Fall harvest in the region continues at a rapid pace. Farmers are in a good position to have harvest and tillage completed in good time. Yields across the region are generally good overall, and I expect county averages to be competitive with some of the higher yields in recent years. These yields will be helpful to farmers financially, but it will still be difficult to make up the difference with lower commodity crop prices.
I am in the education business and also want farmers, landowners, and agribusinesses to be aware of education and resources available. The University of Minnesota Extension has a broad range of education and informational resources available to the public. Education is provided through many different outlets. A few of the outlets for education include news releases, publications, radio interviews, e-mail, social media, technical service, and educational programs. Extension is the outreach arm of the University of Minnesota. The work of the University of Minnesota Extension involves utilizing research-based information to help solve complex problems.
Many University of Minnesota Extension agriculture and horticulture programs are delivered throughout Minnesota during the months of November through March. These programs are intended to highlight the research that took place during the past growing season and preparation for future growing seasons. Crop producers and livestock producers utilize this time to strengthen their knowledge to make future decisions. We encourage the public to provide ideas and insight to better help us understand your educational needs. Please contact us and let us know what type of education and resources are needed.
Resources from the University of Minnesota Extension are readily available to the public 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The University of Minnesota Extension Website has information in the areas of agriculture, community, environment, family, garden, and youth. The website can be found at: www.extension.umn.edu/. To find educational programs in your area it is probably best to look under the area of interest.
In the agricultural area, information is based around topic areas of crops, livestock, food, agricultural business management, and commercial horticultural. There are numerous programs, publications, and resources to learn more about a specific topic within the framework of the website. A new source of providing timely information is via topic related blogs that can provide quick updates to the public. Finally, there are contacts on the website to help find area experts to help you with your question.
The public can also subscribe to e-mail updates in specific areas. Following is a short list of some of the educational updates you can receive: U of M Horse Newsletter, Small Farms Extension, MN Crop News, Extension News, My Minnesota Woods, MN Cover Crops, and the Yard & Garden News. Locally, the McLeod and Meeker County Extension Offices coordinate the South Central Extension Crops, Central MN Horticulture Hot Topics, and MN Extension Small Farms. All you have to do is subscribe to the appropriate list and educational information and opportunities will be accessible via e-mail.
For specific agricultural questions, consumers can call the Farm Information Line. This phone line is staffed by Extension agricultural experts to meet your specific needs. The phone number is (800) 232-9077,
and is available from 8:30 a.m.?Äì
12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Leave a voicemail after hours or e-mail the experts at fil@umn.edu. For specific horticultural questions, consumers can call the UMN Landscape Arboretum Yard & Garden Desk at (612) 301-7590. The University of Minnesota Extension Website has a staff directory that can be helpful to find faculty or educators. Staff can be found by searching area of expertise, regional office, or by county office.
Contact Nathan Winter, McLeod and Meeker County Extension Educator for agricultural or horticultural assistance in either of the two counties. Locally, the office will know about upcoming educational programs in the area. The McLeod County Extension Office is located in Hutchinson at (320) 484-4303, or the Meeker County Extension Office is located in Litchfield at (320) 693-5275. Contact Nathan Winter by e-mail at wint0146@umn.edu.