PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR - UMN Extension
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PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1
APRIL 2020
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION, PINE COUNTY OFFICE
www3.extension.umn.edu/local/pine
Inside this issue:
Welcome Rod Greder 4-H Youth Development 2
It is a pleasure to announce that a search has been conducted and Yard & Garden 5
Rod Greder has been offered and accepted the 0.50 FTE Ag Educator Health & Nutrition 9
position in Pine County. Rod currently holds the 0.40 FTE Master
Ag Community 11
Gardener Coordinator position in Isanti County.
Upcoming Events 13
For the last number of years, Rod has balanced his part-time role with
U of M Extension with also being an instructor at various colleges in the Contact Us:
metro area. He also farms west of Pine City near Pokegama Lake and U of M Extension-Pine County
Creek, where he has a beef cow herd, manages pastures and raises hay, maintains a 635 Northridge Drive NW
large fruit and vegetable garden, among woodlands and water. Rod worked for over Suite 280
Pine City, MN 55063
20 years in the corn and soybean seed industry for Cargill and other companies. Rod’s 800-657-3813 or 320-591-1650
education has been in agronomy and plant genetics, culminating with a Ph.D. from the Email: mnext-pine@umn.edu
University of Illinois.
Frank Moyer
You’ll find Pine County Extension Ag on Facebook, search University of Minnesota-AFNR 4-H Extension Educator
Extension-Pine County, make sure to follow and like this page for current information.
Jimmie Johnson
Pine County Extension response to SNAP-Ed Educator
COVID-19 Briana Michels
Tribal Community Facilitator
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U of M Extension has canceled all face-to-face
meetings, courses and events through May 15, 2020. The decision was made to help Terry Salmela
safeguard the public. The cancellation applies to all Extension-sponsored events, Master Gardener Coordinator
including: local/county/regional 4-H clubs and events, Master Gardener and Master Rod Greder
Naturalist events and meetings, SNAP-Ed nutrition programs (including those offered in Agriculture Educator
conjunction with local partners), agriculture/natural resources/food safety/community
vitality educational workshops. This decision was made after careful consideration of Roxanne Orvis
the recommendations made by the CDC, other federal and state authorities, and the Administrative Assistant
University of Minnesota. Spring is a busy time for in-person Extension programming, as
Susanne Hinrichs
you know, this situation is changing all the time. Please visit the Pine County Extension
Regional Director
office website for updated information on alternative programs being offered.
218-828-2286
Pine County offices are currently closed to walk-in traffic from the public. Services are
available online, via telephone, and by appointment. Pine County is committed to
providing essential services during this challenging time. Pine County has implemented a
telework policy and flexible work schedule for employees to work remotely if possible. It
is important for everyone to take the necessary steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in
Minnesota and follow CDC and MDH recommendations to limit personal contact and
travel.
Please remember to take care of your health and the health of your loved ones, be
considerate of others who may be struggling to adapt.
Page 2 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 Youth Development 4-H Fruit Fundraiser recently concluded Pine County 4-H has a history of being able to scholarship youth to attend local, regional and state 4-H events. One of the ways that makes this possible is fundraising. In February, youth enrolled in the Pine County 4-H program began to sell fruit. Our supplier for fruit is MinnTex out of Windham, MN and they have been consistently providing us with a top quality product. Many people are eager to see 4-H youth knocking at their doors to sell fruit. This year, our youth sold $14, 455 worth of product! The top selling clubs and families were: First Place Club: Ambitious Pines Second Place Club: Dirty Boots and Country Roots Third Place Club: Sunnyside First Place family: Kraft family, Night Stars Second Place family: Reibeling family, Dirty Boots and Country Roots Third Place family: Oquist, Johnsen & Conrad family, Dirty Boots and Country Roots The fruit order was originally scheduled for delivery on Saturday, March 21. However, due to COVID-19 concerns the order was delivered on Wednesday, March 18. Thank you to the group of volunteers (7 in total) who unloaded 6 pallets (574 boxes) of fruit and organized each order for families to pick up. The distribution went well and all the fruit is delivered. Thank you. Pine County 4-H Fair update In the cold months of January and February, it was hard to imagine what the upcoming fair season will look like. With the fair in mind, we started working on the 2020 Fair Premium Book. This is an exciting time to be a part of the Minnesota youth development. With the level of excitement comes several changes people will see in the premium book. For example, our Static (General Exhibit) judging will be on Tuesday, July 29 from 3-7:00 p.m. This is a change from other years where the judging was done on the first day of the fair. This change will give us an opportunity to open our 4-H Exhibit Hall one day sooner. In addition to this, Animal Interviews which were previously on Sunday before the fair will be moved to Tuesday, July 29. This change will limit the number of trips families will be making to the fair and will give youth, who show static exhibits as well as animal projects an opportunity to do all their interviews in one day. In 2019, our Fashion Revue show was held in the Exhibit Hall. Many people commented on how nice it was to see the youth show off their projects for the greater audience of fair attendees. On Friday, July 31 at 7:00 p.m., we will have our annual 4-H Fashion Revue show. We encourage people to attend and check out the latest fashion choices that our youth are making. We would like to extend an invitation to all to check out the number of Static projects in the Exhibit Hall. Stop by the 4-H fair office and greet us while you are there. And then, be sure to visit the Livestock Barns to examine all the fine animal projects our youth have been working on throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you at the Pine County Fair, July 29 through August 2.
Page 3 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Youth Development
Quiz Bowl youth advance to State
Youth enrolled in Pine County 4-H had a great learning opportunity by
participating in Dog Bowl. Practice began in January for this event with
two teams, Team Chaos and Team Chewy (Chaos and Chewy are the names
of two Pine County Sheriff’s Office K-9 officers. Chewy is recently retired to
the loving family of his late partner Deputy Ben Neel).
Team Chewy represented Pine County 4-H at the Quiz Bowl event in Foley,
MN on March 7, 2020.
A huge shout-out goes to Team Chewy who will be moving on to the State
Dog Bowl! Pictured are team members are V. Lahti, S. Lahti, C. Emmons, E.
Guzik, A. Olson and Coach Darlene. Way to go ladies!
Livestock Quality Assurance training will be held June 9
Youth enrolled in Livestock Project areas, who are in grades 6+ must be certified in Livestock Quality. (Check with 4-H staff
to see if you need re-certification for the upcoming fair season.) View the Livestock Quality Policy Here.
PLEASE NOTE: Youth in grades 3-5 are not required to have LQA to show their animal project at the county level. LQA
is required for those youth in 6 grade and up to participate at State and Regional Livestock shows.
There are two options to complete certification:
Option 1: In person training; Livestock Quality Assurance (LQA) Training:
Pine County will be partnering with Kanabec County Extension to offer Livestock Quality Assurance Training Level
I & II classes on June 9, 2020. Level I class is geared towards 6-8 graders who need initial certification of LQA. This
certification is good for three (3) fair seasons. 4-H'ers completing grades 9-13 must be certified in Level II.
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Time: 4-7:00 p.m.
Location: Kanabec County Extension Office, 18 N Vine Street, MORA, MN
RSVP to lambrose@umn.edu or fmoyer@umn.edu
Option 2: Online Certification; Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Training:
YQCA is an online one (1) hour training. This class is intended for youth in grades 6+ who need certification. This
certification is good for one (1) fair season.
Cost: $12/youth (NOTE: YQCA is offering a 25% off flash sale for online training for the month of April ONLY)
For more information, contact the Pine County Extension Office at 320-591-1650 or email: fmoyer@umn.edu
Page 4 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 Youth Development Pioneer Seeds helps Pine County 4-H Joe Ailts, Laura Reichert and Nancy Rys of Pioneer Seeds recently presented a $4,000 donation to Pine County 4-H Extension Educator Frank Moyer. The donation will be used to fund a public address system to be used at county fair judging and other events throughout Pine County 4-H. Pioneer Seeds and Corteva Agriscience are proud to sponsor the community investment fund, enriching lives in local communities Animal ID Deadline Extended COVID-19 requires that many of our typical processes and policies related to 4-H Animal Science programming. Animal identification Extended deadline: Our animal identification system will remain in place. The deadline is extended to June 1, 2020. Our office is closed to the public and we are unable to provide 4-H tags to families at this time. If you need tags, please fill out the Tag Request Form or email fmoyer@umn.edu and we will have your order ready for pickup when we reopen. Families must place tags in animal ears and record identification data in 4HOnline by June 1. Any unused tags must be re- turned to our office by June 15. While youth are home and looking for things to fill time, encourage them to explore livestock demonstrations and Science of Animals projects to extend learning. Watch this video for more information on Science of Animals. COVID-19 and Pine County 4-H The following message was shared on our Pine County 4-H Facebook page, emailed to volunteers, parents and youth. Although this message has been shared, it has not stopped progress being made by Extension Educators to engage youth in our county. The Extension Office located in the Pine County Courthouse is temporarily closed to the public, however, our office staff are working remotely and are still very much engaged in reaching out to youth who are affected by the quarantine. A group of Regional Educators met Monday, March 23 to brainstorm and share ideas on how to effectively engage youth audiences in this time. What a great opportunity this will be to connect technology with long distant learning. Maybe your youth has an interest they have never explored. This time of quarantine may give you the time to introduce your child to a new project area. Be creative, have fun, and learn. If you are in need of Extension Staff assistance, please feel free to contact the main telephone number of the University of Minnesota Extension Office located in Pine County. We will be happy to assist you in whichever way possible. Our office can be reached by calling 800-657-3813 or 320-591-1650. We are returning calls daily and responding to emails as quickly as we can. Until we see you face to face, be safe, responsible and remain healthy.
Page 5 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Yard & Garden
Social distancing and enjoying nature by Angela Gupta, Extension Educator
You’re trying to do the right thing and maintain an appropriate distance for the benefit of all during a time of concern
about infectious disease. But are you also feeling stressed, worried about cooped-up kids, and wanting to maintain your
health through exercise? Here are some ideas.
Get into nature
Drive, bike, walk or run directly from your house to the forest or prairie, assuming there’s no gathering. If you see people
who want to chat, let them know you are taking time for yourself in nature while protecting the health of others. While
you’re out in nature, you could enjoy a number of activities.
Go for a hike. Data shows pretty clearly that time spent outdoors in nature can have many health benefits, including
reducing stress and increasing cardiovascular health.
Forest bathe. If you are not familiar with forest bathing, now is a great time to try it. It’s a mixture of meditation, yoga
and hiking, paying close attention to your surroundings while enjoying a slow and mindful hike. Want to avoid bench-
es or other places where people may join you? Take a small blanket or stadium chair (things are still soggy in the
woods) and create your own small sanctuary.
Observe and record nature. iNaturalist is a great way to learn about and engage with the natural world. This app al-
lows you to share your knowledge, learn from others and inventory what you see. You’ll have the best experience if
you create an account. You can iNat anything that ever lived: trees, plants, birds, insects, worms, fungus, pine cones,
animal tracks and more. There are many great iNaturalist videos to get you familiar with this wonderful tool, such as:
How to Make an Observation on iNaturalist using our Mobile App, How to Take Better Photos for iNaturalist (Good
pictures make ID possible!), iNaturalist—a win-win for citizens & scientists, with Scott Loarie (Watch this if you need a
little good news today.).
Nature based activities within your home and yard
Minimize cabin fever while also enjoying nature’s benefits.
iNat your yard.
Observe nature.
Read books!
Try Zooniverse. Explore the African savanna or discover new
galaxies through this great citizen science online platform.
Woodland owners retreating to your forest oasis
Clear your roads and trails.
Walk the boundary.
Create an iNaturalist project and track your property’s biodiversity.
Report invasives. As always, if you find evidence of invasive species, report it to GLEDN app or EDDMapS.
Relax and read. Check out our forest-focused reading list.
Nature can help us manage stress, and get fresh air and exercise to maintain our health and improve our immune systems.
There’s sound science about the benefits of nature.
Page 6 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Yard & Garden
Smart Garden 2020: It’s time to keep calm and garden!
by Julie Weisenhorn, UMN Extension Educator, Horticulture
Even with social distancing, Minnesota gardeners get a little stir crazy this time of year. We are teased by
60 degree days, warm sun and snow melt. We’re itching to rake our grass and clean up garden beds.
Spring ahead daylight savings time means it’s still light out after the workday (translation: more time in the
garden).
But Minnesota gardeners also know that it’s safer to hold off on planting and raking until temperatures
steady out and lawns dry out. Planting into cold wet soil can result in poor seed germination, and raking
spongy lawns can shred grass plants. And then there is always the chance of a late frost that can nip newly
emerged plants or tender annuals set out too early.
During this “watch-and-wait” time of the year, we can still do a few things that get our hands dirty and also
some solid planning for the coming year.
Create a garden plan
A garden plan can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. This time of the season is a good time to
measure your garden and sketch it on graph paper. Then layout your planting for the coming season. Use
colored stick notes labeled with plant name and cut to the plant’s mature size so you can move them
around. Be sure to leave space around plants for good air circulation, light and access.
Some math formulas that are helpful when measuring an area:
Area of a rectangle = length x width
Area of a triangle = base x heights/2
Area of a circle = 3.14 x radius²
Think about succession planting where you plant a new crop as another crop finishes (vegetables).
Start seeds indoors for your garden outdoors.
Mid-March is a good time to start seeds indoors that
require about 8 weeks of growing before they can be
planted outside.
Minnesota gardens are typically planted between May
10-31 depending on where you are located in the state.
By then, we are usually past our average frost date and
risk of any cold damage.
Seeds can still be ordered online. Refer to the seed
packet for timing.
Refer to Starting seeds and planting.
(continued on page 7)
Page 7 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 Yard & Garden [Keep calm and garden!] cont. from page 6 Select your favorite plants and plant for pollinators Choose plants that you really love eating, growing, smelling, and tasting. Remember to plant for our all-important pollinators, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife you want to attract. Flowers for special uses. Re-think your lawn space Interested in a bee lawn? Minnesotans of all kinds—homeowners, community gardeners, municipalities, public spaces, golf courses, schools, etc.—are establishing more and more flower-full plantings to help bees and other pollinators. Consider planting a bee lawn this year in your yard to provide healthy habitat and food for bees. Bee lawns are comprised of cool season lawn grasses like fine fescues or Kentucky bluegrass and low-growing, bee-friendly flowering plants. Get to know your soil Our soils are thawing, so consider collecting and submitting a soil sample to the UMN Soil Testing Lab. Soil is the foundation of every landscape and the more you know about your soil, the better you are at keeping it healthy and your plants healthy. A soil test should be done about every 3-5 years and any time you plan to make a big change in how you use part of your landscape (i.e. changing lawn to garden). Living soil, healthy garden Still time to prune You can still get outside and prune fruit trees, crabapples, maples, birch, oaks until April 1. Pruning trees and shrubs How to prune apple trees—3-part video series
Page 8 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 Yard & Garden It’s time to start your seeds! by Mary H. Meyer, Extension Horticulturist and Professor Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to start seed indoors, especially if you want a specific kind of tomato, pepper, or impatiens flowers for your garden. Some seeds grow slowly, and others are quite rapid to germinate. Get ready, set, go! How do you know when to start which kind of seed? Here are some tips for new and experienced gardeners: Read the information on the seed packet for when to start the seed indoors. If the packet says sow directly outdoors and gives no info on starting seed indoors, those seeds grow quickly outdoors and likely do not need a head start indoors. Minnesota’s spring last frost date is from May 10-31 depending on where you live. Current weather records 1991-2010 shows a 10% probability of 32°F as of May 10 in the Twin Cities. The last frost date is a guideline for moving your seedlings outdoors. These are suggested starting dates for some of the most popular vegetables and flowers: Late February or early March: impatiens, petunias, leeks, onions Early to mid-March: cabbage, broccoli, Cauliflower Mid-March: eggplant, okra, Peppers Mid to late April: squash, melons, Cucumbers Leeks, onions, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and leaf lettuce can be planted out before the last frost date because unlike the other crops listed above, these cool season vegetables can tolerate cooler soils and temperatures. Resources Johnny’s Seed Starting Calculator allows you to enter your frost-free date and with a click of the button will calculate the starting date for a long list of flowers and vegetable seed. When to sow the seed, and when to move plants outside is customized based on the frost date entered. Or check out this great University of Minnesota Extension resource for more complete information on light, containers, soil and temperatures for seed starting (Starting Seeds Indoors). Happy planting!
Page 9
PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Health & Nutrition
SNAP-Ed Plan 2020-2022
University of Minnesota Extension SNAP-Ed staff embarked on
an extensive need’s assessment as part of a strategic planning
process for developing the FY20-22 SNAP-Ed plan. As in previous
plans, we explored critical existing data to understand the current
landscape for health in Minnesota. All decisions made by the
strategic planning team were further vetted through member
checks with all SNAP-Ed staff, supervisors and administrators.
Other sources of data were explored to further illuminate issues
as decisions were made. For example, it became clear that
mental health and wellbeing needed to be connected to future
SNAP-Ed work. We explored state level data to understand the
status of mental health in our state. This iterative process was
utilized to gain clarity of the issue to be addressed, understand
implications for practice, as well as gain staff buy-in.
SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and a
powerful tool to improve nutrition among low-income people.
A USDA study found that participating in SNAP for 6 months is
associated with a significant decrease in food insecurity. An additional USDA study found that there are
no major differences between the types of foods purchased by SNAP-participating households and non-
participating households.
SNAP-Ed supports SNAP’s role in addressing food insecurity and is central to SNAP’s efforts to improve
nutrition and prevent or reduce diet-related chronic disease and obesity among SNAP recipients. SNAP-
Ed is an important priority for the USDA/FNS, and the Agency appreciates the leadership demonstrated
by States towards this mutual commitment to improve
the health of low-income families.
SNAP-Ed Goal:
“To improve the likelihood that persons eligible
for SNAP will make healthy food choices within a
limited budget and choose physically active
lifestyles consistent with the current DGA and the
USDA food guidance.”
Page 10 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Health & Nutrition
SNAP-Ed Framework
The Spectrum of Prevention is the action framework SNAP-
Ed will rely upon to support healthy eating, physical activity,
food security, healthy food access and wellbeing across the
socio-ecological model. The integrated approach of actions
proposed will span multiple levels of the model, with
intentional connection with and reference to one another.
There are several principles that are foundational in our
SNAP-Ed Plan. These principles will guide our work with
integrity and intention.
Principles for our SNAP-Ed work:
Relationships grounded in mutual trust and understanding is the basis of our work.
Culture is central to health and we will weave cultural relevance and culturally meaningful education
and practice into everything we do.
Participatory processes will be used intentionally and externally to ensure all voices are heard, includ-
ing staff, community partners and SNAP-Ed eligible families.
Co-learning is the best practice with SNAP-Ed eligible families, community partners and within our
teams. By co-learning we mean that our participant’s have expertise in their lives and that we learn
from them as much as they learn from us.
The SNAP -Ed 2020-2022 Plan has highlighted four content areas that are also consistent
with the Pine County Community Action Team. They are as follows:
1. Food Access
2. Mental flourishing
3. Healthcare
4. Inclusion of men and fathers
SNAP-Ed programs and services are designed to address societal disparities and promote equity in Minnesota. We
are eager to find ways to start or expand a partnership with you! In Pine County contact Jimmie Johnson, SNAP-Ed
Educator at 800-657-3813 or joh12982@umn.edu for more information.Page 11 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 Ag Community Lessons from Palmer amaranth by Shane Blair, MN Department of Agriculture There are many pathways that weed seed, including Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), can move. Palmer amaranth was first documented in Minnesota in 2016. Since then, small infestations have been documented in the state along with identified pathways. This was one of the weeds discussed at the Corn and Soybean Crops Update in Rock Creek on March 10. Watch for this weed that could come in seed, hay, feed and/or used machinery that comes into our area from other areas of the state and other states. One pathway Palmer amaranth was introduced into Minnesota was through seed. In 2016, Palmer amaranth was found growing in a newly planted conservation planting, and a native seed mixture was found to be the source. Because of this introduction, Palmer amaranth was added to the Minnesota Seed Law as a prohibited noxious weed seed meaning that a person or company is not allowed to sell seed in Minnesota if it contains Palmer amaranth. Companies selling seed in the state have adopted the use of genetic testing to identify the presence of Palmer amaranth in their seed lots limiting the continued spread via seed. Another pathway for introducing weed seed is screenings. Screenings are the by-products from cleaning seed to prepare it for sale to farmers for planting. Screenings are also produced when grain is cleaned. Screenings can be used for feed, roughage, bedding, and compost. In 2018, Palmer amaranth was identified in wheat and sunflower screen- ings. Those specific screenings were used as a roughage and source of protein for livestock. The manure from that livestock was then spread among various fields and Palmer amaranth was found. A team at the University of Minnesota Extension has refined methods to screen manure for weed seeds so that we can better monitor this pathway going forward. Screenings are also being sampled across the state to A Palmer amaranth plant found in a soybean field in Redwood County in 2018 help discover Palmer amaranth and possibly other types of noxious weeds. Machinery, such as combines and other harvesting equipment, are also on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s radar. This pathway is a challenge to monitor. When farmers purchase equipment from a different state where Palmer amaranth is present, the equipment may arrive in Minnesota already contaminated with Palmer amaranth seed. Mowing equipment may also present a risk if used in an infested area. Custom combining is another potential source, though to date the MDA has not documented custom combining as an introduction pathway for Minnesota. To prevent the spread of weed seed from equipment, make sure to clean seed, chaff, and dirt from equipment before moving to a new location. New technology to limit the spread of weed seeds is on the horizon. Harvest equipment may include a way to separate and grind weed seeds before spreading the chaff back onto the field ultimately slowing the development of herbicide resistant weeds in agricultural fields. Wildlife, such as migratory birds, are another pathway that is known to help seed move around the nation. However, migratory birds are a challenge to monitor. Cattle or other livestock that are being sold from one state to another are also a potential pathway. Weed seed could be in the gut or intestinal tract as well as stuck in the hoof of an animal. Livestock as an introduction pathway have not been confirmed in Minnesota. Lessons from the aggressive Palmer amaranth weed help us establish best practices for limiting the spread of all weed seeds. The longer that we can protect Minnesota from Palmer amaranth and other aggressive weeds, the better we protect the health of our agricultural economy.
Page 12 PINE COMMUNIT Y CONNECTOR VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Ag Community
Corn and Soybean Producers updated at Rock Creek
by Terry Salmela, Master Gardener Coordinator
Area crop producers were updated by University of Minnesota Extension specialists on
management practices that they can use to deal with some of the many crop growing chal-
lenges that they experienced during last summer’s wet growing season. They did so at the
Corn and Soybean Update Workshop on Tuesday, March 10 at the Rock Creek City Center.
Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Peterson, Pine City, opened the program
with an overview of the projects and programs that the Minnesota Department of Agricul-
ture has to help farmers in the state.
Soybean White Mold and Corn Anthracnose, which were serious disease issues in many
fields last year, was discussed by Dr. Dean Mavick, U of M Extension Plant Pathologist. Recommendations for sulfur and
split applications of nitrogen which both can leach below the root zone in higher rainfall situations like last year was cov-
ered by Dr. Daniel Kaiser, Extension Soils Specialist. What’s New in Waterhemp and Giant Ragweed Management, both
of which are difficult to control weeds in fields was explained by Dave Nicolai, Extension Educator.
Dr. Seth Naeve, Extension Soybeans Specialist discussed Maximizing Yields and Minimizing Risk with Soybean Popula-
tions. New and Improved Midwest Cover Crops Online Selector Tool was demonstrated by Dr. Ann Cates, Extension Soil
Health Specialist.
The program was sponsored by the University of Minnesota Extension. Gold Country Seeds, Pioneer Seeds and Federat-
ed Co-ops, Inc. contributed to the noon lunch.
Stay healthy in the time of COVID-19
by Liz Stahl, Extension Educator-Crops and Phyllis Bongard, Educational Content & Communications Specialist
Farmers and those working throughout the agriculture supply chain will soon be in the midst of the 2020 planting
season. Staying healthy during this time is particularly critical as the optimal planting window is only so wide and it
can be extremely weather dependent. It may be very difficult to find trained replacement labor if one were to fall ill
during this time. Many farmers are also at an age that puts them at higher risk from a COVID-19 infection. For the
personal safety and to maintain a COVID-19 free labor force, farmers and all who are in the agriculture supply chain
are encouraged to follow measures suggested by health officials:
Follow the CDC guidelines of washing hands, limiting travel and social distancing.
Don’t work through an infection due to the serious risks this disease poses and the risk of transmitting the virus to
others.
The article “2020 Planting Decisions in the Face of COVID-19”, by the University of Illinois, further discusses the
importance of maintaining a healthy farming work force.
Additional resources can be found at:
UMASH COVID-19 Resources
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
U of MN Extension Resources for Helping Your Family Plan for COVID-19
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
EPA COVID-19 Disinfectant List
Coping with Farm and Rural StressPine County Extension Office
635 Northridge Drive NW
Suite 280
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-657-3813 or 320-591-1650
Fax: 320-591-1655
Email: mnext-pine@umn.edu
© 2020 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to 612-626-6602.
PINE COUNTY EXTENSION UPCOMING EVENTS
April 2020
All in-person Extension meetings, events and classes are cancelled
May 2020
1-15 All in-person Extension meetings, events and classes are cancelled
19 4-H Performing Arts PDC Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley
25 Memorial Day Holiday, Extension Office closed
June 2020
1 4-H Animal ID Deadline and 4-H Enrollment Deadline (DEADLINE EXTENDED)
1 4-H County Fair registration opens
1-29 4-H Dog Training (Monday evenings), 5:30 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City
1-30 4-H SSW Training (Monday & Wednesday evenings) 6 p.m., Sandstone Sportsmen's Club, Sandstone
27 4-H Dog PDC Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, 7:30 a.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City
29 4-H Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Pine County Courthouse, Pine City
July 2020 Extension Committee Members:
1-27 4-H SSW Training (Monday & Wednesday evenings) 6 p.m., Sandstone Sportsmen's Club, Sandstone District 1: Linda Defenbaugh
3 Independence Day Holiday (observed), Extension Office closed
District 2: Donna Zastera
6 4-H County Fair registration deadline
6-27 4-H Dog Training (Monday evenings), 5:30 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City District 3: Mary Lange
29 Pine County Fair begins District 4: Chad Dipman
District 5: David Durheim
Member at Large: Barbara Fischer
County Auditor-Treasurer: Kelly Schroeder
County Commissioner: Steve Chaffee
County Commissioner: Josh Mohr
To be included on our mailing list, contact the Pine County Extension Office at 800-657-3813 or mnext-pine@umn.edu.You can also read
