Extension news and highlights

Every September, 4-H'ers from all over Minnesota and their dogs compete in agility, obedience, showmanship and rally.

You can buy your 2019 pumpkins or winter squash from a local farmer at a roadside pumpkin stand, or find a local pumpkin patch and enjoy hot cider and other fall attractions while you pick out your perfect jack-o-lantern canvas. If you grew pumpkins or winter squash yourself, read on for tips on choosing, harvesting, and storing pumpkins until Thanksgiving or longer.

Extension faculty discuss questions such as: What is the consensus definition of soil health? What should growers look for in soil health tests, and how should they go about testing their fields? What research is available in Minnesota tying soil health tests to crop performance and yield?

Tracey Srock, an Extension Master Gardener volunteer in Crow Wing County, writes about a youth gardening class in which each student plans, plants and maintain their own garden. A similar experience is offered to veterans and other adults.

University of Minnesota Extension is bringing awareness to black swallow-wort, Cynanchum louiseae, an invasive plant originally brought to the U.S. from Europe as an ornamental vine. The plant presents a problem for monarch butterflies, which already face challenges to their survival, and it threatens natural areas.

Currently the markets for ash wood are limited, but two recent projects aim to change that by demonstrating innovative ways to use urban and ash wood.

There will be five meal kits throughout the fall, which can be picked up at a variety of locations throughout White Earth or at Manna Food Co-op in Detroit Lakes.

The McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) have selected Shirley Nordrum of Cass Lake, Minn., among three others, as a Virginia McKnight Binger Unsung Hero Award recipient. Nordrum is a water resources management educator with University of Minnesota Extension.

David Aguilera of Bemidji feels inspired by the documentary series “World War II in Colour,” and has made some videos on his own. The member of the Buena Vista Bear Tracks 4-H club in Beltrami County was one of 28 youth given a great opportunity when University of Minnesota Extension’s 4-H youth program and the local filmmaking community offered a workshop on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus.

Extension Master Gardeners field more than 5,000 questions yearly from fairgoers about everything imaginable in yards and gardens