Benton Ag Plus - June 23, 2016 by Star Publications

PAGE 1B

Serving rural Benton County & parts of Morrison, Mille Lacs & Kanabec counties.

BENTON AG Plus

A Supplement to the Sauk Rapids Herald

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Pass the vegetables

Sartell teen grows green business by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

MILACA — Alex Bertsch has a passion for vegetables. While many children his age were choking down cabbage or passing on the peas, Bertsch was cultivating his own garden with big dreams to grow green. “I had been gardening in a 10 by 30 foot plot on the most undesirable piece of land my parents could offer since I was about 10 years old,” said Bertsch of his start. “But I was happy and I kept wanting to get bigger.” Now, at age 16, this upcoming Sartell High School junior, is spending his summer nurturing his organic gardening business, Epic by Nature. His plans are “to grow epically, affordable, healthy, sustainable produce” and to give back to the land which

provided for him. “Look out at the Àeld over there,” he said pointing to a barren Àeld plot. “There isn’t a whole lot of life, or diversity or anything. Here I am trying to build soil health and diversity to help regenerate the ecosystem. I want to create something that puts back to the earth.” This business-minded teenager began his Epic journey only a year ago when his grandfather offered him a half-acre plot of land from newly purchased property near Milaca. Bertsch is selftaught and has learned most of what he knows about his business by listening to podcasts and research. Bertsch staked out a 109 by 109 foot piece last July and broke, tilled and worked the ground until planting season began this spring. He surrounded the area with barbed wire fence and chicken wire to prevent the ample deer and

PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER

Sixteen-year-old Alex Bertsch is a budding entrepreneur and owns an organic produce business called Epic by Nature. He harvests produce from a half-acre plot near Milaca and sells his vegetables at local farmers markets.

rabbits in the area from destroying his crops. The plot sits on a mix of sand and clay, so over the past year Bertsch prepared the soil for the growing season. “I’ve spread close to six tons of soil amendments in the form of composted ma-

nure and other composts. Last fall, I put down manures to help the soil through the winter and I’ve been adding more compost as we progress,” Bertsch said. Bertsch’s business plan includes selling his produce at local farmers markets includ-

ing Foley and Sauk Rapids. His 18 inch by 54 foot bed rows are standardized and he keeps a log of costs and proÀts for each row in order to calculate post-season and decide where to further invest his monies. He grows tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, snap

peas, beans, arugula, kale, butter lettuce, radishes, carrots, corn, watermelon and a lot of varieties of squash. He also has 20 infant raspberry plants. Bertsch continued on pg. 4B

Immersed in the ag life Stille, Czechs enjoy exchange experience by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER

ROYALTON – Clara Stille grew up in Germany, listening to her mother’s stories and spending weekends on her grandparents farm, but nothing compared to the American experience. Last August, Stille came to Minnesota as a foreign exchange student. Bernie and Marne Czech, of Royalton, hosted the German student. “It was kind of scary, especially at the beginning I was so happy I got a host family because I was getting worried when I still didn’t have a family two weeks before I came here,” Stille said. “Once I got settled in, I PHOTOS BY ANNA SALDANA was excited to be on a farm. Clara Stille (middle) stands on the farm with her host parents, Bernie and Marne Czech, in It’s never boring and I was Royalton. Stille was living with the family for 10 months as a foreign exchange student from excited to experience every-

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thing.” Throughout her 10 months here, she helped the Czechs with a variety of chores. It was a learning experience, but Stille says her host parent Bernie was a great teacher. “He was very patient, so that was good,” Stille said. “He taught me how to do a lot of things around the farm. Once I knew what to do, I was always helping with something.” Bernie appreciated Stille’s open mind. “She was willing to experience anything we did and she did really well with the adjustment,” Bernie said. Those differences went beyond the farm too. Stille also experienced being in a town without public transportation and went to a Catholic Church for the Àrst

time. She noticed a lot of changes in school. In Royalton, Stille had a wider variety of classes – from photography to psychology – than she would have in Germany. “In Germany, they give you the class schedule and you do it,” Stille said. “You don’t get to pick like you do here. It was a positive difference for me.” Some of her favorite memories on the farm include milking cows, feeding calves and riding in the tractor. She had the chance to ride along in the tractor and watched Bernie plow Àelds. “I really liked helping with milking cows and feeding calves,” Stille said. “It’s not something I will get to experience in Germany.” One memory that stands out for both Bernie and Stille is from last fall, when they both climbed the silo to look at the fall colors. “That was really fun. You could see different colors for miles around us,” Stille continued on pg. 2B

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Benton Ag

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Stille continued from page 1B Stille said. Although she got to see and do a lot in the 10 months she was here, she didn’t get to do everything her host family wanted to do with her.

“We had a whole list of things to do and we didn’t even come close to Ànishing it,” Marne said. Stille is hoping to come back to Royalton next year with her parents for a visit.

“I’m really going to miss my host family and all of the animals here. I had such a wonderful experience,” Stille said. “Plus, we have to Ànish all of the things on the list.”

PHOTOS BY ANNA SALDANA

It was not long after Stille’s arrival that she learned how to milk a cow.

NRCS announces early EQIP sign-up for 2017 funding Agricultural producers looking to solve natural resource problems on their farms will want to plan ahead and sign-up early for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding. Cathee Pullman, USDANatural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist in Minnesota, announced farmers interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) need to apply by August 19, 2016, for funding in 2017. EQIP is a voluntary program that provides Ànancial

and technical assistance to agricultural producers. These contracts provide Ànancial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. “EQIP is just one tool for landowners who want to apply conservation practices on the ground,” said Pullman. “By working with the local NRCS ofÀces, you can apply for NRCS programs

When the grass grows We can help

One of the things Stille enjoyed most about being on the Czechs’ farm was helping with chores, such as feeding calves.

SUMMER CONSIGNMENT AUCTION

which work best for your land.” Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application acceptance or submission deadline dates for evaluation and ranking of eligible applications. Contracts will be awarded to producers with the highest rankings until funds are exhausted. Learn more about EQIP, contact the Foley NRCS Àeld ofÀce at 320-968-5300 ext. 3 or your local NRCS Àeld ofÀce or visit the MN NRCS website at www.nrcs.usda. gov.

g Sellings 2 rin ay all d

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TRACTORS Stiger, KM 280 w/Duals Stiger, KM 225 w/Duals IH 3688, No 3pt, Low Hours IH 766, Cab, WF Diesel, FH IH 1466 IH 450, D, WF IH, 460, D, WF Case 770 W Loader & Cab JD 730, gas, NF, Factory 3pt JD 720, LPG, 1 Wheel Front, Factory 3pt

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IH 350 WF, Loader 1655 Oliver 77 Oliver, needs work, WF AC – D17, WF – P.S AC – C Allis Ac – D 14, Loader Ac – WD, needs work Case 380, 1WD Loader, Diesel 8N, Ford Allis 8’ Disc

Allis 8’ Field Cultivator JD 10’ Disc 7’ 3pt. Power Angle Back Blade JD 50 with Power Steering Allis WC, Needs Repair New JD 6430, Take-off Tires and Rims, Firestone sizes: Two 460-85-R38; Two 340-85-R28 656 IH Gas Wide Front

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT Corner Post and Rail Road Ties Fencing Dairy Barn Tie Stalls w/cups 20’ Feed Bunk on Wheels Head Gate

4 – Barn Isle Fans 3’ to 4’ Line Backer Creep Feeder on Wheel Several Stock Tanks Hog Panels & Coated Floors Coral Gates all Lengths

66” Rock Bucket 66” Graple Bucket Several set Pallet Forks & Buckets Skid Steer Tree Spade Bucket 75 Potted Evergreens and 25 Lilacs Cat V40B

Bobcat S – 250 NH, LS 170, Skid Loader JD 320, Skid Loader JCB – 3C Loader Extend a Hoe, 2 buckets Case 580 K, Loader, back hoe, 2 buckets Fiat Allis, 605 B, Wheel Loader Hyster 15000 pd, rough terrain, fork lift

HAY EQUIPMENT 6450 Hesston, self-propelled, Hay Bine 12’ cut Hesston 4600, small sq. Baler NH 492 Hay Bine JD 530, Rd Baler NH 849, Rd Baler NH 310, Baler w/thrower JD 336, Baler NH 489 Hay Bine JD 100, Large sq. Baler, need repair JD 567, 7 Wheel Rake

CARS, TRUCKS AND TRAILERS 1978 Dodge 150 4x4 Mitz Diesel 1998 Chev Ext. Cab ½ Ton 4x4 1958 GMC, 2 Ton Bed Hoist New Rubber 1994 Chev 4x4, Like New, Steel Flat Bed 2000 Chev Tahoe, 4x4 Air 8’ Utility Box 2012 16’ Car Haul Trailer 1999 Sterling Semi Tractor Cat Powered 2001 Volvo Semi Tractor Cummins Powered 1990 Ford L8000 Rolloff Truck

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1984 Chev 1 Ton with Contractor Dump 2011 Chev Dually with Duramax Diesel 1996 Chev Topkick with 20’ Aluminum Cattle Rack

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LaddersSeveral Sets of Steel Platform Stairs Several Sets of Power tools Wood Splitters, Buzz Saw Combination

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Grass Ram, Eco press, like new Grass Ram, Equipment, like new Like New Shelving System for Heavy Lumber Rigid Table Saw Lots of Clamps all sizes

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JD 6600, Combine Hydro, very nice JD 213 Head JD 1008, 10’ Pull Type, Rotary Cutter JD 6600, Combine Gear, need repair 6’ – 3pt, Tandem Disc 40’ Kewanee Elevator NI Manure Spreader #35 16’ – 3pt, Spring Tooth

ATV, LAWN MOWER, BOATS Bush Hog, Pull Type, 11’ Finish Mower Bush Hog, SQ – 84”, 3pt, Finish Mower Toro, 3 Wheeler Cart Swisher, 60” Zero Turn Toro 267 w/mower & blower

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605B Vermeer Rd Baler Farm Hand 5 Wheel Rake Several Bar Rakes Gehl 1540, Blower IH 8330, Hay Bine MN 10 ton Gear Bale Mover 990 IH, Hay Bine 2 Pro Hay Baskets Several Running Gear JH 3950 Chopper with Hay Head and Corn Head

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8x12 Hip Roof Yard Barn, New 8x8 Chicken Coop 5 ½ x 12 ½ Pronto Pup Stand, No Equipment 15 Sets of Pallet Racking 3 – Bin Jacks 100 – 2x10x16 Like New Plants 25 Sheets of ¾ Plywood Several Truck Boxes for Storage 300’ – 6’ Chain Link Fence w/Poles

Usual amount of Ruff Cut Lumber Planks, Boards, and Post Bridge Beams

SMALL ENGINE REPAIR

Virnig Attachments

Auctioneers: Cullen Bartz, Jimmie Guligowski, Nate Bostrom

To Consign Call:

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Selling with 2 rings. Equipment subject to prior sale. Everything sold as is, no warranties given or implied. All sales are final. Items subject to prior sale. Everything must be removed within 2 weeks. Minn. Sales Tax on any non-farm items. Auction bill made 3 weeks prior to date of sale. Many more iems by day of sale. TERMS: Cash or good check day of sale. Not responsible for accidents. No consignment taken after 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31st. Statements made by auctioneers at auction take precedence over any printed matter.

JuneDairy Month

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Benton Ag

LITTLE ROCK, MN PIERZ, MN 320-468-2168 320-584-5147 LASTRUP, MN BUCKMAN, MN 320-468-6433 320-468-2543

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Remembering a town novelty

Sauk Rapids Dairy Inc. closed 16 years ago by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

Expires

211 G

PAGE 3B

SAUK RAPIDS — When Sauk Rapids Dairy, Inc. closed its doors for the last time on June 30, 2000, it was the end of the glassbottled milk era for many in central Minnesota. The door-to-door milk delivery man had disappeared some forty years earlier and Americans began seeking the convenience of the one-stop-shop and disposable milk cartons, soon thereafter. “The industry was very competitive and there were multiple reasons when I locked the place up for the last time,” said former owner, 70-year old Dennis Larson. “Because of larger competition, I had lost all my school contracts. My building was in need of repairs, but with the new bridge project in the works there was uncertainty as to whether the building would stay. With that and other factored information, we made a peaceful exit.” The Dairy Bar, as locals called it, was originally established in 1941 by Bennett Olson who ushered his sons into the business. After 40 years of the Olson family business, Larson purchased Sauk Rapids Dairy from the last remaining partner Pierce Olson in 1981. “I had an excruciating urge to be a business man,” said Larson, who grew up in Sauk Rapids and came to the business without experience in dairy. Larson taught himself the ins and outs of his new venture through trial and error and cooperative help from existing employees. Sauk Rapids Dairy, which employed about 11 people, was located on Second Avenue. A life-size Àberglass dairy cow atop the building helped draw people into the retail outlet. The dairy was known for its Monday through Friday freshly bottled milk and small-batched homemade ice cream, but also sold pizzas, Áavored milk, orange juice, seasonal items like eggnog and Ken’s Bakery items. In the peak of Larson’s ownership, Sauk Rapids Dairy bottled nearly 20,000 quarts of milk each week. The quarts of milk and pints of cream was sold to 30 wholesale customers, like Brenny Oil of Foley and Old Country Buffet of St. Cloud, as well as, retail customers from their storefront. In addition to those sales, the dairy held school contracts for Foley, Sartell and Holdingford and bottled milk in half pint glass bottles for the schools’ lunch programs. “The milk was the freshest around and you can’t deny that it tasted a lot better coming from a glass bottle,” Larson said. “It was bottled right off the truck. We had no

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Former Sauk Rapids Dairy owner Dennis Larson ran the milk business for almost 20 years before closing its door June 30, 2000. The business bottled approximately 20,000 quarts of milk each week during its peak, along with pints of cream.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Milk was bottled daily straight from the truck after being clariÀed, pasteurized and homogenized.

holding tank. It was as fresh as it could come.” Larson would travel to three local farms which sold their milk exclusively to Sauk Rapids Dairy. He’d collect the product and drive back into town to start the daily bottling process. A hose would connected to the truck and transferred the milk to a clariÀer, according to designated settings, separated the cream and milk into 200 gallon tanks where they went through the pasteurization

and homogenization process. Following this, the milk was bottled and sealed with aluminum foil tops. Returned bottles would be machinewashed and sterilized and Ànal clean-up was done each day. Sauk Rapids Dairy continued to bottle in-house for Àve more years before the decrease in glass bottle sales forced Larson to focus on distribution. He began purchasing bottled milk in 1988 from Sauk Centre’s Central Min-

nesota Cooperative Creamery. The Larson’s homemade ice cream was a big hit. So big they even had friends from out of state make the trip to buy in bulk. “Friends of ours from Iowa enjoyed our homemade ice cream so much they would Áy up and land at the St.. Cloud airport with two coolers. They’d Àll them with ice cream and Áy home,” said Larson’s wife, Marella. All the ice cream was made from scratch from recipes the Larson’s still have Àled away. Air was added to the heavy whipping cream by two machines which whipped and froze the product simultaneously. During the process, the Sauk Rapids Dairy employees would add the Áavorings and extracts — none of which were premixed—to develop Áavors like Rum Raisin, Toasted Almond Fudge, Peppermint Bon Bon along with essentials chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. The ice-cream would exit the machines at a soft-serve 26 degree consistency and be pailed and put into a large freezer to solidify. According to Larson, his ice cream was made with slightly less air than larger competitors churning out a richer, creamier Áavor. Along with pails, three-gallon wholesale tubs and packaged individual serving cups with wooden spoons, the dairy sold ice cream cones, shakes, malts and sundaes from their shop and drive-thru window. “We used to scoop ice cream cones on the sidewalk during Dairy Days in June,” Larson said. “That was a lot of fun. The Sauk Rapids princesses would come and the line would be down the block with community members waiting for a cone.” The surrounding communities provided the Larsons with some loyal customers over the years, but not enough to keep the business thriving. By the time they closed their doors, the company was only bottling about 1,200 glass bottles of milk each week and the remaining 5,000 gallons was being sold in plastic containers or cartons. Nonetheless, Larson said the absence of the business is still felt today. “We had a pretty loyal following in the Foley area,” Larson said. “And I still hear, ‘I miss the dairy’ three times a week.”

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

Sauk Rapids Dairy, Inc. was arguably known best for its small-batch homemade ice cream. Its life-size Àberglass Holsteins are now located at the Benton County Historical Museum.

PAGE 4B

Benton Ag

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Bertsch continued from page 1B Because Bertsch chooses to grow produce free of herbicides and pesticides, the upkeep to his garden is more than most. He makes the 40 minute drive twice a week to spend about 24 hours in his Àeld planting, harvesting, and weeding. He enlists friends who volunteer their time to help Bertsch with his dream. “We’re basically just Àghting the weeds right now. They’re our biggest problem,” Bertsch said. “I use a

markets is sold to local restaurant buyers or donated to food shelves. But why does he do it? Because he loves vegetables. “I like how peaceful it is and I like working with something that I hope is making a difference,” Bertsch said. “I enjoy working with something I can be passionate about and I enjoy being able to literally grow something from the ground up.”

lot of mulch and tarping. The tarps help to germinate the weed seed in the soil quicker, then we destroy those plants through tilling before planting the produce.” Harvests for farmers markets are done every Wednesday and Friday. Bertsch collects his vegetables into large totes before taking them back to his home in Sartell where he washes, packages and refrigerates the produce before sale. Product not sold at the

PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER

Alex Bertsch, owner of Epic By Nature, harvests a spring mix lettuce before the Sauk Rapids Farmers Market June 10.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Benton Ag

PAGE 5B

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west Dairy’s Minnesota State Fair project manager. “In addition to continuing to serve favorites like chocolate, vanilla, applecaramel, rhubarb-strawberry and more, we love to introduce other Áavors that also get fair-goers excited about what dairy farmers have to offer.” During late May, the public chose from the three Áavors by visiting MidwestDairy.com. Like its predecessor, Salted Caramel Puff, Call It Breakfast will be served at the Dairy Goodness Bar for only one year. Fair-goers are encouraged to suggest new tastes for a poll to choose a different featured Áavor again in 2017. The Dairy Goodness Bar, located in the Dairy Building, is one of the State Fair’s most popular concessions and is owned by the state’s dairy farm families and operated by Midwest Dairy Association.

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ST. PAUL – Call It Breakfast made with Minnesota dairy farmers’ secret, State Fair-recipe vanilla ice cream or malt, topped with sprinkles, chocolate and latte-Áavored syrup, and chunks of bakery-fresh doughnuts will join the traditional ice cream Áavors at the Dairy Goodness Bar at the Minnesota State Fair this year. The Áavor, picked through a public poll in May, outdistanced That’s My Jam!, made with oyster crackers and sweet pepper jam, and Scotch Hopper Crunch, featuring chocolate sauce, butterscotch chips and shoestring potatoes, to earn its spot on the menu. The new item appears among seven new frozen treats being introduced at the Fair and featured on its new foods list released to the public June 21. “We’re excited to shake things up a bit again this year,” said Jodi Jetson, Mid-

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Benton Ag

AG Profile

PAGE 6B

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Milk hauling with Jeff Weber of Rice

PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Jeff Weber has been hauling milk for 35 years near Rice.

How long have you been hauling milk? 35 ing around in back that’s pushing you. It’s years. really tough on early morning when it’s snowed quite a bit and you can’t Ànd the How did you get started and why did you roads because they haven’t been plowed. want to be a milk hauler? We had a family hauling business for 20 years then we sold out How many stops do you average a day? the business in 1998. I then switched to be- 15-16. coming an employee for a milk hauler. The reason I wanted to be a milk hauler was we How many miles do you put on in a owned the business and it was there when week? I will put on around 1,500 miles I got out of high school and I liked hauling a week. milk. What is a typical day like for you? I get Tell us about the most memorable day up at 5:15 every morning and I’m out at the you’ve ever had hauling milk? It had to be a Gilman Co-op Creamery at 6 a.m. to get day when we had an icestorm and I couldn’t the truck ready. I try to leave the creamery get the truck to go where I wanted it to go. by 6:45. My Àrst load of the day goes to When you have icestorms you just try to Ànd First District Association in LitchÀeld and traction, sometimes you drive on the shoul- my second load goes to Minneapolis. We Weber takes a milk sample at a dairy near Mayhew Lake last week. der of the road where there’s some gravel. Icy usually have a part-time night driver that roads lead to long days. brings the load to Minneapolis. What do you like about your job? The people I get to meet and see every or every other day. We get to talk about current events and what’s going on in the world. We also visit about how their farm operations are going.

What is a concern you have within the ag industry right now? Milk prices. What the farmers are getting right now for their milk isn’t right. Two years ago they were getting $25 and now their price is under $15.

What are some of the biggest challenges with being a milk hauler? Winter driving. It What is your favorite dairy product? just adds a lot more time to your day because American cheese. of the road conditions and with the milk mov-

Weber checks a milk chart for the amount of pounds a producer had during a stop in central Minnesota.

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Quality trumps price Given the strong opinions expressed by various consumer groups regarding the use of genetically modiÀed organisms (GMOs), you would think they have a good grasp of the facts. “Not so” says Brandon McFadden, a researcher at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. McFadden headed up a study to measure consumer awareness of GMO crops and food and discovered consumers not only have limited knowledge about GMOs but often what they think they know isn’t based on facts. According to McFadden, consumers do not know as much about the facts of genetically modiÀed food and crops as they think they do. For example, 84 percent of those surveyed said they supported a mandatory label for food containing GMO ingredients. However, 80 percent also supported a mandatory label for food containing DNA, which pretty much includes all food. McFadden says, "Our research indicates that the term 'GM' may imply to consumers that

The Business of Farming by Roger Strom Ag __________ Columnist__________ genetic modiÀcation alters the genetic structure of an organism, while other breeding techniques do not." And even when they were presented with the scientiÀc facts, it had little impact on their opinions about GMO’s. While on the subject of consumer attitudes, it appears quality trumps price every time. Ken Wicker, the vice president of a supermarket chain, surveyed shoppers to Ànd out how they decide where to shop for food. He looked at the impact of price, quality, service, convenience, store atmosphere and store brands. He found price was not the biggest factor for picking a grocery store. High-quality perishables were the deciding factor for the majority of those surveyed and if the quality

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was good, loyalty followed. If shoppers saw the quality drop off at their primary store, more than 72 percent said they would stop shopping there. A similar share said they are willing to pay more for higher quality foods and 67 percent would not sacriÀce quality for low price. Even those with a limited food budget put quality over price. According to Wicker, "Actually, customers with less expendable income view poor quality as a risk they cannot afford because it might waste their money." Wicker's research concludes customers would rather spend their limited budget on higher quality foods they can trust, even if they cost more." The study was focused on all foods, but they found meat quality was a big factor in picking a place to shop. Wicker makes a good point, saying, "Many meals are built around meat as the main component. If the customer builds a whole meal around a speciÀc cut of meat, or patronizes their favorite restaurant and the quality is not good, you stand a high chance of losing a loyal customer."

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PAGE 7B

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

PAGE 8B

Benton Ag

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

University of Minnesota small grains Àeld days week, depending on temperature, stage of the crop, how well the soil dries after this. Yield loss might not occur if Áooded for 48 hours or less. Root disease, and other issues can occur and raise further havoc with the crop. What about replanting drown-out areas? For cash crop farmers, we’d suggest at least planting a cover crop, keeping something green and growing on the land as much as possible. People with ruminant livestock might consider alternative forages. How much denitriÀcation nitrogen loss might occur? Regional Soils Extension Educator Brad Carlson prepared the following table showing the relationship between soil temperature and saturation time: Percent of Applied NO3 Lost Soil Duration of Saturation Temp 4 days 10 days 50 F 3% 6% 60 F 6% 12% 70 F 12% 26% 77 F 20% 43% Is there a need for supplemental N? Internet Users can search for “Minnesota Extension Supplemental Nitrogen” for a worksheet to evaluate situations. Search for “Minnesota Extension Crop News” for information being provided on a wide range of current crop issues. You’re also welcome call the County Extension OfÀce in Benton County 968-5077, Stearns (320) 255-

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McLeod and from their own Àelds Meeker County for analysis and diagExtension Edunosis. U of M Extencator Nathan sion personnel will Winter and sumalso be available to mer intern Hollie help with weed identiDonnay shared Àcation questions. this information The local research By Dan Martens recently. plots are funded University of Un ive r sit y through a grant from MN Extension the Minnesota Asof Minnesota sociation of Wheat Small Grains Field Days will be held in late Growers cooperating with June throughout the state. Lo- University of Minnesota Excally the Àeld day will be host- tension. Data is currently beed at the University of Min- ing collected weekly by UM nesota Extension Research Extension wheat scouts travelPlot on the Dave Lochen farm ing across the state checking north of Kimball. The local stages, disease and pests in event will be held on Mon- small grains. Lunch is providday, June 27 beginning at 1 ed through support from the p.m. The Àeld day event is lo- MAWG grant. There are two other southcated at 9625 Co Rd 8, Marty, ern MN small grain Àeld days MN. One of the presenters at including Tuesday, June 21, 11 the event will be Jochum Wi- a.m. in LeCenter and Monday, ersma, U of MN Extension June 27, 7 p.m. in Benson. Questions regarding the Small Grains specialist. He focuses on improving small site near Kimball can be digrain productivity. The sec- rected to (320) 980-2915 or ond presenter is Phil Glogoza to the Meeker County Extenwho is the Crops Educator for sion OfÀce at (320) 693-5275. the U of MN Extension. He Questions regarding any of specializes in small grain en- the three Àeld days can be tomology. The program agen- directed to Jochum Wiersma da for the day will include at (218) 281-8629. small grain production on the Heavy Rains Raise Quesgrowth stage, agronomic prac- tions How long can the crop be tices, and pest identiÀcation and management. There will underwater? With soil temalso be a review of the vari- perature over 77 degrees, corn ety trials of spring and winter could be hurt signiÀcantly afwheat, winter rye, barley and/ ter 24 hours. In colder condior oats. tions, corn could survive up Growers are asked to to about four days. Soybeans bring “show-and-tell” samples can survive underwater for a

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