The Driftless Area’s forests will be affected by climate change and other stressors during this century. An assessment put together by a team of researchers describes the vulnerability of forests in the Driftless Area. It includes information on observed and future climate trends and summarizes key vulnerabilities. The Landscape Change Research Group recently updated the … [Read more...]
Erosion
By Christina Papenfuss, Soil Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Do you have a problem with a gully or washout in your field? A grassed waterway or grade stabilization structure can help. These practices can stop a gully and provide a place for water to move from your field as to not cause erosion. Grassed waterways are usually paired … [Read more...]
Buckthorn: A Hated Plant Across the Country
By TJ Boettcher Former Pheasants Forever Field Biologist Many landowners are familiar with the scourge that is buckthorn. Once open forests have turned into nearly impenetrable green walls that line the hillsides from top to bottom. For those that aren’t familiar with it or are unsure of what it looks like, now is the perfect time of year to see the full extent of … [Read more...]
Public Waters Inventory Update Project
By Jean Meiners Technician, Root River SWCD Public waters are all water basins and watercourses that meet the criteria set forth in Minnesota Statute, Section 103G.005, subd. 15, and include lakes, wetlands and watercourses of certain sizes and characteristics. A 2024 statute revision clarified that public waters are not determined by their inclusion in or exclusion from … [Read more...]
Profitable Pastures
By Christina Papenfuss Soil Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Pasturing livestock can be profitable. The costs of feed and fertilizer have gone up, leaving little money left over. The highest cost in most, if not all, livestock production systems is feed. Many producers use grazing to reduce costs for their operations. Properly managed … [Read more...]
Fillmore and Houston County Police Reports
Chatfield Police Department Avraham Horovitz, 21, Postville, Iowa, 9/13/2024, Speeding (46/30), Fine $60, Total Fees $145. Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office Christopher Samuel Back, 31, Harmony, Minn., 9/1/2024, Operate Vehicle with Expired Registration, Fine $30, Total Fees $115. Justin Dean Chounard, 45, Brownsdale, Minn., 9/6/2024, Display Revoked or Suspended … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – New Kitchen Crew Comes to Lanesboro Public Schools
By Chloe Miller This year, Lanesboro Public Schools has introduced a new food service, Taher, into the kitchen to serve all K-12 students. This food service offers a meal for both breakfast and lunch every day. Each breakfast consists of two choices of a main course. One of the main course options remains the same throughout the whole month, being a choice of cereal with … [Read more...]
A Brief Look into Prescribed Fire: An Effective, Yet Underutilized Management Tool
By Zachary Glaunert Farm Bill Biologist, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever For centuries prescribed fire has been an effective means of sustaining healthy grassland and woodland ecosystems. This method of management was highly utilized by Indigenous peoples throughout North America for generations. It was adopted also by early European settlers to manage both … [Read more...]
Sonja Deloris Gorham
Sonja Deloris Gorham, 96, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minn. Sonja was born on June 15, 1928, in Hesper, Iowa, to Nikolai and Dagmar (Hvam) Tranaas. She grew up in Hesper, attending Hesper School through eighth grade before graduating from Mabel High School in 1948. On July 3, … [Read more...]
Donald Elton Ellestad
Donald Elton Ellestad, called Donnie by many, died on Monday, November 25, 2024. During his last months, Don had struggled with more than his fair share of health issues. COVID isolation in the nursing home added confusion to a long list of challenges; but even then, he put a smile on his problems and moved forward. On November 20, he was taken by ambulance to Gundersen … [Read more...]