Inside this issue:

4-H & Youth Development 2

Health and Nutrition 4

Yard & Garden 6

Upcoming Events 10

w w w 3 . e x t e n s i o n . u m n . e d u / c o u n t y / p i n e

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR A P R I L 2 0 1 8

V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

P U B L I S H E D Q U A R T E R L Y B Y T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I N N E S O T A E X T E N S I O N , P I N E C O U N T Y O F F I C E

U of M Extension-Pine County 635 Northridge Drive NW Suite 280 Pine City, MN 55063 800-657-3813 or 320-591-1650

Email: mnext-pine@umn.edu

Heidi Vanderloop 4-H Program Coordinator

Jimmie Johnson SNAP-Ed Educator

Terry Salmela Master Gardener Coordinator

Roxanne Orvis Administrative Assistant

Susanne Hinrichs Regional Director 218-828-2286

Contact Us:

Crop producers updated by U of M Extension Specialists

at Rock Creek Workshop Area crop producers had a special opportunity to hear five University of Minnesota Extension Agronomy and Entomology Specialists at an Integrated Pest Management and Crop Update Workshop at the Rock Creek City Center on Tuesday, March 6. Ken Ostlie, Extension Entomologist discussed several options and strategies for controlling corn root worms while Entomologist Bob Koch updated growers on emerging soybean insect pests including soybean aphids and stink bugs. He also covered pollinator and bee biology and protection when field crops are growing in the area. U of M Soil Scientist Jeff Vetsch, Waseca discussed how corn and soybeans respond to soil Ph, lime and sulfur. He also pointed out the Ph goals for specific field situations. The farmers learned from Seth Naeve, U of M Soybean Specialist what they should consider in 2018 for soybean planting, variety selection, population and crop growing inputs. The program concluded with Extension Crops Educator Dave Nicolai testing the producers on their weed identification skills. He then discussed weed biology, herbicide options, cultural control and managing herbicide resistant weeds. Producers received a host of handouts and materials to help with their decision-making for this coming cropping season. The program was sponsored and presented by the University of Minnesota Extension. The University of Minnesota Extension is working towards building partnerships, engaging stakeholders, and increasing educational opportunities in the region.

Farm Business Transition Workshop

Pine County hosted a farm transition workshop on November 8, 2017 in Sturgeon Lake. The program, sponsored by several local and regional partners, was attended by approximately 40 farmers from Pine County and surrounding areas. The main attraction was “Map of my Kingdom,” a one person drama that highlights the family and emotional complexities of transitioning farm ownership. This was followed by a roundtable discussion by a local dairy farmer, Extension Educator, attorney, insurance specialist and farm transition specialist. The group took questions from the audience and discussed several of the practical mechanics of transitioning farm ownership. Farmers interested in purchasing an existing farm business or selling their own farm are encouraged to reach out to an attorney or Extension Educator for resources on the topic. The University of MN Extension website also has information available at http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/business/farm-transfer-estate-planning/.

Pine County 4-H Animal Discovery Day Have you thought about showing animals at the fair and are not sure where to start? Have you ever wondered the work it takes to earn a blue ribbon, a trip to State Fair/State Horse/State Dog or NE Livestock? This program might be a good fit for you! Animal Discovery Day is scheduled for April 28 from 1-4 p.m. at the Pine County Fair-grounds in Pine City. This event is FREE! Experienced 4-H project youth will be on hand instructing sessions on the animal projects including Rabbit, Poultry, Goat, Dogs, Beef, Dairy, Swine, Sheep and Horse. This program is meant for youth that are new, in their first few years of an animal project, or want to try a new animal project area! Participants will receive information to take home on showing an animal, cost of the project, and other resources that would help youth start in a project area. Snacks will be provided at the event. Youth will be able to learn about up to three different animal project areas and get to work hands-on with the animals. If you are interested in attending this project workshop day, please RSVP by Thursday, April 19 to Heidi Vanderloop, Pine County 4-H Program Coordinator, at vand0621@umn.edu, or Roxanne Orvis, 4-H Support Staff, at rlorvis@umn.edu, or by phone at 800-657-3813. Please Note: Animal ID Tags will be available for pick up at this event!

Page 2

Youth Development

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

4-H PICCKM+ Summer Camp provides all of the necessary ingredients to see your child thrive this summer!

Caring adults and counselors create a positive learning environment

Cabin groups and team building activities foster positive peer relationships.

Hands on activities will teach life and problem solving skills

Outdoor recreation and games support a healthy week of fun

Our unique, youth created theme will leave lasting memories.

What: PICCKM+ Camp joins youth from Pine, Isanti, Chisago, Carlton, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs counties as well as surrounding areas for three days of friendship, games, laughter, and learning.

When: Camp is held June 25-27, 2018

Where: St. Croix State Park, Norway Point Camp (located 15 miles east of Hinckley)

Who: Open to all youth that have completed grades 4-8. Camp is open to all youth, so invite your friends to join in the fun.

Cost: $100 if postmarked by June 1. NOTE: Every county has scholarship programs in place for attendees. Contact your local Extension Office to learn more. Registrations postmarked after June 1 will be charged an additional $40 and may be turned away due to space limitations.

All participants will receive a written confirmation letter two weeks prior to camp with a packing list, health forms, and emergency contact information.

Contact Heidi Vanderloop, Pine County 4-H Program Coordinator, to register and for more information.

See your child thrive at 4-H PICCKM+ Summer Camp

Page 3

Youth Development

100 Happy Days of Pine County 4-H

We are challenging YOU—the youth and volunteers—to submit as many pictures as you can participating in 4-H this summer! We will post one each day on our Instagram (pinecomn4h) and our Pine County 4-H Facebook page with a brief caption for 100 days starting Memorial Day weekend and ending Labor Day. Submit your photo to either vand0621@umn.edu or rlorvis@umn.edu along with a short caption. We will add the #100happydaysofpineco4H and what number day it is. Captions should read something like this—”This is Heidi V. from Sunset Valley 4-H Club working on Rabbit Showmanship. She will be exhibiting her rabbit, Clover, at the Dunn County Fair on August 2.” For protection purposes, you only need to include the youth’s first name and last initial. Pictures can come from anything 4-H related: Camp, YELLO, MN Tour, working on a project, Western Heritage, Livestock Show, Shooting Sports & Wildlife Training, Dog Training, county fair, state fair, etc. We have SO many great opportunities to showcase. Pictures will then be used in our Recognition Night presentation. Please contact the office if you have any additional questions. We look forward to highlighting the great work and programs our kids are a part of! The 100 Happy Days challenge was created in 2014 by Dmitry Golubnichy. He had a lot going for him—a good job, world travel, etc.—yet he found himself in a slump. He challenged himself for 100 days to post a picture of something that made him feel happy and grateful each day.

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

4-H Dog Training, Come, Sit, Stay!

Learn obedience, showmanship, agility, and rally from University of Minnesota screened and trained volunteers!

Youth in grades three through one year past high school graduation are invited to attend. Youth DO NOT need to be current 4-H members to attend. 4-H youth in grades K-2 are invited to attend the trainings starting in June. Youth in grades K-2 must be accompanied by an adult the entire time.

Dogs MUST have current rabies and DHLPP vaccinations. Rabies vaccination must have been administered by a vet-erinarian. Please bring these to the first night of training.

Trainings begin Tuesday, April 10 at the Hinckley-Finlayson High School in Hinckley; trainings will continue at the high school each week until Tuesday, May 22. Starting Thursday, June 7, trainings will be held at the Pine County Fair-grounds in Pine City. Agility will only be offered during the trainings at the fairgrounds. Dogs participating in agility must be at least 12 months old and must have attended formal obedience training with the current handler (6 ses-sions or more). Attending the trainings held in Hinckley will satisfy this requirement.

Cost: The cost for 4-H member and dog is FREE!! The cost for non 4-H members and 4-H parents with a dog is $40.

Contact Heidi Vanderloop, 4-H Program Coordinator, at 800-657-3813 for more information.

Page 4

Health & Nutrition

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

Hinckley 3rd grade students with SNAP-Ed Educator Jimmie Johnson after a Go Wild class.

“ The kids really connected with the characters in Go Wild with the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.”

Go Wild with Fruits & Veggies! is a comprehensive program that encourages students in grades 3-5 to eat more

fruits and vegetables and become more physically active. According to the USDA, fewer than 1% of elementary

students eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Poor nutrition affects students’ energy level,

ability to learn, and school attendance, and may lead to obesity and chronic disease. Through this program:

Students will increase preference for and knowledge of fruits and vegetables.

Students will expand the variety and colors of fruits and vegetables they eat.

Students’ families will prepare and eat more fruits and vegetables at home.

Students will participate in physical activity while learning about the importance of daily exercise as a part of

good health. Cartoon characters can positively affect children’s behavior through modeling. According to past

research, fruit and vegetable intake increased among 5-11 year old children after modeling by cartoon

characters (Horne, Taper, Low, Hardman, Jackson, & Woolner, 2004). Animal cartoon characters have been

used as models to depict human behaviors and emotions in children’s literature (Zeece, 1998). Previous

surveys with children have shown positive attitudes about nature and the environment (Bonnett and Williams,

1998). Furthermore, a recent review indicated that tailoring of printed materials to promote health behavior

changes was successful when participants engaged in experience-based, realistic activities (Noar, 2007).

Therefore, a focus on animal characters within their natural environment may provide motivation and

reinforcement for learning about personal habits regarding nutrition and physical activity. Using animal

characters indigenous to the region where students live may enhance relevance and interest.

Health & Nutrition

Page 5

SNAP-Ed programs and services are designed to address societal disparities and promote equity in Minnesota. We are eager to find ways to start or expand a partnership with you! In Pine County contact Jimmie Johnson, SNAP-Ed Educator at 800-657-3813 or joh12982@umn.edu for more information.

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

Pine City Elementary Moves to Smarter Lunchrooms

The Pine City School wellness committee focused their efforts on

promoting healthy eating and increasing student engagement in their

lunchrooms during the 2017-2018 school year by participating in the

“Smarter Lunchroom's” program. The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement is

dedicated to providing schools with the knowledge, motivation, and

resources needed to build a lunchroom environment that makes healthy

food choices the easy choice.

The Movement brings evidence from the fields of economics, marketing,

and psychology into the school cafeteria. Smarter Lunchrooms strategies

are free or low-cost solutions that nudge students to voluntarily select the

healthiest food in the lunchroom. Smarter Lunchrooms can see less

waste, higher participation, more satisfied students, and increased con-

sumption of important nutrient-rich foods. Students at the elementary

school were asked to rename the menu items which were then displayed

in the lunch line.

Page 6

Yard & Garden

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

Become a Master Gardener in Pine County

Here’s your chance to take a basic horticulture college course from horticulture experts at the University of Minnesota and to share your gardening knowledge and experience with others. You can do so by applying now until October 1. Just call or email Terry Salmela, Pine County Master Gardener Coordinator at the Pine County Extension office at the Courthouse in Pine City at 800-657-38 13 Ext. #3 or 612-390-3149, or via email at salme002@umn.edu. Individuals accepted for the program will start an internship that be-gins with a 48-hour Master Gardener Core Course the second week of January, 2019. There are two ways to take the course. One is to take it online between January and May. The other option is to take it in-person at 12 sessions on Fridays and Saturdays in January and early February at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum near Chaska. Or, it can be taken by a combination of these two options. Following the core course, interns will complete 50 hours of volunteer time in their first year by working with other local master gardeners on a variety of projects that inform the public about gardening and horticulture. In Pine County, some of those projects are the Pine County Horticulture Day, community education classes, community garden, youth gardening programs, Ask a Master Gardener booths at the Farmers’ Market, Grand Casino and County Fair, newspaper columns and others. After completing the first-year internship, an intern becomes certified as a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener. To remain certified, they must complete 25 volunteer hours and five or more education hours annually. There is a fee for the core course. Partial scholarships are available. Here is what current Pine County Master Gardeners have to say about their experience: Jennifer Eaves, Hinckley said that this program is a unique way to meet people with an interest in gardening and to share research-based information with the citizens of Pine County and Minnesota. Kim Metz, Rock Creek added, “This program has made a huge difference in my life to have a local gardening and information community.” Barbara Fischer, Sandstone said, “More and more families are concerned about eating healthy. Growing vegetables and fruits is a cost-effective way to do so. The availability of master gardeners in the community enables families to find answers that are specific to their needs and their local area.” Diane Scheremet, Hinckley said, “Being a master gardener means making a differ-ence. We all learn together and our environment prospers.”

NOAA Weather Service needs local reporters

The National Weather Service in Duluth is looking for local weather spotters in Pine County. They need help to observe and measure rainfall, snowfall and hail in several areas of the county. If you would like to try this please call NOAA at 1-800-685-8612 or 1-218-729-9842. Or email them at http://cocorahs.org

Registration is now open for AIS Detectors, a volunteer network and science-based training program created by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension. Participants will learn how to properly identify and report new findings of aquatic invasive species such as starry stonewort, zebra mussels, round goby, and others. After being trained, AIS Detectors will serve a critical role by searching for new AIS infestations, providing out-reach in their communities, and helping AIS researchers in the field. The program is ideal for motivated adults over the age of 18, including AIS managers and in-spectors, lake association members, Master Naturalists, and anyone else who has a desire to learn more about AIS. Detectors will learn how to identify eleven aquatic invasive species that are threatening Minnesota, as well as their common lookalike species. "The AIS Detectors program is be a terrific opportunity for anyone in the area who wants to help protect our lakes," said Megan Weber, Extension Educator. "Preventing AIS is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and having more people who are educated about what to look for will be really helpful." The program consists of a self-paced online course and one in-person workshop. A workshop will be held in Duluth on June 1. The online course must be completed beforehand. The course fee is $195, which includes unlimited access to the online course, a printed training manual, the full-day in-person workshop (including refreshments and lunch), an AIS identification field guide, and networking opportunities with other AIS Detectors and experts. To learn more and to register, please visit www.aisdetectors.org. The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center works across the state to develop research-based solutions that can reduce the impacts of aquatic invasive species by preventing spread, controlling populations, and managing ecosystems. A portion of the funding for AIS Detectors program is provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Learn more at www.maisrc.umn.edu. University of Minnesota Extension works in communities statewide to create a stronger Minnesota through education and research. Contact: Megan Weber, Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Extension Educator, 763-767-3874, aisdetectors@umn.edu

Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors Program in Duluth!

Page 7

Yard & Garden

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

Pine County Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale May 23

Buy master gardener grown plants and garden treasures at great

prices and receive free gardening information at the Pine County

Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale on Wednesday, May 23 from

6:30 a.m. until sold out. It will be at the Pine County Fairgrounds

Flea Market in Pine City. Heirloom vegetables and specialty plants

will be featured. Funds raised are used for community events and

educational training. For information: contact the U of M Exten-

sion Pine County Office at 1-800-657-3813 Extn. #3. Or, contact

Roger & Linda Fischer at 320-629-2247.

Page 8

Yard & Garden

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

Horticulture Day crowd learned how our forests can change with the climate

Over 190 people learned all about the effects of climate change on forests, growing healthy vegetables, blueberries, pruning, perennials and making jam at the 16th Annual University of Minnesota Extension Pine County Master Gardener Horticulture Day on Saturday, March 24 at Pine City High School. Participants could attend two of five different breakout sessions, visit 17 exhibitors, enjoy lunch, door prizes and refreshments. Keynote speaker on “Minnesota’s Forests Changing with the Climate” Lee Frelich, Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology shared research on the effects that higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will have on our forest ecosystems, plants and wildlife. He said that we have about a 58-degree natural greenhouse effect on this planet from the carbon dioxide, water vapor and other greenhouses gases that are naturally in the atmosphere. Without that we would have high temperatures below freezing even in July in Minnesota. “It’s good we have the greenhouse effect, however, the burning of fossil fuels and adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere will enhance that natural greenhouse effect by 10 -20% which is going to be somewhere between 6 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit warming temperature,” he added. “That’s a big thing for our forests to adapt to.” He went on to say that the future climate will depend upon the choices made today. He compared where we will be if we follow the Paris Agreement for a low emissions scenario versus a high emissions scenario. In either case we will be beyond what we have had in the past. He said that it will be much like when the dinosaurs lived. It will be a very different planet than it has been for the last several million years. From records kept in Hawaii he showed that the annual increase in carbon dioxide levels in 1957 was .9 parts per million (ppm). In the 1980s and 1990s it was 1.9 ppm. Now it is over 2 ppm and has at times been over 3 ppm. That is exactly proportional to the number of people on the planet. So, it is due to human activity due to fossil fuel use and the way we manage or mismanage some of our forests through deforestation and converting the carbon in the forests into carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Physicist Dr. Hans Suess proved in the 1950s that excess carbon dioxide came from burning fossil fuels because they have a different isotope signature than carbon dioxide from volcanoes, oceans or other sources. Arrhenius, the most prominent Swedish scientist, calculated manually in 1896 that doubling the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere would increase the temperature 7 to 11 degrees. Today’s computer models agree with his calculations. Granted they do vary by region and weather conditions in different parts of the world at different times. He went on to share several results of research that has been done in growth chambers to measure the effects of higher temperatures. For example, he said that increased levels of carbon dioxide increase pollen production, increase the growth rate of poison ivy and make invasive weeds like thistle and poison ivy resistant to herbicides.

(continued on page 9)

With a warmer climate we will have longer growing seasons, more frequent and longer droughts, warmer and drier soils, more earthworms consuming the forest soil duff, lower soil nutrients, more deer, and more fires which all contribute to seedling die-off and less tree reproduction. Trees will be more susceptible to insects, pests and diseases, which will spread faster. Minnesota is vulnerable to climate change more than other parts of the world because we are on the edge of biomes and growing zones. We have three main biomes in Minnesota that are the result of the balance between precipitation and evaporation. They are the western and southern prairie where precipitation has generally been less than evaporation; the hardwood forest along the Mississippi River Valley where precipitation has usually equaled evaporation and the northeastern boreal forest where precipitation has exceeded evaporation. Frelich predicted that with warmer climate our northern boreal (spruce, fir, jack pine) forest will be replaced by temperate forest species including red maple. He added that the red maple will come in right away and other hardwoods will come in later on in deeper soils. Oak Savanna will replace boreal forest trees on shallow or sandy soils. Minnesota will likely lose one-third of our native species. By 2100 the biomes and hardiness zones in Minnesota could move 300 miles northeast. The BWCA climate could be like southwest Minnesota is today. Pine County could be like Des Moines, Iowa and Nebraska. With the change in vegetation will come a change in the species of wildlife. For example, it will be too warm for moose, but not for deer and the Lynx will be replaced by the Bobcat. Frelich said that extreme warm and cold spells are becoming more common. There are more pronounced troughs and ridges in the jet stream. With warmer winters and summers and increased droughts, trees will not be able to defend themselves against insect infestations like the Pine Bark Beetle. What can we do about it? It is not too late to make changes. “It’s much easier to adapt to a couple of degrees of warming than 12 – 14 degrees,” said Frelich. “We have the technology today to solve this problem now, Bringing those technologies online now is good not only for the environ-ment, but also for the economy.” Here is a list of things we can do: 1.) Follow the Paris Agreement. 2.) Use higher efficiency insulation in buildings and higher efficiency cars. 3.) Gardeners and farmers can use practices that keep more carbon in the soil with more crop plant cover and less tillage. 4.) Plant native grasslands. He said that native prairie grasses held as much carbon as old growth White Pines. 5.) Plant trees on logged and open land. 6.) Use multi-forest management. Older trees hold more carbon than younger trees. 7.) Use renewable energy. It is the big growth sector for the future economy of the U.S. and world. There is no reason not to do it. It is a good job generator and creates a better future. 8.) One benefit of a warmer climate will likely be that we can plant less winter hardy (warmer climate tolerant) species. For example, Black Hills Spruce will do better in a milder climate than a Northern White Spruce.

Page 9

Yard & Garden

PINE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

Pine County Extension Office

635 Northridge Drive NW

Suite 280

Pine City, MN 55063

Phone: 800-657-3813 or 320-591-1650

Fax: 320-591-1655

Email: mnext-pine@umn.edu

April 2018 10 4-H Dog Training, 6:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 16 4-H Publicity Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 17 4-H Dog Training, 6:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 24 4-H Dog Training, 6:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 28 4-H Animal Discovery Day, 1 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City 30 4-H Council Meeting, Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley May 2018 5 4-H Sheep & Goat Weigh-in, Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City 8 4-H Dog Training, 6:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 15 4-H Dog Training, 6:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 15 4-H Animal ID Deadline 21 4-H Executive Board Meeting, Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 22 4-H Dog Training, 6:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 23 Master Gardeners’ Annual Spring Plant Sale, 6:30 a.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City 28 Memorial Day—Office Closed June 2018 4 4-H SS&W Training, 7:00 p.m., Sandstone Sportsmen’s Club, Sandstone 6 4-H LQA&E Training, 7 4-H Dog Training, 5:30 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City 11 4-H SS&W Training, 7:00 p.m., Sandstone Sportsmen’s Club, Sandstone 14 4-H Dog Training, 5:30 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City 18 4-H SS&W Training, 7:00 p.m., Sandstone Sportsmen’s Club, Sandstone 21 4-H Dog Training, 5:30 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pine City 25-27 4-H Regional Summer Camp: PICCKM+, St. Croix State Park, Hinckley 25 4-H Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley 28 4-H Dog Training, 5:30 p.m., Pine County Fairgrounds, Pines City

PINE COUNTY EXTENSION UPCOMING EVENTS

© 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to 612-626-6602.

Extension Committee Members:

District 1: Linda Defenbaugh

District 2: Donna Zastera

District 3: Mary Lange

District 4: Thane Sheetz

District 5: David Durheim

Member at Large: Kari Holmberg

County Auditor-Treasurer: Cathy Clemmer

Auditor’s Designee: Maddie Amundson

County Commissioner: Steve Chaffee

County Commissioner: Josh Mohr

To be included on our email or mailing list, contact the Pine County Extension Office at 800-657-3813 or mnext-pine@umn.edu.