Carlton County Extension Connection
February 2026
UMN Extension Cow Calf Days Seminar and Trade Show is back! This year we'll be tackling a resurgence of long-lost problems, exploring mineral nutrition for cows and calves, emphasizing critical cow nutrition, and sharing the latest beef research update. Sessions will be held across Minnesota:
- Feb 9 – Mora, 5:30 PM at Grand Event Center
- Feb 10 – Starbuck, 9:30 AM at Clear Springs Cattle Co
- Feb 11 – Pipestone, 9:30 AM at MN West CC
- Feb 12 – Oronoco, 5:30 PM at Rossman Farms
- Feb 13 – Le Sueur, 9:30 AM at Ag Partners HQ
Admission is just $10 per person at the door, which includes meals and materials. We look forward to seeing you there!
Conference details:
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026
8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Park Event Center | Waite Park, MN
Register for the 2026 Extension Women in Agriculture Network Conference! This one-day conference includes a farmer panel to kick off the morning, interactive break-out sessions, and multiple opportunities to re-connect with friends while making new ones. As always, interact with conference sponsors in the exhibitor hall and enjoy the wellness space to relax and recharge throughout the day. If your schedule allows, please attend the optional pre-conference session the day before on Monday, February 2.
To learn more about the conference, view the conference website: z.umn.edu/WAGN2026.
Review the conference agenda to see the dynamic line-up of speakers and session descriptions. New this year is Build Your Own Adventure, featuring several mini sessions over the lunch hour. Build your own adventure and spend this time as you’d like.
Register through Jan. 14 for the early-bird registration rate of $95 for adults and or $75 for students.
Join University of Minnesota Extension for the first annual Grain Gathering on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Aune Hall on the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester, MN.
As demand for food-grade oats grows, this event focuses on how small grains can strengthen both profitability and resilience in Upper Midwest farming systems. Sessions will cover oat variety trials & breeding, agronomic recommendations, development & fungicide application, economics of a three-crop rotation, soil health benefits, market opportunities, and more!
A farmer panel will highlight real-world experiences with integrating oats—from choosing varieties to managing cover crops and harvesting. Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with researchers, Extension specialists, and fellow growers. Come and find out how high-quality oats are fitting profitability into crop rotations in southeast Minnesota farms. This event was made possible by a generous sponsorship from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Learn more and register at z.umn.edu/GrainGathering, or contact Mary Nesberg at nesbe007@umn.edu.
Monday, February 16, 2026
1 - 3 p.m.
North Central Research & Outreach Center, Grand Rapids
The Small Grains Update offers the latest recommendations for production and pest management. These workshops will be discussion-based meetings with a unique regional focus and include the following topics:
- Production agronomics
- Variety selection
- Soil fertility
- Economics
Register: Small Grains Update Registration Form
What to Sow
- Good Candidates: Many perennials (coneflower, milkweed), native plants, hardy annuals (snapdragon), cool-season vegetables (kale, broccoli), and herbs (dill, mint).
- Avoid: Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) and root vegetables (carrots, parsnips), that dislike root disturbance.
Basic Steps
- Gather Containers: Use clear plastic jugs or containers with lids.
- Prepare Container: Cut containers in half (leaving a hinge), poke drainage holes in the bottom, and add a few air holes near the top.
- Add Soil: Fill with 3-4 inches of moist seed-starting mix.
- Sow Seeds: Plant seeds according to packet directions; label them.
- Assemble & Place: Tape the container closed and place it outside in a spot that gets sun but can handle winter weather.
- Wait: Seeds germinate in spring; remove lids once temperatures are consistently above freezing (around 60°F).
USDA Zone Suggested Start Time Zones 3–5 Late December to early February
Key Benefits
- No "Hardening Off": Seedlings are born outdoors and naturally acclimated to sun, wind, and temperature changes.
- Space & Cost: Frees up indoor space and avoids expensive grow lights or heat mats.
- Healthier Plants: Seedlings are often stockier and more resilient than those grown indoors.
To qualify, the farm must:
1. Be at least 100 years old this year (2026) according to the abstract of title, land patent, original deed, county land records, court file in registration proceedings or other authentic land records. Please do not send originals or copies of records.
2. Demonstrate ownership by the applying family for 100 years or more. “Family” is defined as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, first cousins and direct in-laws (father, mother, brother, sister, daughter, son-in-law).
3. Have continuous ownership. Continuous residence on farm is not required.
4. Consist of 50 or more acres and currently be involved in agricultural production.
Applications are run through MN Farm Bureau. Click here for an application.
Join the University of Minnesota Extension Foresters in discussing key issues and questions around forests and woodlands facing Minnesota landowners. These online sessions will be very
informal, open to the public and free of charge. Each session will start with a brief presentation, followed by a discussion framed around participants’ questions on the topic. Each zoom will be
from 9 am to 10 am on 9 Fridays from January to April.
To learn more about each topic and sign up for these zoom sessions, register at this link: https://z.umn.edu/Fridays2026. Recordings from all webinars over the years are available on our YouTube page: https://z.umn.edu/Fridays.
Each year the 8th District awards scholarships to deserving Northeastern Minnesota students interested in gardening. A minimum of four 8th District scholarships ranging from $400 to $700 will be awarded to students residing in or attending school in the Minnesota State Horticultural Society 8th District. The 8th District includes the counties of Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, north and south St. Louis.
Applicants must be a graduating senior form the MSHS 8th District who will be attending college or technical school within one calendar year after being chosen as a recipient. No restriction as to course or school. A completed application and essay must be submitted by March 15, 2026.
For an application and more information please contact Mercedes at the office. 218-384-8681.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority will begin accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on January 1. With $4 million available on a first-come, first-served basis, landlords and sellers who rent or sell farmland, equipment, or livestock to beginning farmers may qualify for credits of up to $7,000 for cash rentals, $10,000 for share rentals, and $50,000 for sales (12% if sold to a Limited Land Access Farmer). Beginning farmers may also receive up to $1,500 annually for three years to reimburse Farm Business Management tuition. Application deadlines are July 17, 2026, for rentals and November 1, 2026, for sales and tuition reimbursement. Check out MDA's website for more information.
Did you know? The 2024 Carlton County plat books are still available. The on going plat book fund raiser for the Carlton County 4-H federation benefits the local 4-H kids. These include not only land descriptions but aerial photos as well. Please stop in the office to pick one up today. Cost is $40 cash or check.
You can donate gently used children's books during office hours or put them directly in the "Little Library" in front of the office.