext-carlton@umn.edu.
The University of Minnesota Extension is excited to host a two-part winter webinar series titled: Strong Markets, Smart Moves: Cattle Edition. Zoom meetings will be held on Monday, October 27 and November 3, 2025 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST.
This webinar series will help answer several commonly-asked recurring questions in times of
record-high calf prices – Do I still need to pre-condition my calves in these high markets? and
Where can I best invest additional revenue to yield the greatest return for my operation? Beef
producers, ag business professionals who work with beef producers, and those interested in
learning more about beef production are invited to attend.
This two-part webinar series will address both the production and financial decisions facing cow-
calf producers in today’s strong markets. The first session will highlight the physiological and
economic impacts of preconditioning practices – and why they remain critical even when calf
prices are high. The second session will shift focus to the business side of the operation,
exploring the financial and tax considerations of higher cattle revenues, and identifying which
technologies, services, and management strategies offer the greatest potential return on
reinvestment.
Monday, October 27, 2025: Preconditioning in high calf markets: why its still important
High calf prices bring greater financial opportunities for beef producers—but also greater risks.
This webinar will highlight why preconditioning remains a critical strategy for capturing top
dollar on your calves. Learn which practices buyers are willing to pay premiums for, which
deliver the strongest return on investment, and how these practices support long-term calf health
and performance. Discussion will also look at strategies to reduce the risk of BRD and other calf
health challenges.
Presented by Dr. Angela Varnum, Extension Livestock Veterinarian, and Melissa Runck,
Extension Educator – Beef Production Systems
Monday, November 3, 2025: Now is the time to plan for year-end tax planning!
The beef industry has been setting records for beef prices week after week, creating potential
profit opportunities for producers. This presentation will discuss strategies for reinvesting these
profits to benefit your operation today while also considering the long-term impacts of those
investments. Topics will include areas such as safety, time savings, and comfort
improvements—all with attention to maximizing return on investment.
Presented by Troy Salzer, Extension Educator – St. Louis County
Pre-registration is required. Please register by visiting https://z.umn.edu/strongmarkets. You will
receive a Zoom link following registration. Only one registration is needed to attend both
webinars. If you are unable to attend the live sessions, recordings of both sessions will be
emailed to all registrants at the end of the series.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2026 AGRI Livestock Investment Grant. This program helps farmers start, improve, or expand livestock operations by funding equipment, facility improvements, and new construction.
New this year, reimbursement rates have increased—farmers can now receive 50% back on the first $20,000 of eligible expenses and 25% on additional expenses, up to $25,000. About $1.4 million will be awarded through a competitive process, with grants ranging from $400–$25,000.
Priority will go to beginning farmers (10 years or fewer), generational transitions, halal/kosher livestock producers, robotic milking equipment, and applicants new to the program.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. CT, Thursday, November 13, through the MDA’s online portal. Full details are available on the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant webpage
The Arboretum AppleHouse is a seasonal destination, featuring Minnesota-grown apples, including varieties grown at the Arboretum Horticultural Research Center nearby.
Many of the University of Minnesota’s introduced apple varieties are for sale at the AppleHouse, along with gourmet packaged foods, frozen apple pies, pastries, packaged gourmet goodies, gifts and — in the fall — pumpkins, squash and gourds also grown at the Arboretum. While supplies last, the AppleHouse also offers delicious meats from the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.
Beginning on Nov. 6, the AppleHouse will be transformed into a Holiday Boutique. A variety of fresh apples and gourmet foods items along with a wide range of gift giving items and holiday decor will still be available.
The Carlton County Master Gardeners will have 5 new volunteers for the 2026 gardening season. The many talents they bring to the group are beekeeping, military experience, community service and more.
Laurie Korby, Brenda Carlson, Isabella Plantenberg, Alicia Lagarde and Anne Schroeder will be volunteering over 250 hours to the Carlton County community in the 2026 gardening season.
The second annual Tri-County Winter Webinar Series will be held on Tuesday afternoons from September to December, allowing gardeners to learn from experts during the day. This informative series will feature expert speakers covering a range of gardening and landscape topics, perfect for the beginner gardener or homeowner.
The webinars will take place in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on pre-selected Tuesdays, offering valuable insights into seasonal gardening practices and planning for the 2026 growing season. Below is the schedule of topics and speakers:
November 4: Growing, storing, and enjoying dahlias with UMN Extension Master Gardener, Jackie Burkey
November 18: An introduction to rain gardens with Tarah Young, Hubbard County Extension Educator, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resources
December 2: Growing kiwiberries in MN with Laura Irish-Hanson, Extension Educator, Horticulture, and Dr. Seth Wannemuehler, assistant professor of woody landscape plant breeding
December 16: Climate ready IPM with Marissa Schuh, Extension Educator, Integrated Pest Management
Each session is free to attend, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link. All sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the Meeker County Extension YouTube channel. To register, please visit z.umn.edu/WinterWebinarSeries
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your gardening skills with advice from local and regional experts!
For more information and to register, visit z.umn.edu/WinterWebinarSeries or contact Emily Lindenfelser at hans6005@umn.edu.
You can donate gently used children's books during office hours or put them directly in the "Little Library" in front of the office.