Jim and Randi Wingert of Harmony know what it is to work hard, but they also know how fulfilling that work can be for their whole family. “It’s honorable, rewarding, yet the most challenging work some days,” Randi said. Jim and Randi along with their seven children, Coltin (19), Morgan (17), Claytin (12), Mady (11), Melony (8), Maggie (8), and Martina (7) run a dairy farm … [Read more...]
Laura Christensen steps in at SWCD
If you’ve stopped in to the Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office lately, you may have noticed a new face. That’s Laura Christensen, who was recently hired as district administrator. Laura explained, “I am replacing Donna Rasmussen. She’s been here a long time and has been a really big part of this district, so I have big shoes to fill… Donna … [Read more...]
MN 4-H represented at 2019 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships by Fillmore County youth 32 youth leaders throughout Minnesota represent 4-H in Grand Island, Nebr.
Patrick Drogemuller, along with 31 other Minnesota 4-H youth and nine adults will be representing Minnesota at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebr., June 23-28. These youth were selected to represent Minnesota through an application process following their participation in the 2018 Minnesota 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife Invitational. The … [Read more...]
MnDOT asks motorists, farm equipment operators to safely share the road during planting season
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Motorists traveling on Minnesota highways this spring should be aware of large farm equipment moving from farm to farm, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “Planting season is ramping up across Minnesota and farmers need the highways to access their fields,” said Brian Sorenson, state traffic engineer. “Motorists need to be prepared to … [Read more...]
Lind Family Farms
By Maddie Smith If you have been to the Fillmore County Fair or anywhere where beef is shown, there’s a good chance you have seen at least one member of the Doug Lind family. Doug and Becky Lind, along with their seven children and grandchildren, have a herd of beef cattle just outside of Rushford, Minn. The Lind family showcases their herd in beef shows on every level, … [Read more...]
Minnesota FFA announces top award recipients and elects leaders Fillmore Central member Maddie Smith chosen as treasurer
MINNEAPOLIS, April 30, 2019 – The final session of the 90th Minnesota FFA Convention concluded with the election of the six-member state officer team. The newly elected team will serve nearly 11,000 members in Minnesota for one year. They will also spend the next year representing Minnesota, agriculture and agricultural education at state and national levels. The 2019-2020 … [Read more...]
UMN Extension and SE Minnesota support farm safety
Farm safety programs have a long history in this region of the state. Many Extension employees and community members have participated in safety programs that have included small camps at county fairgrounds, workshops at local schools and tractor safety training for teenagers. We design these programs to reduce the number of tragic accidents and incidents that we see annually … [Read more...]
Convoy of supplies and compassion delivered to flood ravaged Nebraska and Iowa
“We’ve had losses,” said farmer Nick Stortz of Canton, “but nothing to the magnitude of what’s happened in Nebraska and Iowa in the face of recent flooding.” With compassion for people and animals who are suffering, Nick and Jenny Stortz wanted to meet people face-to-face and show them that somebody cares, will show up with needed supplies, and go beyond a handshake to offer a … [Read more...]
Horse neglect investigation
On Monday March 25, 2019, the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office received a report of horses not properly cared for at 30372 Hwy. 30, Chatfield. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office investigated the report with assistance from the Animal Humane Society of Minnesota and a local veterinarian. Two horses were found deceased on the property. The remaining horses were voluntarily … [Read more...]
MDA offers new dairy farm improvement grant
Grant will aid farmers in moving from grade B to grade A milk production The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering a new grant program to help Minnesota dairy producers move from Grade B status to Grade A status and help Grade A producers maintain their status. “Our dairy farmers have been struggling with low prices for years, and now they’re challenged with … [Read more...]
Seed First and Chuck’s Feed & Grain working together for best service
Seed First, LLC is a welcome sight to many local residents not only in Fountain, Minn., where the business is located, but to many people in the surrounding area as well. Father and son team Paul and Corey Hamann have constructed a new building on Fountain’s Main Street after demolishing the buildings on the lot that used to hold Fountain Feed & Grain and more recently, … [Read more...]
The dirt on Stealth Ag
For nearly a decade, Stealth Ag in Harmony has been involved in dirty deeds. Or more accurately, deeds having to do with the dirt that raises our local crops. Brent Hjelmeland recently gave a glimpse inside his work and company. Explaining how his company started, Hjelmeland stated, “It was 2010. My family and I had moved back to the area a couple years before that. I … [Read more...]
Farmers encouraged to participate in annual survey Wheat and hay growers should anticipate calls in March/Aprila
ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is encouraging farmers to take part in its annual pesticide and fertilizer use survey. This year the phone survey is directed at wheat and hay growers. The data helps the MDA track the use of agricultural chemicals on Minnesota farms and provides guidance to educational and research programs. The survey should begin … [Read more...]
Soil health case studies share farmer knowledge, experiences
Farmers can turn to a new set of case studies to learn about the experiences of southwest Minnesota farmers in adopting soil health practices. University of Minnesota research assistant Kathy Dooley visited farms and interviewed farmers in late 2018 to develop case study profiles of nine farms in southwestern Minnesota. Farmers were selected to participate in the project based … [Read more...]
Big, fast and sometimes deadly Avoid the risk of being run over by one of the farm’s most powerful tools
Power and size are two features that make farm tractors so valuable – and dangerous. Modern technology is helping make tractors safer in many ways, but some 60 people still die each year after being run over by a tractor. Aaron Yoder, Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural … [Read more...]