Extension Connection
May 2023
A note from Mercedes, your Agriculture & Natural Resource Educator
Happy May! I am really hoping our April showers (rain or snow) can hopefully bring us some May flowers. As gardening and planting season begins to inch closer, I want to remind you that we are here to help. Whether you have gardening questions, are in need of fertilizer recommendations, or pasture grazing needs, please think of us here at Extension. We can be reached by phone, email or stop by the office. We are happy to help!
Best,
Mercedes
RFA declares an agricultural emergency for all MN counties
The Disaster Recovery Loan Program offers financing to help Minnesota producers clean up, repair, or replace farm structures and replace livestock that may have been destroyed due to high winds and the weight of snow, sleet, and ice this year. The RFA portion of the loan is a zero-interest rate and is a partnership through your local bank. The funds are available to farmers for expenses not covered by insurance. Check out the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Disaster Recovery Loan Program for eligibility specifics and how to apply.
Local Food Fair on June 10th
In 2019, Carlton County Extension partnered with the United Way and Fond du Lac College to host a local Food Fair. And now after a brief hiatus, we are bringing it back. Here is a chance to meet your local food producers!
The Carlton County Local Food Fair is planned for 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 10th at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Local vendors will showcase community supported agriculture (CSA), beef, chicken, vegetables, fruit farmers and much more! We are excited to offer this event to vendors and attendees in support of local food.
Tamara Benjamin, the new local food systems leader for the University of Minnesota Extension, will present on “Benefits Gained from Collaborating and Partnering in Food Systems”. Tamara has been involved in agriculture across the globe, and we are excited to hear about her experiences, and how local producers can grow and flourish with local collaborations.
This event is free and open to the public. All attendees will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate to be used toward purchases with the producer of your choice. A huge thank you to our sponsor, United Way of Carlton County, for graciously donating the gift certificates.
Local producers please reach out to reserve a free table to showcase your products, and all that you do! Call Ann or Mercedes at 218-384-3511 to reserve a table. We look forward to celebrating YOU!
Foraging for wild edibles and decoratives - Sawyer
Locals are invited to attend a foraging workshop being held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24th. Extension Educator Gary Wyatt will lead the discussion about the many native plants that are considered edible and plants that make noteworthy decoratives. Learn about topics regarding foraging such as food safety, permits, sustainability, the spread of invasive species, and more! Special guest Carlton County Forester Mark Westphal will be sharing the “Dos and Don’ts” for foraging on county land.
Please register in advance and plan to pay your $20 registration fee at the door which includes your copy of the Minnesota Harvester Handbook (a $24.95 value).This valuable resource highlights sustainable harvesting and gathering for more than twenty, non-timber forest products and is divided up into sections of each of the four seasons. The workshop will start with a presentation at the Carlton County Transportation Building, 1630 Co Rd 61, Carlton followed by a hands-on outdoor hike through county land in the Sawyer area. Please come dressed for the weather.
No Mow May!
Join us as we participate in No Mow May! By leaving your property unmown for the month of May, you’re creating habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. According to Bee City USA, “Lawns cover 40 million acres, or 2%, of land in the US, making them the single largest irrigated crop we grow. Lawns are mowed, raked, fertilized, weeded, chemically treated, and watered—sucking up time, money, and other resources. Lawns provide little benefit to wildlife, and are often harmful. Grass-only lawns lack floral resources and nesting sites for bees and are often treated with pesticides that harm bees and other invertebrates.”
Read more on the Bee City USA website about how each of us can take small steps locally to create healthy habitats for pollinators.University of Minnesota Extension Center for Family Development offers free webinars
All webinars are virtual and free. Learn more about the webinar topics, dates, times and how to register.
Honey Beekeeping Field Day in Barnum
Come see what it’s like inside a honey bee colony! University of Minnesota Extension Educators are excited to offer honey beekeeping field days across the state. Join Dr. Katie Lee, University of Minnesota Extension Apiculture Educator, and local beekeepers as they go through colony handling, common disease and insect pests, and safety information- for you and the bees. These free in-person workshops will demonstrate the steps for a proper hive inspection, give you timely information to keep your colony healthy, and more! Beginner and advanced beekeepers would all benefit from attending these field days. Register for the local workshop scheduled at 9 to 11 a.m. on June 16th in Barnum. Additional sessions are being offered in Clearwater, Duluth and Fairbault.
Words of warning about working with bees:
Bee veils and bee jackets will be provided for participants to wear during workshops, although participants may choose to wear their own protective equipment. Participants are required to wear face protection (bee veil or jacket), long pants, and closed-toe shoes in the apiary. We cannot guarantee that participants will not be stung during our workshops. If you experience adverse reactions to bee stings, please consult with your doctor before attending a workshop. Please do not attend if you are allergic to honey bees. Participants must be 18 years or older.
Canning & Preserving For Beginners
Start planning your vegetable garden-and make it a big one because Carlton County Extension is going to show you how fun and easy home food preservation can be! Extension Educator Mercedes Moffett and Carlton County Master Gardener Donna Kirk will share tried and true methods of canning and preserving fruits and vegetables. The class will focus on food safety and an introduction to hot water bath canning. A light introduction to dehydrating and pressure canning will be discussed. Join us at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18th at Moose Lake High School Community Education Room. Class fee is only $3
Pre-registration is required. Register by visiting the Moose Lake Community Ed website or by calling the Community Ed office at 218-485-4435 Extension 1602.Why spend the money to get a soil test?
Because it is the environmentally right thing to do, and following the recommendations of a soil sample analysis can ultimately save you money because of the following:
1. Proper knowledge of your soil from an analysis enables you to apply correct amendments to your soil to obtain the maximum production, health, and beauty of your plant materials.
2. Proper knowledge of your soil from an analysis is the environmentally responsible thing to do that can save you money. Many people fertilize spring and fall when they may not need to. Fertilizer costs money that is wasted if it is not needed and can actually harm your plant materials. If it is over applied it can reach toxic levels in some soils if repeated applications are used when not needed. Also, improper applications of fertilizers can pollute the environment and our water.
3. When you spend your hard-earned money on plant material it only makes sense to ensure that those plants are growing under the optimum soil conditions. Your plant materials will ward off pathogens better if they are at their healthiest. Your plant materials will look their best if they are at their healthiest. Your plant materials will produce to their optimum potential if they are at their healthiest. Obtaining your soil analysis and then applying the best practices to amend your soil properly per recommendations can help keep your plant material the healthiest, productive, and best looking it can be!
University of Minnesota Soil Testing Lab provides testing for soil fertility, pH level, and/or problems due to excessive slats or fertilizer materials. Based on the test results and type of plants to be grown, you will be sent the appropriate fertilizer recommendation for good plant growth without adverse effects to the environment. Call Ann Rust at the Carlton County Extension to have a kit mailed to you or stop in to pick one up.In 4-H, all youth are welcome!
4-H is an out-of-school, hands-on learning program for anyone in Kindergarten through one year past high school (grade 13). Youth choose a project that’s interesting to them and explore it with peers and caring adults. 4-H clubs are groups of youth who want to learn together and meet in every part of Minnesota.
What can I do in 4-H?
The sky’s the limit! 4-H offers learning experiences in science, photography, agriculture, healthy living, civic engagement and much more. We have one-day events, year-long projects and everything in between. There are many ways to try 4-H.
Read this month's 4-H newsletter to explore the opportunities waiting for you!
Carlton County Extension Staff
Tracey Hartung, Administrative Specialist thartung@umn.edu
Mercedes Moffett, Agriculture Educator, moffe029@umn.edu
Ann Rust, Vol Coord & Horticulture Assist rustx048@umn.edu
Katie Siltanen, 4-H Educator silta006@umn.edu
Email: mnext-Carlton@umn.edu
Website: https://local.extension.umn.edu/local/carlton
Location: 317 Chestnut Avenue, Carlton, MN, USA
Phone: 218-384-3511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMNExtensionCarltonAg/