Ag, Hort & Natural Resources Update

Modern Homesteading Conference

What to Do with Your Jack-O’-Lanterns

Webinar: Trends in Watercraft Traffic on Minnesota Lakes

USDA Designates 9 Counties in Minnesota as Natural Disaster Areas

Ladybug Myth-Busting

Preparing Your Backyard Chicken Coop for Winter Webinar

UMN Extension Horse Online Certificate Courses

Can You Use That Weed Killer on Your Lawn?

Sheep and Goat Newborn Care Webinar

November is here, the leaves are mostly down, and winter is starting to feel a little closer. Between hunting season, holiday preparations, and the days getting shorter, this time of year seems to get busy in a hurry.

We’re also just 20 days away from the first Modern Homesteading Conference on November 21 in Park Rapids! There’s a lot coming together behind the scenes, and I’m looking forward to bringing people together for a day of learning, sharing skills, and connecting with others interested in homesteading. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time!

As we head into winter, this is also a good time to catch up on a few projects, learn something new, and start thinking about next year.

If you have any suggestions for topics you'd like to see in this newsletter, feel free to email, call, or text me. I look forward to connecting with you!

Best regards, Tarah Young

Office: 201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids Phone Number: 218-209-2111 Email: tarahy@umn.edu

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.

Our keynote speaker is Stephanie Thurow, author of Small-Scale Homesteading. Stephanie will share how she grows food, keeps chickens, preserves the harvest and makes the most of her suburban homestead, showing that you don't need acres of land to bring more of your food closer to home.

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.

Halloween is over, but your pumpkins don't have to go to waste! Instead of tossing old jack-o’-lanterns in the garbage, give them a second life.

• Compost them: Chop pumpkins into smaller pieces to help them break down faster and add nutrients to your compost pile.

• Feed wildlife: Put plain pumpkin pieces outside for wildlife, away from roads and areas where they could attract animals into unsafe places. Remove all candles, wax, paint, and decorations first.

• Make a bird feeder: If the pumpkin is still firm, fill it with birdseed for a temporary feeder.

  Let nature take its course: Pumpkin seeds may sprout next spring if left in the garden, though the resulting plants may not produce fruit before frost.

One important note: Don't use pumpkins that are moldy or contaminated with paint, glitter, or other decorations for wildlife or livestock. When in doubt, compost them or dispose of them properly.

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 1 p.m. Central Time | Online

How can we better understand when and where boats are moving between Minnesota lakes? This webinar explores how motion-activated trail cameras can help researchers track watercraft traffic around the clock and improve efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Researchers monitored boat launches at 36 Minnesota lakes and compared camera data with existing DNR watercraft inspection records. Learn how these findings could help identify high-risk lakes, improve AIS prevention strategies, and make better use of limited prevention resources.

Register for the free watercraft traffic webinar

The USDA has designated Hubbard County and eight other Minnesota counties as natural disaster areas due to drought conditions during the 2026 growing season. Eligible farmers may apply for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans to help recover from drought-related losses. Funds may be used to replace essential equipment or livestock, reorganize farm operations, or refinance certain debts. Loan approval depends on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability.

The application deadline is May 31, 2027. Farmers can learn more about eligibility and available assistance through the USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool or by contacting their local USDA Service Center. Call the Hubbard County FSA Office at 218-732-9723.

As the weather cools in Minnesota, multicolored Asian lady beetles start gathering on the sunny sides of homes, looking for a place to spend the winter. They’re not exactly welcome guests, but there’s more to these insects than meets the eye. Are they really different from ladybugs? Were they released in Minnesota to control soybean aphids? And do they actually lay eggs inside your house?

Some common beliefs about these fall visitors aren’t quite right. These beetles can even play a helpful role in controlling crop pests, despite their reputation as household nuisances. Read the full article from UMN Extension to sort out the myths, learn how to identify these beetles, and better understand their role in our homes and fields.

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 free event is open to anyone interested in backyard poultry. Register online at z.umn.edu/wintercoopwebinar

Registration is open in the fall for University of Minnesota Extension’s online horse certificate courses, which begin in January and run for six weeks. These semi-self-paced courses cover topics to help horse owners and managers improve their knowledge and care practices. Upcoming courses include horse pasture establishment and management, basic horse nutrition, equine ration balancing, horse biosecurity, manure management, composting horse carcasses, poisonous plants in the Midwest, and growing and feeding quality horse hay. Participants can complete assignments to earn a certificate of completion or take the courses for learning without earning a certificate.

Learn more and register: UMN Extension Horse Online Courses

Found a weed killer that promises to get rid of creeping Charlie or clover, especially one that costs less than the others? Before you buy, take a closer look at the label.

Even if two products contain the same active ingredient, they may not be approved for the same uses. A product labeled for golf courses or commercial turf, for example, may not be legal to use on your home lawn.

Pesticide labels can be confusing, but knowing what to look for can help you avoid costly mistakes, use products safely, and get better results.

Subscribe to the UMN Lawn Care Newsletter and use these resources to learn what to look for on a pesticide label before treating your lawn:

Avoid herbicide misuse at home, things to know before you buy | Michigan State University Extension
What you need to know about reading a pesticide label | Penn State Extension
EPA Product Label System: How to search for pesticide ingredients | United States Environmental Protection Agency

Nov. 19 @ 7:00 p.m. Central Time

Sheep & Goat Newborn Care webinar with Dr. Angela Varnum, DVM. Learn about essential care practices for newborn lambs and kids, including the critical steps to take during the first 24 hours of life. Dr. Varnum will cover important newborn care tasks to help producers prepare for lambing and kidding season. Register here for the newborn care webinar.

The webinar will be recorded. All registrants will automatically receive the recording by email, and it will be posted to the YouTube channel within one week of the webinar.