USDA Rural Development has funding availabile for very low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area. The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very-low and low-income applicants that are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as 1% with … [Read more...]
Funds available to update livestock operations Apply by April 5 for the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant
ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers seeking to improve their livestock operation are encouraged to apply for an additional round of the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant program. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) anticipates awarding up to $443,000 using a competitive review process in this round. … [Read more...]
Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops! focused on weed management
ST. PAUL, MN, February 2, 2022 — Controlling weeds in crop production is challenging as herbicide resistance increases and effective herbicides become more limited. “Weed management is all about fundamentals,” explained Dr. Tom Peters, Extension sugarbeet agronomist and weed scientist at the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. Those fundamentals … [Read more...]
Grain handling safety: don’t sidestep the principles
By UNMC Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, Omaha, NE “There is a direct correlation between out-of-condition grain and an increased likelihood of worker exposure to entrapment situations,” according to Purdue University’s 2020 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities. “Whenever a farmer or elevator employee has to … [Read more...]
State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation accepting Century Farm applications; deadline is March 7, 2022
ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more are invited to apply for the 2022 Century Farm Program. Produced by the Minnesota State Fair in conjunction with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, the Century Farm Program was created to promote agriculture and honor historic family farms in the state. Nearly 11,000 Minnesota farms have been … [Read more...]
Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops! focused on sulfur
ST. PAUL, MN, January 26, 2022 — Sulfur (S) might be considered a secondary nutrient, but it is essential for crop production. Historically, sulfur fertilizer was recommended on low soil organic matter soils and coarse-textured sandy soils, according to Jeff Vetsch, a soil scientist at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca. Then in a … [Read more...]
Fillmore County EDA to host Agriculture Summit February 24
Area farm families, businesses, and the general public are invited to attend this free event at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center located at 28097 Goodview Dr., Lanesboro, Minn., on February 24, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A light breakfast will be provided, and sessions will run approximately 25 minutes. This year’s schedule includes presentations on … [Read more...]
Tony Becker and Justin Brown accepted into the Minnesota FFA Alumni President’s Circle
The Minnesota FFA Alumni/Supporters Association has created a systematic, sustainable leadership enhancement program for FFA Alumni/Supporters in Minnesota. This new leadership program involves enhancing and building alumni member leadership skills which, in turn, will sustain and improve agriculture education in Minnesota. Becker lives in the Rushford area while Brown lives … [Read more...]
Recycle your Christmas trees twice!
Johnny and Liz Micheel, who live on a farm between Rushford and Money Creek, are interested in those dried up Christmas trees that everyone will soon be taking down. The Micheels raise goats and have found that the goats love Christmas trees! If you’d like to help give the goats a treat, you can bring your trees to the Rushford City compost site and leave them near the sign for … [Read more...]
Meet the 2021-22 Houston County 4-H Federation officers
By Garrett Waldenberger President Ashtyn Meyer is a member of the Houston County Sharp Shooters 4-H Club. She has been in 4-H for eight years. Her favorite 4-H memories come the Houston County Fair. In 4-H, some of the project areas she is involved in are vegetable and flower gardening, photography, arts and crafts, goats, chickens, swine, foods, clothes, wildlife and … [Read more...]