Welcome to the Southwest Research and Outreach Center

Scouting for Alfalfa Insects - Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 11 AM

There will be an impromptu alfalfa insect scouting clinic held by Bruce Potter at the John Deprez farm south of Lucan. The session will start at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 15. The field is located 10 miles north of Highway 14 on Redwood County Highway 10 (tar road into Lucan) and then 2/3 mile East (right) on 220th Street OR 2 miles south of the junction of Highway 68 and Redwood County Highway 10 and then 2/3 mile East (left) on 220th Street. The field is in the SE 1/4 of Section 34 in Granite Rock Township in Redwood County. The topics will be scouting for alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper. Bruce will have several sweep nets along but please feel free to bring your own. Call or email Bruce Potter (507-752-5066 or bpotter@umn.edu) with any questions.

Update on Aster Leafhoppers in Wheat

Written by Ian MacRae, Jan Knodel, Bruce Potter, and Jochum Wiersma

This Update on Aster Leafhoppers in Wheat (pdf) highlights some things to consider about aster leafhoppers and aster yellows in wheat. Keep in mind the following ideas: you should have aster leafhoppers present at high numbers to treat a field, you need aster leafhoppers in the field to transmit the disease to wheat and yellow wheat does not mean your field has aster yellows.

What Does It Take to Earn a Living on the Farm?

Written by Gary Hachfeld, Extension Educator in Ag Business Management

Agriculture is an integral part of Minnesota’s economy. Collectively the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products accounts for approximately $16 billion dollars of state revenue. Minnesota is the seventh largest agricultural producer overall in the US. Minnesota ranks 4th in crops sold and 8th in livestock products sold. Agricultural production, processing and distribution entities employ thousands of workers in Minnesota as well. Agricultural employment in Minnesota is second only to that of manufacturing. Over 40,000 jobs are directly or indirectly associated with agriculture in Minnesota. Surprisingly, only 19% of all agricultural employment is at the farm or production level. All other agricultural employment is in processing, marketing, ag services whole sale and retail trade.

The data in "What Does It Take to Earn a Living on the Farm?" is presented not to justify or support the changes in agriculture. Rather, it is put forth as one approach to quantifying and explaining what is happening. The numbers presented are real numbers from several hundred real farm families throughout the southern one-third of Minnesota. These families have kept records on their farm business as well as their household and personal expenses. As you study the data, it becomes clear that agriculture is changing. Appearing in the data are more negative returns for enterprises reflecting very slim or negative profits.

Extending the Growing Season Workshop and Horticulture Day Held at the SWROC

The SWROC hosted two outreach events in April. Extending the Growing Season workshop was held Wednesday, April 4. Speakers at the event included Chris Blanchard, owner and operator of Rock Spring Farm in Decorah, IA. as well as Christine Ziegler, a Researcher and Science Editor at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA. Participants learned about extending the growing season in the fall and spring as well as the impacts of plastic and cover crop mulches on weeds and soil quality. Lee Klossner, Research Fellow, and Dr. Paulo Pagliari, Soil Scientist, spoke about the replicated research occurring in the 3 high tunnels located at the SWROC. Workshop participants were given a tour of the tunnels, photo at left.

The workshop also featured the southwest Minnesota premier of the documentary film "Farm to School: Growing our Future." Mary Schroeder, U of M Regional Extension Educator, lead a team of Extension Specialists to discuss the film and its local implications within small and large group discussions.

The SWROC's Horticulture Day was held Thursday, April 12. Nearly 80 Participants learned about incorporating recently released perennial into their garden from Mike Heger, owner and operator of Ambergate Gardens in Chaska. Dr. John Ball from the Department of Horticulture at SDSU discussed ornamental plants and pests coming to the region. Afternoon sessions for the event included topics on container water gardens by Soni Forsman, a writer and garden speaker from Eagan as well as information on successfully growing strawberries and raspberries in Minnesota by Steve Poppe, Horticulture Scientist at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, MN.

Handouts from Horticulture Day are available below(pdf).

• "Perennials - A Look at Some Recent Introductions and How to Use Them" - Mike Heger
• "Container Water Gardens, Petite Gardens make Big Splash" - Soni Forsman
• "How to Successfully Grow Strawberries and Raspberries in Minnesota" - Steve Poppe

Planting Date Considerations for Corn

For many growers, this unusually early spring may offer the earlier opportunity of all time for corn planting. This makes it especially important to weigh the risks and benefits of early planting. Read the entire article written by Dr. Jeff Coulter, Extension Corn Agronomist, which discusses crop insurance, yield, and frost damage.

Thinking Nitrogen for the Spring?

The snow is gone and summer is here? The change in weather this spring has allowed for earlier field work to begin. Questions that come to mind include what kind of tillage should I do and do these condition affect me nitrogen management program for corn. Read "Thinking Nitrogen for the Spring" a release written by Dan Kaiser and John Lamb, U of M Soil Fertility Specialists.

Improving Teacher Quality Workshop

The University of Minnesota Southwest Research & Outreach Center recently received federal funding through the MN Officer of Higher Education to offer a 10-day teacher workshop in 2012 entitled Nutrition: The Garden and You - Building Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, Healthy Teaching. The 10 day workshop will be held June 12 - 14, June 26 - 29, and July 10 - 12. Click here to read more about the workshop and download an application.

Winter Crops & Soils Day

On Wednesday, February 1, 2012 approximately 90 people gathered at the SWROC to learn about current crop production practices during the annual Winter Crops & Soils Day. Handouts from the event are available below.

• 2011 Crop Production Costs, Profitability and Input Pricing Risks by Don Nitchie: Ag Business Management, Extension Educator
• Drainage System Design and Management for Crop Production by Dr. Jeff Strock, Soil Scientist
• Sulfur Trial Results by Dr. Paulo Pagliari
• The Third Crop: Soybean as a Rotational Crop by Bruce Potter, IPM Specialist
• Corn Agronomy Research Update and Considerations for 2012 by Dr. Jeff Coulter

IPM Stuff 

Issue 5 of the 2012 IPM Stuff is ready. This issue covers crop weather, don't forget about old technology, temps are still way ahead of normal, black cutworm, alfalfa, very large plants out of place (weeds), soybean aphids, and things that go bump in the night. If you'd like to be included on the email list, please email Molly Werner. 

An insect library highlighting common pests of southwest Minnesota is in the beginning stages of development. Currently the page includes a picture with information about the Painted Lady Butterfly. More information will be added throughout the summer.

2012 Soil Moisture

The third soil moisture reading (May 1) of 2012 is now available. You can view the 2012 soil moisture information, both in a graph and the breakdown for each level, as well as a graph charting soil moisture since 2008. Our weather page has additional reports including precipitation and growing degree days.

University on the Prairie

We are currently accepting applications for high school students and associate teachers to participate in our 3-day science experience held Tuesday, August 7 through Thursday, August 9. To find out more about University on the Prairie, click here.