Carlton County Extension Connection
January 2024
A Note from your Educator
Happy 2024! It's a new year with new happenings. This year we are kicking things off with a bang, with lots of exciting events rolling out for the new year. Come on down to some of the events to help keep the winter blues at bay.
Best, Mercedes
Local Beef Producers Night Out
Come join us for a complementary meal and open forum opportunity to ask local veterinarian Dr. Melissa Minkkinen with Moose Lake Veterinary Clinic, any questions or concerns you would like to address regarding beef production in our area. This event will be held on January 18th from 6:30-8:30pm. The event will be held at the Barnum Community Center 3741 Front Street Barnum, MN 55707. Registration is required. Please Call Mandi Haglund at 218-384-8680 or email at haglu119@umn.edu by no later than January 12th.
USDA unveils updated plant hardiness zone map
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated the plant hardiness zone map for the United States. This is the first update since 2012 and has changed most of the hardiness zones for Minnesota.
The map is a valuable tool for gardeners and growers because it shows which plants are most likely to thrive where you live. This updated map is more accurate and more detailed than prior versions, which were done in 1990 and 2012, the USDA says. The map is based on 30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures at specific locations and is divided into 10-degree zones and 5-degree zones. This year's map incorporates data from 13,412 weather stations, while the 2012 map used 7,983 stations, a press release notes.
Each zone is broken into half zones, designated as "A" and "B." When compared to 2012, the USDA's 2023 map shows about half the country shifted to the next warmer half zone, and the other half of the country remained in the same half zone. The USDA explains that the shift to the next warmer half zone means those areas warmed somewhere in the range of 0-5 degrees (some locations also warmed by 0-5 degrees but didn't move zones).
What's the bottom line? With a changing climate, some varieties of plants may survive in our area that did not before, but this doesn't mean you need to go an dig up your whole yard! You can keep planting and growing plants you grew previously, and you may be able to experiment with some varieties that weren't previously hardy to our temperatures.
Go here to view the interactive GIS map.
Become a CoCoRaHS (weather watcher) volunteer
CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive website, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications.
This is a community project. Everyone can help, young, old, and in-between. The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how weather can affect and impact our lives.
Each time a rain, hail or snow storm crosses your area, volunteers take measurements of precipitation from as many locations as possible. These precipitation reports are then recorded on our website www.cocorahs.org. The data are then displayed and organized for end users to analyze and apply to daily situations ranging from water resource analysis and severe storm warnings to neighbors comparing how much rain fell in their backyards.
How can I sign up?
Just click here to sign up as a CoCoRaHS Volunteer Observer or download a .pdf version of the application and return it to the address listed.
Essential risk protection for cattle owners
Come join the University of Minnesota Beef Team for a 3 part winter webinar series. Preregistration is required.
Wednesday, January 17: Market outlook and navigating Livestock Risk Protection (LRP)
Topics to be discussed: Charley Fetzer with Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC will join us to help you better understand LRP and how to make it work for your operation. Register at https://z.umn.edu/BeefJan17.
Wednesday, January 31: Establishing Business Entities for Risk Protection
Topics to be discussed: Clint Fischer of Braintrust Ag will guide us through the role of business entities in risk protection. While this session will have a cattle focus, all types of farm business will benefit from this discussion. Register at https://z.umn.edu/BeefJan31
Wednesday, February 14: Building a Reputation for Bulletproof Feeders
Topics to be discussed: UMN Extension’s Dr. Joe Armstrong will present on how to provide the best opportunity for your feeders to bring the most, and consistent prices from buyers. Register at https://z.umn.edu/BeefFeb14.
A special thank you to our Carlton County Master Gardener volunteers
The Master Gardener program is one of the most recognized and visible Extension programs in the state. Volunteers represent the University of Minnesota, and citizens depend on them for reliable, research-based information on best practices for home landscapes. More important than an extensive background in horticulture is an active interest in gardening, learning, and sharing knowledge with others.
In Minnesota, the Master Gardener program is coordinated by University of Minnesota Extension and has strong ties to the research and outreach of the Department of Horticultural Science. The activities of more than 2,300 Minnesota Master Gardeners benefit schools, community gardens, youth programs, environmental education programs, farmers markets, and much more.
In 2022 the Carlton County group volunteered a record breaking 879 hours to our community and logged 124 hours of continuing education. The group hopes to beat that record in 2023. Thanks again for your contributions!
For more information about becoming a Master Gardener please contact Ann Rust at 218-384-8684 or rustx048@umn.edu.
Dehydrating Your Produce class
Join Master Gardeners, Kathy Rahkola and Deb Carlson for the next "Community Connect" class on the proper way to dehydrate your garden harvest. They will be using Extension's research based information and give a hands-on demonstration.
Drying or "dehydrating" food is a method of food preservation that removes enough moisture from the food so bacteria, yeast and mold cannot grow. Dried foods are tasty, nutritious, lightweight, easy to prepare, easy to carry and easy to use.
Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 1-2:30 pm
Esko Town Hall, 25 E. Harney Rd., Esko, MN
$5 payable at the door, 18 and under are free. Admission includes hand-outs.
Please call 218-384-8684 or email rustx048@umn.edu to pre-register.
Tour de Forage
The annual Tour de Forage hosted by the Northeast Minnesota Forage & Grassland Council & MFA winter meeting is back! Happening on January 22 at the Floodwood Event Center, 201 W 7th Ave, Floodwood, MN 55736.
Highlights from this years agenda include a panel discussion with local producers "The Forage Producer's Approach to Address Resilience in the World of Climate Extremes", "Back to Our Roots: Managing Alfalfa for Yield & Environment" by Joshua Gamble, USDA-ARS - St. Paul, MN, "Using Annual Forages for Soil Health" by Anna Cates, University of Minnesota-Ext. - St. Paul, MN. "Managing Insects Pests Damaging Forage and Pasture Production" by Erika Rodbell, Montana State University - Bozeman, MT.
Registration and exhibits begin at 8:30am with a 9:00am welcome. Lunch is included.
Save money and preregister for $25 or $30 at the door. Online registration available at: midwestforage.org
Registration questions? Call 651.484.3888
Meet Your Pollinators webinar series
You may have planted flowers and pollinator habitat… now what? What kinds of insects are visiting your property? How do we keep our pollinator insects safe? Check out this upcoming webinar series to help guide you in improving your pollinator habitat.
University of Minnesota Extension educators are excited to bring you this webinar series on learning more about our pollinators. This three-part series will cover how to help pollinators, pollinator insect identification, and integrated pest management practices to keep pollinators safe.
Join us January 30, 31, and February 1 from 1:00-2:30 pm each afternoon for this free webinar. You must pre-register for this series at z.umn.edu/BeeSeries to receive the webinar links.
Cow Calf Days 2024 Seminar Tour & Trade Show
Northern Tour
JAN 23 Staples, MN 9:30AM Timbers Event Center
JAN 23 Bagley, MN 5:30PM American Legion
JAN 24 Roseau 5:30PM Gene's Bar & Grill
JAN 25 Iron, MN 5:30PM Clinton Hall
Southern Tour
FEB 5 Mora, MN 5:30PM Grand Event Center
FEB 6 Starbuck, MN 9:30AM Jim Wulf's Sale Facility
FEB 7 Pipestone, MN 9:30AM MN West CC
FEB 3 Oronoco, MN 5:30 Tony Rossman Farm
FEB 9 LeSueur, MN 9:30 AM Ag Partners HQ
$10 per person at the door, includes meal and materials
Topics
Beef Research Update, Eric Mosel, U of M Beef Team
Grazing Strategies, MN Grazing Lands Association
Cow and Heifer Nutrition to Optimize Success, Dr. Dan Larson, Great Plains Livestock &
Dr. Grant Crawford, Merck Animal Health
www.extension.umn.edu/beef I 218.513.0781 I emmousel@umn.edu
Grant money available to Minnesota livestock owners to prevent wolf attacks
Applications due January 5, 2024
New money is available to Minnesota livestock producers to help prevent wolf attacks. A total of $95,000 will be awarded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) through the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants. Applications are due Jan. 5, 2024.
The grants provide reimbursement for costs of approved practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. Only costs incurred after entering into a grant agreement with the MDA are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible expenses for the grant program will include:
- Purchase of guard animals
- Veterinary costs for guard animals
- Wolf-barriers which may include pens
- Fladry and fencing
- Wolf-deterring lights and alarms
- Calving or lambing shelters
Eligible producers must live within Minnesota’s wolf range, as designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or on property determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts. Any animal species produced for profit and documented to have been killed by wolves in Minnesota in the past is eligible. This includes bison, cattle, chicken, deer, donkey, duck, geese, goat, horse, llama, mule, sheep, swine, and turkey.
The funding also requires an 80:20 matching cost-share, meaning 80% of eligible project costs will be reimbursed by the grant and the remaining 20% will be paid for by the grantee.
The grant application must be emailed or postmarked by 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2024. Work for this grant must be done and expenses reported by Aug. 31, 2024. The application and more information can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/wolfgrants.
This round of funding for the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants is made possible by monies appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature and funding awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the MDA for grant distribution.
Minnesota Woodland Steward program
Northern Rivers: Carlton, Aitkin, and Pine Counties
Whether you own property with woodlands, steward woodlands, or are looking to buy wooded property and wish to learn more about forest management, the Minnesota Woodland Steward program can help you on your journey.
Family forest owners and forest caretakers will learn the ins and outs of forest health, timber harvesting, management for recreation and wildlife, estate planning, tax incentive programs and more. This course offers a flexible design with both in-person and virtual learning. The course is being held from February-May.
After completing the program, you will know your available options for woodland management, who to contact if you need assistance, and have an actionable stewardship project ready to implement.
Registration opens January 11, 2024. Tuition is $295.
Fees are waived for Tribal members, and other scholarship opportunities are available. Learn more and register on our website: z.umn.edu/MWSP
Ask a Master Gardener
Are you planning your gardens and landscapes for next year? Maybe you have a lawn care or tree question? Carlton County Master Gardener Volunteers are here to help! You can submit a question anytime through our handy webform, and one of our local volunteers will call or email you to help you out. Ask a question today!
Office closures
The Carlton County Extension office will be closed January 1 in observance of New Years Day and January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
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). You 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.
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.
Carlton County Extension Staff
Keri Cavitt, Regional Director cavit005@umn.edu
Mandi Haglund, Principal Office & Admin. Specialist, haglu119@umn.edu
Mercedes Moffett, Agriculture Educator, moffett029@umn.edu
Ann Rust ,Vol. Coord. & Horticulture Asst., rustx048@umn.edu
Mikaela Schelde, Interim 4-H Educator, schel484@umn.edu
Contact the office
317 Chestnut Ave
P.O. Box 307 Carlton, MN 55718
218-384-3511
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