Monday, February 17th: Embracing climate change – how to prepare for weather whiplash.
Droughts, floods, and tornados, oh my! How do we embrace climate change to establish resilient gardens? Tory Salzer and Tarah Young will cover eight strategies to help prepare your gardens for extreme weather conditions in every growing season.

Tuesday, February 18th: Non-traditional lawns
Lia Spaniolo and Jill Patrie will discuss alternative landscaping methods such as bee lawns, rain gardens and low maintenance turf.  Learn how native plants and non-traditional lawns can be utilized to adapt to changing weather patterns, support insect populations and reduce inputs.

Wednesday, February 19th – Replacement trees
Recent USDA growing zones have changed how we view tree selection, pest, and disease pressure. Quincy Sadowski and Emily Lindenfelser will walk you through how to make decisions when selecting replacement trees for a changing climate.

Thursday, February 20th – Planning and maintaining successful food forests
Learn how to design a functional and beautiful food forest that balances aesthetic goals, food production, and wildlife support. Olivia Olson, Tarah Young and Troy Salzer will cover plant selection, layering strategies, soil preparation, and maintenance techniques for creating a productive, sustainable food forest in any space.

Friday, February 21st – Adapting with integrated pest management
During this session you will learn how to use integrated pest management strategies to deal with our ever-changing pest pressures. Robin Trott and Katie Drewitz will focus on both plant and insect pest management.

Gardeners and landowners across Minnesota are encouraged to attend and may benefit from this series. Gardening from the Ground Up is a collaborative effort by University of Minnesota local Extension educators from across the state, representing Benton, Clay, Douglas, Filmore, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Otter Tail, Sherburne, Sterns, St. Louis, and Wright counties.

To join us for one or all of these webinars, please register at z.umn.edu/GardenUp. Registering once will provide you access to all five sessions. Pre-registration is required to receive the webinar link. Recordings of the webinars will be sent out at the conclusion of the series.

If you have questions about the webinar series or need assistance with registration, please call your local Extension office. Residents in Fillmore and Houston counties can call 507-765-3896 or 507-725-5807.

–Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension

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To help meet your health improvement goals, University of Illinois Extension will be offering the Healthy Living Webinar Series in January. Webinars will be held on Thursday evenings, January 9, 16 and 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.. Topics include:

The Weight Equation: An Introduction to Weight Management – January 9

Establishing and maintaining a healthy body weight is not just about following a diet plan or being active. It is a culmination of all of our daily choices, those that are made consistently over time. In essence, it is a reflection of our lifestyle. Our lifestyle involves healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity, stress management, and quality sleep. All of these health behaviors work together to impact health and prevent illness.

During this webinar, we will discuss reasons for weight gain, how weight is assessed, the benefits of losing and maintaining a healthy body weight, and offer tips to promote weight loss.

Understanding Emotional Eating: How Stress Impacts Hunger & Appetite – January 16

Believe it or not, we do not always eat to satisfy our physical hunger. Many of us turn to food for any number of reasons. Perhaps we are looking for comfort or feeling stressed and overwhelmed with life. Eating when we are not truly physically hungry can lead to unintentional weight gain, heartburn, and even impact our ability to get a good night’s rest. If you find yourself eating for reasons other than physical hunger, this online session could be for you.

During this webinar, we will increase your awareness of how emotions and stress affect eating habits, increase your ability to identify emotional triggers leading to emotional eating and provide helpful steps to reach your wellness goals.

Move More for Better Health – January 23

Physical activity is a cornerstone for wellness and significantly improves overall health. Yet, only one in four adults meet the physical activity recommendations for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, which increases their risk of developing chronic health conditions.

During this webinar, you will learn the difference between physical activity and exercise, the recommended amount and types of physical activity, and the importance of staying active as you age. You will also learn about how aging impacts your ability to engage in physical activity, the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle, the importance of setting goals, and resources you can access at home to help you stay active.

Register for the Healthy Living Webinar Series by calling the Extension office at (815) 986-4357 or online at https://go.illinois.edu/Healthy-Living-Webinars. There is a $5 fee, for each webinar, pre-registration is required.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please call (815) 986-4357.

SOURCE: Diane Reinhold, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, University of Illinois Extension

ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities

–University of Illinois Extension

The post Finding Balance: Weight, Emotions, & Movement appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

In this course, students explore how Therapeutic Horticulture supports human health & wellness, including physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs. The course structure supports vibrant engagement via discussion threads and assignment feedback. It provides a unique opportunity to research, discuss, and reflect on people/plant relationships. Suitable for anyone, including allied health professionals and other practitioners interested in learning about and integrating this unique therapeutic method into their disciplines.

Later courses cover even more specific topics about the practice, and form a program that awards learners a Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture in collaboration with North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina.

Lead instructor Sarah Tanke is a registered horticultural therapist with NC Botanical Garden in the therapeutic horticulture community engagement specialist role, and instructor Amy Bruzzichesi is also a registered horticultural therapist as NC State Extension Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager. Both the course and the instructors have received OUTSTANDING reviews from hundreds of students across North Carolina, the U.S., and 18 countries!

Please share with anyone you think might be interested! We offer discounts for EMGVs, Extension Professionals, JC Raulston Arboretum volunteers, and NCBG volunteers. Discount information is listed below.

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions

For more information, please send a message to Amy Bruzzichesi:  afbruzzi@ncsu.edu

Seats are limited, so be sure to register soon! Students will have access to the course one week before the course launch date and an additional six months after the course ends.

Pricing:

$400 Tuition

$390 for Members (JCRA or NCBG)
$370 for NCBG Volunteers, JCRA volunteers, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, and Extension Professionals with a discount code. Contact your Extension Agent to get the code. Your agent can obtain the code by sending an email from their work account to afbruzzi@ncsu.edu.

Payment for courses is accepted only via online payment, but there is a payment plan available to place a deposit at registration and pay the balance shortly before your course begins.

REGISTER NOW
To register for the course, first create an account with REPORTER, the registration system used by NC State for online courses. No worries – it’s easy, and you only have to do this once, no matter how many courses you take. Log into REPORTER and Create a Guest Account or click “Sign in/Sign Up” in the upper right corner of the registration page. It will take you through the steps to create an account. You will be set to explore any non-credit course with NC State.

Once you get into Reporter, go to the ‘Catalog’ option on the left-hand menu and click on it. Then, in the search bar for the Catalog page, type ‘Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture.’  The course will come up with all of your registration options.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the growing world of Therapeutic Horticulture!

–Amy Bruzzichesi, N.C. State University

The post Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture: Register Now for January! appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

In the webinar, “On-Farm Soil Health Assessment Results: Lessons Learned,” Presley will provide insights gained from field studies conducted on 50 farms in central Kansas seeking to assess soil health across a variety of management approaches through the measurement of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. She will also discuss the impacts of variables such as ownership and management strategies over time which can affect soil health at a field scale.

“We learn a lot from small-plot research projects that are very controlled, but when research is expanded to operating farms, we wanted to better understand how these same measurement methods apply at field-scale where complicated management histories under ownership by different people may change the outcomes,” said Presley. “When we look at dynamic soil properties that can change across a 5-to-10-year timescale, we must always consider if management practices such as no-till or conventional tillage will show meaningful differences. Participants in this webinar will learn about some useful biological indicators and measurements such a soil aggregation that help in assessing soil health.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Don’t miss this webinar!
DATE: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
TIME: 12:00 p.m. CST
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Shortly before 12:00 pm CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar

Or, join via phone:
Dial:  646-876-9923
Webinar ID: 999 3709 5398

We will return January 8, 2025

The webinar will also be recorded and archived. All archived webinars are available on the ILF website, so that they can be watched at any time.

ILF has applied for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

About Iowa Learning Farms:
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.

–Iowa Learning Farms

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Designed for anyone who is interested in gardening or horticulture, the series aims to inspire and educate. Throughout the series, participants will hear from experts at Iowa State University, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, North Dakota State University, Iowa Arboretum and Gardens, and Des Moines Area Community College. The sessions are free and open to the public. Attendees can register to join through Zoom or join on Facebook Live.

Three sessions in January will cover native plant topics, including seed starting and selection, site preparation and maintenance, and balancing beauty with biodiversity. The last session of the month will cover supplemental lighting for indoor plants.

February will focus on perennial plants including trees and shrubs for difficult soil conditions, blueberries, roses, and how plants are assessed through trials at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens.

In March, the series will conclude with two presentations about landscape design. One will cover designing dazzling shade gardens while the other tackles designing gardens on slopped surfaces.

“The Home Gardening Webinar Series is for everyone, regardless of gardening experience. The topics chosen are based on survey responses from last year’s participants and will appeal to a wide range of viewers. This program is always a joy to present, and we look forward to another great season,” said Alicia Herzog, statewide Master Gardener coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The series is a good educational opportunity for existing master gardeners, those interested in becoming master gardeners and those who just want to learn more about these topics.

Zoom registration for the series is available at: https://go.iastate.edu/AWIU1J

To join the Facebook Live, visit the event listing and RSVP as “attending”: https://go.iastate.edu/LSZSS6.

All webinars will be live with question and answer at the end. Zoom participation is limited to the first 500 attendees. Attendees will be directed to Facebook Live if the Zoom room is at capacity. Registration cannot be taken over the phone or through email.

For more information, contact Alicia Herzog at 515-294-3627 or mgardener@iastate.edu.

–ISU Extension

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Each week there will then be a live Zoom session to enable all participants to come together for a discussion on that week’s topic to expand upon areas of interest, clarify anything that was not clear, and to ask general questions. This will be repeated for each of the three sections. These live Zoom sessions will occur on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and will be led by Jennifer Keller, the Extension & Outreach Coordinator of the NC State Apiculture Program. Zoom sessions will be held January 15th, 22nd and 29th.

All three units, including a live Zoom session for each unit, is being offered for $90. At the end of the course, students will be able to take an online quiz and receive an eCertificate of Completion. In association with the Hives to Heroes program and generously funded by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund, veterans may receive a $75 refund upon successful completion of the course. Additional information and details can be found upon registering through our online REPORTER system.

For additional information and registration, please visit go.ncsu.edu/BEES

— Jennifer Keller, N.C. State Extension

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In the webinar, “Tillage Management for Soil Conservation in Row Crop Systems,” Arriaga will discuss the impacts of management practices used for reducing soil degradation, improving crop productivity and soil health. He will draw on research to illustrate the impacts of management practices on soil properties and crop productivity and highlight the need to consider the impact that these practices may have on other management practices.

“There is no silver bullet that solves all crop and soil management goals, and it is important to consider stacking practices in ways that can deliver the best path to goal achievement,” said Arriaga. “We must always keep these goals and any potential interrelated impacts in mind when choosing to implement or change management practices. I hope that audience members will come away from the webinar with some new ideas about practice selection and stacking.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Don’t miss this webinar!

DATE: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024

TIME: Noon CST

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter webinar ID: 999 3709 5398

Or, join via phone:

    Dial: 646-876-9923

    Webinar ID: 999 3709 5398

The webinar will also be recorded and archived. All archived webinars are available on the ILF website, so that they can be watched at any time.

ILF has applied for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Up Next: Wednesday, Dec. 18, “On-Farm Soil Health Assessments Results: Lessons Learned,” DeAnn​ Presley of Kansas State University.

Upcoming Webinars in the Series:
We will return Jan. 8, 2025

About Iowa Learning Farms:

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.

–Iowa Learning Farms

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“Dairy goat production is an important industry in Iowa,” said Jenn Bentley, dairy field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are very pleased to continue this educational opportunity with a lineup of quality speakers and presenters to provide producers and industry providers with practical take-home information.”

2025 webinar sessions

• Jan. 15 – Dairy Goat Profit Analysis: Larry Tranel, dairy field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach
• Feb. 5 – Care of Neonatal Goats: Rachel Friedrich, DVM and clinical associate professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
• March 19 – Testing and Evaluation: Utilizing Your Feed Test Results – Laura Keiser, account and marketing manager at Dairyland Laboratories
• April 16 – Buck Management: Carolyn Ihde, small ruminant specialist with University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension and ISU Extension and Outreach
• May – Antimicrobial Stewardship in Dairy Goats: Pat Gorden, DVM and professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
• September – topic to be announced
• Oct. 14 – Animal Welfare for Dairy Goat Producers: Michelle Buckley, DVM and assistant professor of practice, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Tech University
• Nov. 18 – Managing Reproduction to Maximize Production: Rosie Busch, DVM and assistant specialist for sheep and goat herd health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension
• December – topic to be announced

There is no fee to attend the webinar sessions, however registration is required. Registration is only required once to attend any or all webinars.

Register online in advance or contact Jennifer Bentley at 563-382-2949, jbentley@iastate.edu or dairygoatextension@iastate.edu. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Information will also be provided about future webinars as topics are announced.

This work is supported by the Sustainable Agricultural Systems project award number 2024-68012-41749 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

–Jennifer Bentley, ISU Extension

The post Dairy Goat Webinar Series Continues in 2025 appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The live discussion will feature Mike Castellano, ISU William T. Frankenberger professor in soil science; Liang Dong, director of the ISU Microelectronics Research Center and Vikram L. Dalal professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Xiaobo Tan, MSU research foundation professor and Richard M. Hong endowed chair in electrical and computer engineering.

Tile drainage is among the most important land use improvements for agriculture with systems installed in nearly 50% of Iowa’s cropland. Drained croplands produce a disproportionately large amount of grain compared to total croplands, but also deliver a disproportionately large amount of nitrate to downstream waterways. A new smart agricultural drainage system project is exploring the use of robotic and sensor technology to inform the need to balance the effects of drainage on productivity, profitability and environmental quality.

“Many farmers have drainage systems and they don’t know where and when nutrients are being lost from the field,” noted Castellano. “By deploying robots up the drainage system with inexpensive, high accuracy, high resolution sensors for nutrients and water flow, farmers can measure when, where and how much nutrients are being lost. This will allow famers to better manage fields at a precision scale to improve both productivity and environmental performance of the cropping system.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Virtual field day access instructions

To participate in the live virtual field day at 1 p.m. CST on Dec. 19:

• Click this URL, https://iastate.zoom.us/j/91411984892, or visit https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/events-1.
• Or, join from a dial-in phone line: 646-876-9923 or 646-931-3860, with meeting ID 914 1198 4892.

The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time.

Participants may be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the event. This virtual field day is supported by U.S. National Science Foundation award 2125484.

About Iowa Learning Farms

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a culture of conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319) and GROWMARK, Inc.

–Iowa Learning Farms

The post Smart Agricultural Drainage Virtual Field Day Is Dec. 19 appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

In the past, beef producers have been asked to complete the BQA program to market cattle to certain processors. However, BQA certification is still voluntary.  Specific companies have chosen to extend their own quality assurance protocol requirements to cattle producers who are a part of their supply chain. BQA certification is now being required by many major industry buyers and processors.

Online Zoom BQA trainings that will be offered in 2025 include:

•  January Zoom training: Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
  •  Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/BQAJan7
• February Zoom training: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
  •  Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/BQAFeb13
• March Zoom training: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
  • Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/BQAMarch20

BQA trainings are free to attend, but attendees must pre-register online at the correct link, or by calling the Pipestone County Extension Office at 507-825-1190. Only one person from each operation is required to be certified to ensure the entire operation follows the BQA standards. However, everyone who handles and manages fed cattle is encouraged to become BQA certified. You only need to attend one of the training options to complete BQA certification.

About the ONLINE Zoom trainings: Pre-registration is required for this training. You will not be able to access the Zoom meeting room without first pre-registering and receiving the secure Zoom link.

Note: Online BQA training at www.bqa.org is available to anyone, at any time. These online, self-paced modules that are free to complete. There will be in-person BQA trainings scheduled; please check the UMN BQA website at https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/beef-quality-assurance for more information, as meeting location details will be added here once events are scheduled. All available BQA training options can be found at the Minnesota Beef Council website: https://mnbeef.org/about-us/upcoming-events.

If you have any questions about accessing the in-person or online BQA trainings or have questions regarding your BQA status expiration, please contact the Extension Office. Residents in Fillmore and Houston counties can call 507-765-3896 or 507-725-5807. 

—Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension

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