Help prevent equipment-caused wildfires

ST. PAUL – Drought conditions in Minnesota are increasing wild re risk in central Minnesota. Recently, several equipment-caused wild res have occurred, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Exhaust systems and motors can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees during operation, and equipment can create sparks by hitting rocks or hard surfaces.

Taking steps to maintain equipment and putting safety rst will help reduce unintentional, equipment-caused wild res.

It only takes one spark to turn harvest season into wild re season. Whether people are working in the eld, doing yard work or operating other heavy machinery, they can help prevent wild res by following these tips:

– Keep equipment maintained to minimize overheating and sparks.

– Look to the rear regularly to make sure equipment is not start-

Mielke from page 2B

I’ve de nitely learned a lot more about pigs as part of a rst-year 4-H family. Austin, and Morgan, have shown Stella and Hailey everything that’s involved with showing pigs.”

Clint said post-Benton County Fair life is going to be dif cult regarding the girls’ relationship with Tank.

“He was placed on the 4-H auction,” Clint said. “That was hard when it happened, but we previously explained to Hailey that a pig going to butcher is all part of the deal when you raise fair livestock.”

Benton County has always had a strong swine

Programs from page 1B

LFP provides compensation if producers suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash-leased land or re on federally managed land.

County committees can only accept LFP applications after notication of a qualifying drought is received by the national of ce or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying re.

ELAP covers losses from transporting water to livestock

If producers incurred additional operating costs for transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought, assistance may be available through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program.

Eligible livestock must be adult or nonadult dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffalo and beefalo as well as alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, horses or sheep. Additionally, the livestock must have been owned 60 calendar days prior to the beginning of the drought and be physically located in the county designated as a disaster area due to drought. Adequate livestock watering systems or facilities must have existed before the drought occurred, and producers are only eligible if they do not normally transport water to the livestock.

Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot are not eligible for transporting water. ELAP covers the additional cost of transporting water and does not cover the cost of the water itself.

Producers must le a notice of loss on form CCC-851 the earlier of 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent to them. Additionally, the deadline to submit an application for payment for 2023 ELAP assistance is Jan. 31, 2024.

Documentation that shows the method used to transport the water, the number of gallons of water transported and the number of eligible livestock to which water was transported must be provided to FSA.

CRP non-emergency haying/grazing provisions expanded FSA is reminding Conservation Reserve Program participants and livestock producers about the expanded haying and grazing opportunities included in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 farm bill. The greater exibility in non-emergency haying and ing res. livestock program and participation at its county fair, said Nathan Oliver, a Benton County 4-H volunteer judge from Becker who observed Stella and Hailey Aug. 1 as they moved around the ring.

– Park on gravel or pavement whenever possible. Avoid idling or parking near tall grasses or vegetation.

– When doing in- eld repairs, use extreme caution when welding, torching or grinding.

– Keep a water supply extinguisher and tools nearby as well as a phone to call for help.

If you spot a wild re, call 911. Fire danger can change quickly. Check current conditions at mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions.

Oliver runs about 20 purebred breeding stock sows and ve boars on his 200-acre farm.

He had lots of post-showing praise for this year’s Benton County open class novices and Cloverbud fair participants.

“These kids are the future of our program,” Oliver said. “I admire the families and older mentors. This is how you build an industry. It’s rare to nd this type of 4-H participation, so any opportunity like this that you encounter is really fantastic.”

Central Dairy Field Day

A Melrose dairy farm is the site of an upcoming dairy field day.

Dairy farmers and industry professionals will gather from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Funk’s Midway Dairy, 32952 330th St., Melrose, for this year’s Central Dairy Field Day.

Funk’s Midway Dairy is owned and operated by four families, which milk 700 cows with a double 12 parlor as well as two robots. Participants will learn about forages, robots, farm management styles and reproduction enterprise. Register at extension.umn.edu/event/central-dairyfield-day-2023.

For additional information, contact Dana Adams at 320-204-2968 or adam1744@umn.edu.

Irrigation, Nutrient Management Field Day

The University of Minnesota Extension is hosting an Irrigation and Nutrient Management Field Day from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at Sand Plain Research Farm in Big Lake. Topics of the free field day will include precision irrigation and nitrogen management in corn and potato fields, soil moisture sensing technology for irrigation scheduling and enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Complimentary dinner is included.

Find more information or register at z.umn.edu/irrigationfieldday or by contacting Taylor Herbert at 612-3945229 or thebert@umn.edu.

grazing provisions of the conservation program maintain appropriate protections to maintain the desired soil, water and wildlife bene ts. Haying and grazing of CRP conservation cover, if done responsibly, have been shown to diversify covers, improve existing stands and provide benets to wildlife habitat.

All practices are now eligible for non-emergency haying and grazing except for CP-12 wildlife food plots and the following tree practices (CP3, CP3A, CP5A, CP16A, CP17A, CP31, CP36, CP38 (unless authorized by the SAFE agreement) and CP-38). The new provisions allow the CP-23, CP-23A, CP-21 and CP-25 acreages to be hayed or grazed. This change provides signicant increase of acres eligible for consideration for authorized harvesting of hay or grazing.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service will work with CRP participants to develop a Conservation Plan of Operations that provides guidelines that must be followed when grazing CRP. Non-emergency grazing must not exceed 120 days and may begin based upon the established date in the plan. Grazing must end the earlier of the minimum grazing heights required entering the dormancy growing season or the date specied in the plan.

CRP participants are required to le a request for haying or grazing and receive written approval from FSA prior to any haying or grazing. Applications will identify the acreage requested for haying or grazing. The same acreage must not be hayed and grazed in the same year. A Conservation Plan of Operation will be developed for all haying and grazing requests. Participants must agree to re-establish, at their own expense, any cover destroyed or damaged as a result of haying or grazing. The plan will include dates for haying and bales to be removed and grazing beginning and ending dates in which livestock must be removed. Participants are required to report the number of acres hayed or grazed within 10 working days of the established end dates. Compliance reviews of haying and grazing reports are conducted annually.

TK Timber

The Sand Plain Research Farm is located near Knife River Corporation, 16491 157th St. SE, Big Lake. From the intersection of Highway 10 and Minnesota County Road 11, proceed south to 157th Street Southeast and turn right. Travel 100 yards and prepare to turn left. Signs will direct people to the field day.

Soil Solutions Field Day

Farmers and agricultural experts from across the region are set to gather from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, for the University of Minnesota Extension Soil Solutions Field Day.

The event – which takes place at West Central Research and Outreach Center, located at 46352 Highway 329, Morris – aims to explore innovative methods to enhance farm productivity through the promotion of healthy soil. A wide range of sessions will be offered throughout the day, covering various topics such as tillage choices in soil conditions, water management through cover crops, planting green during dry years and the detrimental impact of soil erosion on crop productivity.

For additional information about the event and to assure a complimentary lunch, individuals can visit z.umn. edu/Sept7.

For inquiries, contact Jodi DeJong-Hughes at dejon003@umn.edu or 320-815-4112.

Women in Ag Field Day for Productive Soil

University of Minnesota Extension Women in Ag Network is hosting the Thriving Roots Field Day from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at the West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 Highway 329 Morris.

The event is designed for women passionate about farm productivity through healthy soil. Extension educators, soil specialists and topic experts will offer hands-on sessions on topics that include tillage in soil conditions, cover crop roots and their effects on soil, planting green information about cereal rye crops, methods to reduce soil erosion and the economics of cover crops.

For more information and to register, visit z.umn.edu/ Sept8. A complimentary lunch and beverages will be provided.

Benton County Tour of Practices

The Benton Soil and Water Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service will host it annual Tour of Practices from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.

The tour consists of visiting sites and learning about projects of the Benton SWCD and NRCS.

The free tour includes complimentary lunch. Attendees must register by Friday, Sept. 1, to participate by contacting Renee Thell at 320-968-5300, ext. 3 or renee.thell@ mn.nacdnet.net.