Winnebago County Happenings

Help Wanted:

Iowa State University Extension & Outreach

Winnebago County

Summer Program Intern

Part time-temporary position with flexible work time. Assist with planning and implementation of the Winnebago County Extension 4-H program and office clerical work. Must enjoy working with youth, and have strong organizational and computer skills. Knowledge of ISU Extension and 4-H helpful.

Applications accepted until April 1st. Application and job description can be obtained from the Winnebago County Extension and Outreach, 183 1st Ave E., Thompson, IA 50438, phone
641-584-2261, online at www.extension.iastate.edu/winnebago or email (merrifie@iastate.edu).

We are an AA/EEO Employer

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with C-CHANGE -- the Consortium for Cultivating Human and Naturally Regenerative Enterprises -- and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, will present a virtual field day on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. CST. Join for a live conversation with Iowa farmers Matt Russell, Wade Dooley, Rob Stout, Seth Watkins and Bryan Sievers.Iowa Learning Farms is part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Native perennials can generate profit as material for livestock feed and bedding, as well as anaerobic digestion. Targeted plantings on marginal land can also increase overall farm profitability, while providing numerous benefits for wildlife and pollinators, as well as improving soil and water quality and capturing carbon. This virtual field day will highlight the cooperation between the farmer partners and the C-CHANGE research group to explore the potential for perennial vegetation and future diversification of the agricultural landscape in Iowa.

“As farmers, we need to rethink how we do agriculture – it’s what we have always done as farmers,” said Marion County farmer Matt Russell. “We’re in a place where in the next 10-15 years, we will need to change from relying on fossil fuels to force nature to do what we need it to do to grow crops, but instead partnering with nature to do what we need to do. Working with nature and diversifying the landscape has a lot of potential to help achieve that goal.”

Participants in Iowa Learning Farms virtual field days are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Virtual field day access instructions: To participate in the live virtual field day,

• Shortly before 1 p.m. CST on Feb. 24, click this URL: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D.
• Or visit www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events for the registration link.
• Or, join from a dial-in phone line by dialing 1-312-626-6799; meeting ID 914 1198 4892.

The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time.

Participants will be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the live field day.

This live-streamed virtual seminar from the ISU Department of Horticulture is free and open to the public. Master Gardeners - this may be of particular interest to you! Please call the Extension Office to reserve your space! 641-584-2261.

Edgerton Hospital Healing Gardens

February 28, 4:25-5:15 pm

Speaker: Mark Dwyer, Horticulturalist @ Landscape Prescriptions by MD in Janesville, WI

Are you an Iowa 4-H'er planning to attend college? The Iowa 4-H Foundation knows it's not easy to finance a college education, and we know that many Iowa 4-H'ers can use help achieving their educational goals. Consider applying for an Iowa 4-H Scholarship, funded by donors through the Iowa 4-H Foundation. Designed to encourage Iowa 4-H members to continue their education beyond high school, our current scholarship program offers over 90 scholarships worth more than $100,000. Scholarships range in value from $250 to $5,000.

Thank you to the donors who make these scholarships possible! More information available at www.Iowa4hfoundation.org/scholarships

Deadline March 1, 2022

Thompson, Iowa – Iowa State University and Outreach Winnebago County office will host an Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site is the Thompson office. Due to social distancing requirements preregistration is required. Walk-ins on the day of the program will only be admitted if room allows. The course runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Lori Nelson at the ISU Extension and Outreach Winnebago County office at 641-584-2261.

The course will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 3O, 3T, and 3OT. The IDALS-required topics to be covered are pesticide use and the environment, pesticide labels and comprehension, including restricted entry interval and preharvest interval, and pest management and pesticides.

Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses being offered by the PSEP team can be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/psep.

Contact:

Evan Alderman, ISUEO PSEP, 515-294-1122,alderman@iastate.edu

March 2, 2022, 6-7 p.m.: Grafting Biology & Techniques with Grant Thompson (ISU Dept. of Horticulture) and Patrick O'Malley (ISU Extension and Outreach)
During the webinar, the audience will learn about the biological and physiological processes involved with grafting that can lead to a more successful take or graft incompatibilities. The webinar will include a demonstration of two ways to propagate fruit trees with whip-and-tongue grafting and chip budding.

This webinar is being hosted in-person in the following counties: Benton, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clinton, Dallas, Dickinson. Contact the county office to register to attend in-person.

If you'd like to attend virtually, click on the link in the the title to register.

March 8, 2022, 7-8 p.m.: Starting a Cutting Garden with Cindy Haynes
Want to grow your own bouquets? In this session you will learn about designing, starting seeds, planting, spacing, maintaining, and harvesting different species suitable for cutting.

This webinar is being hosted in-person in the following counties: Benton, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Dallas, Dickinson, Jasper, Marshall, Story, and Tama. Contact the county office to register to attend in-person.

If you'd like to attend virtually, click on the link in the the title to register.

A recording of this webinar will be shown at a later date in Sioux County. Contact Sioux County to learn more.

Thompson, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Winnebago County will host a Certified Handlers Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, March 9, 2022. The program, provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), is available at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site is the Thompson office. Due to social distancing requirements, preregistration is required. Walk-ins on the day of the program will only be admitted if room allows. The course runs from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The registration fee is $35. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Lori Nelson at the ISU Extension and Outreach Winnebago County office at 641-584-2261.

The course will provide continuing instruction credit for certified handlers. Topics covered will include pesticide use and the environment, pesticide labels and comprehension, and pesticide container handling and disposal.

Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses offered by the PSEP program can be accessed at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/PSEP.

Contact:

Betsy Danielson, ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program, 515-294-1122, betsydan@iastate.edu

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Winnebago County office will be offering opportunities to attend the Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (P-CIC), led by Extension Field Agronomist, Gentry Sorenson. Pre-registration is REQUIRED to attend. Please preregister by visiting our website, using the QR code to the right or call 641-584-2261. The registration fee is $20 and is paid at the time of the class.

March 9 at 6:30pm: NSB Bank, Forest City

For more information, please contact the Extension Office.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be hosting live-streamed Private and Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses (P-CIC & C-CIC) online training this spring as an additional opportunity for private and commercial pesticide applicators to be trained. Attendees will need a computer and a good internet connection to participate in the programs. Applicators can register by going to the Extension Store (https://store.extension.iastate.edu) and searching for “Live Streamed”.

Here is the schedule for the statewide CIC reshow dates and times:

Private Continuing Instruction Courses

• February 28, 1-3:30 p.m.

• April 5, 6-8:30 p.m.

Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses

• Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, and Plant Disease Management (CCA CEU’s Available), Categories 1A, 1B, and 1C

o February 28, 9-11:30 a.m.

o March 10, 1-3:30 p.m.

o March 29, 9-11:30 a.m.

• Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators, Categories 3O, 3T, and 3OT

o March 10, 9-11:30 a.m.

o March 29, 1-3:30 p.m.

o April 5, 1-3:30 p.m.

Contacts:

Kathleen Wilson, Pesticide Safety Education Program, 515-294-1122, kmwilson@iastate.edu

Related website:

www.extension.iastate.edu/PSEP

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/

The Lego movie project is well underway. We can't wait to share the movie with you. Mark your calendars for our big premiere at the Boman Fine Arts Center in Forest City on Saturday, March 12th at 7 p.m.

Read Across Iowa will launch for the second year on March 1 and begin a month-long celebration to bring the joys of reading to kids of all ages. Read Across Iowa is organized as a collaborative effort between the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa 4-H Youth Development and the Iowa State Education Association. To learn more, visit https://www.iowaagliteracy.org/Tools-Resources/Other/Read-Across-Iowa.

Ms. Lori will be reading Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. I hope your elementary school aged children will join me at the Lake Mills Public Library from 3:30-4:30 for this Read Across Iowa even that will include a STEM activity.

Beef cattle silage conference is March 17

AMES, Iowa – Beef producers who attend this year’s Silage for Beef Conference March 17 will learn how to maximize the potential of silage as one of the largest components of their bottom line.

The conference returns for a fourth year as a one-day event with a full slate of topics and presenters on this vital part of beef cattle diets. New this year, the event focuses on small grain silage and will be available to attend in person or by livestream.

The conference is provided by the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, along with University of Nebraska Extension and Lallemand Animal.

Registration is free although attendees are asked to register by March 2. During the online registration process, attendees will choose to either stream the conference online or attend in person at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center in Ithaca, Nebraska. The event begins with a welcome at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude by 4 p.m.

Topics, speakers and affiliations

• Agronomic management of small grain for silages, by Daren Redfearn, professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
• When to harvest small grain silage, by Mary Drewnoski, associate professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
• Sorghum silage: A solution for limited water, by Matt Atkins, assistant scientist and extension dairy specialist, University of Wisconsin.
• Why fermentation analysis is important and what it means for your operation, by John Goeser, director of nutritional research and innovation at Rock River Laboratory and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
• Fundamentals of silage harvest management, by Becky Arnold, custom harvest business development manager, Lallemand Animal Nutrition.
• Inoculants for small grain silage, with Limin Kung, professor at the University of Delaware.
• Economics and ROI on quality forage in grower and finishing rations, by Jhones Sarturi, associate professor at Texas Tech University.
• Making small grain silage work, a panel discussion by Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center and professor at Iowa State University.

"This is a great opportunity for us to bring current research information to the cattle industry in Nebraska, Iowa and beyond," said Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State. "Hopefully the livestreaming option increases the reach of this information to a national and international audience."

The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry.

4-H Families/FFA Exhibitors,

This year’s Winnebago County Sheep Weigh In will look different! Due to staff shortage, we will not be holding a weigh in on site. You have two options to weigh in.

They are:

Worth County Sheep Weigh in: April 16th from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Kossuth County Sheep Weigh in May 7th from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Please let the Winnebago County Extension Office know prior to the above weigh ins which one you will be attending and if you will need retinal scanned. You will also need to come to the office to get Winnebago County tags.

For specific questions about the weigh in sites or process, please call the Worth County Extension Office at 641-324-1531 or the Kossuth County Extension Office at 515-295-2469.

Office Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 9:00am-3:30pm

Friday: CLOSED

Email: xwinnebago@iastate.edu
Website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/winnebago/
Location: 183 1st Avenue, Thompson, IA, United States
Phone: (641) 584-2261
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WinnebagoCoExt/