Farm & Ag News

By Karen Johnson, UMN Extension Educator, McLeod and Meeker Counties It’s National Farm Safety and Health Week. This year’s theme is “Farm Safety Yields Real Results.” This annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed as such by each sitting United States President since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. National Farm Safety…

Minnesota 4-Hers from 87 counties arrived with more than 2,272 animals at the 2021 “Great Minnesota Get-Together” for this year’s 4-H livestock encampment held Aug. 25-29. The number of livestock exhibits over the weekend included: • Beef: 492 exhibits • Dairy: 383 exhibits • Goats: 274 exhibits • Poultry: 166 exhibits • Rabbits: 226 exhibits…

4-H youth from across Minnesota again showcased their learning in the 4-H Building at the Minnesota State Fair. Nearly 100 public presentations were delivered, and more than 1,600 general exhibits were on display. In a continuation of the virtual state showcase format developed in 2020, almost 200 of the general exhibits were judged virtually this…

The Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) is hosting an Adaptive Grazing Field Day from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Voss Farms in Paynesville at 27725 Business Hwy. 23 E. Doug Voss, farmer host, is also the Grazing Lead for SFA. The Voss family raises grass-fed beef and free-range chickens, and he has custom and seasonal…

Quality animals, quality kids, and quality buyers made the 42nd 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction, the annual parade of champion beef, lambs, goats, swine, and -poultry, set seven new record prices. New this year was the addition of market chickens and market turkeys into the auction. The auction raised more than $800,000 in additional premium dollars…

By Emily Krekelberg, U of M Extension Implements that use augers and power take-offs (PTOs) are an essential part of farm work. They are also incredibly dangerous. Entanglement in an auger or PTO can happen in the blink of an eye, and can lead to injury, amputation, and even death. No matter how many times…

New grant aims to boost sale of Minnesota-raised livestock products Minnesota meat, egg, poultry, and milk processors seeking to start up, modernize, or expand their businesses are encouraged to apply for a new grant program aimed at assisting them. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) anticipates awarding up to $750,000 through its Agricultural Growth, Research,…

Survey focuses on best management practices for corn and soybean farmers The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is encouraging farmers to take part in its annual pesticide and fertilizer survey. This year, the survey will focus on best management practices (BMPs) for corn and soybean farmers. Due to COVID-19, this year the survey will be…

By Emily Hansen, U of M Extension With the drought affecting most of Minnesota this summer, we will most likely see the effects in next year’s crops. This is especially important when looking at your crop rotation and what herbicides were applied over the summer. As the drought continues, the potential reduction in herbicide breakdown…

NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is offering a free online suicide prevention class tailored to farming communities. Called QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) for Agricultural Communities, the program helps individuals learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent a suicide. More than one million adults in the United States have been trained…