Green & Growing

Planting different plants together for vegetable gardens to deter insects with their mutual benefit or to repel insects limited success. Placing strongly scented has long been known. Our experience flowers around vegetables may deter with planting many ash trees next to insects, rabbits or deer. each other and then the Emerald Ash Borer moving from one to another has pointed out the value of diversity in horticulture. Disease and insects can take advantage of large groups of the same species planted next to each other. A large patch of the same species plant will GREEN AND GROWING By Linda G. Tenneson Planting nasturtiums around squash has reduced some insect damage to the squash. While this practice does not always work, a physical barrier such as a fence or row cover is more likely to keep insects or animals from causing damage. easily attract insects if those plants are Planting flowers among vegetables may its desired food. However, a variety of plants makes attract pollinator insects to visit the decorative it harder for damage causing insects to “find the plant flowers and then move to the vegetable plant grocery store” so to speak. Plants of differing colors flowers and pollinate them. may confuse insects so that they cannot find their An alternative practice is to grow plants which favorite food plant when it is growing among other attract beneficial insects which will eat damageplants. causing insects. Lady beetles, praying mantis and

This is also true for diseases. Fungi and other spiders eat other insects. There are also insect parapathogens can be easily moved from plant to plant sitoids that lay their eggs on other insects. As the by the wind, insects, or larger animals brushing egg emerges and grows, it feeds on the host insect against one plant and then depositing the fungi on and may eventually kill it. Arugula, rapeseed and an adjacent one. Diseases which affect more than napa cabbage can be “trap crops” which attract flea one related plant may also easily travel between beetles and keep them from eating desired plants. them. Eggplants, tomatoes and peppers may all suf- Sage and thyme have been used to deter diamondfer damage from the same insects or disease patho- back moths from eating Brussel sprouts. Flowers or gens because they are genetically-related plants. plants with strong scents like marigolds, onions and

Gardeners often plant marigolds around their nasturtium may deter cabbage worms. A planting practice known as the three sisters (corn, beans and squash) was first used by Native Americans. Corn grows tall and provides support for the beans to climb on. The corn deters the squash vine borer. Beans provide nitrogen in the soil which is used by the corn. Squash discourages raccoons that prefer to eat corn.

Other plant combinations will enrich the soil. Farmers rotate corn, wheat, alfalfa, soybeans, and other crops for this purpose. For example, alfalfa fixes nitrogen in the soil which is used by the corn.

The Michigan Extension website warns gardeners that some plants do not do well when planted near each other. Beans do not like to be near onions or garlic. Cabbage does not like tomatoes; and potatoes do not like to be near vine crops, tomatoes or sunflowers.

The website extension.umn.edu/planting-andgrowing-guides/companion-planting-home-gardens contains more details on how plants can diversity can help the gardener.

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated three key crop insurance options for livestock producers: the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM), and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). USDA’s Risk Management Agency revised the insurance options to reach more producers, offer greater flexibility for protecting operations, and better meet the needs of the country’s swine, dairy and cattle producers.

With the Dairy Revenue Protection update, dairy producers are now able to continue coverage even if they experience a disaster, such as a barn fire, at their operation.

For Livestock Gross Margin coverage, cattle, dairy and swine coverage has been expanded, making it available in all counties in all 50 states.

Many changes in Livestock Risk Protection coverage were added. Insurance companies are now required to pay indemnities within 30 days, rather than the previous 60 days, following the receipt of the claim form. Head limits have been increased. The termination date under LRP has been extended from June 30 to Aug. 31. Location reporting requirements have been relaxed to list only state and county, instead of the precise legal location.

Learn more on RMA’s Livestock Insurance Plans at https://www.rma.usda.gov/Policy-and-Procedure/ Insurance-Plans/Livestock-Insurance-Plans.

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

If you travel straight east of Fertile, Minn. a mile and a half, you’ll find the fifth-generation Erickson Farms. Matt Erickson is Matt Erickson Fertile, Minn.

proud to have continued the farming legacy on the very land his great-great-grandfather first toiled the ground. “I’m actually on the original homestead.” Erickson’s farming partner is another member of the Erickson farming legacy: his father, Jerry. The two have been farming together since 2000.

Cattle is key for Erickson and the herd continues to get larger, with 325 pregnant cows this spring and another 75 due in the fall. “There’s steady growth through the years.” The emphasis on cattle is due in part to the land, as Erickson admits he doesn’t have ideal ground for growing crops. “We graze a lot of stuff that’s marginal.” The crop ground will be planted with corn, soybeans and alfalfa this year. “We’re going to have to plant more acres of corn.” This change is because of last year’s drought and the need for more silage.

to helping farmers with seed selection tailored for their farming operations. Today she works her day job selling seed as well as being an integral part of the family farming operation, which consists of her parents Brent and Deb, as well as her brother, Donnie Lesage.

Her path to selling seed and farming began during her time in college at North Dakota State University. “I worked for Pioneer in college as a sales intern.” After college she moved to Nebraska working for Pioneer in corn seed production for one year. While a great experience, it provided challenges being that far away from the home farm in Minnesota. An opportunity arose with Red River Marketing Company in Elbow Lake and Johnson has now been there for eight years selling Pioneer Seed.

Johnson grew up with livestock. “We had a feedlot when I was little.” The farm has now transitioned to solely crop production. We’re mostly 50-50 corn, soybeans.” The last time Johnson grew wheat was in 2008; but this year she will be planting wheat once again. “Due to the drought last year, we made the

While Erickson is looking forward to getting the crops in the ground, right now he’s in the middle of calving. “I’ve never seen a spring this challenging.” Currently, he’s caring for 10 bottle calves — one of which broke its back leg and is in a cast. Many of

2022

FROM THE FIELDS Compiled by KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Staff Writer

those calves were born during the difficult weather northwestern Minnesota faced in April. From unrelenting winds, blizzard conditions and heavy snow, it’s something Erickson won’t soon forget. “Calving has been a real struggle this spring. It’s been one fight after another.” While the weather is turning more spring-like as of May 5, Erickson is seeing the lingering effect of the April calving in some of the calves as they deal with respiratory issues.

Caring for the livestock is a family affair, Erickson’s wife Pat works full-time as a rural mail carrier and helps with the cattle. She’s been instrumental in keeping the bottle calves thriving these past few weeks. Son Emery, age 20, has some cows of his own and is looking at starting his own operation, specializing in raising registered Angus. “It’s a big commitment for someone his age,” Erickson said. Daughters Catherine, a senior, and Sidney, a freshman at Fertile-Beltrami High School, also care for the livestock. They both have a few cows, as well as a flock of 30 ewes.

When Erickson can get into the field, he’ll be planting more corn, less beans and a little more alfalfa than usual. “We’re always looking for an opportunity

See ERICKSON, pg. 11

Johnson is optimistic, going back to growing wheat

Leah Johnson has a passion for ag. That passion began on the farm in Evansville, Minn. and has continued with her commitment Leah Johnson 

Evansville, Minn.

decision to plant some wheat this year.

“With higher commodity prices, Johnson is seeing optimism for a good year — not only on her farm, but from what her seed customers are feeling as well. “I think people are a lot more hopeful going into this spring planting.”

Last year was a tough year for the Johnson farm, as moisture was in very limited supply. “For us it was 1988.” That was an exceptionally dry year for much of the state and the crops suffered due to the lack of rain.

With optimism high, Johnson looks forward to getting in the field and getting the crop planted. As of May 5, Johnson plans to get started on wheat in the next few days. “Corn planting next week.” Ideally, Johnson would’ve liked to be in the field in April.

“There’s a chance of rain this weekend.” If the rain hits and field conditions don’t improve in the next 10 days, Johnson may have to make seed selection changes based on maturity dates.

Concerns for this growing season focus on what moisture will be available throughout the summer months. “Is this drought cycle over because it’s been wet this spring? I still think we could be at risk for being dry.” Looking at the lack of availability of chemicals is also a concern. “How are we going to kill weeds effectively with the shortage of chemicals?”

Johnson has a pulse on what’s happening in agriculture across the area. From her own farm to her customers’ fields, she sees enthusiasm as well as a concern going into planting this year. The hope is that weather soon cooperates to get the seed in the ground and provides enough moisture throughout the growing months resulting in high-yielding crops. v

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From leadership roles in agriculture, to a 14-year career in law enforcement, to farming fulltime since 2017, Bob Roelofs’ passion for growing Bob Roelofs Garden City, Minn. 

crops has never wavered. Roelofs lives on the farm that he grew up on, which is located between Garden City and Vernon Center, Minn.

Growing up, he enjoyed farming — though he decided that law enforcement was also something he wanted to pursue. He worked in Blue Earth and Faribault counties and served in various roles includ-

This year will be his 49th year of putting in a crop and Winslow is eager to get in the field and get planting.

Winslow farms with his son, Colin, who in addition to farming has share in the F’N Trucking Co. Colin will be taking over the farm when Winslow retires; but for now, it’s a father-son operation. Colin, his wife Ashley and their newborn daughter, Lorelei, live a few miles down the road. So Winslow and his wife, Jean, get plenty of opportunities to dote on their little granddaughter while waiting for planting to begin. Winslow’s daughter, Katie Drewitz, is the new extension educator for Agriculture Production Systems in Fillmore and Houston counties. Her husband, Nathan, also serves as an extension educator. The family’s rich history in ag continues to inspire involvement in their own way, from farming to educating the community. Adams, Minn. Colin has six head of beef.

In addition to spring work this year, Winslow has been in clean-up mode. On Dec. 15, the farm was hit by heavy winds. “There was a little twist to it,” Winslow said. Those winds with a twist caused damage to Winslow’s house, grain bins, and both hog houses and destroyed his machine shed. “We built that (machine shed) in 1976.” When conditions cooperate, Winslow goes out in the field cleaning up trees that blew down in that storm. He also has been coordinating the upcoming building of a new machine shed. First though, the old shed needs to come down. There’s still plenty of clean-up work to do and at times it can be daunting for Winslow.

“We’ll stick to the plan.”

Once Winslow can get in the field he will no-till the beans in. He had a lot of ground that needs to be worked as he put manure down on it. “I always like planting by the 24th of April.” Not this year. The soil temperature was in the 30s last week, the morning of May 4, Winslow reported that it was in the 40s, and finally moving in the right direction. Once fields have dried out, he’ll pump the manure pits and get anhydrous on.

Winslow hasn’t gotten in the field. “I’m not too concerned yet.” He recalled that on May 2, 2013, the farm received 18 inches that day. “We got our crop in that year.”

When he can start planting this spring, he estimates that it will take about a week to 10 days to get the crops in the ground. “You have to take the weather as it comes.” Winslow is hopeful that warmer, drier weather comes soon. v

ing police chief, a police officer and sheriff’s deputy. During that time, he also was farming. Five years ago he made the decision to only farm.

Roelofs — together with his brother Justin — run Roelofs Ag Resources where they grow soybeans and corn as well as doing custom farming work. They also own Triple R Pork LLC., a feeder-to-finish operation which houses 12,000 hogs at three different sites.

When not caring for the hogs and the farm, Roelofs spends his time serving on the board of directors of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. He is also on the Vernon Center fire department and the Vernon Center township board. Roelofs and his wife Jill have three sons, Wyatt (age 14), Tristan (age 11) and Logan (age 7).

When The Land spoke to Roelofs on May 5, he estimated planting would start in two days. “Just getting things ready to go.” He plans on planting soybeans in two-thirds of the fields and corn in the rest. “We’ll probably do a little more fungicide than we have done in the past.” He sees this as a sound financial call. “It’s more bang for the buck.”

“Last fall we had excellent crops. We drained our sub moisture last fall.” Looking ahead to the growing season, Roelofs is thinking timely rains. “Hopefully, we get the rains this summer. Soils around here are very good at holding water capacity.”

Roelofs is excited to see what this growing season has to offer. “If Mother Nature can get herself straightened out, we have a chance for a good crop.”v

Winslow plays the waiting game; still plenty to do

Since 1854, the farm just west of Fountain, Minn. has been in the Winslow family. Scott Winslow is the fifth generation to the farm that very land. Scott Winslow Fountain, Minn. 

2022

FROM THE FIELDS Compiled by KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Staff Writer

Winslow is committed to helping out — whether he is serving on the boards of the Fillmore County Farm Bureau, the Minnesota Corn and Research Council, the U.S. Grain Council, Minnesota Ag in the Classroom or the Chatfield FFA Alumni. He also teaches farm safety every May to 250-300 local fourth-graders in Fillmore County who come to the Tesmer Farm Safety Day held at the Fillmore fairgrounds. Grain bin safety is a passion of Winslow’s, as he’s been educating youth about the danger of grain bins for over 30 years.

This spring Winslow will be planting corn and beans. He sticks with a 65/35 corn bean rotation. In addition to the crops, Winslow currently has 1,200 hogs he’s finishing for Thome Family Farms out of