NDSU Extension - Morton County

Hello Morton County 4-H Families!

We are still in need of volunteers for the 2024 Achievement days in Morton County.

Here is the link to sign up and volunteer for static or livestock events.

Thank you for your attention and we look forward to seeing you all in a couple days!

Morton County 4-H Volunteer Sign up We are looking volunteers to help us out during our 4-H Achievement Days July 31 - August 2! Below is a list of the things we could use some extra hands with if you are willing and able, your help is greatly appreciated!! We are excited to see you under the cow :)

Dakota Gardener: Herb your enthusiasm Many herbs are easy to grow in North Dakota gardens and are a fun way to add flavor, aroma and texture to your favorite foods.

For the 16th year, North Dakota State University Extension and the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association are offering North Dakota youth an opportunity to become involved in the sheep industry and build their own flock.

Youth chosen for the Starter Flock Discounted Loan Program will receive an interest-free loan to purchase 10 yearling Rambouillet ewes from the association. The association will buy the ewes from NDSU’s Hettinger Research Extension Center.

Sheep starter flocks available for North Dakota youth Youth chosen for the Starter Flock Discounted Loan Program will receive an interest-free loan to purchase 10 yearling Rambouillet ewes.

A more recent research study has shown that having strong relationships not only makes us happier but also can increase our lifespan. Yes, social connections can help us live longer and healthier.

Prairie Fare: What does being “well” mean to you? Well-being includes eight dimensions: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, financial and vocational.

The North Dakota State University Department of Plant Sciences will host a public event called Plants, Local Foods and Outdoor Spaces on July 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. in the NDSU Horticulture Research and Demonstration Gardens.

The gardens are located on the NDSU campus at the corner of 18th Street and 12th Avenue North in Fargo, North Dakota. Free parking is available on the north side of the garden. Overflow parking will be diverted to the lot adjacent to the new Peltier Complex on 18th Street North.

North Dakota State University sets campus gardening event for July 30 The event will feature walking tours of the annual and perennial flower gardens.

Sometimes, saving perishable food is not possible but you can try some steps. During power outages, keep the door on the freezer closed. A full freezer will maintain the food cold for up to two days. A half-full freezer will keep food safe for about a day, as long as you keep the door closed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses a two-hour rule for determining safety. If the frozen meat, dairy, soup or casseroles have thawed and been above 40 degrees for more than two hours, the food is best discarded.

Prairie Fare: Which foods are safe after power outages? Meat, poultry, fish, milk and other high-protein foods spoil quickly when above 40 degrees for more than two hours, but condiments such as ketchup, mustard and steak sauce are fine to use.

If you are looking for a pop of color in your garden this fall, consider adding ornamental cabbage and kale. Ornamental cabbage and kale are the same species as edible cabbage and kale but have much more color and texture to offer. These showy plants come in a variety of color from white to pink, purple or even red. They are a great option to replace well-spent annuals. Though they are edible they are more bitter than the cultivars we grow for produce.

Dakota Gardener: Ornamental cabbage and kale If you are looking for a pop of color in your garden this fall, consider adding ornamental cabbage and kale.

Greetings 4-H Families!

I am writing to inform you that set up for the 2024 Morton County Achievement Days will take place at 3:00PM on July 28th. There will be a meal served the night of the 28th for all of those who come to volunteer with the set up!

Once again, please reach out to our office at anytime if you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2024 Achievement Days.

I look forward to seeing you all in a couple weeks!

Jaden Russell
Morton County NDSU Extension Agent
Agriculture and Natural Resources

A bee lawn combines flowering plants for pollinators with low maintenance turfgrass. Not just any flowering plants can be used for a bee lawn. The flowering plants have to be good sources of pollen and nectar for pollinators, and they have to be able to stand up to some foot traffic and mowing. Bee lawns will need full sun to part shade.

Dakota Gardener: A bee lawn in progress A bee lawn combines flowering plants for pollinators with low maintenance turfgrass.

Weather conditions across the Dakotas have created challenges for haymaking. Properly curing hay to the correct moisture level for baling is crucial to maintaining forage quality. At baling, the moisture level should be a maximum of 20% for small square bales, 18% for round bales and 15% for large square bales. The larger the forage package, the lower the moisture should be at baling.

Properly curing hay is crucial for forage quality At baling, the moisture level should be a maximum of 20% for small square bales, 18% for round bales and 15% for large square bales. Several methods exist to accelerate drying time to prevent moisture-damaged hay.

North Dakota State University’s Oakes Irrigation Research Site, a branch of the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC), will host its annual field day Thursday, Aug. 1. The field day consists of a tour of the site and select research being conducted this season.

NDSU Oakes Irrigation Field Day set for Aug. 1 Topics for the Oakes Irrigation field day include potato breeding updates, soybean diseases and management, soil fertility and more.

A temperature-humidity index chart can help ranchers identify when livestock are most at risk for developing heat stress. Livestock begin to experience moderate heat stress at a temperature humidity index of 82 to 83, severe heat stress at 84 to 86, and extreme heat stress at 87 or greater.

Protect ruminant livestock from heat stress Implementing heat event action plans can help protect animals from heat stress.

Cyanobacteria is caused by an excess of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous. When manure and commercial fertilizers are misused, either by inappropriate rate or timing of application, the potential for nutrient leaching to surface water is increased. When these nutrients enter surface water, they stimulate growth of cyanobacteria and other microorganisms.

Be aware of toxic cyanobacteria Farmers and ranchers should be on the lookout for toxic cyanobacteria.

Recently, 10 people in California were treated for botulism after eating home-canned cactus pads in a salad. Two people were in the intensive care unit with severe respiratory issues.

Some of the hallmark symptoms of botulism poisoning are blurred or double vision and difficulty swallowing and breathing. The toxin (or poison) attacks the nerves and can paralyze muscles, including the muscles needed to breathe.

Prairie Fare: Do you know the safety rules for home food preservation? To ensure food safety when canning, use safe sources of recipes from university Extension throughout the U.S., from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the current Ball Blue Book.

2024 Menoken Farm Drive Yourself Tour is coming up!

Drive Yourself Garden Tour | Menoken Farm

Field days at North Dakota State University’s Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) are set for July 10 and 11. NDSU research scientists will share the latest research in agronomy and horticulture.

Williston Research Extension Center Field Days Set for July 10 and 11 Field day topics will include upcoming pulse breeding releases, trial results, w**d control updates, and variety of horticulture and irrigation topics.

Grilling is especially popular at this time of the year. Grilling is a low-fat cooking technique that imparts flavor to foods.

Unfortunately, in my community, I have seen the aftermath of burned-down decks and at least one burned-down home as a result of fire safety issues associated with grilling.

This week we will consider fire safety, with a little help from the resources I found at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Prairie Fare: Try the grilling safety quiz Follow safe grilling practices to prevent foodborne illness, burns and grill-related fires.

Beginning and current farmers interested in transitioning to certified organic production of grains, oilseeds or pulses are the target audience for a two-day training presented by North Dakota State University Extension, the North Dakota Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE), and the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

The organic academy roadshow training is set for July 15 and 16 at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. The start time on Monday is 9 a.m

Free training set for beginning and current organic row crops farmers The organic academy roadshow explores regenerative, certified organic production systems for grains, oilseeds and pulses.

The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC) will host an agronomy field day on July 9 and livestock-focused field day on July 10.

The July 9 event begins at 9 a.m. (MDT) at the DREC main office. Lunch will be provided by the Dickinson Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee after the agronomy tour.

Dickinson Research Extension Center field days set for July 9 and 10 Timely, cutting-edge information focused on the agricultural issues facing the region's farmers and ranchers will highlight the respective field days.

NDSU research scientists and Extension specialists will share insights and best practices based on the latest range science and grazing management research. The event begins at 10 a.m. and includes two tours, lunch and a groundbreaking celebration for a new livestock facility.

NDSU Central Grasslands Research Extension Center Field Day set for July 8 Participants will see the latest range and grazing research in action and learn practical strategies to improve their grazing practices.

Testing new tree varieties is challenging. Trees are expensive and let’s face it – you have to wait a long, long time to get results. Not many organizations want to fund the kind of research where it may take a whole decade or more to find an answer to the research question.

Dakota Gardener: A pleasant surprise While not suited for North Dakota, occasionally some unique and rare tree species survive and thrive in the state.

The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Hettinger Research Extension Center (HREC) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of their new livestock facilities on July 9 at 3 p.m. Mountain time.

Hettinger Research Extension Center livestock facility ribbon cutting and annual field tour set for July 9 The new livestock research facilities and agronomy tours will highlight the day.

Wheat, soybeans, crop diseases and pests, and soil fertility are among the topics for the annual field day set for July 15 at North Dakota State University Agronomy Seed Farm, located one mile south and one mile west of Casselton, North Dakota.

NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm Annual Field Day Set for July 15 Wheat, soybeans, crop diseases and pests, and soil fertility are among the topics for the annual field tour set for July 15 at the NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm.

Be a Safe Sitter - Babysitting Basics
Register today Space is Limited.
https://tinyurl.com/2024SafeSitter

In today's world where every penny counts and sustainable living is increasingly becoming a priority, home gardening offers a dual benefit; the joy of growing fresh produce and the opportunity to save money in the process. In this article, we'll explore strategies to help you save money in your high-production home garden.

Dakota Gardener: How to save money in a high-production home garden By implementing cost-saving strategies, you can create a high-production home garden without breaking the bank.

Farmers, ranchers, crop advisors, horticulturists and others have the opportunity to see cutting-edge agricultural research come to life through a variety of tours and demonstrations at the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) Field Day on July 16. Topics of tours include beef production, agronomy and specialty crops, northern hardy fruit, and organic and sustainable agriculture.

NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center Field Day offers variety of tours The field day offers a chance for participants to see research in action and innovative solutions to address challenges faced by agriculture in North Dakota.

Numerous research studies have pointed out the value of family meals in recent decades. Children who eat with their families tend to perform better in school, earning more grades of “A” or “B” than their peers. They learn to communicate with their family members, perhaps even learning some negotiation skills with their siblings at the dinner table.

Prairie Fare: Keep the tradition of family meals Family meals provide structure and can reduce overall family stress.