Pine & Isanti County Update
Agriculture, Horticulture, & Natural Resources
July 2024
From Your ANR Extension Educator
July brings the heat as well as the tornados, but that also means that we've entered haying season. As you start to make hay bales, think about storing your hay to maximize its nutrient value and overall quality. Your money is definitely best spent by investing in hay storage, especially since you are already investing land, labor, seed, fuel, fertilizer, and equipment on production.
The main factors that affect losses are temperature, moisture, and time. In general, microorganism-caused losses decrease with lower temperatures and higher moisture levels in addition to shorter storage time. Molds and bacteria thrive in warm and moist conditions, so the best strategy for limiting storage losses is controlling moisture. This can be done by wrapping bales or using a hay barn. Also, the timing of cutting for harvesting is critical for ensuring hay's value. The ideal moisture content for baling hay is between 15% and 20% on a wet basis, which prevents mold activity.
The reality is, we all don't have the means to store bales in a barn or wrap them, so what else can be done? Avoid placing bales directly on the ground. Use layers of coarse gravel, old tires, or wood pallets to limit the hay being put directly on grass or dirt. Losses will be around 5% less, which will help you with feed efficiency and quality for your livestock.
~Katie Hagen
University Resources Made For You
Extreme Weather Resources
With the amount of precipitation we've received this spring and summer, there has been significant impacts to timing of planting crops, livestock pastures, and homes or other buildings. Extension offers information and resources to help prepare for and recover from the effects of extreme weather, including damage to homes, buildings, crops and lawns, as well as tools for financial recovery. There's an abundance of resources, but they are categorized by type of weather and production. Check out these resources now!
Ecology of Spruce Budworm & MN Forests
Eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) is an insect found in the coniferous forests of northeastern Minnesota that feeds on and kills balsam fir and spruce trees. Unlike invasive species such as emerald ash borer, spruce budworm is a native insect of Minnesota so there are natural controls present in the ecosystem that have co-evolved with spruce budworm in our forests. Large-scale outbreaks of spruce budworm typically occur every 25 to 40 years in Minnesota, and impacts from budworm activity have been observed in Minnesota every year since at least 1954. Do you want improve the health and resilience of your woodland, while protecting it from spruce budworm? Read more about spruce budworm implications here!
Get ready for more local and statewide opportunities and events this month!
Our Majestic Monarch
Where: Online
When: July 9, 2024 @ 12-1 PM
Cost: Free
About: Why is the Monarch butterfly so loved by all who encounter it? Find out about its mystery travels; its amazing lifecycle; and how you can attract and support a friendly Monarch environment? Join Master Gardener Volunteer Paula Schwartz to learn more!
Field School for Agricultural Professionals
Where: Plant Growth Facility and Greenhouses, University of Minnesota (1534 Gortner Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108)
When: July 30-31, 2024 @ 8 AM
Cost: $349 (both days) OR $199 (one day)
About: This hands-on, in-field program emphasizing crop and pest management diagnostic skill-building will help you enhance your troubleshooting and crop management skills. The first-day program focuses on core principles in agronomy, entomology, weed and soil sciences to build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge. The second day builds on this foundation with timely, cutting-edge concurrent sessions that participants can select from across all four major agronomy disciplines. CEUs offered.
Farm Transition & Estate Planning
Where: Online
When: August 14, 21, 28, & September 4, 2024 from 10 AM - 12 PM
Cost: Free
About: Thinking about the future of your farm, the next generation, or what to do when you're ready to let go? Join these four webinars to get started on the journey of transition and planning.
- Aug. 14: Developing your farm transition goals and assembling your “team”
- Aug. 21: All things tax: gifting, selling, and transferring
- Aug. 28: Wills, trusts, ownership titling—what does it all mean?
- Sep. 4: Putting the basics together: estate, retirement, healthcare, and business transfer planning
Ag. Topic of the Month
Forage & Livestock Management After a Flood
With the heavy amount of rain we've had some pastures that are under water or flooded completely. Best practices are to remove livestock from flooded pastures and ensure they have clean water and forages to eat. Once the water recedes, and if possible, cut the area that was affected by the flood down to 2-4 inches in stubble height. Let the forage sit and decompose. Do NOT make it into hay or allow livestock to graze it, as the forage will contain soil borne pathogens. If animals do consume previously flooded forages, they should be vaccinated for clostridial diseases. When the forage height is back to 8-10 inches, then livestock can be reintroduced to grazing that area again.
Harvested hay bales that have been impacted by flood damage can be risky to feed, even if they have dried. The hay bales are more likely to spoil as well (have abnormal smells, discoloration, contain molds, or excess moisture). If there are signs of spoilage, then discard the bales by unrolling in an area where livestock cannot access them, at least until the hay is fully decomposed. Be careful with your health by preventing inhalation of toxins or molds when unrolling. You can prevent exposure by wearing a mask. The good news is that a ton of dry hay has fertilizer nutrients ranging from $50-60 in worth, so be strategic on placement of unrolled bales. The areas with the greatest need for soil amendments should be your first priority.
Animal health concerns are linked to more than forage that has been impacted by flooding. There are both short- and long-term concerns with being exposed to flood water. Livestock have been known to ingest flood debris, which can cause hardware disease. Therefore, it is essential to remove any debris from pastures and grazing areas, as well as fields, before returning livestock to that site or harvesting forages.
In addition, many soil sediments that are moved with water contain soil borne pathogens, as mentioned previously. Livestock that are exposed to flooded areas during or immediately after the occurrence of a flood may consume these pathogens, causing a multitude of diseases like tetanus. All ages of livestock are considered at risk if exposed. Vaccinations should be administered for clostridial diseases. Livestock that have not been vaccinated previously should get a primary vaccination as well as a booster from your veterinarian. Typically, a single vaccination is sufficient for livestock that have formerly been vaccinated, but always consult your veterinarian.
Based on the article written by Ed Rayburn, Kevin Shaffer, & Margaret Minch (WVU Extension)
Connect With Us
Contact Me
Katie Hagen
Ag Production, Hort & Natural Resources Extension Educator
Email: hagen@umn.edu
UM Ext Isanti County
555 18th Ave. SW
Cambridge, MN 55008
763-689-8254
UM Ext Pine County, County Courthouse
635 Northridge Dr NW #280
Pine City, MN 55063
320-591-1650
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