The Link

3/3/2010
FRANKLIN COUNTY ISU EXT OFC

FRANKLIN EXTENSION PACKET

Extension Notes

By Gary Hall, Iowa State University Regional Extension Education Director

Beware Some Seed Catalogs

Nothing says spring like those annual seed catalogs that come in the mail. Remember, though, to use a little caution before placing that order.

Seed catalogs are a great way to get a jump on the spring gardening season. The selection of seeds and plants are overwhelming since they don't have to worry about showroom space to display all of the seed selections.

One of the most important things to remember when using a seed catalog is to buy from a reputable company. Be sure that the seeds you buy will be the freshest and of the best quality. Ask your gardening friends to determine the best seed companies and find out what companies have the best products.

When selecting seeds, it is important to select those that will grow in your area. Seeds and plants are designated by hardiness zones, indicating in which area of the country and climates they will grow best. North Iowa is typically classified as a zone four. Zone five would be located farther south.

It is important, especially with perennials, to choose those that grow in your zone. The need to pay attention to zones is less important when choosing annual plants, because they only grow in the summer anyway.

When you have purchased your seeds, you are ready to get a jumpstart on the planting season. Planting the seeds inside under good fluorescent lighting will allow the plants to complete 6-8 weeks of growth before they are planted outside in May when the threat of frost is gone. Be sure to check with your Extension office for information on planting dates, crops, and growing transplants.

Contact: Gary Hall, 2023 S Federal Ave, Mason City, IA 50401, 641-425-3116, garyhall@iastate.edu

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Food Safety Quality Assurance Workshop for Youth Livestock Exhibitors

The next FSQA workshop for Franklin County youth involved in livestock production is scheduled for Monday, March 15, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at the Hampton State Bank. This session is open to all 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors in Franklin County. Members will learn about feeds and feed additives, biosecurity and animal welfare. Ethics will also be covered. Members attending this session will be FSQA certified for 2010. Certificates of completion will be kept on file at the Franklin County Extension Office.

At the 2010 Franklin County Fair all 4-H and FFA youth exhibiting beef, bucket calf, dairy cattle, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, poultry, and rabbit must be FSQA certified by May 15, 2010.

Certificates are good for one year. Franklin County members age 12 and older may contact the Franklin County Extension office for a test out option. Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, 5:00-6:00 p.m. at the Extension Office in Hampton.

For more information contact the Franklin County Extension Office at 641-456-4811.

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Franklin County 4-H Organization Seeking Youth Council Members

All Franklin County 4-H members in the 10th and 11th grades are invited to apply for the Franklin County 4-H Youth Council. Members are asked to fill out a Nominee Form. The 4-H Youth Committee requests a recommendation from a club leader, in addition to the nominee form.

Being a member of the Youth Council is prestigious, hard work, and fun. Council members are able to make suggestions about improving our 4-H program and work with 4-H friends from other parts of the county. Youth Council helps plan and carry out county 4-H activities such as grade school visitations for National 4-H Week, installations of local 4-H club officers, county 4-H recruitment events, local camps and project workshops.

Applications are due March 15 into the Franklin County Extension Office.

If you are a 10th or 11th grader in the Franklin County community and are not currently a 4-H member, but you're looking for an opportunity to build your leadership skills, please contact Jackie Dohlman, County Youth Coordinator. There are several options available to get you involved with the 4-H program in Franklin County. For more information, call the Extension Office at 641-456-4811 or e-mail jackied@iastate.edu

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Discover Visual Arts at 4-H Project Meeting

Can you draw or paint; create artworks out of clay, wire, wood, or glass; or like to use graphic designs? Do you like to experiment with different art mediums to explore your creativity? Would you like to learn more about design elements and principles? Then the 4-H Project: Visual Arts is just for you!

Franklin County Extension is offering 4-H Project Workshops on Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:00 pm beginning March 11. This week the 4-H Project: Visual Arts will be covered. Information on what kinds of things youth can learn and do in the project area will be discussed. The project materials, record keepings and fair exhibit ideas will also be presented. The evening will end with a hands-on activity. The 4-H program is open to all youth in grades 4th through 12th grades. Youth interested in learning more about 4-H are encouraged to come. Parents and club leaders are welcome.

For more information on the workshop or about 4-H call Jackie Dohlman, County Youth Coordinator, 641-456-4811 or e-mail jackied@iastate.edu

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Winning the Game, Tax Update Workshops, offered at Women Around Ag Conference

The Women Around Ag Conference to be held on Saturday, March 27 at the Holiday Motor Lodge in Clear Lake, will offer more than 13 workshops covering a wide range of topics important to women. The one day conference features Gail Mote giving the welcome address, "Blessed Are They Who Are Flexible," plus a workshop later in the day, "Running on Empty."

Ed Kordick, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, will give you a taste of the marketing program, Winning the Game. Kordick outlines how this program works; you will experience hands-on activities; and find out how your community can offer this program.

Workshops on tax updates and estate planning questions will be facilitated by Dr. Roger McEowen, ISU Leonard Dolezal Professor in Agriculture Law.

Beth Collins will present basic and advanced crop marketing workshops.

Investing 101 by Robin Edgar, Edgar Financial Group, will give basics to investing for your future.

Vacation Iowa by Nikki Betz, Clear Lake Chamber Tourism Director, discusses low cost discover Iowa vacations and explores the staycation concept.

Learn the difference between Skype, Twitter, and Facebook in a Social Networking workshop by Ashley Weese, ISU Systems Support Specialist.

Farm Land Values, which looks at current land values and farm leases; and International Agriculture and how it impacts Iowa's economy, will be presented by Kelvin Leibold, ISUE Farm Management Specialist.

Lynn Larson, Franklin County Sheriff's Department, leads the Security in the Countryside workshop. Protect your farm buildings in rural areas as well as being aware of meth labs in the countryside.

Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate helps families plan ahead for the transfer of non-titled property, presented by Brenda Schmidt, ISUE Resource Management Specialist.

The registration fee is $40. The entire conference program and registration information is available from ISU Extension offices, online at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/winnebago/ or by calling 888-408-6606.

Registrations are appreciated by March 12. For discount lodging requests at the Holiday Motor Lodge, call (641) 357-5253 and mention Women Around Ag.

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Annual Meeting to Highlight Farm Research and Grain Marketing

Nashua - ISU Extension experts will highlight research results and grain marketing strategies on March 17 at the 2010 Annual Program & Meeting of the Northeast Iowa Ag Experimental Association (NEIAEA).

The morning program runs from 9:30 am to noon and will feature three speakers. Chad Hart, ISU Ag Economist will discuss the latest assessments and predictions regarding grain markets and marketing tips. Ken Pecinovsky, ISU Research Farm Superintendant will review the farm research results from 2009. Dr. John Lawrence will share his views of the future of ISU Extension and the ISU Research & Demonstration Farms. In February, Lawrence was named the Associate Dean of the College of Ag and Life Sciences and Director of Ag & Natural Resources Extension.

The 2009 Research Farm Report with current results on fungicide and insecticide trials, planting dates, rates and row widths, tillage and crop rotation systems will be available.

The program is free and open to the public. Following a Dutch-treat lunch, the NEIAEA Board of Directors will meet at 1:00 pm. At the annual meeting, NEIAEA members conduct business for the association-owned farm, including election of officers and board of directors' appointments.

The program and meeting will take place at the Borlaug Learning Center on the Northeast ISU Research Farm, just southwest of Nashua. Directions: From Nashua at the Jct of Hwy 218 and Co. Rd. B60, go west 1.1 miles to Windfall Ave., then south 1 mile to 290th St., then east 0.2 miles to the farm. For more information about the event, call the Borlaug Learning Center at 641-435-4864.

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Free Crop Happenings E-Newsletter from ISU Extension

John Holmes, ISU Extension field agronomist for Franklin County, is your connection to pertinent producer and crop news. The e-newsletter Holmes writes and widely distributes is a valuable tool for farmers and agribusinesses. The free e-newsletter is aptly titled Crop Happenings. Crop Happenings brings you current articles, latest crop production information, and useful links for crop production decisions.

For further information, questions or to subscribe to Crop Happenings, the free e-newsletter, please call the Franklin County Extension office at 641-456-4811 or email tkloetze@iastate.edu.

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Small Steps to Health and WealthTM Online

After a long winter we are anxious to get outdoors and enjoy some sunshine and spring weather. Spring is known for new beginnings and that can also apply to health and wealth. "There is a relationship between behaviors that promote health and promote wealth," says Jill Weber, ISU Extension program specialist.

A new and exciting online program, Small Steps to Health and WealthTM, will help you take charge of your future by identifying small progress steps to reach health and wealth goals. For example, small positive behavior changes such as saving $5 or cutting 100 calories will make a big difference over time.

You will learn about 25 behavior change strategies that can be applied to simultaneously improve both your health and personal finances.

This online program will be offered one hour per week for four weeks beginning April 8, 2010 and ending April 29. The class will be repeated on Thursday's in May and June. Choose the month that fits your schedule. The class will meet at noon and be repeated again at 6 pm. To participate, you must have a computer with internet and sound capabilities. You will receive via e-mail class handouts, and detailed instructions for accessing the on-line class. The class is live and interactive. If you miss a class or want to re-watch a class, sessions are taped for your convenience. You can choose either the noon or 6pm class times and vary the time you participate in the class based on your schedule each week.

For more information or to register, contact Brenda Schmitt at 641-512-0650 or Jill Weber at 319-234-6811. Details are available at www.extension.iastate.edu/cerrogordo.

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Learn To Manage What You Have With A Budget

What does a bank, a sock, a cookie jar, an envelope, and a mattress have in common? If you said, "places where folks keep their dough," then you are right on the money. "Failure to manage money properly has led to an epidemic of credit debt and bankruptcy filings," says Brenda Schmitt, ISU Extension Resource Management Program Specialist. "The best way to avoid the credit trap is by using a budget."

An online, 3-hour personal financial management series will be offered beginning April 5. The program will meet for one hour each week for 3 weeks on Mondays at noon or at 5:00pm. By registering, participants will receive class materials via email as well as the web address with instructions on how to log in. Participants will need a computer with internet access to take the class. If you miss one class, or would like to review a session, you will receive information as to how to view the recorded class.

Week one will cover setting goals, managing unexpected and periodical expenses, and savings. Week two will talk about tracking spending, creating a budget, decreasing expenses and increasing income. The third week shows different methods of tracking spending, managing risk, managing credit, and saving for retirement.

The class is being offered from noon to 1:00 OR from 5:00 to 6:00 on Mondays, April 5, 12 and 19. For more information or registration forms, contact the Brenda Schmitt at 641-512-0650 or email schmitt@iastate.edu. Preregister by phone, email or mail by April 1.

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Free, Independent Web Course: Take Control of Your Money

AMES, Iowa -- Iowans who want more for their money, are tired of being in debt or want to accomplish something different financially, should try Iowa State University Extension's newly updated free course - Take Control of Your Money.

"The course is great for those whose finances are changing, who are just starting out on their own or who want to turn over a new leaf by truly being in control of their money," said Barbara Wollan, an ISU Extension family resource management specialist. "It also can be helpful to those who are having financial difficulties, although it is not designed to solve serious financial crises."

Take Control of Your Money is an online course with audio-visual lessons available to anyone who wants to make a change in his or her personal finances. There is no cost for the course.

"The course is designed to be worked at your own pace," said Wollan. "Ideally, participants would take a month or more to actually practice using the money management tools that are provided, even if it only takes a few hours to actually review the course content."

The course is interactive and breaks down money management into five key steps including goal setting, evaluating current spending, and making and following a spending plan. Each step provides one or more tools for participants to use in completing that step for themselves. The five steps are logically connected and it is easy to advance from one to another. It is possible, however, to jump around in the material according to individual needs and interests.

Special topics covered in the course include dealing with debt, building financial security and family communication about money. The special topics are still under construction; they will be building gradually and will be completed during the spring.

Different methods of applying participants' knowledge include personalized worksheets, content boards and the ability to contact a learning coach with questions. Optional quizzes are also offered at the end of each lesson.

"The forum is a great way for participants to interact," said Wollan. "We're hoping participants will use them often, because they can gain ideas and encouragement from each other, and can learn from the questions others ask.

"Weekly e-mail money tips allow the course to remain up-to-date with current and seasonal issues," said Wollan. The weekly tips allow the course to react to situations participants are currently facing. Additionally, new content is added periodically, to assist participants in building the insight needed to be successful in taking control of their finances.

"Take Control of Your Money is meant to be very practical and adaptable," said Wollan. "The information is not presented as a strict regimen, but as a set of strategies and an overall philosophy, encouraging participants to adapt and personalize."

To enroll in Take Control of Your Money, a free Web course, please visit: www.extension.iastate.edu/finances/personal/take_control_course.htm

Contacts: Barbara Wollan, Field Specialist, (515) 832-9597, bwollan@iastate.edu; Kassi Williams, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515) 294-9915, kassi8@iastate.edu; Laura Sternweis, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515) 294-0775, lsternwe@iastate.edu

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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

(Contact: Beverly Peters, 641-456-4811)