NDSU Extension - Ward County

07/25/2024

Hot weather continues across the region.

A temperature-humidity index chart can help ranchers identify when livestock are most at risk for developing heat stress. Livestock begin to experience moderate heat stress at a temperature humidity index of 82 to 83, severe heat stress at 84 to 86, and extreme heat stress at 87 or greater. A temperature-humidity index chart can be found at ndsu.ag/heat-stress.

Heat stress can significantly impact animal performance, health and welfare, making it critical to prepare a proactive management plan for unavoidable heat events. Heat stress occurs when an animal’s cumulative heat load outweighs the animal’s ability to dissipate heat, causing body temperature to rise. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/newsreleases/2024/july/protect-ruminant-livestock-from-heat-stress

07/25/2024

Canning is a pretty popular food preservation method. But what about drying?

Drying is a long-standing, fairly easy method of food preservation. Whenever you preserve foods, choose the best-quality fruits and vegetables.

Dried vegetables can be used in soups, dips, stews and sauces!

Learn how to dry vegetables and how to use them >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/food-preservation-drying-vegetables #:~:text=Spray%20a%20cookie%20sheet%20or,and%20follow%20the%20manufacturer's%20directions.

07/25/2024

Submit information about your home, church, school, food pantry, or garden club pollinator garden or bee lawn and earn a sign to display as reward for creating pollinator habitat!

07/25/2024

Crop & Pest Report #12 ~ July 25, 2024

The 12th issue of the NDSU Crop & Pest Report is here! In this issue you will find:
2024 NDSU Annual Field Days
Soybean Aphid Scouting
Cereal Aphids Increase
Hessian Fly in Wheat
Update on Soybean White Mold
What’s Rotting My Soybean Stems?
Cool and Wet Weather Impact Weeds
Around the State:
Northeast ND
South-Central/Southeast ND
Southwest ND
Weather Forecast: The Week in Review
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/crop-production/crop-pest-report

07/24/2024

Dried fruit makes a great portable snack and can be used in recipes!

Learn about the basic methods of drying fruit and making fruit leather. Fruit leathers are nutritious, high-energy snacks for children and adults. Perfect for families always on the go!

How to dry fruit >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/food-preservation-drying-fruits

How to make fruit leathers >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/food-preservation-making-fruit-leathers

07/23/2024

Found this plump fella among a hearty patch of purslane and German chamomile while weeding the other day. Startled me a bit as I certainly wasn't expecting to see it! I knew that Emily H. would be excited about it and would want him to show the kids at the youth garden so I gathered it up, using my hoe (I wasn't touching it HAHA), and put it in jar and brought it to work.

Tomato Hornworms in your garden are not something you want to find. Here are some quick facts I found about them from University of MN Extension
* Tomato hornworms are very large caterpillars with a horn-like tail.
* Their favorite plant is tomato.
* Hornworms chew leaves and can completely defoliate plants.
* They can also chew holes in the fruit.
* Physical removal is usually the only necessary management.

More information can be found here
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/tomato-hornworms

You can also contact your local Extension Agent - In Ward County, contact Emily How (Extension Agent - Horticulture) at 701-857-6444

07/23/2024

Join us for our Annual Plants, Local Foods and Outdoor Spaces event!
📅 July 30
🕒 3 - 7 p.m. CDT
📍 NDSU Horticulture Research and Demonstration Gardens
🌟 Learn more https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/events/plants-local-foods-and-outdoor-spaces-gardening-event

Topics at this year's event:
1️⃣What's a Daylily Museum?
2️⃣Fresh Preserving and Serving Ideas for Your Summer Bounty
3️⃣Winter in July - Not What You Think
4️⃣Leaf Cutter Bees
5️⃣Turfgrass Species and Mixes for North Dakota
6️⃣Not Your Grandma's Daylilies

Tours >>>
🌼Flower beds
🚜Fruit and Vegetable Research Plots
🏢 Peltier Complex

Activities >>>
🕵️‍♀️Extension Master Gardener Diagnosticians booth
🥒Veggies for the Pantry collection
🌼Vote for your favorite annuals!
🍦Ice cream truck

07/23/2024

There's another upcoming event! Join the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program in guided campus tours.

Please register by August 16th here: https://bit.ly/4f8SY6W

Specific event details can be found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/academics/events/ndsu-woody-plant-improvement-program-campus-tours

07/22/2024

Summer sure can be busy! And the busy school schedule is not far behind!

Do you have time to eat healthy when on the run? Many people struggle to make healthful food choices with today´s busy schedules.

We've provided a week's worth of menu ideas for healthy meals so you don't have too! Check out these breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack ideas >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/cooking-101-week-3-quick-and-easy-menus-recipes-and-tips-singles-and-couples

07/22/2024

Farmers and ranchers should be on the lookout for toxic cyanobacteria. The growth of this bacteria is facilitated by high temperatures. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/newsreleases/2024/july/be-aware-of-toxic-cyanobacteria

07/22/2024

Registration deadline for the JR Beef Producers Camp is TODAY!
Register ndsu.ag/jrbeefcamp

Junior Beef producer will be a one day camp to allow kids 13-18 to learn more about the beef industry. Topics will include cattle handling, Artificial insemination, proper vaccination and handling, hay sampling and calving procedures. Attendees will get exposure to some of the state’s beef industry experts producers panel over lunch. The afternoon will include a tour of a processing facility.

07/19/2024

The event will feature walking tours of the annual and perennial flower gardens.

07/19/2024

Ward County Extension is doing great things with generous donations from the Aggie Foundation! Thanks for the support!!

07/19/2024

Once again we're partnering with the North Dakota Lamb & Wool Producers Association to offer North Dakota youth an opportunity to become involved in the sheep industry and build their own flock. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/newsreleases/2024/july/sheep-starter-flocks-available-for-north-dakota-youth

07/18/2024

07/18/2024

NDSU Extension offers some great resources for food preservation. One of those is fermenting sauerkraut!

Sauerkraut, the German word for “sour cabbage,” is produced by a fermentation process using salt and natural lactic acid bacteria found on cabbage. These bacteria break down the natural sugars in cabbage, which results in the unique product that is enjoyed in cuisine around the world.

Here's what you need to know from cabbagworm to temperature >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/sauerkraut-garden-table

07/18/2024

Crop & Pest Report #11 ~ July 18, 2025
https://conta.cc/4d7cyOS

07/17/2024

2024 North Dakota Soybean Cyst Nematode sampling bags & forms are now available at County Extension Offices
https://conta.cc/3y25xjA

07/17/2024

We're in the dog days of summer but it's never too early to start planning your fall plantings 😉 https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/columns/dakota-gardener/dakota-gardener-ornamental-cabbage-and-kale

07/17/2024

Heat stress can significantly impact animal performance, health and welfare, making it critical to prepare a proactive management plan for unavoidable heat events. Heat stress occurs when an animal’s cumulative heat load outweighs the animal’s ability to dissipate heat, causing body temperature to rise.

NDSU Extension livestock specialists recommend several heat event action plans:
1️⃣Provide sufficient access to quality water sources
2️⃣Shade infrastructure and fly control
3️⃣Employ surface cooling strategies
4️⃣Avoid unnecessary animal handling
5️⃣Adjust feeding times to late afternoon or evening
6️⃣Know when to intervene

Read more about these strategies https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/newsreleases/2024/july/protect-ruminant-livestock-from-heat-stress

07/15/2024

Why does pickling require a certain type of salt? Wouldn't table salt do as good of a job?

Salts not meant for canning contain noncaking material that may make the brine cloudy. It is also important to use the right amount of salt. Do not reduce salt in fermented pickles because proper fermentation depends on the correct proportions of salt and other ingredients. Flake salt varies in density and is not recommended for use.

Learn more >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/food-preservation-making-pickled-products?fbclid=IwY2xjawD8zeZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHftiLSc6B8U7LtetKPjjzVY8BwxDEXKNY5qUNgs_yKKnKLZkPKcFsZIV8Q_aem_tOUxuLtfG4KxYMO04nI0yw

07/15/2024

Weather conditions across the Dakotas have created challenges for haymaking. Properly curing hay to the correct moisture level for baling is crucial to maintaining forage quality. At baling, the moisture level should be a maximum of 20% for small square bales, 18% for round bales and 15% for large square bales. The larger the forage package, the lower the moisture should be at baling. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/newsreleases/2024/july/properly-curing-hay-is-crucial-for-forage-quality

07/15/2024

Heat in summertime is not avoidable. However, you can take preventive measures when designing facilities and before temperatures reach dangerous levels to minimize impacts of heat stress on cattle.

https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/dealing-heat-stress-beef-cattle-operations

07/15/2024

Some species of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can be toxic when ingested by livestock and wildlife. (NDSU photo)

Farmers and ranchers should be on the lookout for toxic cyanobacteria.

07/11/2024

Happy National Ice Cream Month! 🍦

Celebrate with ice cream facts and tips:
- To be labeled “ice cream,” a food has to contain at least 10% milk fat.
- Purchasing ice cream at the grocery store? Bring an insulating bag or a cooler so your ice cream stays cold on the way home.
- At home, be sure your freezer is set at 0 degrees F or lower.
- Don't store ice cream in the freezer door.

Read on >>> https://prairiefare.wordpress.com/2022/07/11/july-is-ice-cream-month/

07/11/2024

Crop & Pest Report #10 ~ July 11, 2024

This week's Crop and Pest Report is now available.
📄Download your copy ndsu.ag/croppestreport

In this week's edition:
🦗 IPM Insect Update
🌿 Soybean Reaching R1
🗺 Around the State
🌦 Weather Summary and Outlook

07/11/2024

What’s the biggest threat to gardens today in the Dakotas?

It is herbicide misuse. Nothing else comes close. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/columns/dakota-gardener/dakota-gardener-the-biggest-threat-to-our-gardens

07/10/2024

We hope you can join us this evening at 6:30 pm at the Dakota Bark Park. Haley from Souris Valley Animal Shelter will lead this walk. She will share info and bring one of the dogs! https://tinyurl.com/WalkMinot2024

07/09/2024

Try a new vegetable on your menu this summer! Have you ever heard of scapes?

Scapes are the shoots of garlic plants and have a mild garlic flavor.

Some usev scapes as a vegetable, similar to asparagus or green beans. They can be brushed with a favorite oil and grill them in a grill pan. Or you can add them to potato soup, salad or add to hummus!

Read on >>> https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/columns/prairie-fare/prairie-fare-try-a-new-vegetable-on-your-menu-this-summer

07/08/2024

Crop & Pest Report # 9 ~ July 4, 2024

The 9th issue of the NDSU Crop & Pest Report is out! In this issue you will find the following:
2024 NDSU Annual Field Days
Scout for Wheat Midge
True Armyworm in Corn
Symptoms of Bacterial Leaf Streak Reported on Flag Leaves of Spring Wheat
Fusarium Head Blight (Scab) Risk is High and Likely to Remain High
Soybean Pathology: Riddled with Rhizoctonia Root Rot
Bacterial Leaf Spot in Sugarbeet
Increasing Protein in Spring Wheat
Brady Goettl Joins Extension Soil Science
Spray Application Technology for Fusarium Head Blight Suppression
Northeast ND
Northwest ND
South-Central/Southeast ND
Southwest ND
Weather Forecast: The July 4 to July 10, 2024 Weather Summary and Outlook
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/sites/default/files/2024-07/9%20CPR%20July%204%202024_F.pdf