A few miles outside of Spring Valley, Dave Genadek runs a small business called About The Horse, Inc.  He primarily makes saddles, and he takes his vocation very seriously.  As the company name would suggest, Dave focuses on making saddles that fit the individual horse’s anatomy, as well as the rider’s individual requests. On a recent snowy morning, Dave took a brief respite … [Read more...]

Fillmore County 4-H Horse Project has a lot to offer. Benefits of joining the Fillmore County 4-H Horse Project are making new friends, learning new and interesting facts, and being able to participate in multiple activites such as project bowl, drill team, hippology and judging to name a few.  New this year will be the Challenged Rider Program.  This program is for youth who … [Read more...]

University of Minnesota Extension would like to invite you to attend two important workshops on February 22 at the Mabel Community Center. From 8 -10 a.m., Meg Moynihan, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Cynthie Christensen, Houston County Farm Bureau, will present “Dealing with stress in our ag communities.” Stress factors are on the rise for Minnesota farmers. Many … [Read more...]

PRESTON, Minn. -- A Land Stewardship Project (LSP) workshop called, "Cover Crops, No-Till & Grazing: Evaluating the Economics and First Steps to Improving Soil" will be held Friday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the St. Columban Church in Preston (408 Preston St. NW). It will feature presentations by southwestern Minnesota farmers Grant and Dawn Breitkreutz, along … [Read more...]

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. USDA’s 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% … [Read more...]

ST. PAUL, MN, December 19, 2018 — For many Minnesota farmers, 2018 was a tough year financially. But free, confidential help is available for those who are struggling. For farmers like Liz and Bob Krocak of Montgomery, programs such as the farm financial counseling service offered through University of Minnesota Extension have been much-needed. The Krocaks decided to share … [Read more...]

Minnesota Farm Bureau’s Sesquicentennial Farm program will honor Minnesota families who have owned their farms for at least 150 years. Since the Sesquicentennial Farm program began in 2008, over 225 farms have been recognized. The Sesquicentennial Farm program recognizes family farms according to the following qualifications: 1) The farm must be at least 150 years old this … [Read more...]

Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more are invited to apply for the 2019 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. More than 10,500 Minnesota farms have been honored … [Read more...]

ROCHESTER, MN – As farmers in southeast Minnesota finalize their seed purchases and spring planting plans, the Minnesota Department of Transportation asks growers to consider joining the standing corn rows program to help control blowing and drifting snow on state highways. MnDOT pays farmers on a per acre basis to leave standing corn rows on selected state roads in areas … [Read more...]