Women in Agriculture Network Conference: February 7, 8:30pm-3:00pm Willmar Conference Center $75, early bird until January 16, $100 after that, $25 for students, register at z.umn.edu/WAGNconf please. The theme is ‘Building Farm and Family Resilience’ and includes keynote speaker Monica McConkie and her three breakout tracks, closing panel her discussion.
Farmland rental: The rate is the largest input cost a farmer has. Determining a fair farm rental agreement is always difficult. This year we will be hosting both in-person and webinar sessions. Participants will receive several informative worksheets and fact sheets to help determine fair farmland rents for 2023. The rest of the conferences set up for this area are:
- Wilmer’s webinars: Zoom Presentation on January 12th at 9:30am or 1:30pm
- Hutchinson webinars: Zoom presentation on Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
For more information, including location addresses and additional dates, visit z.umn.edu/LandRental.
Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops webinar series. This free, live online program provides the latest research-based information to help you optimize your crop management strategy for 2023. It begins with a brief presentation by the discussion leader for the day, followed by a discussion centered around farmer/participant questions on this topic. For the full program series, register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming Please give me. The session will be recorded and posted for later viewing. The next three sessions are:
- January 11th: Seasonal forecasts — weather, economy, supply chain. Ed Usset, Extension Grain Marketing Economist, University of Minnesota; Pete Boulay, Assistant State Climatologist, Department of Natural Resources;
- January 18th: What’s bothering my corn? Prospects such as corn rootworms. Anthony Hanson, Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator, and other his IPM Specialists.
- January 25th: Climate Factors and Nitrogen Management; Dan Kaiser, Extension Nutrition Management Specialist, and Brad Carlson, Extension Educator for Water Resources.
Continue reading for more information on this week’s calendar items under Related Content.
Create your own pollinator habitat: January 31-February 2, 1:30-2:30 pm, free, pre-registration required. Contact Tarahy@umn.edu or 218-384-3511. In this three-part webinar series, he explains how to create a pollinator-friendly garden on January 31st, a bee lawn on February 1st, and a pocket prairie on February 2nd. .
Gardening from scratch: February 20-24, 1-2:30 pm, free, online. Educators at the University of Minnesota Extension host their fourth annual webinar series. His free virtual workshop focuses on trees and shrubs in the home landscape. Webinars will cover topics for curious novice gardeners and garden owners, from tree establishment to proper pruning techniques to pest management. A recording of the webinar will be sent at the end of the series.
Sibley Provincial Park: Vehicle permits are required to enter the park and are available online. Sibley Provincial Park is located just off Route 71 west of New London. For more information, visit the State Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.state.mn.us. Cross-country ski and snowmobile trail states available at dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html.
- First day hike: January 1, 10-11 am at the Interpretive Center. Hike the Pondview Interpretive Trail, a 0.7-mile loop of 190 feet with a maximum gradient of 7%. Please wear clothing suitable for the weather.
- Luminary Hike: Enjoy the evening with a lantern-lit self-guided hike on the Pondview Interpretive Trail, a 0.7-mile loop with a gradient of up to 7% at 190 feet from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on January 21st let’s Please dress appropriately for the weather. Before or after your hike, stop by the campfire at the amphitheater to socialize and warm up.
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center: The trails at the rural Spicer Center are free during the day. Check the www.prariewoodselc.org website for trail conditions. Adjacent to the pavilion is a bathroom with a composting toilet. Please keep pets on a leash. Pre-registration required for all classes. All equipment rentals (fat tire bikes, cross-country skis, snowshoes, kick sleds) are processed based on reservations made at least 24 hours in advance. To reserve equipment for the weekend, please call by noon on Friday. Two-hour equipment rentals are $20 for adults, $10 for members, and $5 for all youth. Call 320-354-5894.