28 minute read
Green & Growing
by The Land
Houseplants placed out- encourages the insects to doors during the summer multiply and move to other should be moved indoors as locations. Gardeners may the nighttime temperatures inspect a plant for insects or decrease. Very sensitive give them a bath by soaking plants may be injured by the plant in warm water nighttime temperatures of and dishwashing soap if the 45 to 50 F. GREEN AND plant is small enough to manage. Remember to wash the outsides of the pots also. Soaking the top layer of soil or removing and replacing it will eliminate insect eggs which may have been deposited there. Plants should be segregated from those which have been indoors all summer for a week or so. Plants brought indoors may have insect pests and diseases. Spray large plants in a shower or sink GROWING By Linda G. Tenneson to knock those insects and pathogens The process of bringing plants off; or use mild dishwashing soap and indoors is the same as acclimating water to wipe the leaves and stems to them to outdoor conditions in the remove them. There are insects such as spring. The shock of being moving aphids, mealybugs, white flies, etc. that indoors may cause yellow leaves, wiltare not a major problem to plants ing, dieback, or the death of the plant. while they are outdoors, but do become If possible, bring the plant indoors for a problem when the plant is brought a short period of time each day and indoors. The warm indoor atmosphere lengthening the period until the plant remains indoors for the season. Try to duplicate the lighting conditions indoors the plant was used to outdoors. Or adjust to lower light conditions slowly, as in moving from a very sunny location to a less sunny one for a short time each day until the plant appears acclimated to its winter location.
This is also a good time repot the plant into a larger container if needed and/or to prune irregular or unwanted growth. Plants that have grown new plants along side of the parent plant may need to be removed and placed in their own containers. An alternative to bringing the entire plant indoors is to take a cutting, place it in a rooting medium, and later into soil when roots have developed. This is especially useful for geraniums which produce a new plant without the woody stem of an existing plant. Coleus, begonias and impatiens are other candidates for
Advertisement
propagation by cuttings. If circumstances prevent overwintering plants indoors, collect seeds from the plant and store them for use the following year. Seeds need to by completely dry before storage and kept in dry and cool locations. If the seeds are in a glass jar or other sealed container, they may be kept in the refrigerator. Be sure to label the plant name, variety if known and collection year. This is useful because some seeds remain viable for several years and may not be all used in the following spring. Hybrid plants, however, may revert to the grandparent or previous generation varieties used in their creation. Choose seeds from healthy plants with no disease symptoms so that diseases are not introduced to the new plants. Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v Successful storage of garden crops takes special care
To avoid unnecessary waste of this season’s garden crop, it is important to understand proper storing options for root vegetables. It is important to keep in mind only healthy, disease-free produce should be stored.
The length of time and efforts to store these vegetables varies. The first storage category is cold, moist storage. Cold moist storage is defined as 32-40 F with 90-95 percent relative humidity. Beets will store up to five months (be sure to store without tops). Carrots will store up to eight months and should be stored without tops. Parsnips will store up to four months. Do not wax, and they have best sweetness after two-week storage at 32 F. Potatoes will store up to six months, and should be cured at 50-60 F or for 14 days before storage. Rutabaga will store up to four months, do not wax, and will give off odors. Turnips will store up to four months, can be waxed, and will give off odors.
Cole crops should also be stored in cold, moist storage. Broccoli will store up to two weeks. Cabbage will store up to five months, but it is not recommended to store in the basement because the smell will spread throughout the house. Cauliflower will store up to three weeks. Kohlrabi will store up to two months and should be stored without tops.
The next storage category is cool, dry storage which is defined as 50-60 F and 60 percent relative humidity. Pumpkins will store up to two months and are very sensitive to temperatures below 45 F. Winter squash will store for two to six months depending on variety. Field curing is the best option.
Finally, there is cold, dry storage — which is 32-40 F and 65 percent relative humidity. Onions cure at room temperature for two to four weeks before storage. Onions should not be stored near apples or potatoes as the
Love to cook?
The Land is seeking a recipe editor to write a 1,000-word monthly column. Writing skills preferred, but will train the right person. Apply to Paul Malchow at editor@thelandonline.com
apples and potatoes will absorb the onion flavor.
In general, store root crops in layers of moist sand, peat or sphagnum moss or in a plastic perforated bag. This helps provide essential air movement to prevent condensation and helps prevent shriveling and prolongs shelf-life. Of course, it is then important to ensure there is good ventilation and the produce is stored in an area where it will not sustain rodent damage.
To obtain ideal temperatures, you may want to consider using straw, hay or wood shavings to insulate the bags of produce in areas where the temperatures would dip too low and cause loss. In general, expect the shelf-life to be shortened by 25 percent for every 10-degree increase in temperature.
Finally, be sure to check on your produce to ensure they haven’t started to mold or go bad. Discard any that show signs before it impacts others.
This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
By DICK HAGEN tractor. Yep, appears to me robotic tracThe Land Staff Writer Emeritus tors are inevitable. Cotton farmers in the BOONE, Iowa — Catch a University ‘Deep South’ might be the quickest to gin of Nebraska ag engineer at a farm show up to robotic power. But as soon as a reliand my attention always sparks just a able robotic power supplier springs up bit. At the recent National Farm Progress here in the northern prairies, there’s Show in Boone, Iowa, my good fortune likely to be an explosion of robotic power was Santosh Pita. Pita is with the engiacross the Midwest. neering department of the University of Another technological advancement Nebraska. He was talking about robotic which has changed how we live is today’s tractors. Dr. Pita is a native of India and cameras and image-capturing. High respossesses graduate degrees from three olution cameras are now in our phones universities in the United States. and our doorbells; and are a mandatory “You’re looking at a 60 horsepower, accessory on police uniforms. But camrobotic tractor … all-wheel speed and eras and field sprayers? all-wheel drive,” Pita said. “And we can Called the “See & Spray” system, this do multiple operations with this. We’re remarkable technology was on display at looking at row-crop planting, also cover the National Farm Progress event in crop drilling so this machine can follow a Boone, Iowa. The contraption does exactcombine and immediately drill the cover ly what its name says: It only sprays crop seed. We’re set up for a two-row operation right size, but our price projections are a range of $80,000 when it sees a weed! now, but if horsepower is stepped up it could do more rows.” to $200,000.” “We’re thinking maybe six to seven years might be Explained Franklin Peitz, John Deere’s Marketing Manager for JD Sprayers, “Yes, essentially we’ve got
“This is a research proto-type;” Pita went on to say, its useful life span,” Pita admitted. “Then something two sprayers in one system. We’ve got a split tank with “but even so, a few farmers are already asking if they simply better likely will be available — if not from us, independent plumbing all the way down the boom might purchase such a machine. So that is why then from others who see a healthy future for robotic going down to two different nozzle bodies with two difmyself and a graduate student are doing a start-up tractors.” ferent nozzle tips. So you can be spraying a residual company called Plains Technology. Depending upon Flex-Row is the name for this soon to be robotic while simultaneously spraying a non-residual. Or spraying a fungicide while spraying a herbicide.” Talk about technology, get this: See & Spray Ultimate uses 36 cameras mounted every 3.28 feet across the 120-foot carbon fiber truss-style boom. These cameras are networked together, scanning more than 2,100 square feet per second and capturing 40 images in a blink of an eye as the sprayer moves through the field. So the inevitable question: Does it miss a few weeds? Peitz said, “The ‘hit rate’ with this unit is comparable to broadcast spraying. We’re not seeing any more misses than you would in a regular sprayer.” JD literature suggests the unit can reduce nonresidual herbicide use by more than two-thirds! This enables operators to spray more acres per load while reducing the environmental impact. Peitz indicated See & Spray systems will be distributed to John Deere dealers across the Midwest by spring. The factory-installed system will be available for model year 2023 John Deere 410R, 412R and 612 sprayers. JD’s Ankeny, Iowa manufacturing facility is the source of this equipment. v
Photos by Dick Hagen See & Spray Ultimate uses 36 cameras mounted every 3.28 feet across the 120-foot carbon fiber truss-style boom. The University of Nebraska brought their prototype 60-horsepower, robotic tractor to the Farm Progress Show.
On average, nearly two dozen people are killed each year in the United States in grain entrapment incidents. Flowing grain is dangerous and behaves much like quicksand. In four seconds, a full grown adult can sink knee deep from the suction of flowing grain. In just 20 seconds, they can be completely buried. The pressure of the grain usually hinders self-escape, and can even make assisted escape near impossible. A person buried to the waist in grain requires a force equivalent to their own body weight plus 600 pounds to free them. The force required to remove a person buried under grain can exceed 2,000 pounds.
Here are some grain handling scenarios which are incredibly dangerous and could result in an accident or even death.
The first is flowing grain. Around 80 percent of reported entrapment involves a person inside a bin when grain-unloading equipment is running. Entrapment in flowing grain can also occur in outdoor storage piles, grain wagons, rail cars, and semi-trailers that unload from the bottom. As grain is unloaded through the bottom outlet, a funnel-shaped flow develops on the surface of the grain. Anyone standing on the surface while grain is being removed from below is at risk of being rapidly pulled down toward the outlet with the flowing grain. If grain unloading equipment is not shut off, victims can be pulled down into the unloading conveyor, auger, or sump.
Another dangerous scenario is bridged grain. Spoiled grain clumps together and can develop a crust on the top surface. This crust appears solid, but it is unstable and may hide open voids below. Bridged grain can collapse under a person’s weight, resulting in the victim being buried by falling and shifting grain. If unloading equipment is running at the time this occurs, the victim can be rapidly pulled down toward the bottom of the bin.
An additional risk is a vertical grain wall avalanche. Spoiled grain can form a clumped mass which adheres to the vertical wall of a bin. Entering a bin to dislodge a vertical wall of grain higher than the victim is dangerous because the grain wall can suddenly break loose and fall like an avalanche, burying or injuring the victim.
There is also a high risk when using grain vacuums to remove grain from bins. When the grain vacuum nozzle is placed below the grain surface, a funnel flow of grain develops. An operator can be pulled into the downward flow of grain if this nozzle is released or becomes buried below the grain surface near the operator’s feet. Maneuvering the vacuum tube can be awkward, increasing the operator’s risk of slipping or losing balance as he or she tries to reposition the hose in flowing grain. If the operator falls or struggles for position, his or her movements can trigger an avalanche of grain if the slope of grain is steep.
Some safety precautions to prevent grain-related incidents include managing grain to prevent spoilage. The most common reason people enter bins is to address problems associated with spoiled grain. To reduce the chance of grain spoilage, maintain aeration equipment in working order and check the structure to identify and fix roof leaks. Also, store grain at the correct moisture content and temperature to prevent conditions favorable for grain to spoil.
Second, work from outside the bin. If clumps or crusts develop in the grain, use a pole from outside the bin to probe or knock the clump free. Restrict access to bins, storage structures, and outdoor grain
Cost share program closes Nov. 1
Minnesota organic farmers and processors can apply for a rebate of up to 50 percent of the cost of their organic certification. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Minnesota Organic Certification Cost Share Program from now until Nov. 1.
Organic certification is a third-party verification system. It assures consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow National Organic Standards and are monitored through review of their records and on-site inspections at least once a year.
“The yearly cost of certification can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars,” Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey said. “This program provides some relief.”
Funds for the cost share program are available first-come, first-served and come from a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.
Operations which received certification (or had ongoing certification) between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022 are eligible for reimbursement of up to 50 percent of certification-related expenses, with a maximum of $500 per category (crop, livestock, processing/handling, wild harvest).
MDA also offers a similar cost share program for transitioning a farm to organic.
To qualify, applicants must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agency. There is an online application process. Certified organic farmers or processors can obtain all the program details and necessary materials on the MDA’s website (www. mda.state.mn.us) or by calling (651) 201-6134. Applicants who do not wish to apply with MDA may apply through their local FSA Office.
Additional funding for up to 25 percent of allowable certification costs is available through FSA. That application deadline is Oct. 31.
This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. v storage piles. Post signage and lock access doors so unauthorized persons, bystanders, and youth cannot enter. Also, post signage at all entry points to bins, outdoor storage piles, and other storage structures that warn of potential for entrapment and require any entry to be done by trained workers following safe procedures.
Third, provide training to all employees on the dangers of grain handling and what the safety precautions are. Have an emergency rescue plan in place and make sure all employees know what it is and what they need to do if it is put into action. Shut down and lock out all grain handling equipment and turn off all power sources when not in use.
Fourth, if you absolutely have to enter a bin or other grain storage area, take proper safety precautions. Always visually inspect the grain bin or storage area before entering it. Never enter alone. Have at least one other person in a safe position watching you and there to help in case something goes wrong. Also, use fall restraint equipment and make sure it is properly anchored. These systems consist of a full body harness attached to an anchored line, which limits the distance the entrant can drop or fall. Most importantly, don’t allow someone who has not been trained to enter a bin with you or with anyone else.
This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
The Future of Agriculture
Begins Here.
We build the foundation for tomorrow’s farmers, business professionals, economists, scientiests, technicians, agronomists, analysts, and more.
Contact Nick Schiltz • 507-402-6175 nick.schiltz@riverland.edu riverland.edu/ag
There are a number of factors to consider when trying to determine the price of corn silage: the cost of fertilizer and field operations, the moisture and corn content of the silage and markets (grains, straw, mild, and silage). This can make obtaining a fair price hard to come by.
Farmers have priced silage using the rule of thumb that silage value per ton is 8 to 10 times the price of a bushel for corn. The factor of 8 has typically been used when pricing standing corn silage; the factor of 10 is used when corn silage is already in storage. However, this rule of thumb may need adjusting as the current corn and input prices have changed. It’s more likely that the corn silage standing in the field is worth 6 to 8 times the price of corn grain.
Environment may also play a role in the amount of grain in a silage sample. Testing samples for moisture and feed quality is one way to help decide what the silage is worth and can help eliminate some of the questions around quality. Also, remember that storage and labor costs are tied up in the price of grain. If you are not the one doing the work, make sure to properly adjust the price based on the harvest costs which would have occurred in harvesting the
grain. There are many different ways to price corn silage other than the old rule of thumb. Many of these options are easily found online and free to use. Penn State, Iowa State, and Wisconsin all have their own versions of corn silage pricing calculators and can all be found using a simple internet search. Each one takes a slightly different approach to pricing corn silage, so make sure to experiment with them to decide which one best fits your needs and situation. This article was submitted by Karen Johnson, University of Minnesota Extension. v Dry season best time to prepare for mud
Mud can make horse chores a challenging mess. Additionally, prolonged exposure to mud can affect horse health and lead to problems such as scratches or thrush.
The best way to manage mud on horse farms is to prevent (or limit) mud accumulation in the first place. While mud season is not here yet, dry conditions are the ideal time to consider and implement drainage solutions. Here are several tips you can take now to help reduce mud during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt.
Routinely clean dry lots. Organic matter such as manure and hay waste holds water and can significantly contribute to mud formation in dry lots. In addition to reducing mud, removing organic matter can also help protect surface waters from nutrient runoff. You can minimize hay waste in your dry lot by using a round-bale feeder or small-square bale feeder.
Install roof gutters and downspouts on buildings to direct water away from horse areas, especially dry lots, manure piles, and high traffic sites. Water coming off building roofs is clean and should be directed to vegetation to avoid runoff. Be sure to clean and repair gutters and downspouts as needed.
Create a plan for piling snow. Designate an area to pile snow, where snowmelt will not drain through buildings, dry lots, lanes, or barnyards. Be sure to consider the potential for ice formation around the snow pile as it thaws and refreezes. Do not pile snow near manure piles or incorporate manure into snow piles, which can lead to nutrient runoff.
Construct a high traffic pad in an area of your dry lot that is prone to mud such as a feeding site, shelter, or gate. High traffic pads consist of multiple layers of geotextile fabric and stones that promote drainage. As a result, a high traffic pad can provide your horse relief from mud elsewhere in the dry lot. Routinely pick manure off your high traffic pad and rake and refresh stones as needed to maintain a level surface.
This article was submitted by Hannah Lochner, University of Minnesota Extension. v
The debate is on: Manure and chemical fertilizers are different
ST. CLOUD Minn. — There has been a long-standing debate on whether manure or chemical fertilizer is better for crop production. While both can be beneficial there are some differences that should be considered when you are deciding which to use.
Available nutrients from manure and chemical fertilizers can affect what practice operations use. Chemical fertilizers have a precise amount of nutrients which can be offered in a variety of nutrient levels to meet your specific needs. This will also make nutrients available to plants immediately. However, most chemical fertilizers do not contain
99% Signal Reliability Guaranteed NFL RedZone from NFL Network
2-Year TV Price Guarantee
FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS
2022 OFFERS! MULTI-SPORT
micronutrients. They also can release nutrients too quickly which can lead to leaching and nutrient runoff due to high solubility. Manure can offer nutrients and micronutrients as a slow release. However, nutrient levels can vary based on the animals’ diet and storage practices. In addition, release of nutrients can vary and are affected by soil temperature and microorganism concentrations.
Both manure and chemical fertilizers have different effects on soil health. Chemical fertilizers generally do not benefit soil health because the fertilizer applied is formulated to benefit only the crops growing in the field. They do not provide any organic matter for the soil and don’t support microorganisms in the soil. Manure, on the other hand, can greatly benefit soil health. It supports the microorganisms in the soil which help to convert nutrients into available forms and break down organic matter added by manure. Manure improves the soil structure and water infiltration and retention. It also improves the cation exchange capacity of the soil.
In terms of yield between manure and chemical fertilizers, there is no significant difference between them. There may be some difference between them if manure has a significantly low amount of available nutrients.
Manure and chemical fertilizer differ between cost and availability, storage, and application process. Determining which to use on your fields can only be determined by your operations capability and goals.
This article was submitted by Kaitlyn Czeck, University of Minnesota Extension. v
For marketing news between issues ... visit www.TheLandOnline.com
By RICHARD SIEMERS that he hired it done with a hand,” Sam said. He purchased hunThe Land Correspondent tractor-mounted tiller. dreds of feet of garden hose to stretch When Sam Ripley was 13 years old, he started to raise pumpkins and sell them Sam has his own approach based on his own experience, which isn’t always from a hydrant near the buildings all the way to the back of the one-acre patch. It paid off with a good crop. from a hayrack (with orange orthodox. He plants his hills The only pests he has encountered wheels) at a gas station in six feet apart, using 5-6 also came last year — the cucumber Montevideo, Minn.; but he seeds rather than the rec- beetle. The beetles came when the already had bigger ideas in ommended 3-4 seeds per plants were just starting to bush out. mind. hill. And once they germi- He hand-sprayed the patch to elimi-
“That’s how we started nate, he does not thin them nate the beetles and the plants recovselling the first few years,” out as recommended. ered for an excellent crop. Sam said. “It worked really “Once they’re growing, I Weeds are easiest to deal with when good. When we got to last just let them grow,” he said. the plants are small, he said. The hills year I decided it would be That’s worked for him in the are spaced six feet apart so the man cool to try a new venture, so past, so he kept it up this hired to till the soil in the spring with we started having the peo- year. his five-foot tiller can come back and ple come to the farm.” While the pumpkins are his business, he says “we” a The growing conditions the plants like are sun and rain. He got about 100 pertilled out the weeds. When the plants begin to bush out, Sam has to switch to hoeing. lot because of all the support cent germination in his “I actually worked construction this and physical help from his sunny pumpkin patches, summer, so my dad helped me out a lot parents, Scott and Jana. except for two hills in the [with the hoeing],” he said. “Once the But, “This is his doing,” Jana said. “He’s made money to fund this.” In fact, she said, his first customer-based tration next year in college, Sam is in the second year of his expanded business venture — hosting people at the shade of a borderline tree. This year the rain came when needed; but not last year when it was very dry. vines take over, the weeding is over.” His new patch is very productive, the older one less so. He figures it is time to enterprise was in Middle School when he had a small flock of hens and sold farm where buying a pumpkin is only one of the many activities. “Last year I actually watered it all by See PUMPKINS, pg. 16 eggs. Sam got into the pumpkin business
His father said Sam has had ideas the way he does most of his ventures: since he could walk — always recreat- by just doing it. (He is also a selfing at their farm site events he had taught auctioneer — something he attended. grew to like attending auctions with “He’d been to pumpkin patches and saw this as something we could pull off his dad.) He did not expend time by researching how to grow pumpkins. here,” Scott said. “It’s all him. The ideas “I just read the seed packet,” he said. and every dollar put into it is his. He’s earned money doing other things. He got going by raising and selling the pumpkins in town.” His dad let Sam till about one-half of an acre from a pasture he rents to a farmer. He did it with a walk-behind tiller. Last year, the first year for host-
Now a senior in high school and ing customers, he added another acre thinking of studying business adminis- up the hill from the original patch. For
Hasyourcombinehydro pushed itslimits andslugging along? Do it rightand getit serviced now. Don't wait anylonger.
Photos by Richard Siemers After visiting other pumpkin farms, Sam Ripley decided to build his own. He has two separate patches totaling about an acre and a half; and grows a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.
By KRISTIN KVENO
The Land Correspondent CHANHASSEN, Minn. — When Degler Farm stopped milking cows in 2002, it was the end of dairy production in Chanhassen, Minn., as they were the last dairy left. It wasn’t the end of Degler farm, though. Gayle and Lois Degler continued to grow corn, soybeans and wheat. But, eventually, raising crops alone wasn’t enough for this family of educators.
Gayle was a teacher in southwestern Minnesota for six years. He was also involved in the family farm in Chanhassen. The opportunity arose for Gayle and Lois to purchase the farm next door to his home farm. Gayle then farmed full time, and he and Lois raised four children: Beth, Todd, Wade and Ellen. All the children (except for Todd) went into the teaching field. Todd went on to become an engineer.
The family barn has a sawmill on the bottom, bee boxes nearby.
Both those professions led the Deglers to look at what their farm’s future could be. The family wanted the farm to be a place to educate the public about production agriculture while having a lot of fun at the same time. The farm has always been a place that welcomes visitors. While the dairy was still operating, the Deglers hosted school groups for 35 years. The students had the opportunity to tour a working dairy and better understand the work that goes into milk production.
The Deglers all have day jobs (in addition to the Degler kids, Gayle is a Carver County commissioner and Lois manages the bookkeeping for the farm and babysits grandkids when needed);
From left: Wade, Gayle, Ellen and Todd Degler
Photos by Kristin Kveno
so they were looking for something that the permits for agritourism. “There would allow them to generate addi- really are only a few agritourism farms tional income on the farm during the in the metro,” Todd said. The farm had weekend. The idea of opening the farm to coordinate with Chanhassen on up to visitors to experience agriculture parking plans and conditional permits. firsthand with their families was born The Degler farm is the only agritourin 2018. ism site in Chanhassen, so the city had “We want to keep the farm look and setting,” Todd said. The farm experience is geared toward ages 14 and below, “because they probably know the least about agriculture.” to develop how they would handle this type of business in town. Now that the Degler Farm has been up and running for agritourism for many years, they have a clear understanding of how best to work with the city to ensure all per-
The Deglers find that the children mits and conditions are met. who visit have a keen interest in what goes on in a working farm. “They (the kids) appreciate the education,” Ellen said. “It turned into a natural transition,” Todd said. The first year they did about three hay rides a day.
Four years The Deglers ago, the family saw interest in opened the the farm expeDegler farm up rience and on the week- knew this ends in the fall. would be sucThat year, they cessful. With offered hay- agritourism, rides, a corn it’s not one size pit, pumpkins fits all. “There’s for sale and a no cookie-cutcorn maze ter way to do which was less it,” Todd said. than an acre. The first year “It was a big the farm did 20 hit,” Todd said. hay rides the
It took the whole season. farm one and a In 2021 there half years were 20 hayworking with rides given the city to get Gayle test-drives the new slide installed this year. each day, with two tractors pulling the wagons. “It’s a big family event. It’s been all family runs, tours and hayrides,” Todd said.
The family works together to bring their dream of opening an agritourism destination to fruition. Gayle, Lois, Wade, Todd, Ellen and families can be seen at the farm throughout the fall season. Sister, Beth lives in Wisconsin.
In 2020, people were looking for something to do outside, close to home. Degler Farm was the perfect fit. “What really propelled this was Covid,” Todd said. That year he used his engineering skills to make a trebuchet to catapult pumpkins. The trebuchet was a big hit and taught visitors principles of physics in addition to it being just plain fun to watch.
“The views and smells are free. You pay for what you want to do,” Todd said. That includes the slide, hayride, pumpkins and corn maze. “We greet people when coming in, pay when you go,” Todd said.
“Education has always been really close to my family,” Todd said. The 25-minute hayride around the farm allows Gayle to drive the tractor while also sharing the farm’s history and the history of agriculture in Carver County. There’s old machinery located in the Deglers’ woods; Gayle explains to visitors how those relics aided farmers in planting and harvesting. “We compare and contrast our farm with other farming techniques,” Todd said.
Todd has a sawmill outside of the barn where he cuts a large piece of wood for projects around the farm, such as the top of the benches on the hay wagon. He also sells lumber. Near the
Basketballs teach youngsters the finer physics involved with a gravity wagon.