Carlton County Extension Connection
January 2025
The Extension Office would like to invite everyone to take part in the great programming line up we have planned for 2025! Please share this newsletter with those interested and contact the office or subscribe them at the bottom of this publication if they would like to be added to our mailing list.
Are you looking to preserve your heirloom or open-pollinated varieties of plants that are truly priceless?
Doug has been saving his own seeds for years and will start with a review of plant reproduction. That will be followed by an overview of the slightly more advanced seed saving techniques used in more challenging vegetables like carrots, cabbage etc. Seed selection and storage will also be discussed with a Q & A to follow.
The cost is $5 at the door and 18 and under are free. Admission includes handouts and door prizes. Contact Ann at 218-384-8684 or rustx048@umn.edu to register.
The February class will feature Extension turfgrass educator, Jon Trappe. The topic will be "Lawn Care and Renovation." Save the date! Thursday, February 13th.
Livestock producers across the state are encouraged to attend an upcoming webinar: Weather Impacts on Crude Protein for Livestock Health and Vitality. This online webinar hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension will be held on Thursday, January 16th from 7-8:30pm.
We urge livestock producers to tune in to help understand the deficiencies that are unfolding in our forages from this year. The spring weather experienced across the state in 2024 has dramatically impacted forage quality for all livestock species (beef, dairy, sheep, goat, and horses) that depend on forage as a feed source. The main nutrient we are concerned about in particular is crude protein. This year’s analysis has ranged two to four points lower than typical (averaging 25-40%) lower. This has created concern for nutrient deficiencies in all stages of production: maintenance, gestation, and lactation. These deficiencies will have lasting impacts on overall health of the animal, but additionally vigor and health of their offspring. Join us for this webinar to better understand how this scenario developed, what the impacts will be if we don’t correct the deficiencies, and what options we have to ensure adequate nutrition is supplied to our herds in the respective stages of production. Please understand the urgency of this topic and join us in developing a plan.
Registration is required. Please register at z.umn.edu/WeatherimpactsonCP.
South St. Louis SWCD is hosting a free grazing planning workshop on Tuesday, January 28th from 9am-4pm at Grand Lake Township Hall, 5297 Hwy 53, Saginaw, MN 55799.
Purpose:
- Optimize Grazing: Strategies for a successful growing season.
- Streamline Planning: Manage grazing variables for better results.
- Boost Resilience: Enhance soil, water, and biodiversity.
- Grow Profits: Align grazing with financial and ecological goals.
- Interactive Workshop: Apply techniques directly to your farm.
- Building Resilience: Build long-term farm resilience
Outcomes:
- Create Grazing Plan: Tailored to your farm’s unique needs.
- Pinpoint Key Issues: Address management challenges
- Estimate Forage Production: Plan for maximum pasture potential.
- Maximize Forage Use: Understand forage production & grazing impact monitoring.
- Plan Livestock Moves: Boost animal performance & pasture health.
This event is free but pre registration is required. To register please call or email Kyle Hildebrandt at 218-723-4867 ext 105 or kyle.hildebrandt@southstlouisswcd.org. Please register by January 24th.
If you or someone you know planted cover crops fall 2024, help us get local data on spring growth that can help farmers make cover crop management decisions. This voluntary opportunity is to help build a regional dataset of cover crop performance across Minnesota.
Join the ongoing effort for data collection
University of Minnesota Extension has partnered with the Great Lakes Cover Crop Project to build a regional dataset of cover crop performance across Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. This data will identify the best cover crop types and practices for various growing conditions and inform management recommendations tailored to your region.
Why Participate?
- Earn $50 per field enrolled (up to three fields annually).
- Receive a personalized report with biomass and nutrient estimates for each field.
- Contribute to vital research that helps improve cover crop success for all farmers.
The importance of cover crops in Minnesota
Cover crops are important soil covers during times when fields are normally left bare. These covers protect soil, water quality, and farmers’ bottom lines. More green cover means that cover crops provide more benefits, so it’s important to understand how management influences the amount of cover crop growth.
We know that cover crops grow differently across the state since Minnesota has a wide gradient in precipitation and temperature. The University of Minnesota is conducting extensive research on cover crops across the state, but data on locally suitable practices and cover crop species are critical to supporting effective cover crop management.
Getting started
- Enroll: Visit z.umn.edu/GLCCP_en.
- Complete a Survey: This winter, fill out a 30-minute management survey.
- Collect Data: Follow simple instructions to collect field data right before cover crop termination in the spring (approximately 30 minutes).
Don’t miss this opportunity to help with local data collection and get up to $150!
References & resources
- Minnesota-specific cover crop research: z.umn.edu/MNcovercrops
- Blog post: Growing cover crops in Minnesota: 4 great resources to get you started
- Blog post: Maximize your cover crop benefits by selecting the best species
If you have questions or comments, please email nutmgmt@umn.edu.
Mark your calendars for the annual upcoming Tour de Forage event held by the Northeast Minnesota Forage & Grassland Council and MFA. This years event will highlight keynote speaker, Scott Newell from the University of Wisconsin, and a discussion on managing forage stands for persistence. Other topics to be discussed are how to handle excess forage, using annual forages for soil health, establishing a good forage stand, and more!
When: January 21st from 9am-3pm with registration starting at 8:30am
Where: The Event Center, 201 W 7th Ave, Floodwood MN, 55736
Cost: $25 per person when you register online, or $30 if you register in person the day of.
If you are in need of assistance registering prior to the event please reach out the office and we are happy to help!
January 23rd Iron 5:30 p.m. at Clinton Town Hall
February 3rd Mora 5:30 p.m. at Grand Event Center
Topics
- Beef Checkoff Facts & Fiction - Kelly Schmidt, MN Beef Council
- Price Protection for Cattle Markets - Cali Flower, Hurley & Associates
- First Defense for Calf Scours - Michelle Philibeck, Immucell, Inc.
- Beef Research Update - Eric Mousel, U of M Beef Team
$10.00 per person at the door, includes meal and materials
Brought to you by the U of M Beef Team
218.513.0781
Curious about how climate change is impacting pollinators? Wondering how Minnesota’s diverse ecosystems contribute to supporting their habitats? Join us for this engaging webinar series to learn how you can support pollinators in any space—big or small—and help build resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change.
University of Minnesota Extension educators are excited to bring you this webinar series on learning more about our pollinators. This four-part series will cover how the changing climate affects pollinators, the role of pollinators in food production, ideas for establishing pollinator habitat in small spaces, and how woodlands can serve as another pollinator habitat.
Join us January 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. CST each afternoon for this free webinar. You must pre-register for this series at z.umn.edu/BeeSeries to receive the webinar links.
Extension’s woodland owner conference returns to northern Minnesota! Register now for the Minnesota Family Woodlands Conference happening Saturday, January 11, 2025 in Grand Rapids. This event will bring together woodland stewards from across northern Minnesota to share insights on the importance of managing our northern forests. Learn more and register here: z.umn.edu/MFWC25
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Are you a young farmer taking over an existing operation or have you started your own farm?
Are you confused on what your banker wants to see or what goals you have for your farm?
Do you want to better understand business deductions, or do you want help with grain marketing?
Do you want a farm business refresher?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, then the Minnesota Beginner Farmer Institute is for you.
The Minnesota Beginner Farmer Institute is a three-part course that uses an interactive and fun
approach to teach participants farm management topics. The participants will build camaraderie and meet three times over the course of two months. Each workshop will have educational handouts, presentations, and lunch.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Understand the Ag Economy, Business Plan and Goals, including AgPlan.
- Understand components and use of Taxes, Business Entities; Record Keeping, including expenses and deductions.
- Understand components and use of Finances, Land Rent and Grain Marketing, including cost
- of production. balance sheet, income statements, and cash flow.
DATES AND LOCATION
The Institute is free to attend, and lunch is provided.
Carlton County Transportation Building 1630 Co Rd 61, Carlton, MN 55718
o January 9 Noon to 5:00 p.m.
o January 16, and 23 – 10:00 to 3:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION
Registration is free, but pre-registration is required at https://z.umn.edu/BF24
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
Please contact Nathan Hulinsky, University of MN Extension ag business management educator, with questions at (218) 828-2680 or huli0013@umn.edu.
The Soil Management Summit is a farmer-oriented event dedicated to practical soil management in Minnesota. Learn from experienced farmers, researchers and advisors about a variety of soil management topics like cover crops, tillage, nutrient management, soil biology, and more. Whether you prefer to get your information from presentations, panels, small group discussions, or in casual conversations, the Soil Management Summit has something for everyone.
Join us at the 20th annual Soil Management Summit on January 29-30, 2025 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, MN.
For more information and to register, visit: z.umn.edu/SMSinfo
