![poison hemlock](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/poisonhemlock-150.jpg?h=731529aa&itok=9keuld7O)
Many plants in Minnesota can cause skin irritation, learn which plants to stay away from this summer.
![Emerald Ash Borer](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/EAB%20Larvae.jpg?itok=fkv4hfkn)
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) in Pope County for the first time. There are now 52 counties in the state, including Pope, with EAB.
Botzet Family Farms, 2024 Farm Family of the Year
White grubs have been causing problems in Minnesota lawns for several seasons. These larvae come from beetles like Japanese beetles, masked chafers, and May/June beetles, and they feed on plant roots. Here's how to recognize and manage a grub infestation.
![Bee on flower](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/busy%20bees.png?itok=-dOQKDFt)
By understanding and supporting native bees, we can contribute to the preservation of ecosystems and ensure the continued pollination of our crops and wild plants.
![fairy ring in lawn](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/4-29-24%20fairyringphoto_0.jpg?itok=3o_htnzx)
Have you noticed circular patches of greener grass in your lawn? It's not uneven fertilizer but fungi feeding on decomposing matter like old tree stumps, leaves, or roots, releasing nitrogen. This phenomenon is called a fairy ring.
![holding compost in hands](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/istockphoto-489871228-612x612.jpg?h=48f6e558&itok=6iGaYwvb)
Before you plant those seedlings, consider getting your soil tested.
![reading pesticide label](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/reading%20pesticide%20label.jpg?h=bca37f79&itok=h2o4JPFD)
It’s that time of year, the pest control calls are beginning to roll in! Homeowners want to know when to treat for crabgrass, what to use for spider mites; how about spotted winged drosophila and creeping Charlie…the list goes on and on. But before we get carried away on the tide of pesticides used in our lawn and garden, let’s go back to the basics. What is a pest?
![A field of zinnias](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/zinnias-LoonOrganics.jpg?h=a5c25f98&itok=fvGvrynr)
University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a flower farmer forum to address key questions facing Minnesota's flower growers and foster a stronger network within the community.
![A group photo of the 4-H ag ambassadors with Dean Durgan.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/4-H-ag-ambassadors-with-Dean-Durgan.jpg?h=b11911db&itok=XAp6rDXw)
The newly selected Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassadors are youth members from across the state with a passion for agriculture and 4-H.