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Minnesota regional news and notes Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Day camps to be held in Jackson County
The 4-H program of Jackson County and the Jackson County Extension office are offering four day camps this summer for youth in kindergarten through third grade.
Cost of each camp is $5. Campers should eat lunch before they arrive. Each camp runs from noon to 5 p.m.
Camps are June 30, July 9, July 15 and July 20. Themes are "It's a Jungle Out There," "Racing: Ready, Get Set, Have Fun," "Music Mania," and Bubble Trouble." Camps will be held at Heron Lake, Jackson and Lakefield.
Contact the Jackson County Extension office at (507) 662-5293 or 1-800-552-4435 for specific information on each camp or for transportation-related questions.
North Morristown will celebrate July 4th
NORTH MORRISTOWN, Minn. -- The 117th annual North Morristown July 4th celebration will feature food stands, games and much more.
The day begins with a flag raising at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a medallion hunt at 11 a.m.
A Patriotic Program will follow the parade. The Jolly Huntsman Band will provide music. Several other musical acts will also perform.
A huge fireworks display will start at about 10 p.m.
All proceeds will go to Trinity Lutheran Church in North Morristown.
Wabasha SWCD gets grant for weed management
WABASHA, Minn. -- The Wabasha Soil & Water Conservation District has received a grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to enable their participation as a partner in a Cooperative Weed Management Area.
CWMAs are partnerships of federal, state and local government agencies, along with landowners and other interested parties, created to control the spread of invasive plants in a defined area.
There are 19 CWMAs in Minnesota. The primary duties of the conservation district are to educate the public about invasive plants; assist landowners within the CWMA with state cost-share to remove invasive plants; and identify and map weeds throughout the county.
A part-time specialist has been hired to carry out those responsibilities.
MnFRAC seeks college students for fair jobs
CEDAR, Minn. -- The Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care is inviting college students with an interest in serving as spokespersons for animal agriculture to apply for the position of Minnesota State Fair 4H Animal Science Mentors.
Eight positions are available. Those hired will be mentors to selected 4-H State Fair livestock exhibitors in all species to encourage, model and role-play positive interactions with State Fair visitors.
MnFRAC is seeking college students 18 years old and older.
The program will include a one-day orientation/training session.
Applicants must be available the five days of the 4-H Livestock Weekend, which is Aug. 26-Aug. 30. A $300 stipend for each worker, fair entry tickets and 4-H meal tickets will be provided.
The application deadline is July 1. Send materials to Juanita Reed-Boniface, project manager, JRP Associates, 2462 Lake George Drive, N.W., Cedar, MN 55011.
Study contains good news for dairy industry
ST. PAUL -- A recent study contains good news for Minnesota's dairy industry.
A Minnesota Department of Agriculture report finds that the industry has grown the last few years after suffering a decline in the early 2000s. The MDA study shows the dairy industry's annual growth rate averaged 2 percent from 2005-2008, closely following the national trend. Minnesota is the sixth-largest dairy state in the nation.
The study also shows dairy exports have increased. As the fifth-largest dairy exporting state, Minnesota reached a record-high of $113 million in dairy exports in 2007, a 22 percent increase from the previous year. Since 2000, dairy exports have grown by 61 percent.
MDA awards $100,000 in sustainable grants
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has awarded $100,000 in sustainable agriculture grants for seven on-farm research and demonstration projects.
The recipients include cherry growers, organic mushroom producers, and other fruit and vegetable production experimental strategies. The recipients are: Pat Altrichter and Judy Heiling of Morrison County, who are expanding their Saskatoon berry and blueberry operation; Jill Jacoby, St. Louis County, who is exploring growing shiitake and oyster mushrooms; Arlene and Robert Jones, Crow Wing County, who are looking at producing organic hops; Eric Gundacker, Dakota County, who is exploring growing organic blackberries; Steven Popp, from the West Central Experiment Station, who is researching growing fall-bearing raspberries; and the North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids, to study methods of extending the blackberry season by using high tunnels.
Wheat Day set near Kilkenny July 1
KILKENNY, Minn. -- Rural Advantage, University of Minnesota Extension and Southern Minnesota Wheat Growers Group will host a Wheat Day July 1 near Kilkenny.
Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Southern Minnesota Wheat Growers Group. Discussions and field tour will follow from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
The Wheat Day Walk-n-Talk will include an informative discussion and field tour on variety selection and management practices of spring and winter wheat, planting criteria for spring and winter wheat, sulfur and nitrogen effects on wheat production, and planting date effects on wheat yield.
Attendees are encouraged to bring plant samples of anything wheat-related that needs addressing.
For more information or for directions please contact Jill Sackett at sacke032@umn.edu or 507-238-5449 or Diane Stouffer at stouf002@umn.edu or 507-380-6098.
Consumers urged to file complaints over seed problems
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture reminds consumers to file a complaint if they think they have purchased seed that doesn't perform as advertised or labeled. Problems may include incorrect varieties, inferior quality or some other failure.
MDA Plant Protection Division director Geir Friisoe says farmers and consumers should let MDA know as soon as possible about problems.
"Our inspectors need to see the plants in the field and gather evidence such as samples, statements from involved parties, and documents related to the sale, Friisoe said. "The earlier in the growing season we get notified, the more likely it is we can conduct a conclusive investigation.''
To report problems, call (651) 201-6531. |
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