Carlton County Extension Connection
December 2023
A Note from your Educator
I can't believe we have already hit December! Where did this year go? I hope everyone has a chance to slow down and catch up with friends and family as the holidays unfold. Remember to cherish your time together.
Happy Holidays. Best, Mercedes
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 Department of Agriculture
Horse online certificate courses
The University of Minnesota Extension will offer seven online horse certificate courses focused on horse hay, weight management, biosecurity, manure management, basic nutrition, carcass composting, and pasture management. The courses will be self-guided online and begin Monday, Jan. 8 and conclude Sunday, Feb. 18.
Registration ($75 per course) is required by Sunday, Jan. 7; however, course registration is
limited. Courses do not result in college credit.
“These courses are great for horse owners and professionals seeking applicable research-based
information,” said Krishona, Extension equine specialist. “With seven different courses available, there is something for everyone.”
Interested individuals can find more information and register for courses at z.umn.edu/horsecertificatecourse.
2024 Gardening Trends Webinar presented by Mary Schier
December 5 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
From shrinking gardens (and plants) to creating more resilient landscapes, garden trends in the 2020s reflect strong climate awareness, changing housing patterns and new generations embracing plants and gardening. They are also fun and colorful! As editor of Northern Gardener®, Mary has been watching garden trends for nearly 20 years. She’ll dig into the research, talk about new plants and techniques and reveal trends to watch for next year.
FREE for members
$5 for non-members
Instructor: Mary Lahr Schier is a longtime Minnesota garden writer, editor of Northern Gardener® magazine and frequent contributor to our Northern Gardener™ Blog. You can follow her gardening adventures on Instagram at @mynortherngarden_mary.
Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention and Trade Show
The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Annual Convention is right around the corner. This years event will be held at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria on December 15-16. Topics include Marketing Cattle with a Business Mindset, Creating a successful grazing cover crop system, Economically managing your herd and feed, and more.
Please go to mnsca.org/convention for more registration, hotel, and further details.
Indoor Public Gardens of Minnesota
Looking for a gardening adventure during the cold winter months. Extension has compiled a list of indoor gardens that are open to the public so you can get your gardening fix. Click here to access. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/
Happy Holidays!
Community Connect class topics for 2024
As we pause programming for December, the Extension Office would like to announce the exciting line up of topics for the Community Connect classes in 2024! Topics to include: Dehydrating your produce, Landscape Design, Butterflies of the North, Maple Syruping, and a Peonies for Minnesota. Watch for details in upcoming newsletters. Pictured are the class members from the past bread making class.
Soil Management Summit
Thursday, December 7 - Friday, December 8, 2023 - 9:00 a.m.
Arrowwood Resort
2100 Arrowwood Ln.
Alexandria, MN 56308
The Soil Management Summit emphasizes proven farmer experience and applied science. Learn how heavier, colder soils aren’t necessarily the challenge they’re made out to be. Hear from long-time no-till, reduced tillage, and cover crop farmers as they share their experiences, so you can be spared the same hard-learned lessons.
For more information and to register, visit: https://extension.umn.edu/event/soil-management-summit
Benefits of Houseplants
Houseplants and succulents are becoming an increasingly popular way to spruce up the home. While indoor plants provide fantastic aesthetics, they also serve many other purposes – recycling carbon dioxide, adding humidity to a dry environment, and psychological benefits.
Extension has a fantastic web article that talks about favorites in Minnesota, their care and the benefits they provide to us. Please contact Ann Rust at the office if you would like more information regarding this topic.
Office Closures
The Carlton County Extension office will be closed December 22, 25, 26, & January 1.
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
Katie Siltanen, 4-H Educator, silta006@umn.edu
Contact the office
317 Chestnut Ave
P.O. Box 307 Carlton, MN 55718
218-384-3511
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