MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minnesota Association of Resource Conservation and Development's annual Summer Conference is planned Sept. 4-5 in Country Inn &; Suites, Mankato.
The Three Rivers RC&D; Council will host the event.
Activities include a tour of the Farmamerica site near Waseca, an evening meal of locally grown foods and a panel discussion involving state and federal agency leaders.
Linder Farm Network will broadcast live from the event.
For more information, call the Three Rivers RC&D; at (507) 345-7418, ext. 5.
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Backyard Conservation workshop is Aug. 15
ST. PETER, Minn. -- The 5th annual Backyard Conservation Workshop is panned Aug. 15 in the St. Peter Community Center.
This year's theme is "A Garden Gala'' and will include presentations on native grass plantings, rain gardens and sustainable gardens.
The afternoon session includes a tour of the Gustavus Adolphus College Linnaeus Abrboretum, the St. Peter Community Garden and the Traverse des Sioux Treaty History Center.
For more information and to register, call Three Rivers RC&D; at (507) 345-7418, ext. 5.
Public information meeting set Aug. 22
GAYLORD, Minn. -- A public information meeting and open house is planned July 31 for the M.G. Waldbaum egg production facilities. The meeting will discuss draft individual National Pollution Elimination System permits for three Waldbaum facilities.
Public comments will be accepted until Aug. 22.
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The hearing and open house will be from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. and from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. in the Gaylord City Hall. Information about the draft individual NPDES permits for the Waldbaum facilities.
The facilities include a layer facility in Lake Prairie Township, Nicollet County and two facilities -- one layer and one pullet -- in Dryden Township in Sibley County.
Comments should be submitted to Chuck Peterson, MPCA, Regional Environmental Management Division, 18 Wood Lake Drive SE, Rochester, Minn. 55901.
River Basin will receive $622,000
MANKATO, Minn. -- The Blue Earth River Basin will receive $622,000 from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources to demonstrate a variety of third crop options for landowners within the Greater Blue Earth River Watershed.
Targeting third crops to environmentally sensitive areas can result in significant water quality improvements and return economic benefits to rural landowners and small communities.
A portion of the grant will go to the University of Minnesota for agronomic hydrologic and economic research relative to third crops.
Interested growers should call the BERBI office at (507) 238-5449.
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Farmers invited to take part in survey
NORTH MANKATO, Minn. -- In an effort to measure the protein content of soybeans, the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council has joined with the University of Minnesota to conduct a thorough survey of the 2003 crop.
"Soybean farmers will soon be receiving a letter in the mail asking for their participation in the survey,'' said Seth Naeve, U of M agronomist. "We plan to evaluate up to 1,400 soybean samples from more than 1,000 growers representing every soybean-producing county in the state. Our goal is to receive one sample for each 5,000 acres of soybeans produced in 2003.''
Minnesota soybeans are lower in protein than soybeans produced in warmer climates and as a result are discounted in the market.
For more information, contact Naeve at (612) 625-4298 or Jim Call at (320) 598-3661.
Drainage ditch research expanding
LAMBERTON, Minn. -- Drainage ditch research is expanding at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton.
The Legislature allocated $300,000 in 2001 for drainage research, half of which led to concepts supervised through the SWROC in Lamberton.
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SWROC staff will collect on-site drainage data using a pair of 650-foot ditches with two side-by-side channels and two overflow channels. The ditches were constructed in 2002 from a former grass waterway.
A larger, more life-sized ditch are to compliment the small-scale research facility will be developed about 10 miles away in Judicial Ditch 3 in northeastern Murray County and northwestern Cottonwood County.
Meshkes honored in Blue Earth County
LAKE CRYSTAL, Minn. -- Blake and Sheryl Meshke of Lake Crystal have been chosen as the 2003 Blue Earth County "Farm Family of the Year.''
They will be recognized at the Blue Earth County Farm Bureau meeting Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. in the American Legion in Lake Crystal. The Meshkes will also be honored at special recognition events at Farmfest Aug. 6 at 2:30 p.m. and at the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 24.
The Meshkes, together with their sons Derek and Brent, operate a diversified crop and livestock farm in Blue Earth County. The farm consists of 400 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa, a 250-head flock of ewes and 4,500 head of market hogs custom fed.
Southwest Minnesota lakes are important
MARSHALL, Minn. -- Southwest Minnesota lakes are important for the region. A recent water quality study by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency describes the condition and trends of 24 lakes in the region.
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Although shallow and higher in algae than their more northerly cousins, they receive a fair amount of recreational use and provide important habitat.
"This is a little different than our usual reports,'' said Steve Heiskary, MPCA lake scientist. "It doesn't focus on just one lake; it's more of a regional approach. As a group they may not have the quality of northern lakes, but they still have a lot of value for recreation and fish and wildlife habitat.''
Albrecht will lead animal care group
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care recently re-elected Jan Albrecht of Watertown as president of the organization during its annual meeting. Other officers elected include Steve Cortinas, Dakota Premium Foods, South St. Paul, vice president; Wayne Edgerton, St. Paul, secretary; and Elden Lamprecht, St. Paul, treasurer. Brian Crooker of the University of Minnesota Animal Science Department was re-appointed to the board for a three-year term. Tom Haggerty and P.E. Poss are new appointments to the board.
