Carlton County Extension Connection
August 2025
Join the Extension Office at the 4-H fair building and livestock barns August 14-17 where you will find 4-H exhibits, a Master Gardener question and answer booth, and interactive agriculture displays. Considered one of the best county fairs in the area there is something for everyone! Please come out at noon at the pavilion on Friday August 15th to show support for our local farm family, century farm, and honorable senior citizens!
Click here for exhibit information and a schedule. https://carltoncountyfairmn.com/ or call the Extension Office for a printed copy.
By: Mercedes Moffett, Extension Educator, Ag. Production
With the season pushing later than usual and rain delaying fieldwork, many of us are feeling antsy to get out and make hay. While the moisture has been welcome for pasture and crop growth, it’s also made timing tricky for cutting and baling. As we finally get rolling, it's important to keep safety top of mind—especially when it comes to hay fires, which pose a real and serious risk when hay is baled too wet.
The Danger of Wet Hay
Spontaneous combustion in hay is typically the result of microbial activity in bales with high moisture content. The safest moisture level for baling is 15% or lower. Once moisture climbs into the 16–20% range, the risk of spoilage and combustion increases. Hay baled above 25% moisture is especially dangerous and requires immediate attention.
During the first few days after baling, some internal heating is normal as microbes begin breaking down plant material. Temperatures can naturally rise to 125–130°F and may stay elevated for several weeks. However, if the heat continues to climb—particularly past 150°F—the risk of combustion becomes critical. At this point, thermophilic bacteria can flourish, and temperatures can exceed 175°F, making spontaneous ignition a real possibility.
Monitoring Is Key
The first six weeks after baling are crucial for monitoring hay temperature. Here's a general guide:
Below 125°F – Safe zone.
125–149°F – Monitor once or twice daily.
150–159°F – Check at least twice daily and begin cooling efforts such as unstacking or increasing airflow.
160–174°F – High risk. Monitor hourly; combustion is likely.
175°F and above – Treat as an emergency. Contact the fire department and consider the hay at risk of ignition.
200°F+ – Combustion is almost certain.
Tools and Techniques
Commercial hay temperature probes are the most reliable way to monitor internal bale temperatures. However, homemade probes—such as a metal pipe with a meat thermometer—can be effective in a pinch. When checking hay, always take precautions. Avoid standing on top of stacks where internal collapse could occur. Use planks to distribute weight and always have someone nearby during checks.
In addition to temperature, sensory signs can signal a problem. A musty or caramel odor often indicates active microbial heating. At this point, it’s too late to check moisture—temperature monitoring is now essential.
Prevention Strategies
Bale at the right moisture levels: Aim for 15% or lower.
Use hay preservatives: These can slow or stop bacterial growth in slightly wet hay.
Store wisely: Choose well-ventilated areas. Avoid tight stacking, and keep hay away from machinery, fuel, or other heat sources.
Distribute hay: If possible, avoid storing all your hay in one location to minimize total loss if fire does occur.
Maintain clean storage areas: Dust and chaff can ignite and fuel fires.
Inspect equipment regularly: Tractors, balers, and skid steers should be kept in good repair and away from stored hay.
In Summary
Preventing hay fires isn’t about luck—it’s about vigilance and good management. By monitoring moisture and temperature, storing hay thoughtfully, and acting quickly if problems arise, you can protect your hard work, your buildings, and most importantly, your safety. Let’s all take a few extra minutes this season to make sure we’re baling smart and staying safe.
By: Carlton County Master Gardener, Tina Cross
I can’t believe I’m writing this - but, our annual growing season is halfway through. Our gardens will hopefully be green and thriving, especially after the tremendous amount of rainfall we received this month. To keep our gardens growing healthy and strong, there are several midsummer tasks we should add to that ever-growing to-do list:
Weeding: if you have fallen behind, now is a good time to put yourself to the task of weeding out the garden beds. Besides aesthetics, weeds steal valuable nutrients from our plants, especially annual vegetables who demand a large amount of nutrition during their fast, short growing season.
Deadheading: many annual flowers require the deadheading of spent blooms in order to produce more flowers. Don’t allow flowers to rot and shrivel on the stalk or the soil beneath your plant, as it invites pests and disease into your garden.
Watering: gardens need consistent, deep watering. Most vegetables and flowers do best with 1 inch of water per week. Inconsistent watering can lead to diseases such as blossom end rot on tomato plants and slowed growth and fruit production.
Take photos and make garden notes: garden photos are great to peruse during the dreary, cold winter months. They also help catalog plants, give reminders of what worked and what didn’t, and can provide inspiration for next year’s garden. Also, as much as we think we’ll remember what we planted where and how well each plant performed, the gap between growing seasons is long enough for our memory to slip. I putter around the garden with a notebook and this is a great time to start taking notes if you haven’t been doing so already.
General upkeep: do the beans need trellising? Are plants blocking pathways or choking out their neighbors? It’s time to make sure everyone in the garden plays nice. This is also the time of year where I’ll notice the mulch is thinning out and I’ll add more mulch to the beds.
Clean garden tools: after a long day’s work, it’s easy to toss tools into the shed and walk away. However, to keep tools in good repair and prevent the spread of plant diseases, tools should be regularly cleaned. Ideally, tools should be wiped clean after each use. If you need tips on how to properly clean your garden tools, check out this link from the U of M Extension.
As we move through the heart of summer don’t forget to give yourself the gift of truly relaxing in your garden. Grab a book, a coffee, or even a cocktail and allow yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Our summers are too short! Whether you're pulling weeds or simply pausing to watch the bees move from bloom to bloom, these moments of relaxation matter. So yes, check off a few to-do’s, but don’t forget to linger a little longer in the shade, breathe deep, and savor this fleeting season.
Happy gardening,
Tina Cross
After the garden tour that was scheduled for Tuesday, July 15th received torrential rains and put a big damper on the evening the group would like to offer a virtual option for those who were not able to attend. Go to the Carlton County Master Gardener Facebook page to view it sometime after August 1st.
Thanks to all of the gardeners that opened their landscapes for us to enjoy!
Join us on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the Northeast Forage and Grassland Council Field Day at Cedar Drive Stock Farm, a Century Farm located at 3567 Emerson Road, Duluth, MN.
This hands-on event highlights how tradition and innovation come together to keep farms profitable for future generations. Tour features include demonstrations of various pasture seeding methods (conventional with nurse crops, Brillion, and inter seeder), alfalfa varietal trials comparing branched and taproot types planted in 2024, and a look at developing silvo pasture from spruce budworm-damaged forest. Attendees will also explore a solar-powered water system for livestock, learn about rotational and bale grazing practices with observed crop responses, and tour livestock facilities including feedlots, a calf backgrounding area, and a calving barn.
The day will wrap up with a session on farm marketing, highlighting Duluth Farming Company’s approach to direct marketing for long-term farm success. The cost is $15 at the door and includes lunch. To register, call 218-384-8680.
By late July, Minnesota gardens are heavy with fruit—and even heavier with moisture. Weeks of wet, humid weather have created a perfect storm for plant diseases to take hold and spread quietly. From apple scab and fire blight in orchards to black rot in grapes and gray mold in raspberries, fungal and bacterial threats are multiplying under dense canopies.
Now is the time for gardeners to be alert, clean up, and protect their harvest. A little extra vigilance can be the difference between a bountiful crop and a compost pile. Click here to read the full article regarding diseases in MN fruit.
The Little Free Library in front of the Extension office is looking for gently used children’s books. The library is frequented by lots of local kids in the summer. You can place donations directly in the library or drop them off at the office during business hours.