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From The Ground Up

A closer look at assisted migration and invasive species

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu The climate-ready woodlands tree lists provide planting recommendations for 11 ecoregions of Minnesota. Included on each of these lists are species that are not currently common in those regions but are predicted to thrive in Minnesota’s...

Emerald ash borer updates

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Areas outlined in red and shaded in orange indicate where EAB quarantine is in effect. Map courtesy of MN Dept. of Ag. Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to cause problems for ash trees and the people who care about those trees. As...

Invasive species spotlight: Yellow floating heart

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu With a name as pleasant as yellow floating heart, and leaves to match with their whimsical shape, it’s no wonder that people chose to bring this aquatic plant into their water gardens. This is likely how the plant was initially...

Reducing tillage in vegetable crops

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Last spring and summer our team visited 100 small-scale vegetable farms in Minnesota to do soil health assessments, and one of the key drivers of healthy soil was tillage. Soils with less tillage had better aggregate stability, faster...

Will this winter warmup cause sap to flow?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Colleagues across Extension have been receiving calls and emails about this warmer weather, wondering how it might affect everything from the soil to drought to syrup tapping. I have reports from people who have tapped trees that the sap...

Weed Control in Pumpkins and Winter Squash

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu With their long season and spreading growth habit, pumpkins often present a weed control challenge. Here are some important factors and considerations when working to manage weeds in pumpkins and winter squash. Waterhemp in a pumpkin...

GAPs and FSMA trainings for your farm this winter

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Are you interested in updating your farm’s food safety plan, considering getting a GAP audit, or want to make sure you are up to date with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule? Have you considered selling your produce to schools, food hubs or...

Newly updated training video for food safety makes training workers easy

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu If your farm needs to comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, or your farm gets a GAP audit, you may have used the classic worker training video from the Produce Safety Alliance. This worker training video, which was originally available...

Melons and Salmonella - what we know about the outbreak

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Cantaloupes and Salmonella bacteria are in the news, as a major foodborne illness outbreak and recall has been ongoing related to this crop. Here is what we know. What happened? As of January 19th, 407 people in 44 states (...

Does buckthorn fruit harm birds?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Buckthorn fruit In the fall, I prepare for a long couple of days removing invasive honeysuckle and buckthorn. As I hack away at the plants, the largest buckthorns still carry pitch-black fruit on the ends of their branches. I hear a few...