Carlton County Extension Connection
August 2024
Join the Extension Office at the 4-H fair building and livestock barns where you will find 4-H exhibits, a Master Gardener question and answer booth, and interactive agriculture displays. Considered one of the best county fairs in the area there is something for everyone! 🤠 Click here for exhibit information and a schedule. https://carltoncountyfairmn.com/ or call the Extension Office for a printed copy. We can't wait to see you there!
As Minnesota’s climate shifts warmer and wetter, we know that we will see our forests change in response. Boreal species at the southern edge of their current range will face increasing climate stress, and more hardwood species may slowly take their place. Eventually, some of those trees will be species not currently seen in Minnesota but found further south.
Recently, we traveled to Kentucky to present the work we’ve been doing around creating climate-ready woodlands. We also hoped to talk to foresters from the area to learn about managing many tree species found in the central hardwood region.
The central hardwood region covers parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. This ecoregion is characterized by a diversity of hardwood species — familiar ones such as oak and hickory, as well as less familiar species like tulip poplar and sweetgum. Conifers such as shortleaf pine and Minnesota native species eastern white pine can be found here as well. Could the trees now found in Kentucky eventually find a suitable habitat in Minnesota’s future climate?
There are some pretty big differences between Minnesota’s and Kentucky’s forest ecosystems. For example, it seems that oak wilt is not a major issue for the oak forests of the central hardwood region. This may be due to the greater diversity of hardwood species, which may limit the spread of oak wilt between individual oak trees. In Minnesota, oak makes up about 10% of our forests, and oak wilt spreads relatively quickly between red oak species, especially on sites with sandy soil.
Another oddity: species were found to be growing in very different sites in the central hardwood region than their usual habitats here in Minnesota. Here, white oak typically grows on wet sites and northern red oak grows on dry sites. In the central hardwoods, however, often the opposite is true. This was quite a surprise to us.
We spent one day hiking in eastern Kentucky in the Daniel Boone National Forest, where we saw many hardwood and conifer species, such as tulip poplar, Virginia pine and American holly. The most surprising species we found, however, was eastern hemlock. And we didn’t see just a few individual hemlock trees — we encountered an entire grove of mature hemlocks with plenty of seedlings and saplings in the understory.
In Minnesota, eastern hemlock is endangered and one of the state’s rarest trees, with limited occurrences across the state. However, eastern hemlock is more abundant just to the east of Minnesota, such as in Wisconsin, Michigan, and, of course, Kentucky.
It’s interesting to think about how the changing climate could affect not only the species we manage but also how we manage them. We are excited to use our new knowledge and connections to improve Extension’s programming around forest climate adaptation.
Authors: Angela Gupta and Anna Stockstad, Extension forestry educators
In an effort to become a more educated shopper at Farmer’s Markets in NE MN, Extension would like to provide you with this chart so you will be able to plan your potential purchases and know when it’s peak harvest season. This allows you to obtain the highest quality for preservation. These dates will shift based on the growing conditions and varieties selected for each of the farms. Click here to find the peak harvest chart.
Canning season is just around the corner so take advantage of getting your pressure canner gauge tested at the Extension Office.
Today's pressure canner may have a dial gauge or weighted gauge for indicating and regulating the pressure.
Weighted gauges will either keep rocking gently or make a frequent jiggling noise to indicate if the correct pressure is being maintained. Read the manufacturer's instructions to know how a particular weighted gauge should rock or jiggle. A dial gauge has movable parts and must be checked for accuracy. Weighted gauges are one solid piece and do not require testing.
Check dial gauges for accuracy before use each year. Gauges that read high cause under-processing and may result in unsafe food. Low readings cause over-processing. Pressure adjustments can be made if the gauge reads up to 2 pounds high or low. Replace gauges that differ by more than 2 pounds.
This free service is offered during regular office hours. Please call in advance to make an appointment. This test only takes about 5 minutes. Stop in and see us!
The Northeast Forage and Grassland Council (NEFGC) is excited to announce that the annual field day will be held at Watrin Farms in Sandstone, Minnesota on Tuesday, August 20th, 2024.
This years field day will be highlighting how Watrin’s are utilizing pasture as a significant feed resource for developing heifers within the dairy herd, as well as utilizing a compost barn for housing of the herd. Watrin’s dairy is passionate about using local resources, such as sawdust, as a bedding source and managing that for crop nutrient needs. Other topics being covered will include feed management (storage, processing, shrink, feed efficiency, and agronomic considerations), crop rotation and zone management, winter rye and how it is used in the forage system, WEG Grass and how it is a new forage to be valued on the farm, drone spraying, BMR/high moisture corn tour, and much more.
The field day will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with registration and refreshments beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event will be held at Watrin Farms (52753 Watrin Rd, Sandstone, MN 55702). Please enter off of Grindstone Lake Rd, and watch for signs. The cost to attend is $15 cash or check at the door. Lunch will be provided.
To register please go to z.umn.edu/9odd or call 218-749-7120.
This event is a partnership with MFA, USDA, UMN Extension, and MN Ag Water Quality, and SWCD.
Plat Books for sale!
Did you know? The Carlton County 4-H Federation has an ongoing fundraiser selling Carlton County plat books?! Currently we have plat books for the 2021 year which can be purchased at the Extension office at a reduced price of $25 instead of the regular price of $40. (cash or checks only, please). 2025 plat books will be available this fall.
As a reminder if you have a question regarding gardening, insects, pests, weeds, you name it! We have a form you can ask to get in touch with one of our local Master Gardeners. Please submit your questions here.
In 4-H all youth are welcome!
4-H is an out- of-school, hands-on learning program for anyone in Kindergarten through one year past high school (grade 13). You choose a project that's interesting to them and explore it with peers and caring adults. 4-H clubs are groups of youth who want to learn together and meet in every part of Minnesota.
What can I do in 4-H?
The sky's the limit! 4-H offers learning experiences in science, photography, agriculture, healthy living, civic engagement and much more. We have one-day events, year-long projects and everything in between. There are many ways to try 4-H.