Common tree concerns and suitable tree replacement options for SW MN

Pipestone and Murray County Extension Offices and Pipestone County Master Gardeners invite the public to an informational tree program focused on common tree diseases, pests and suitable tree species replacement options for southwest Minnesota. Homeowners, farmers and industry professionals should make plans to attend this free program presented by Regional Forestry Extension Educator Gary Wyatt. He will discuss the most common tree issues affecting southwest Minnesota trees, how to recognize and diagnose common diseases and pests (including Emerald Ash Borer), and learn about how drought is impacting our trees and how homeowners can help mitigate drought stress on trees. He will share his recommendations for tree species selection for southwest Minnesota, and which species are best suited as replacement options for yards, landscapes, and windbreaks.

Details for the program include:

• Date: Monday, Feb. 27 beginning at 2 p.m.

• Location: Pipestone County Emergency Management Building

• Address: 811 5th St SE, Pipestone, MN 56164

For more information please contact the Pipestone County Extension Office at 507-825-1190 or visit: z.umn.edu/2023PipestoneTrees

For more information contact: Melissa Runck, Agricultural Production Systems Extension educator, Pipestone and Murray counties, 507-825-1193, mkrunck@umn.edu

Deadline to make elections and complete enrollment in programs

Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Oct. 17 and producers have until March 15 to enroll in these two programs.    

2023 elections and enrollment    

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election change for 2023, they must sign a new contract.     

If producers do not submit their election by the March 15 deadline, their election remains the same as their 2022 election for crops on the farm.  Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the farm.      

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.