Carlton County Extension Connection

Many of us have been watching the USDA Drought Monitor week after week, and it’s no secret that conditions here are extremely dry. It can be discouraging to see areas of Carlton County and our neighboring counties sit in the same D2 drought category all summer long, especially when local conditions feel more severe than what’s shown on the map.

Recently, I learned something encouraging: we can help improve the accuracy of those drought designations. The Drought Monitor is managed out of Nebraska, and while the team does its best, they rely heavily on data submitted from the ground. That means our local observations can make a real difference in how drought conditions are assessed here at home.

One of the best ways to contribute is by joining CoCoRaHS, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network. It’s a nationwide volunteer program that collects daily precipitation data to support better weather and drought analysis. Signing up is simple, and contributing takes just a few minutes each day.

Become a CoCoRaHS Observer:
https://www.cocorahs.org/state.aspx?state=mn

Getting started is easy:

• Visit cocorahs.org
• Click “Join CoCoRaHS” to create an account
• Complete the short registration form
• Review the quick training materials
• Purchase the standard CoCoRaHS 4‑inch rain gauge
• Install your gauge in an open, level location
• Take daily measurements at a consistent time
• Log in and submit your observations through their online form

By sharing local precipitation data, producers and community members help drought experts build a clearer understanding of what’s happening on the ground especially in rural areas where official weather stations are limited. Your participation strengthens the statewide drought monitoring process and supports better decision‑making for agriculture, water management, and disaster assistance.

This brings us to our next article…

Farmers in Aitkin, Carlton, Pine, and St. Louis Counties are eligible for Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) payments through FSA due to a minimum of 4 weeks at a D2 category of the USDA Drought Monitor. The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides financial support to eligible livestock producers who experience grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire conditions. Qualifying fire losses are limited to fires that occur on federally managed land. The program helps producers recover from significant forage losses and address increased feed costs resulting from disasters.To apply, producers must submit the following to their local FSA office.

• Form CCC-853, Livestock Forage Disaster Program Application
• FSA-578, Report of Acreage
• Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet
• Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable)
• Form CCC-902I (if applicable), Farm Operating Plan for an Individual
• Form CCC-902E (if applicable), Farm Operating Plan for an entity
• Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information
• AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification
• SF-3881, ACH Vendor/ Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form (Direct Deposit)

Additional supporting documentation is required including proof of grazing losses as of the date of designated drought, grazing leases or permits, proof of land ownership, and livestock inventory information. All enrollment instructions and deadlines are available through the local FSA office. Please reach out to our local Duluth office with questions (218-720-5353).

Join the Northeast Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council for an engaging hands‑on Field Day hosted by K&M Cattle. This event offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at a family-run cattle operation dedicated to efficient production, responsible land stewardship, and long‑term sustainability. Attendees will tour key facilities, learn about practical management decisions, and explore innovations that support both livestock and land health.

Event highlights include: • Greenhouse and monoslope feeding/manure storage barn
• Water control and hay processing systems
• Calving and show barn
• Financial aspects of farm management
• Bull sales
• Cattle handling approaches designed with small children in mind
• Wooded pasture improvement through logging

Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: 31936 State Hwy 65, McGregor
Cost: $15 at the door (includes lunch)
Registration: Call 218‑384‑8680

This event is presented in partnership with the Midwest Forage Association, USDA, University of Minnesota Extension, and Minnesota Water Quality programs.

Back by popular demand come learn about how to properly divide peonies from local grower Ed Kavanaugh.

Where: 1926 East Chub Lake Rd Carlton, MN 55718

When: September 10th or 15th from 6-8pm

$10 cash or check at the door, participants will learn about fall care, and get hands on with peony divisions. Roots will be available for purchase. Please bring your own pruning shears!

Preregistration is required. Please call Deena at 218-384-8680. Limit 20 participants per class.

******

Some Roots Available for Purchase * More options available at the field days.

Making connections between fresh and wellness with Jodi Norlund, Rural Health Coordinator from UMN Extension Family, Health, and Wellbeing and UMN Masonic Cancer Center.

When: September 17, 5:30-6:30 PM

Where: Thomson Town Hall, 25 E Harney Road Esko, MN 55733

Reserve: Please call Deena at 218-384-3511 to reserve your free seat by September 11th. Limit to 30 participants.

This season, Extension is offering a series of free forestry workshops designed to support woodland owners and land stewards across Minnesota. Join us to explore Climate‑Ready Trees, learn how to identify and manage invasive species in your woods, strengthen forest stewardship for wildlife habitat, and build forest health and resilience through practical, science‑based management. All workshops are free, and we kindly ask participants to register so we can plan for attendance.

• Friday, September 11, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Harrison Park Community Center in Duluth.

As cool temperatures descend on northern Minnesota, many home gardeners are gathering their last harvests and putting their garden beds to rest. The first frost date for much of Carlton County lands in mid-to-late September, and you can check yours here.

Knowing when to plant garlic can sometimes feel like a bit of a gamble. In general, you will want to wait one to two weeks after the first killing frost. A killing frost is when temperatures fall into the mid-30s. Our cold hardy crops such as carrots and kale, survive - and sometimes even taste better - after a killing frost. However, tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers will wilt or die if left unprotected.

For most of us in Carlton County, we have our first killing frost within the last two weeks of September, which means we can plant garlic in early October. Our first hard freeze, where the temperature falls consistently below 28 degrees, typically lands in mid-October. A hard freeze will kill all unprotected annuals and typically marks the end of the growing season.
But the arrival of frost doesn't mean the gardener's work is finished. In fact, September is an important month for preparing the garden for next year. Besides garlic, late September to early October is the best time to plant spring bulbs like tulips, crocuses, and alliums. I typically spend the first few weeks of September prepping garden beds for bulbs and garlic. Like garlic, bulbs prefer rich, well-draining soil. I add a deep layer of mulch: either wood chips, straw, or shredded leaves. If you have animals such as squirrels or chipmunks, place chicken wire on the ground before covering with mulch.

And while bulbs and garlic are preparing to spend winter underground, September is also a good time to establish the woody plants that will shape the garden for years to come. September is when I head out to nurseries in search of shrubs. I often find shrubs on sale for 50-70% off and September is still a great time to plant woody perennials in northern Minnesota. Planting at this time of year means we have to take special attention to the roots as perennials are focusing on storing energy in their roots to survive the winter. Don’t fertilize, as that may trick the plant into putting energy into shoots and leaves instead. I’ve noticed that many of the shrubs or trees from nurseries are root bound or a bit stressed by this time of year, so make sure to work over the root ball to loosen the soil and roots before planting.

September can feel like a month of endings: the growing season is winding down, harvests are coming in, and frost is on the horizon. But for gardeners, it's also a month of beginnings. The garlic we plant now will give us next summer's harvest, the bulbs will bring color to spring, and the trees and shrubs we establish now will continue growing for years to come. As the garden slows down above ground, there is still plenty happening below the surface.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant. The grant supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations of practices that could help make farming more profitable or resource-efficient.

The MDA anticipates awarding up to $350,000 through the grant program. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. No match is required for the first $25,000, but a dollar-for-dollar match is required for any amount requested above $25,000.

“Since 2019, the Walz-Flanagan Administration has invested more than $1.8 million in 67 research and demonstration projects through this grant,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “These investments help turn ideas tested on Minnesota farms into practical knowledge that benefits producers statewide and keeps Minnesota at the forefront of sustainable agriculture research.”

Eligible applicants include Minnesota farmers, sovereign Tribal Nations, Tribal organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and local units of government. Projects must take place on Minnesota farms and be conducted over two to three years. Priority will be given to farmer-led projects.

Previous grantees have explored practices such as trialing new table grape varieties, incorporating cover crops and crop rotations, optimizing on-farm composting, and using livestock grazing to manage invasive plants. Proposed practices do not need to be entirely new, but they should be innovative in Minnesota or uncommon in the region where the project will take place. Visit the AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant webpage to explore past projects.

Grant recipients share what they learn through outreach activities and final reports published in the MDA’s annual Greenbook. The Greenbook highlights the results of grant funded projects and provides practical information that other farmers can use when considering sustainable practices for their own operations.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Visit the AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant webpage for application details and complete eligibility requirements.

Funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant is made available through the MDA’s AGRI Program, which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout Minnesota to advance the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) opened applications on Aug. 3 for the next round of Soil Health Financial Assistance Program Grants, which help producers and partners purchase or retrofit equipment that supports soil‑building practices. The effort is partially funded by the climate-smart food systems initiative of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

This is the fifth round of grants, which offers up to 50% cost‑share, with awards ranging from $500 to $45,000. A total of $5 million is available statewide through funding from the 2025 Minnesota Legislature and the EPA.

“Interest in soil health keeps growing, and this grant helps make the equipment side of that transition more affordable,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Producers are driving innovation in every corner of the state, and this funding helps them put the right tools to work. I’m thankful for the strong support from our state leaders and federal partners, and I encourage farmers, producer groups, Tribes, and local governments to apply.”

Eligible new or used equipment includes, but is not limited to, no‑till drills, air seeders, and strip‑tillage units.

The Request for Proposals and application link is available at www.mda.state.mn.us/soil-health-grant. Applications are due Aug. 31, with awards announced by Jan. 1, 2027.

Since its launch in fiscal year 2023, the program has awarded more than $10 million in grants, now improving soil health on nearly 525,000 acres.

Carlton County Farmers Union Annual Convention. As a grassroots policy organization, our annual county meetings are an opportunity to gather, build community, and bring forth resolutions that guide our work. When: 10 a.m. Sept. 16 Where: Chickadee Coffeehouse, Barnum Food: Sandwich provided Speaker: TBD

Our free little library is in need of some new books, specifically children's books. If you have any you would be willing to donate, please drop them off at the Extension office. The community thanks you!

We will be closed on September 7th for Labor Day. We will also be closed September 22-25 as all staff will be attending a conference in the Twin Cities. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please reach out to us via phone or email.

For assistance with registration or printing of information please contact the Extension Office at

218-384-3511. A computer is also available for public use.

Mercedes Mills, Agriculture Educator, moffett029@umn.edu, 218-384-8681

Katie Diggs, 4-H Youth Development Educator, silta006@umn.edu, 218-384-8682

Deena Olson, Office Administration Assistant, olso7219@umn.edu, 218-384-8680

Stacey Achterhoff, Master Gardener Program Coordinator, seacht@umn.edu, 218-384-8684

317 Chestnut Ave

P.O. Box 307 Carlton, MN 55718

218-384-3511

© 2026 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.