Farming tab spring 2018

Farming in the

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

1414 W. Main, Albert Lea 507-377-2372 Open Mon.-Fri. 8-6, Sat. 8-4

Since 1923

Because when you grow it, you know it.

HEATH REINDAL 507-874-3863 507-473-0345

The Seed House Garden Center carries bare root strawberries, fruit trees and all kinds of watermelon seed.

For All Your Electrical Needs

EINDAL HEATH R 7-473-0345

07 -3863 5 4 7 8 7 0 5

507-874-3863 • 507-473-0345

And MUCH more!

Albert Lea Agency (507) 377-2290 1907 E Main St Albert Lea, MN 56007

Blue Earth Agency (507) 526-2783 125 North Main St, Suite 1 Blue Earth, MN 56013

Give us a call for your free personalized farm/ranch quote!

Brett Wuerflein

Mike Trytten

Jessica Holland

Cliff Wuerflein

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

LOVERINK DRAINAGE INC. 200 Zuyder Zee Ave S • Hollandale MN 56045 • Complete Septic Service - MPCA Licensed (Inspect—Pump—Design—Install—Maintain) •Electric Eel Service • Professional Backhoe Services • Farm Drainage — Plow, Trench • Wildlife Ponds & Plots • Land sculpting

FARMERS!

LOOK UP, AND LOOK OUT FOR POWER LINES

Lee Loverink Mobile: 507•473•0200 Office: 507•256•4111

Recommendations: • L OOK UP! before moving or transporting equipment especially around buildings, grain bins or entrance/exiting fields and farms.

• P ower lines should be at least 18 feet above the highest point of grain bin where portable augers or other portable filling equipment is used.

• C onsidering burying electric lines to reduce the risk of accidental contact.

• R emember some equipment during transportation is actually taller than when in use.

• A nother thing you need to be careful of is bumping into the guy wires on electrical poles. This will cause sagging in the overhead lines and will make entanglement more likely.

• A lways stay alert and never take unnecessary risks.

KEEPING OUR PROMISE BY KEEPING YOU SAFE Our farm safety resources can help you protect your people and your productivity. For the future of your farm, think safety today. Trust in Tomorrow.™ Contact your agent today.

Stevenson Insurance, Inc. Serving Southern Minnesota for over 35 years Offices in Kasson, Wykoff and Rochester, MN

I f your equipment becomes entangled in power lines, stay in the tractor or truck unless the tractor or truck starts on fire. Jump as far from the tractor as possible but land on both feet. Then hop with feet together to get to safety! If on fire, contact 911… if you are staying in the vehicle, contact FMCS Operations at 800-734-6421.

www.fmcs.coop 507-373-6421

Steve Johnson, Jeff Stevenson & Mark Chilson (507) 634-4580 “Trust in Tomorrow” and “Grinnell Mutual” are property of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2017.

2501 Main Street East, Albert Lea, MN Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Congratulations!

Minnesota Farm Families

Checking • Savings • Loans • CDs • IRAs HSAs • Safe Deposit Boxes • Debit/Credit Cards ATMs • Internet/Telephone Banking Offices at:

109 W. Park 220 E. William Ave. St. 109 W Ave. Park Ave. 2401 Bridge Ave.2401 Bridge Hollandale, MN 56045 Albert Lea, MN 56007 AlbertMN Lea,56007 MN 56007 Albert Lea, Hollandale, MN 56045 (507)(507) 889-4311 (507) 373-8600 (507) 373-5500 (507) 373-8600 889-4311

www.producestatebank.com

Serving the community since 1926!

MEMBER

FDIC

Map 3.5x3.5 process

Nearly eighty families from throughout Minnesota will be honored as 2018 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota this summer.

The farm families will be recognized in ceremonies beginning at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 9, at Minnesota Farmfest on the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls.

The families were chosen by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and their local communities.

“The farm families receiving this year’s honors exemplify what makes Minnesota agriculture strong. They bring innovation, science and hard work to farming. They care greatly about the land and animals and delivering quality products to consumers worldwide,” said Bev Durgan, dean of Extension. “The University of Minnesota takes pride in honoring these families.”

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Red Rock

T RU C K C E N T E R , I N C .

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59041 220th St Austin, MN

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1-888-900-2205 • 437-9000

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Congratulations!

TO THE 2018

Freeborn & Mower County

Farm Families of the Year!

BRAD SKIFTER • 507-251-0656 CJ INGLEBRET • 507-202-7845 RON GILGENBACH • 507-440-7236

�

{clo\ PIONEER�

Congratulations 2018 Farm Family of the Year!

See us for all your LP Gas needs We do installation, leak detection, and testing.

We can help with your fertilizer and chemical needs.

We also offer variable rate fertilizer.

- Kevin Reed

David & Rebecca Ausen Family ... 2018 Farm Family of the Year

Hi Yield Products Inc. 23282 620th Ave • Alden, Minnesota 56009 Bus: (507) 874-3750 Cell: (507) 383-0874 Email: kevin@hiyieldmn.com

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Safety Tips For Parents of Young Farmers People who live in cities, exurbs or suburbs may not come across farms very frequently. But millions of people, including children, still live on farms. In fact, in 2009 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that more than one million children under the age of 20 lived, worked or had a regular presence on farms in the United States.

Protecting children from injury on farms, especially those who perform work on farms, is of paramount importance. The American Society of Safety Engineers offers the following safety tips to parents of children who will be spending time on farms.

• Know and obey the laws. Various state and federal laws are in place to protect young children from farm-related accidents and injuries.

Age requirements dictate which jobs

children can perform on a farm, and parents should adhere to those requirements. Asking children to do more than they’re physically capable of can lead to accident, injury or even death.

parents should inspect the equipment their children are likely to use to make sure each tool is safe. Make sure tools are in proper working order, as broken or poorly working equipment increases the risk of accident or injury.

• Review equipment operation instructions. Before assigning children a task on the farm, parents should review the equipment operation instructions. Doing so can help parents reacquaint themselves with tools and equipment they may not have used in awhile, and that can make it easier for them to teach kids how to use such equipment. In addition, reviewing equipment instructions may provide insight to parents unsure if their children are old enough to use certain tools.

• Enroll children in farm safety camps. The ASSE recommends that parents contact their local Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau offices to enroll children in farm safety camps. Such camps can teach kids safe farming techniques and the proper ways to use age-appropriate tools.

• Inspect equipment. Before children perform any tasks on the farm,

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materials shows kids the importance of caution when working on farms.

Hundreds of thousands of children perform jobs on farms across the country. Parents who want to teach their kids to farm should always do so with safety in mind.

• Set a positive example. Another way for parents to protect their children on the farm is to set a positive example. Parents can do so in various ways. Using equipment properly, removing tractor keys from ignitions when tractors are not in use and exercising caution when using hazardous RESTORE

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50422 262nd St, Austin, MN • 507.437.3343 or 507.438.7070 Judy & David Laskewitz, owners 4 miles N of Austin on Hwy 218, then 2.5 miles W on 262nd St Our 2nd bldg is open with many projects needing new life.

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

EIM DRAINAGE, INC. MORR• Water Management Specialists • SPECIALIZING IN SEPTIC SYSTEMS DESIGN ~ INSTALLATION ~ SEEDING • Conservation Construction • Land Drainage • Wildlife Ponds • Road Boring • Backhoeing • Consulting

PHILLIP OR MARK MORREIM 71610 263rd St. • Albert Lea • Office (507) 826-3449 Mark’s Cell (507) 383-6550 or Phil’s Cell (507) 330-1889

Albert Lea STEEL, INC SERVICE CENTER

507-373-5315

1126 S. Broadway, Albert Lea, MN

Bosch. Genuine Parts.

Keep your Bosch-equipped diesel engine running smooth. We stock both new & rebuilt Bosch injection equipment.

QUALITY SERVICE See us for fast, dependable service. We test, calibrate & repair injection pumps, nozzle assemblies & glow plugs. Warranty & normal repair.

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Hwy. 65 Northwood, IA

308 West Main Street, Adams • 507-582-3528 15330 580th Avenue Wells, MN 56097

507-391-4472 mark@nowakagconsulting.com

Mark Nowak Contact me for the following services:

• Financial Analysis • Ratio Analysis • Cash Flow Plans • Ultra Farm Record Keeping • Marketing Strategies

Nowak Ag Consulting

Helping farmers succeed in South Central Minnesota for over 40 years

• Retail Steel Sales • Huber Welding Supplies • Welding Repair

www.viafield.com

“Committed to be the full-service provider of choice, enhancing the success of our customers, team, and communities.”

Agronomy • Energy Feed • Grain

641-715-1203 Area Locations: Clermont • Randalia • Sumner Arlington • Maynard • Winthrop Oelwein • Elgin • Rudd Marble Rock • Rockford Manly • Grafton • Northwood Carpenter • Myrtle • London

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Help

Volunteer provide

guidance

Contribute

Connect with your community • Learn new skills • Expand your network

Volunteer opportunities available For more information call 507-437-6680 or visit crimevictimsresourcecenter.org

Crime Victims Resource Center 101 14th Street NW, Austin • 507-437-6680

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Fire up the grill for fresh veggies Charred Green Beans w/Lemon Verbena Pesto

THISIUS FLYING SERVICE John Thisius

Aerial Spraying

(507) 383-9157

Serves 2 to 4

Green Beans 11⁄2 pounds slender green beans 2 teaspoons olive oil Lemon Verbena Pesto 1 cup fresh lemon verbena leaves (substitute fresh lemon balm leaves) 2 garlic cloves 1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1⁄4 cup pine nuts or English walnuts 1⁄2 cup olive oil

Fine kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

“Flying for Food, Fuel and Fiber” “Helping You Maximize Your Yields”

BRICELYN INSURANCE AGENCY

Prepare a hot fire in your grill.

Toss the beans with olive oil and place in a perforated grill basket or wok set on a baking sheet.

For the Lemon Verbena Pesto, combine the lemon verbena, garlic, cheese, and nuts in a food processor and pulse to puree. Slowly add the olive oil with the processor running until the mixture thickens and emulsifies, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. The pesto will keep in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days, or it may be frozen for up to 3 months.

Place the grill wok or basket directly over the fire and stir-grill, tossing the beans with wooden paddles or grill spatulas until crisp-tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Transfer the grilled beans to a large bowl and toss with about 1⁄4 cup of the Lemon Verbena Pesto or to taste.

Covering All Your Farm Insurance Needs Crop Farm Policies & More

Ron Erickson, Agent Ann Jensen, Agent

BRICELYN INSURANCE AGENCY

Farmer’s Trust & Savings Bank Building Bricelyn, MN 507-653-4440 or Toll Free 800-779-0490

Over 70 Years of Family and Farmland Stewardship

Spring Valley Living For the Seasons of Your Life

507-346-7381

www.springvalleyliving.org

Housing with Services • Care Center • Home Health • Therapy

More than a Care Center!

• Fully furnished post hospital stay unit with private rooms and private bathrooms • Home Health • Inpatient and Outpatient Therapy: Physical, Occupational & Speech • Therapists Certified in Lymphedema Management • Kinesio Taping • Vestibular Issues & Pediatrics • We also offer the Everactive program - an exercise program for community members 3 days a week. Call to inquire.

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Our Next Generation Like many societies, America was built on farming. Without these people, our way of life would be much different and may not exist at all.

That’s why it is so important that we always recruit young people to carry on the agricultural tradition of our country. Two of the top organizations making sure the young people stay interested in agriculture are the 4H organization and the Future Farmers of America.

4H is a non-profit global youth organization which exists in more than 50 countries. Its name is derived from its original motto, “head, heard, hands and health.” The organization was created to provide instruction to rural youth regarding farming and other rural practices that they would encounter. Its foundations began in the early 1900s with the idea of providing

hands on learning which may not be provided by public school education.

This is reflected by its slogan, “Learn by doing.”

By the 1970s, the organization’s goal changed and now provides services to not just rural kids, but kids from all walks of life. In the United States alone, 4H has approximately 90,000 clubs and boosts nearly 7 million members. But don’t forget this is an international organization and the United States is only one of the countries in which 4H exists.

Like its counterpart, the Future Farmers of America, or FFA was founded with interests of the rural youngster in mind. In the first quarter of the 1900s many young men were leaving the farm to pursue other areas of interest. The goal of the FFA was to keep these young men on the farm by

allowing them to express themselves in other ways, while maintaining the rural life style. Like the 4H, the FFA strives to teach leadership skills to these young men and women. Of note, women were allowed to gain full FFA membership privileges in 1969.

This was a long time coming, but it finally arrived.

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve, is the motto of the Future Farmers of America.

Many people still see these organizations as exclusively for “farm kids,” however you may be surprised by some of their past members.

Some notable past members of 4H include, actress Julia Roberts, funnymen Johnny Carson and David Letterman, astronaut Alan Shepard

and Vice President Al Gore. Sure there are plenty of folks you would expect to be 4H alumni like Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Trisha Yearwood. As for the FFA, some of their famous members include, Eagles band member Don Henley, pop super star Taylor Swift and Luke Duke himself, Tom Wopat. Others you might expect are Lyle Lovett, Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson.

The need for these organizations was strong in the past, but that need still exists today. The reason being is that they each instill qualities like leadership and self-growth. So the next time you hear about 4H or the FFA, remember they are not just trying to keep kids on the farm, they are building our leaders of tomorrow.

Clip and Save

Collection Program in cooperation with Freeborn County.

Clip and Save

Clip and Save

2018 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule

Date City Day Time 4-25 Freeborn Wed 12-3 5-9 Hollandale Wed 12-3 FREEBORN COUNTY 5-12 Albert Lea Sat 9-12 RESIDENTS ONLY 5-17 Alden Thurs 3-6 freeborn NO EARLY DROP-OFFS 5-30 Geneva Wed 3-6 *It is illegal to drop off and leave county items meant for collection without 6-2 Albert Lea Sat 9-12 registering. minnesota 6-7 Emmons Thurs 12-3 Written survey is required of all participants. Residents may attend 6-19 Hayward Tues 12-3 www.co.freeborn.mn.us any collection in any city.

6-26 Hartland Tues 12-3 The Albert Lea Hazardous Waste Collections are held at 7-7 Albert Lea Sat 9-12 the City Transfer Station, 2506 W. Richway Dr., Albert Lea 7-12 Twin Lakes Thurs 3-6 Collections in other cities 7-18 Clarks Grove Wed 12-3 are generally near a city hall or fire station.

8-18 Albert Lea Sat 9-12 Farmers may bring their unwanted agriculture pesticides to the hazardous 9-8 Albert Lea Sat 9-12 waste collections for disposal. Funding for this program is provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Waste Pesticide 9-13 Glenville Thurs 12-3

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Farmers look to diversify during a time of shrinking profit margins, but at what cost?

By Brady Gooden - Intego Insurance Services - Albert Lea As we enter the sixth year of declining or flat prices, ag producers everywhere are have looked are lookingcontinue looking for additional ways to increase revenue.

Even with three consecutive years of record or near-record yields for many local producers, operations continue to face shrinking profit margins.

What will happen if prices continue to stay flat and production slips to average or below average yields?

Hoping to combat this reality, many producers have looked to diversify their operation as a , looking for any way to increase revenues.. This Diversification often involves using the tools and equipment at their immediate disposal. Custom spraying, custom manure hauling, custom grain hauling, custom planting, custom harvesting, custom tillage, custom livestock feeding…custom, custom, custom.

What’s the problem then? If the proper steps are taken, absolutely nothing. Increasing revenue with a minimal increase to expenses or wear

and tear on equipment is a fantastic insurance, cargo insurance, truck way to improve the bottom line. authority…all things that need to be Taking the proper steps is the key to considered. These items can certainly protecting yourself, however. Sure, it add up, to the point where it may not would be great to spray the neighbors’ make sense to pursue custom hauling, 500 acres twice per season at $5 or unless you’re going to do a lot of it. $6 per acre, but what does your farm But again, some larger ag insurers are liability company think of that? More willing to take on these risks for an than likely, they are not automatically additional premium. providing coverage for overspray The cost for additional licensing or drift while custom applicating. or insurance may be very reasonable, However, if you contact them, or may be prohibitive, depending on many companies WILL provide the what you are doing. However, it pales coverage for an additional premium. in comparison to what it might cost You might even be surprised to a producer that fails to go through find out how inexpensive it really the proper steps. Let’s say Farmer is. State or federal regulations are John decides to start custom hauling another thing to consider. Do you grain for a couple of his neighbors. He need your commercial applicators thinks, “I’ve got $3 million worth of Mower Co- Freebornin the my Heartland license if you start custom spraying? liabilityFarming coverage between vehicle Putting your semi-tractor and trailer policy and my umbrella, I’ll be fine.” to work during the slow months is What if Farmer John gets into an an extremely popular idea among accident and seriously injures or kills producers, but what needs to be done someone? Well, if he’s custom hauling to haul for others? This one is usually and his company doesn’t know a bit more complicated and the costs about it, there’s a chance his liability can add up a little faster. Federal coverage is going to be $0 at the time motor filings, commercial truck of a claim. So then what happens? If

Farmer John doesn’t have the money in the bank to cover the judgements against him, he’s likely going to have to sell the farm. This is a nightmare scenario, and something that could have been avoided with a call to histheir insurance agent.

This is not to say producers should avoid taking on custom work. As stated before, it’s a FANTASTIC way to increase revenue at what’s usually a small additional cost to the operation or wear and tear on equipment. But, producers need to make sure they are asking the proper questions before hand and not leaving themselves and their operations exposed to unnecessary risks. More than likely, the resources to properly Fall 2016$114 conduct custom operations are readily available to all producers. If there is a question regarding licensing, filings, or regulations, call your attorney. If you have insurance related questions, call your agent. These are key members of your business team and they are in your corner willing to help.

STUSSY CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Find out why a Northland building is your best value in post-frame construction! We’ve been building agricultural buildings for over 20 years!

& PAULSON ROCK PRODUCTS From our quarries we produce Agricultural Lime. Our spreader trucks, which haul approximately 15 ton per load, are used to apply the lime to your field.

CALL 507-635-3441 FOR DETAILS

61906 240TH AVE, MANTORVILLE, MN

Local Sales Consultant

Dave Baldner Austin, Minnesota

Built on your level site.

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Center For Hearing Excellence FREE Hearing Tests Amy Baarsch

Hamilton Auction Co.

855-271-7621

608 1st Dr. NW Austin, MN

Call for all your Auction needs!

Nina Best

507-584-0133 • 130 State Hwy 16 Dexter, MN

www.hamiltonauctioncompany.com

PROTECT YOUR Family, Home, Business, Farm

BE PROACTIVE...

Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late!

Locally Owned & Operated - Call for Special Pricing A+ Accredited

office 507-383-1958 tech 507-373-2643

Your livelihood has been built through hard work and integrity.

Burglar Alarms Fire Alarms Camera Systems

Trust your insurance to a company built on these same values.

The quotes are free - The peace of mind is priceless - Scott Truesdell, Security Specialist - 25+ Years Exerience

Wells Insurance Agency Subsidiary of CCF Bank

888-814-7801 |

www.ccf.us

Agents: Chuck Schulenberg and Donna Yokiel

an Ag-focused Cooperative that

turns Progress into Powerful solutions for our customers.

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Licensed, Bonded & Insured License #EA006621

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers â?– April 2018

Preserving the Cowboy Way When many of us were children, the airwaves were filled with TV westerns and characters that we have cherished for decades, some of which we have even emulated in adulthood by participating in Cowboy Action Shooting.

CAS is one of those rare hobbies that requires an investment in time and equipment and a commitment to honor an old creed – we call it the Cowboy Way. Like the Old West, it is a truly American tradition.

Cowboy Action Shooting in its most formal practice is overseen by the Single Action Shooting Society or SASS, a 34 – year-old organization dedicated to preserving the Old West through events from coast to coast that honor the traditions of the American Cowboy. It is the fastest growing outdoor shooting sport in the country, attracting competitors from around the world. As they say at SASS, “Cowboy Action Shooting is not only a sport that tests the shooter’s

Professional Services, Professional Installation Services we specialize in include:

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Plus much more . . .

Give Us A Call @

507-373-4113 SINCE 1988

Fastest Growing Outdoor Shooting Sport in the Country accuracy, but also a forum that brings back the days of the Old West in a veritable celebration of the cowboy lifestyle.�

One of the many ways this is achieved is through wearing period costumes based either on historical cowboys and famous lawmen or characters from our favorite TV and movie Westerns.

Either way, it is dress up, gear up and have fun! Famed Italian armsmaker F.lli Pietta (Brothers Pietta) has been deeply involved with Cowboy Action Shooting for more than a decade, first with historic recreations of black-powder revolvers (cap-and-ball pistols from the 1840s to the end of the Civil War), a special class of competition within SASS, and since 2003 with a remarkable line of Colt-style Single Actions that have become the new standard for out of the box quality fit, finish and tuned actions that are competition ready.

Today, Pietta has an exclusive line of single-action models produced for Cabela’s that exceed the contemporary safety standards for single-action revolvers by incorporating a transfer bar to prevent accidental discharge if a gun is dropped. While preserving all of the exterior features of the original cowboy six-shooter, the Pietta line for Cabela’s provides one of the finest, most affordable out-of-the-box shootin’ irons money can buy, and they are ready to face those steel-framed bad guys downrange in any SASS or Cowboy Action event!

Pietta single-action models encompass the full spectrum of single-action models from the early c. 1873 black-powder frame design penned by Wm. Mason for Colt’s in 1872, as well as the later transverse latch models introduced just before the turn of

the century to handle the new, more powerful smokeless power cartridge.

Pietta revolvers come with standard factory-tuned actions that are very impressive. To get a revolver with a glasssmooth hammer that positively clicks through each step and a light, crisp trigger pull usually requires a trip to the gunsmith’s shop. Pietta triggers are delightfully consistent, breaking cleanly shot after shot with only 3⠄16� takeup. The factory action on the Pietta is commensurate with those of specially tuned guns. Another factor often overlooked is hammer draw, which on most single-action models averages 6 lbs.

Pietta single-actions average 3 lbs. 14.2 oz., which is substantially better than most guns with tuned actions. This is one of the reasons that SASS/Wild West Performing Arts Society 2009 World Champion Johnny “Hotshot� Tuscadero (Jonathan A. Mincks) uses a pair of Pietta single-actions in his act.

Thanks to Cabela’s and Pietta single-action revolvers, you don’t need to be a professional shootist, performer or even a SASS competitor to enjoy taking a page out of the Old West, strapping on your six-gun and living the Cowboy Way. The Single Action Shooting Society is the governing organization of Cowboy Action Shooting, worldwide. Today, with over 97,000 members, SASS is represented in all fifty states and 18 foreign countries. The organization endorses regional matches conducted by its more than 700 SASS affiliated clubs and promulgates rules and procedures to ensure safety and consistency in Cowboy Action Shooting matches. Most importantly, however, SASS members share a common interest for preserving the history of the Old West.

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Local Soil Health Team Has a Year to Remember The Freeborn Area Soil Health Team is a group of local farmers, agency staff, and agricultural business professionals that was formed in 2013. Each year the team strives to facilitate local collaboration that encourages, educates, and demonstrates how to improve soil health and water quality while improving productivity, profitability, and sustainability of natural resources. By hosting multiple field days, workshops, and shop talks, the team promotes and advises others on the benefits of reduced tillage, cover crops and multiple other soil health practices and benefits including water quality.

As farmers saw a bumper crop of corn in 2017, the team had a bumper year of outreach efforts and saw a bumper year for soil health practices being implemented. In Freeborn County alone, there was close to 6,000 acres of cover crops planted that were cost shared by either the Freeborn County Soil and Water Conservation District

(SWCD) or the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additionally, an estimated 1000 acres were planted in the County without cost share assistance. In 2017 alone, the team put together 6 educational events and saw a growing interest from the farm community in utilizing the four key principles to achieving healthier soils. That is, 1.

Minimize tillage 2. Maximize diversity 3. Keep the ground covered 4. Keep living roots in the ground. One of those 6 educational events was the team’s 4th Annual Winter Workshop. During this workshop attendees learned about relevant tillage and crop management solutions for the coming year. During the event, audience members participated in a survey in which farmers were asked if they wanted to have a soil scientist come to their farm to look at and discuss their soil’s health. The team was surprised with the amount of interest and would like to extend that invitation to any farmer reading this article that

Austin Village Cooperative

may have missed our Winter Workshop. If you would like to learn more about your soil’s health in the coming year, contact the Freeborn Area Soil Health Team on Facebook, or by calling the local SWCD office at 507-373- 5607 Ext 3.

One last major accomplishment of the Freeborn Area Soil Health Team for 2017 was that the team was recognized as the Rural Conservationist of the year by the Shell Rock River Watershed District at their annual meeting that took place in March. Looking back at all the success that the team has had in 2017, and looking at another year with low commodity prices, it’s nice to hear local farmers talking about their cover crop plans for the coming year. This tells our team that implementing cover crops is not something these

farmers do with their “extra money”. It has become an important part of their farm management that they have come to see it is worth the investment.

With Earth Day coming up (April 22nd) remember to do your part for soil health and be conscience of the future. “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children” Wendell Berry, environmental novelist.

Call Now for Summer Build!

Retirement Living Redefined

“Hello Everyone: I’m Ken Wurzburger.

My wife, Ruth, and I farmed for 32 years three miles north and four miles east of Austin. When we retired we were looking for a maintenance-free life style in a secure facility where we could meet new friends in a quiet, comfortable atmosphere. We found all that and much more at the Village Cooperative in Austin. If you would like to learn more about the advantages of affordable Co-op living give Norma a call.”

You’re Invited

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Mower SWCD Organizing Spring Field Day Again Tim Ruzek, Mower County Soil & Water Conservation District, Cedar River Watershed District Mower County farmers will open their land in late May as part of a free Field Day focused on cover crops and other soil-health practices.

On May 31, Mower Soil & Water Conservation District plans to offer the Field Day for those interested in touring several local farming operations that use cover crops. Other soil-health practices, including no tillage and strip tillage, also will be

Steve Lawler, a soil scientist with Mower Soil & Water Conservation District, talks about soil health with cover crops in a trench dug out for a free Field Day in May 2017 that attracted more than 90 people. Farmer Tom Cotter provided this field in Austin Township as one of the event’s three stops.

highlighted as part of the tour, which likely will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mower County is helping to highlight their benefits when incorporated into agricultural practices.

Although details are being finalized, the spring tour will have a similar format to the Field Day in May 2017 that was part of Mower SWCD’s Cover Crop Champion grant with Austin-area farmers Tom Cotter and Tom Finnegan, said Steve Lawler, soil scientist with Mower SWCD. Topics covered on the tour will include harvesting and grazing cover crops; and no-till and strip-till planting into terminated cover crops.

Mower SWCD had planned a second Field Day for last October but canceled the event due to the late harvest caused by wet conditions.

Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services has provided a $500 grant to Mower SWCD to assist in providing free bus transportation for Field Day participants, who will need to RSVP in advance of the tour. Lunch also will be provided at no cost.

Like last year, the Field Day participants tour will begin and end at Riverland Community College’s east campus parking lot in Austin along 14th St. N.W., with likely two buses bringing people to the host sites.

Cover cropping involves planting a second, unharvested crop in coordination with regular cash crops, such as corn and soybeans. Interest is growing in cover crops throughout Minnesota, and

Those interested in reserving a bus seat should send an RSVP to Mower SWCD by emailing tim. ruzek@mowerswcd.org or calling 507-434-2603.

Space will be limited with the buses.

“We are excited to offer another field day for people of all backgrounds farmers, ag professionals, students and the general public,” Lawler said.

“There continues to be a growing interest in cover crops and soil health.”

This year, Lawler will launch a three-year research project on potentially 45 plots on Mower County farms to provide farmers with better soil-health data to support their operations and practices that benefit the environment. The project is supported by a $98,000 grant Mower SWCD requested from The Hormel Foundation for the research.

Lawler helped form Mower SWCD’s new soil health initiative and has worked closely with local producers the past two years through a Mower Soil

Health Team. Members of the team have working knowledge of cover cropping and reduced tillage systems and are committed to providing one-onone outreach to other area producers seeking to learn more about those and other management practices.

Mower SWCD’s Fall Field Day also will touch on the state’s Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, also known as Ag Certainty.

The voluntary program is a partnership between federal and state governments and private industry that works with farmers and local SWCDs to identify and fix risks to water quality on a fieldby-field, whole-farm basis. Producers treating all water-quality risks on their operation are certified and deemed in compliance with new water-quality rules and laws for 10 years.

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program says cover crops offer economic and ecological benefits: reducing fertilizer costs; improving crop yields by enhancing soil health; reducing the need for herbicides and pesticides; preventing soil erosion; conserving soil moisture; protecting water quality; and helping to safeguard personal health.

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Community Voices: Resolve To Be A Better Neighbor To Bees

By Rochelle Eastman Mar 24, 2018

For gardeners, New Year’s resolutions aren’t made in January, but in the spring.

As the days lengthen and the snow melts, we plan what we will do better this year. I always promise myself more color in the flower beds and better care of the vegetables.

But this year, I am adding a new resolution: protecting pollinators.

Pollination is the means of reproduction for most plants. Some plants, like wheat, corn and specific trees, only require wind for pollination, but about 88 percent of plants are partially, or fully, dependent on animals for assistance. Pollination, plus fertilization, results in plants making the fruits and seeds required for their survival.

Bees, flies, butterflies, beetles, hummingbirds and even those nasty wasps all pollinate. Homeowners often worry about attracting bees to their yard as they may sting. However, real bees rarely sting; wasps are usually the villains. Yellow jackets and paper wasps are much more aggressive and much less valuable as pollinators.

Personally, I feel no guilt about eliminating dangerous wasp nests near my house, but I will go out of my way to protect bees.

Bees are our best pollinators because their hairy bodies act like Velcro, picking up large amounts of pollen. Honeybees, originally imported from Europe, are incredibly efficient pollinators. We use them as livestock, moving colonies across the country servicing the agricultural industry. But there are also native bees and bumblebees that pollinate plants. In Minnesota, we have at least 425 species of native bees, which were pollinating plants long before the European imports were introduced.

We’ve all heard about recent issues with bee mortality. Since pollinators assist with production of 35 percent of our food, declining bee populations affect us all.

Almonds are 100 percent reliant on honey bee pollination, cherries and apples are highly dependent on bees and other plants would only produce less fruit without assisted pollination. It is important to reduce the number of bee fatalities, but there is no simple solution. The causes are complex and

interdependent.

Bees require two things for their own nutrition: nectar and pollen. Nectar, the sweet syrup produced by flowers, has sugars and carbohydrates that bees require. Pollen is used by bees for protein. Thus, flowers overproduce pollen so that bees can use part of it and still distribute enough for the plant’s pollination. Areas with few flowers, like city centers, vast lawns, or even large cornfields, have no food for bees. Without a consistent, healthy, source of nectar and pollen, bees may suffer from malnutrition.

In addition, some of the food they eat may have been contaminated with insecticides and other chemicals.

Then there are bee diseases, viruses and fungi that can attack these insects. Imagine an undernourished bee being attacked by a varrona mite. It would be like frail humans having a tick the size of a dinner plate feeding on their blood. Other viruses and fungi could then take advantage of the organism’s weakened state.

Certainly, many garden insecticides will kill bees outright, but even residual doses and wind drift cause problems. Other garden chemicals like fungicides and repellents can also have non-lethal effects on pollinators. Neonicotinoids, a specific class of systemic insecticides, are applied once and then absorbed by every part of the plant including the pollen and the nectar.

Once thought to be the primary cause of bee die-off, current research does not support that idea. However, even at non-lethal doses, neonicotinoids can impair the bee’s memory and cause disorientation, which reduces foraging.

Bee decline now seems to be caused by the loss of good foraging habitat, overuse of many garden chemicals, and a variety of bee diseases. Even with a problem this complex, there are things homeowners can do to help.

First, our perfect suburban lawns offer no food for bees. So, reduce the size of your lawn and plant bee friendly areas. Slopes and hillsides which are dangerous to mow are the perfect areas to convert to pollinator friendly landscaping with blooming shrubs and perennials.

Next, plant pollinator friendly flowers anywhere in your garden so that something is blooming from early spring to late fall.

Usually, native plants have better bee nutrition than hybridized species bred for showy flowers. Plant recommendations can be found at www.beelab.umn.edu/sites/beelab.umn.edu/ files/Plants-for- Minnesota-Bees Then minimize your use of garden pesticides. Before you turn to an insecticide, identify your problem. Many insects are beneficial or innocuous, and no treatment is necessary. If you must use a pesticide, find one with a low impact on pollinators and follow the directions carefully. Always spray late in the day when bees are not foraging.

Look for the diamond-shaped Bee Advisory Label. Don’t be fooled by the word “organic,” as many organic insecticides are still highly toxic.

Also, provide spots for bees to nest. Most of our native bee species are solitary ground dwellers, so leave some exposed soil that is un-mulched. If you find a bumble bee nest, just avoid it and protect it. Leave your perennial stems up over the winter for stem nesting bee species.

Like any New Year’s resolutions, it is hard to do everything perfectly, but if enough people make small changes, we can make our neighborhoods more pollinator-friendly and provide a healthy, season-long bee cafeteria.

Rochelle Eastman is one of several people who write for Community Voices column in the Savage Pacer and she is a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener.

Photo by Laura MacNeil on Unsplash

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

For Farmers and Citizen Scientists, Ways to Promote Healthy Crops and Landscape ST. PAUL, Minn. (4/2/18)—Invasive species cast a damaging shadow in whatever environment they occupy.

With growing season on the horizon, Extension scientists are asking for Minnesotans help to better understand invasive plants and insects and reduce the harm they cause.

Buckthorn: A double whammy in the invasive world

Thick and bristling with sharp thorns, buckthorn is favorite winter host for

eggs of the soybean aphid, an invasive species that poses a yearly threat to Minnesota’s crop. Itself an invasive species, buckthorn overpowers more desirable native plants and grows at an alarming pace.

“Spring is a great time to get tough with buckthorn,” said Extension forestry educator Angela Gupta. Along with the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Gupta has produced two brief videos that demonstrate how to identify buckthorn and methods for its removal. Farmers Rochelle Krusemark of Martin County and Michael Lynch of Watonwan County demonstrate tactics that have worked on their farms.

To learn more, visit

z.umn.edu/buckthornvideos.

Seeking helpful “mummies” in fight against soybean aphids

Aphelinus certus, the wasp, and soybean aphid. Photo: Matt Kaiser Extension and the University of Minnesota entomology department are teaming with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to identify wasps that are natural enemies of the soybean aphid. Volunteers are needed to scout fields in search of the mummylike black aphid remains left on soybean

leaves where the wasp, Aphelinus certus, has done its job. Larvae of the wasps live inside soybean aphids, eventually killing them. The wasps, which cannot sting humans, then emerge from the dark “mummy” in order to immediately mate and lay eggs in nearby aphids.

Many generations of this wasp occur over the summer. “We need help from Minnesota farmers,” said Extension entomologist Bob Koch. Last year, citizen scientists scouting fields in 43 counties sent samples of the mummies to the University for further analysis.

To volunteer, contact graduate student Jonathan Dregni at mummyscout@gmail.com More information is available at z.umn.edu/aphidwasp18

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

They Changed Farming Forever Our society has grown in many ways and fortunately continues to grow. But sometimes we forget about the simplest things. Things that happened long ago that changed our lives forever. One area that we probably take for granted is the advancements in farming. Some of them changed how we lived and some of them made our lives much easier.

Most of us probably remember Eli Whitney and his cotton gin from history class. In our country’s colonial period we discovered our love of cotton, but found that it was difficult to produce. The difficulty came from the time it took to separate the cotton seeds from the cotton fiber. Eli Whitney’s cotton gin changed all that. His invention could clean 1,000 pounds of cotton in the same time it took to clean 5 pounds by hand.

The counterpart to Whitney’s

cotton gin was the thresher. Whereas Whitney’s’ invention revolutionized the processing of cotton, the thresher did the same for grain. The thresher mechanized the separation of grain kernels from the straw.

An invention that saved the backs of farmers and their livestock was the steam engine. Harnessing the power of steam advanced farming in many ways. Initially steam engines were used to power mills, threshing machines and the above mentioned cotton gin. Later, portable steam engines were created coupled with drive systems. This gave way to self-propelled steam tractors.

to produce just the right amount of steam to operate their machinery.

Gasoline powered tractors and other machinery took the guess work out of making your engine come to life.

Perhaps the farmer’s best friend was developed after we discovered the power of gasoline, it was the truck. By the beginning of the 20th century, the truck became the farmer’s best friend and in many ways is still their best friend. No longer did farmers need to rely on their wagon and livestock to

haul things.

Advancements in farming have never really stopped. The process of feeding our countries continues to evolve.

However, in some ways advancement has taken us back to our roots. This would be the organic movement.

Other advancements in our society are more recognizable than those mentioned above. However, without these advancements in farming, we would have never survived long enough to create the Internet.

Many years later, the gasoline powered tractor replaced steam tractors and other steam powered machinery.

Steam powered machinery required a heating source, such as coal or wood, as well as someone who knew how

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A “Knuckle Sandwich” Worth Eating Dessert means different things to different people. Some may prefer a piece of cake, while others consider a cup of coffee to be the ideal capper to a delicious meal. Sandwiches may not be the first thing to come to mind when the dessert tray is rolled out, but this delicious recipe for a “Knuckle Sandwich” from Bob Blumer’s “Surreal Gourmet Bites” is sure to please dessert lovers who want to expand their horizons.

Knuckle Sandwich Yields 12 bites

1⁄2 2 2 1 6

cup whole hazelnuts, ideally blanched (skinned) tablespoons butter pears, skin on, cut into 1⁄8-inch-thick slices, then cored store-bought pound cake tablespoons Nutella or other chocolate-hazelnut spread

Preheat oven to 350 F. Put hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes, or until they begin to brown. If hazelnuts are still in their skins, bake until skins begin to darken, or for blanched nuts, until they turn golden. Remove from oven and let cool. If hazelnuts are still in their skins, place nuts in the center of a clean dish towel, fold the towel around the nuts, and rub vigorously between both hands for 15 seconds to release the skins. Discard skins and reserve the nuts.

In a sauté pan over medium heat (err on the low side of medium), melt butter and sauté pear slices for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until they begin to brown. Reserve.

Cut 6 slices of pound cake, 1⁄4-inch thick. Toast the pound cake in a toaster oven, or on a baking sheet in a 300 F oven. (It will fall apart in an upright toaster.)

Smear 3 cake slices with Nutella or chocolate-hazelnut spread. Cover entire Nutella/spread surface with hazelnuts, then press them into the Nutella/spread. Top with a layer of pear slices and cover with second slice of pound cake. Secure each knuckle sandwich with 4 toothpicks, then cut into 4 pieces.

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

How To Protect Livestock In Extreme Weather Extreme weather is seldom fun for anyone. Although people often have the means to escape inclement weather, animals are at the mercy of their caregivers.

Protecting animals during extreme weather is not restricted to domesticated pets. Those who have livestock on their properties must recognize that these animals will need various levels of care as well. Animals such as chickens, cattle, goats, and llamas can be adversely affected by extreme weather. Individuals can heed these safety guidelines to avoid subjecting such animals to the stress, discomfort and illness that can result from exposure to extreme weather.

Suitable shelter One of the best ways to safeguard livestock from extreme weather is to ensure they have a place to escape the elements.

Animals can get sunburned and may overheat, so make sure shelters can block the sun’s rays on hot days while also allowing for air to circulate through the

dwelling.

out on farm animals.

being dispersed to livestock.

It’s also key that the shelter be capable of accommodating all of the animals at the same time.

Mold-free feed Hot, humid temperatures can cause mold to grow on hay and other feed sources. Cows do not like to eat moldy hay and it can make horses ill. The University of Minnesota Extension says horses are particularly sensitive to dust from mold spores and can get a respiratory disease similar to asthma in humans called recurrent airway obstruction, or RAO, which is often referred to as heaves.

Hair cut Wooly animals may benefit from a shear prior to the onset of hot weather, advises the Maryland Small Ruminant group. Do not shear too short. For instance, a one-inch fleece can dissipate heat and help the sheep keep cool.

Livestock shelters do not have to be complicated. They can be as elaborate as a barn or as simple as carports or tarps and shade cloth.

Fresh water Access to fresh, clean water is also essential. Dehydration can set in, particularly for animals with thick coats or those that are young or elderly. Animals tend to expend a lot of energy to cool down or stay warm, so they will need an ample supply of water to remain hydrated and healthy.

Standing water can become a breeding ground for parasites and insect larvae. Therefore, change water frequently to make sure it is sanitary. Some farm experts advise aerating troughs to help prevent algae growth or mosquito infestations. A small amount of raw apple cider vinegar may help as well. However, always discuss water sanitation methods with a veterinarian before testing them

Hay needs to be dried out before it is fed to animals. Any feed should be stored in cool, dry conditions and inspected before

Rest Livestock should not be worked and handled during the heat of the day. Their productivity levels may be diminished, and the extra exertion may affect their health.

Rest will help them stay happy and healthy until the extreme weather has subsided.

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Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Nine Mower County Teams Compete at the MN State 4-H Project Bowl

Last weekend, hundreds of 4-H youth from Minnesota participated in the State 4-H Project Bowl Competition, the second largest 4-H event of the year. Patterned after the golden-oldie television show “College Bowl”, the 4-H project bowl challenges teams of 3-6 youth to test their knowledge of dairy, dog, general livestock, horse, poultry, rabbit and

wildlife project areas.

249 teams of youth competed in four regional 4-H project bowls held throughout the state in March. The top teams qualified to move on to compete in the state bowl.

Each competition includes junior divisions for grades 3-8, and senior divisions for grades 4 through one year past high school. The teams are quizzed in one-on-one and open rounds with the first participant with the correct answer getting the points. 4-H State Project Bowl winners in dairy, general livestock, horse and poultry go on to national project bowl competitions.

Congratulations to all of our project bowl teams for an outstanding performance at the state competition: • State Champion - Sr. General Livestock - Double Aughts –Qualified for National Competition in Louisville, Kentucky – Grace Bergstrom, Kristine Schechinger, Colton Ivers, Michael Carroll, Ashley Conradt, Coach: Bob Balgeman • State Champion Lama Jr.-Mower/OlmstedIsaac Beck, Kylie Stafford, Conner Lohmann, Adison Kohloff, Coach: Lori Beck • State Reserve Champion Jr. General Livestock - Mower A – Garrett Lahann, Gretta Bergstrom, Gloria Hansen, Ryan VanPelt, Riley Hetzel, Owen Carroll, Coach: Julie Holst • 3rd Place - Sr. General Livestock - Door Boes - Isaac Drees, Emily Bollum, Josh Bollum, Vicky Hansen, Coach: Bob Balgeman • 3rd Place - Lama Sr.-Mower- McKenzie Marlow, Kayley Anderson, Noah Anderson, Dyllon Lohmann, Coach: Julie Hendrikson • 3rd Place - Jr. Rabbit - Mower - Amy

Smith, Natalie Crouch, Haylie Meyer, Ben Riley, Coach: Steffanie Stundahl • 3rd Place - Sr. Rabbit - Mower - Ethan Fennell, Toria Strampe, Korrie Crouch, Rachael Riley, Alex Riley, Coach: Michelle Riley • 6th Place - Jr. Dairy - Holsteins – Ryan Irvin, Hannah Case, Lydia Drees, Reuben Drees, Coach: Patty Conradt • 8th Place - Jr. General Livestock - Mower B - Andrew Sayles, Andrew Timm, Jenna Hetzel, Katie Thome, Coach: Julie Holst.

A special thanks to all of the dedicated volunteers who coached these teams throughout the season.

To learn more about 4-H Project Bowl, go to http://www.fourh.umn.edu/projectbowl/ or contact April VonRuden, Mower County Program Coordinator, at 507-437-9552

Bundle & Save! with Z-560X 31 hp Kawasaki, Husqvarna Chainsaw, and Trimmer Combine MSRP $12,390

Bundle Price!

9,920*

$

Just $207 a Month for 48 Months O.A.C. *Tax not included

XRT1550 with IntelliTach-diesel

507-583-2712 • Hwy 218 South, Blooming Prairie • www.minersoutdoor.com • Financing available

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Staying Safe on the Farm and in the Field

Farm Safety Refresher Tips

FREEBORN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER

411 So. Broadway, Albert Lea, MN (507) 377-5660

Farm Safety Tips Farm Buildings & Grounds

Perform a safety check of buildings and grounds for obvious fire hazards and hazardous materials.

Store farm chemicals securely where kids and animals can’t access them. Then make a list of the chemicals for firefighters in the event of a fire on your property.

Keep weeds and grasses trimmed so tractor and ATV drivers won’t run into hidden obstacles and holes that can cause the vehicle to overturn.

Maintain clean and neat work areas with tools stored out of the way.

Establish a safety boundary around gas and diesel fuel tanks and other flammable substances.

Personal Farm Safety

Don’t wear loose clothing around equipment or work areas.

Use safety equipment the way it was intended. That means appropriate gloves, hearing protection and safety eyewear, not to mention face masks and respirators when working in dusty conditions.

Always have a helper nearby when entering grain bins, breeding pens or any high-risk area.

Discuss safety concerns with children as you

explain safe handling and operating procedures. Practice what you preach, and they will practice it, too.

Tractors & Implements

Keep tractor roll-over protection structures in place. If you have a tractor without one, get it installed today … and while you’re at it, buckle your seat belt.

Prohibit riders on tractor fenders, hitches, attachments or implements.

Shield all PTO-powered equipment drive shafts, and keep kids at a distance from them.

Never start or run engines in an enclosed area without being assured of good ventilation.

Outfit tractors and farm trucks with fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

Never exit a tractor or truck without placing it in park or engaging the emergency brakes.

Never leave running power equipment unattended.

Check and maintain equipment, especially hydraulic hoses and electrical cables showing cracks or other signs of wear.

Livestock

Keep animals in good health. An animal in pain and discomfort can react aggressively.

Treat farm animals with respect. If understand their behavior, you’ll be ready for their actions.

The

Shopper

and

Freeborn County

Shopper The Mower County

Would like to remind all our area farmers to be alert to the dangers and practice farm safety this season!

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Wiste

AUTO SERVICE Mark Wiste Owner/Certified Technician 407 1/2 W Main St, Adams, MN 507.582.1111

BUYERS OF ALL SCRAP METALS Turn your JUNK into CASH!

All Concrete Yard 70,000 sq. ft. Metals Building

Albert Lea • Glenville •

HIGHEST ID! PRICES PA

MINNESOTA IOWA

Kensett •

LOCATED SOUTH OF KENSETT, IA

M BUCK’S

1560 400th St.

|

Kensett, IA 50448

|

641-845-2990

A new take on “Spaghetti” Z’paghetti Marinara with Shrimp Makes 2 servings

�[f@[fili) �w@J \[ID�� DUMPSTERS �����

� ��v � CONTAINERS Call For Pricing

HEADQUARTERS P.O. Box 336 1100 1oth Drive S.E. Austin, MN 55912

28 8 1⁄4 1⁄4 1⁄8 1

2

ounces (about 4 medium) zucchini ounces (about 16) raw large shrimp, peeled, tails removed and deveined teaspoon Italian seasoning teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon black pepper cup Clean & Hungry Marinara Sauce (see below) tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray.

2. Using a spiral vegetable slicer, cut zucchini into spaghetti-like noodles. (If you don’t have a spiral veggie slicer, peel zucchini into super-thin strips, rotating the zucchini after each strip.) Roughly chop for shorter noodles.

3. Place zucchini noodles in the center of the foil and top with shrimp. Sprinkle with seasonings. Top with marinara sauce and Parmesan.

4. Cover with another large piece of foil. Fold together and seal all four edges of the foil pieces, forming a well-sealed packet.

5. Bake for 25 minutes, or until zucchini noodles have softened and shrimp are fully cooked.

6. Cut packet to release hot steam before opening entirely.

7. Transfer packet contents to a large bowl, and toss to mix.

Clean & Hungry Marinara Sauce Makes 6 servings

3 1⁄4 1 2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄4 1⁄8

cups canned crushed tomatoes cup tomato paste tablespoon white wine vinegar teaspoons Italian seasoning teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon onion powder teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper

1. Combine ingredients in a large sealable container. Mix until uniform.

2. Seal, and refrigerate until ready to use.

Thank you - David D. Yerhart, Owner/Operator www.ywasteremoval.com

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

It’s All In The Family...

Your farm and family are the most important things in your life.

We not only protect your property, we help you “safe-guard” your farm to make it safer for your family.

Insuring Homes & Farms Since 1885 Huseby Insurance, Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sterling State Insurance, Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

First American Insurance, Brownsdale . . . . . . . .

First American Insurance, Stewartville . . . . . . . .

Heartman Insurance, Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

R & R Insurance, Blooming Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . .

First LeRoy Agency, Spring Valley . . . . . . . . . . . .

Harmony Insurance Group, Austin . . . . . . . . . . .

Essig Agency, Spring Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Troy Thompson Agency, Albert Lea . . . . . . . . . .

James Benson Agency, Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Olson Insurance, Glenville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Security Insurance, Albert Lea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

582-3253 437-3282 567-2279 553-4486 437-4503 583-7971 346-9836 396-8050 346-7244 377-2852 433-9696 406-1203 373-6446

Mower County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company 1904 8th St NW • Austin, MN • 507-433-6646

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR LAND?

Lindsey Brown Realtor 701.371.5538 Lbrown@pifers.com

15300 780th Ave | Albert Lea | 507-373-8895

We have buyers l ooking f or land!

Call Lindsey today for a FREE land valuation! www.pifers.com Pifer’s 877.700.4099

AUCTION & REALTY

15300 780th Ave | Albert Lea | 507-373-8895

Motors * Speed Controls * Sensors * Soft Start Controls * Pulleys * Belts *Bearings *Capacitors *Hubs *Switches

SIOUX GRAIN

SYSTEMS

BEST BUY

Services: Repair Electrical Motors/HVAC Motors AG/Farm Duty Equipment

Check out our Phase Converters at lahnerpower.com We have the largest inventory in North Iowa!

Manufacturing & Fabrication

16455 Lark Ave., Mason City sales@mniowa.com www.mniowa.com Hours: 8-12 , 1-5 M-F Closed Sat. & Sun. Phone: 641-423-9222 Toll Free: 800-985-9222

25863 650th Ave, Dexter, MN 55926 507-584-6794 • Fax: 507-584-6634 www.rsgrain.com

WE HAVE ON HAND: • Belts • Bearings • Electric Motors • Nuts & Bolts • Roller Chain • Pulleys • Dodge Gear Drives • Hubs We also have a Laser for your custom cutting needs

Sales: Electric Motors/HVAC Motors, Generators, Phase Converters

Dealer Inquiries Welcome

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Northland Farm Systems... the first choice for all of your Construction, Turf and Ag Equipment needs.

No matter how big or small the project, Northland Farm Systems can be your one stop Short-Line Implement Dealership.

2250 Austin Road, Owatonna, MN Phone: 800-385-3911

orthland Farm Systems

Brad’s Barns

and

Sheds

Customized building, remodeling and repair of barns and sheds, also build horse/livestock shelters.

Brad Thumann

507-259-7193

Ready to Mow?

Whether servicing your current mower or providing a new one, we’re here to get you Ready to Mow!

Ask about:

Mower & Gator Service Inspection Specials Snow to Mow Service Special

Pick-up and Delivery Available!

Want to do it yourself?

1

15% 1 5% o off ff H Home ome M Maintenance aintenance K Kits its Mostt Kits Mos Kits in inclu include clude clu de 2 q quarts uarts uar ts oil oil,, o oilil fil filter filter, ter, a air ir fil filter filter, ter,, ter filter, pre-cleaner spark plug(s). ffuel fue uel ffilt ilter ilt er,, ai er airr p re-cle re cleane anerr and ane and spa p rk plu p g(( ). g(s

X X350 SELECT SERIES LLAWN TRACTOR

TM

* • 18.5-hp (13.8-kW), 603-cc engine • 42-in. Accel Deep™ Mower Deck • 4-year/300-hour bumper-to-

bumper warranty

*

$200 OFF

2

RESIDENTIAL Z535M • 25-hp** (18.6-kW) V-Twin cyclonic engine • 48- or 54-in. Accel Deep™ Mower Deck

$250 OFF

2

Plus! New Parts Drop Boxes in Mower County:

We’ll deliver parts to a location near you! Call your local store for more info.

Hollandale, MN | 507-889-4221 Northwood, IA | 641-324-1154 Osage, IA | 641-732-3719 1 Offer valid February 1 - April 30, 2018. Receive 15% off the purchase of one or more Home Maintenance Kits for Gator™ Utility Vehicles and/or Riding Lawn Equipment to be applied to the total before applicable taxes, shipping rates and delivery charges. Standard 2 TMM Lawn Tractor. Get $250 off a new shipping rates only. Redeemable at participating John Deere dealers in the U.S. and Canada. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details. Offers valid from March 1, 2018 through April 30, 2018. Get $200 off a new X350 Select Series Residential Z535M ZTrak Mower. Get $300 off a new Gator XUV825M Utility Vehicle. Offer, prices and savings are in U.S. Dollars and available in the U.S. Prices and models may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Available at participating U.S. dealers. *Term limited to years or hours used, whichever comes first, and varies by model. See the LIMITED WARRANTY FOR NEW JOHN DEERE TURF AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT at dealer for details. **The engine horsepower and torque information are provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for comparison purposes only. Actual operating horsepower and torque will be less. Refer to the engine manufacturer’s website for additional information.

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Create an Acorn Fund and shape the future An Acorn Fund allows individuals and/or organizations to invest in the future of our community and build a charitable legacy. Plant your seed in our community and watch it grow!

Acorn Funds build charitable endowments much the same way individuals build retirement plans or investment accounts: through regular contributions invested for growth and income. However, there are some significant differences:

families and agencies who would like to create a legacy for themselves and their community but are not in a position to give all at once the $5,000 minimum required to establish an endowed fund. The Acorn Fund concept will allow donors to grow their fund to the $5,000 level over a period of up to five years. Donors name their own fund - for an individual, a family, a particular cause, or for the benefit Executive Director, of one or more nonprofit organizations Austin Area Foundation with an initial donation of $1,000. Donors jeff@austinareafoundation.org 507-434-7494 then make regular, tax-deductible contributions for any amount at any time. Some donors establish Acorn Funds to honor parents, children, or grandchildren, then make contributions to commemorate a special event in the honoree’s life.

Jeff Baldus

∙ Contributions to Acorn Funds are tax deductible. ∙ Donations to an Acorn Fund build a grant-making fund or organizational endowment over time. ∙ Contributions may be made using many types of assets. ∙ You can encourage family and friends to make contributions to your Acorn Fund in lieu of traditional gifts on the occasion of a holiday or birthday. ∙ Acorn Funds give forever!

The Austin Area Foundation is now offering this option to its donors. The Foundation recognizes that there are

Other reasons to establish an Acorn Fund may include: • To preserve family values • Encourage family philanthropy • Leave a legacy • Create a charitable pool of resources • Ensure long-term stability of an agency Call us today for assistance in your philanthropic efforts and for more information on creating a legacy through your estate planning.

Professional mowing comes home!™ Legendary Power & Durability

Ulven’s

Hardware

Commercial-quality mowing at a residential price.

Two Fabrics.

Endless Choices.

Duette® with DuoliteTM honeycomb shades allow you to combine two fabrics in one shade, for the ultimate in privacy and light control.

104 Main Street, Rose Creek

Doors & Floors, Inc.

507-433-8245

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm • Thurs 8am-6pm • Closed Saturdays

101 11th St. SE Austin • 433-3420

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

Wishing our local farmers a safe and successful planting season.

Supporting local business owners for generations.

From small businesses and family farms, to non-profit organizations and large corporations, Home Federal has been helping businesses succeed since 1934.

Call us today to discuss your financial goals.

507.434.2500

201 W Oakland Ave. • Austin, MN

507.379.2551

143 W Clark St. • Albert Lea, MN

Bring your banking home.

Member FDIC

JustCallHome.com

Supplement to the Freeborn & Mower County Shoppers ❖ April 2018

www.novelenergysolutions.com

FOUNDED BY:

5th-Generation Farmers St. Charles, MN

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