Nicollet & Sibley County Ag News
October 2022
Seymour, a 648lb pumpkin, is a popular attraction to Arboretum visitors.
Your Ag Educator
Notes from Emma Severns
As the weather gets cooler there are many preparations before winter comes around. Last minute yard care, cleaning out gardens and possibly even soil testing. Collecting soil samples allows you to begin planning over the winter months for the next gardening season. Make sure to note what you planted where in the garden and write down any issues you had to plan for next year.
I am trying something new this year by conducting a Needs Assessment in addition to our Annual Land Rent Survey. Please consider filling that out to help Nicollet & Sibley County Extension to better serve you by providing relevant and timely information. As always, reach out with any questions or recommendations you might have.
Happy Harvest,
Emma
Hot Topics in Agriculture
Updated soil management resources available
Maximize your cover crop benefits by selecting the best species
Read the article here
When to pick your apples
Have you heard the old wise tale that you should wait until after a frost to harvest your apples? I am here to bust that myth. If we followed that rule, many of our apples would be rotten or on the ground by the time we picked them. This is because each apple has a different ripening time, anywhere from mid-August to October. Instead of waiting until a frost, use a few simple, smart guidelines to decide when to harvest your apples.
Land Rent Survey & Workshops
Land Rent Survey
We will be sending out our annual Land Rent Survey in October. The success of this survey over the year is directly connected to the responses of participants like you and for that we at University of Minnesota Extension thank you. Please remember you are in no way obligated by UMN Extension or any other agency to complete this survey and all responses are voluntary. However, the quality of data provided to landowners and renters like you is dependent on this information.
Why do a cash rent survey?
By using the survey, we hope to use facts to determine if any trends develop between prices paid and other farm characteristics.
What is the survey going to be used for?
To better give you, your landowner, tenant and others an idea of the cash rental situation for Nicollet and Sibley counties.
I do not want people to know how much rent I pay/collect!
Neither do we. That's why we don't want names, field locations, ect. on the survey. We only want county locations. We keep all individual responses confidential. We use composite information for educational purposes only.
Prefer to take the survey online?
Use the QR code above or go to z.umn.edu/Nicollet_SibleyLandRent
2023 Nicollet & Sibley County Needs Assessment
As a local Extension Educator my goal is to better understand and meet your needs by providing you with educational resources and events to help you succeed. In order to better understand what is needed, I am asking you to take 2-3 minutes to complete this survey. You responses will help shape the future programs and education. Fill out the survey by clicking here.
Upcoming Events
No Stress Fall Garden Clean-Up Webinar- Oct. 11
Don’t drive yourself crazy working too hard to put your garden to bed before the snow flies. Learn the latest in garden clean-up with hints on seed saving and growing garlic, too!
Agricultural Tax Issues course
The Agricultural Tax Issues course targets income tax professionals who work with farmers. The course also is relevant to agricultural professionals such as agricultural lenders and farm management instructors. It covers what's new in taxes for the year.
Beginning Farmer Programs for Sheep & Goat Farmers- Oct. 11
Join in on a great educational session from loan and granting agencies to learn what loans and grants are available for beginning farmers and how to make an investment in a sheep or goat enterprise.
University Resources for You
Walk through your woodlands or windbreaks
Landowners who have woodlands or windbreaks need to walk through these landscapes each year to assess what understory vegetation and trees are growing, determine what plants are not surviving, and identify any noxious weeds and plants or invasive species that may need to be controlled or eradicated. Read this article for more information.
UMN forage and cover crop species database
The UMN forage and cover crop species database is a tool for understanding and providing a description of 30 different crop species. This includes agronomic recommendations and soil health implications. You can also view "The Forage Field Trip" series of videos for more information.
UMN Soil Testing Laboratory
The Soil Testing Laboratory is part of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources.
Soil testing takes the guesswork out of fertilizer recommendations, ensures fertile soil without pollution of the environment, and makes good economic sense. Our recommendations are based on laboratory results, soil characteristics, crop history, crop nutrient requirements and are specific to Minnesota locations and conditions.
Please email us at soiltest@umn.edu, or call 612-625-3101 for more information. (Email messages often result in the fastest response.)
Connect with us!
Nicollet County Extension Office
Email: sever575@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/nicollet
Location: 501 South Minnesota Avenue, St Peter, MN 56082, USA
Phone: 507-934-7828
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMN-Extension-Nicollet-Sibley-County-296711563757356
Twitter: @UMNExt
Sibley County Extension Office
Email: sever575@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/sibley
Location: 111 8th Street, Gaylord, MN, USA
Phone: 507-237-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMN-Extension-Nicollet-Sibley-County-296711563757356
Twitter: @UMNExt