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A group of farmers and ranchers sitting at a meeting

Communication: Importance of Social Support in Agriculture

Maintaining open communication and seeking social support can help producers get through difficult times.

Left: Black silage tarp spread out over a research plot. Right: Clear tarp spread out over a research plot.

What is Soil Tarping and Why is it Used?

Soil tarping is a technique that uses large tarps to cover a growing space in order to reduce weeds and improve soil health before planting. Learn some expert insights into two commonly used soil tarping strategies.

Multicolored Asian lady beetle, female mosquito, and boxelder bug.

Insects Are Being a Nuisance This Fall

The weather is changing, and many of us are noticing an uptick in the nuisance bites caused by several insects. The continued warm weather is going to increase the activity of all insects, including the ones that are causing us displeasure.

small black sap beetles on sweet corn

What’s Bugging Your Garden: Picnic Beetles

One of the most common garden insect questions I get asked is “what are those little black, spotted beetles that are in my sweet corn, tomatoes, raspberries and perhaps worst of all, in your beer! These little nuisances are called picnic or sap beetles. They are attracted to ripe or damaged fruit and vegetables.

Canada thistle growing in a pasture.

Fall Noxious Weed Control

Fall weed control can give the best weed control, but it also can be a poor time. If the noxious weeds were sprayed or clipped earlier this summer, and there is good weed growth now, this would be an excellent time to spray these weeds and get a good kill.

Cluster of tomatoes exhibiting yellow shoulders symptoms.

Will Heat Make My Tomatoes Ripen Faster?

Are you wondering why your tomatoes won’t ripen? Have you heard that heat will make them ripen faster? Learn some answers to commonly told myths about tomatoes.

Chigger mite under maginifying device.

What To Do About Chiggers

Chiggers are a persistent summer arthropod pest that many people want to get rid of in their lawns. While it is understandable that people want to eliminate them, the best defense against chiggers is being prepared before going outside.

black-colored snow in a ditch

“Snirt” and How To Minimize It

Blowing soils, dust storms and “snirt” (snow with dirt on it) are frequent challenges during dry, windy winters. Learn some soil health principles to limit erosion and minimize snirt on field edges this planting season.

A pair of hands transplanting a tomato seedling in a black, plastic pot.

Growing Your Own Food

Are you thinking about growing your own fresh vegetables this year, maybe for the first time? In addition to the satisfaction of providing fresh, nutritious and delicious produce for yourself and family or friends, many find working with plants and soil to be a great antidote for the worries and frustrations of the day.

Are your farm employees ready for low temperatures?

Winter is here and snow and icy roads will increase the risk for accidents. Getting ready to leave the house and going to work on the snow and ice might be a problem for inexperienced people.