“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...]
Public input wanted: Environmental Quality Board to hold meeting on proposed GEIS to study groundwater contamination in southeast Minnesota
The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will hold a public meeting March 25 in Red Wing to gain public input on a proposal to study nitrate-contaminated water in the karst region of southeast Minnesota. The meeting will be held at the St. James Hotel, 406 Main St., Red Wing, Minn., with doors opening at 5 p.m., presentations starting at 5:30 p.m., and table discussions … [Read more...]
Safety tips for parents of young farmers
People who live in cities, exurbs or suburbs may not come across farms very frequently. But millions of people, including children, still live on farms. In fact, in 2009 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that more than one million children under the age of 20 lived, worked or had a regular presence on farms in the United States. Protecting children from … [Read more...]