The winter webinar and education season is upon us. In Pine and Isanti Counties, Extension has offered a few workshops already. There are so many educational opportunities this month! Whether you like to listen online from home or join a workshop in person, there's likely an upcoming opportunity that will spark your interest.
If you are looking for something specific, check out the Extension website's Courses and Events page. Need help finding an answer to an agriculture, horticulture, or natural resources question? Let me know and I'll find an answer for you! Perhaps you are wondering what else Extension has to offer? We have water testing kits, forage testers, soil probes, soil health assessment kits, plus more! Find what you need by contacting me or your local Extension Office.
I look forward to hearing from you!
~Katie Hagen
Managing Your Woodlands
About 40 percent of Minnesota's woodlands are privately owned. Caring for our forests is often the job of private landowners. Our forestry programs offer information and learning opportunities for anyone interested in protecting and improving their woodlands. Check out these various resources on woodland stewardship, guides on managing tree species, and climate-ready woodlands!
Pruning in Winter
Wait one more month! January is not the ideal time to prune trees and shrubs, but if necessary, it's also not the worst time of year. February and March are good months for pruning some of our woody landscape plants. By now, trees and shrubs are dormant. The ground is also solidly frozen, making it easier to reach branches and remove them. And with the exception of evergreens and oaks, they have dropped their leaves providing a clear view of their structure. Learn more about winter pruning and the species you should be pruning in February and March.
Minnesota Beginning Farmer Institute
Where: Carlton Transportation Building in Carlton, MN
When: January 9 (12 PM - 5 PM), January 16, & 23 (10 AM to 3 PM), 2025
Cost: Free
About: The Institute is a 3-part course that teaches young and/or new farm owners or operators farm management topics including, business planning, taxes and record keeping, finances, rent, and marketing. Lunch is provided each day, plus many handouts and resources will be offered for you to take home.
Minnesota Family Woodlands Conference
Where: Grand Rapids, MN
When: January 11, 2025
Cost: $30 for first individual, $10 for each additional family member; tribal member go for free
About: Extension’s woodland owner conference returns to northern Minnesota! This event will bring together woodland stewards from across northern Minnesota to share insights on the importance of managing our northern forests. Sessions include trail design, managing wildlife, see collection, wildfire, and water quality.
Conservation Conversations - Organics
Where: North Pine Government Center in Sandstone, MN
When: January 17 at 4 PM
Cost: Free
About: Join Pine County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the University of Minnesota Extension for a discussion on organic production in East Central Minnesota, learn from other farmers, and expand your professional network.
Winter Garden College
Where & When:
- January 23 - Hutchinson from 6-8 PM
- February 6 - St. Cloud from 6-8 PM
- February 13 - Alexandria from 6-8 PM
- Plus more locations!
Cost: Free
About: Education on how cover crops improve soil health, how to use them in your garden, strategies to extend the growing season, tools and techniques, and hands-on learning activities.
Lambing & Kidding Kits
Where: Online
When: January 27, 2025 at 7 PM
Cost: Free
About: Do you have a kit of supplies needed for lambing and kidding ready to go and on hand? This webinar will inform you how to put together a lambing/kidding kit that will prepare you and your livestock for success and survivability.
Women in Ag Network Conference
Where: The Park Event Center in St. Cloud, MN
When: February 11, 2025 @ 8:45 AM - 3:30 PM
Cost: Before Jan. 27 - Pre-session + full conference = $100; full conference = $85; student = $55
About:
For beginning, future, and long-time farmers, those in the ag industry, educators, and farming enthusiasts
Find out more about the Women in Ag Network
Topics include farm production, finances and taxes, recordkeeping, human resources, laws and regulations, USDA info, investing and estate planning, marketing, emergency awareness, managing social presence, carbon markets, wellbeing, and resiliency.
On-Farm Tools to Evaluate Feeding Programs
With harvest season complete, it’s the perfect time to assess feed inventory and fine-tune your feeding program. A study by Alex Bach in Spain found that over 50% of performance differences among 47 herds fed identical total mixed ration (TMR) were unrelated to diet composition, underscoring the critical role of on-farm management and cow observation. Here are practical, cost-effective strategies to optimize dairy cow rations.
- Routine Forage Moisture Testing
- TMR Particle Size and Eating Behavior
- Manure Scoring and Analysis
- Manure Washing
- Monitor Cud Chewing
- Track Milk Components
- Body Condition and Locomotion Scores
- Improve Both Animal Welfare and Your Bottom Line
Additional resources on feeding total mixed rations and formulating dairy cow rations can be found on the Extension website, along with many others for dairy producers.
Reduce the Risk of Farm Accidents
Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. Each year, more people die while farming than serving as police officers or other emergency responders.
In Minnesota, from 2003 to 2013, there were more than 210 deaths on farms, with many more people seriously injured. These tragedies highlight the need to reduce the risk of accidents. Human error remains the most significant contributor to accidents and injuries.
By creating systems to minimize the impact of accidents, farmers are caring for employees and themselves. Laws require users to lock away chemical and poisons, but making sure that is truly happening will minimize chemical accidents on farm. This is a physical barrier, which is one of four main ways to apply principles to farm safety. The others include basic measures, enhanced measures, and comprehensive solutions.
Basic measures are simple warning signs and labels that alert workers and visitors. Enhanced measures include those that have visual or audio alarms that alert people of immediate danger. An example is beeping and flashers on moving equipment. Lastly, comprehensive solutions include redesigning farm layouts to separate hazardous areas from common workspaces (e.g. gas tanks from feed storage).
Find out more about farm safety and reducing accidents! You can also find current and useful information related to farm safety by visiting the Extension's farm safety page.
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
320-591-1662