Green & Growing

Soil is made up of grains of rocks, air, Silt particles may stick together creating water and organic material. The grains of water-logged soils. Clay particles stick to rock have various sizes. Sand has the everything and often compacts holding largest particles, silt is smaller, and clay water and nutrients so closely that plant has the smallest particle size. One writer roots cannot use them. made a comparison illustration by saying that a sand particle was like a basketball when compared to a silt particle which was baseball size and a clay particle which was like a marble in size. Soil particles are created by the weathGREEN AND GROWING By Linda G. Tenneson Soil also contains living organisms that are too small to be seen without a microscope. The organic material (often called hummus) in soil is the result of plants dying and biodegrading; plus bacteria or fungi operating on them along with the ering of rocks. Rocks may crack and break due to actions of earthworms, insects and animals. temperature changes as in water accumulating in cracks, freezing, and then expanding. Plants may also grow in cracks and their stem expansion breaks rocks apart. Water flowing over rocks slowly changes their shape and reduces them in size. Burrowing animals and insects eat plant roots, leaves and plant material that has been left on the soil surface. These creatures in turn create waste products which are left in the soil. The minerals in the soil determine its color. Red or yellow soil contains iron. A white crust on the surface indicates that too much salt has accumulated. Most gardening is done in the topsoil where organic material has been deposited. Leaves, grass clippings and weeds pulled from the soil but left on the surface will also biodegrade and create hummus, which helps air and water to stay in the soil.

The space between soil particles contains the air, Loam is the desired gardening soil texture because water and organic material plant roots need to grow. it contains the best combination of soil particles and Sandy soil has more space between particles and so nutrients needed by plants. Organic matter is often it drains quickly and must be watered more often. added to sandy soil to improve its moisture holding capacity. Raised beds filled with loam may be used when adding organic material to soil has not been successful. Organic matter also reduces soil compaction making it easier for plant roots to expand and grow.

Ideal soil contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They are the ingredients found in purchased fertilizer indicated by the three numbers on the packages. Too much or too little of these three, plus macro nutrients (calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) and trace elements control how well our plants grow. Stunted growth and/or curled or off-color leaves are some of the indications of nutrient deficiency. A soil test done by the University of Minnesota Soil Test laboratory will indicate whether additional fertilizer is needed. Go to soiltest.cfans.umn.edu for directions and submission forms.

Thanks to Elizabeth Murphy whose book, “Building Soil, A Down to Earth Approach,” was one of the sources for this article.

Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v

Disaster assistance for farmers impacted by drought

ST. PAUL — Minnesota agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the ongoing, severe drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover.

Producers who experience livestock deaths and feed losses due to natural disasters may be eligible for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program. This program also provides eligible producers with compensation for expenses associated with transporting water to livestock physically located in a county that is designated as level “D3 Drought - Extreme” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. For ELAP, producers will need to file a notice of livestock loss within 30 days and honeybee losses within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent.

Livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought in 2021 may be eligible for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. A map of eligible counties for LFP drought may be found on the FSA website https://www.fsa.usda.gov).

Additionally, emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres may be authorized (outside of the primary nesting season) to provide relief to livestock producers in areas affected by a severe drought or similar natural disaster. Emergency haying and grazing status is reviewed and authorized each Thursday using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Counties are approved for emergency haying and grazing due to drought conditions on a county by county basis, when a county is designated as level “D2 Drought - Severe” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines lost during the drought. This complements Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage, which covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases. For TAP, a program application must be filed within 90 days.

“Be sure to contact your local FSA office to timely report all crop, livestock and farm losses due to drought or other natural disasters as soon as you are aware,” said Michelle Page acting state executive director for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Minnesota. “To expedite FSA disaster assistance, you will likely need to provide documents, such as farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.”

FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed loans, including operating and emergency loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options.

This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v

54th Annual Butterfield Threshermen’s STEAM & GAS ENGINE SHOW

Saturday, Aug. 21 & Sunday, Aug. 22

Butterfield, MN • On Hwy. 60 in Southwestern MN

Bring your gas or model engines! Visit the construction corner for demos!

FEATURING . . . Cockshutt tractors and Fairbanks Morse engines!

• Free parking • Camping facilities available • Shaded lakeside site ADMISSION — Adults, 13 & older: $10 Children: FREE

EQUIPMENT PARADE

Sat., 2:15 p.m. Sun., 3:15 p.m.

BLUEGRASS MUSIC

On stage daily in the shade of Voss Park

ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL 5:30 p.m. Friday