Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy  September 11, 2009

            There is nothing I love better than being outside when the weather hints at fall (my favorite time of the year) with the fresh, crisp air.  For two days last week I had the opportunity to be outside teaching 3^rd, 4^th , and 5^th graders about soybeans and how they grow and develop.  I absolutely loved it!  I was outside beside a soybean field teaching students about agriculture. 

The program that I was in charge of this year was called Field-to-Table and my station was just one of the many different stations.  Other stations included: soybean by-products, corn growth and development, corn by-products, wheat growth & development & by-products, planter, combine, popcorn and novelty corn, and an acre explanation.

At my station we talked about planting soybeans and how the seed starts to swell like a sponge with water and then how the plant begins to germinate and emerge.  We discussed how the cotyledons contained nutrients for the first few leaves and that after the uni-foliate leaves emerge that the leaves will always emerge in groups of three called tri-foliates.  We talked about why are soybean plants continue to grow and flower throughout our season (indeterminate varieties).  One of the things that the students thought was pretty interesting is that soybeans can make their own nitrogen with the nitrogen fixating nodules.  After we talked about how the plant grows we took a look at some of the pests that might hurt the farmer’s yield.

As you can see, this is a very good program and I hope to see it continue.  We held the program just outside of Gayville, S.D.  We had 340 students attend from St. Agnes, Sacred Heart, Jolley Elementary, Hurley, Gayville-Volin, Irene-Wakonda, Akron-Westfield, and Beresford Schools.  We couldn’t have asked for two more beautiful or better days.    

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in this type of program here in Turner County?  Do you think we should do a similar type of program?  Is there a need for this kind of education?  If you are a farmer and are willing to let us get a program started here in Turner County please give me a call at (605) 297-3112 and I would love to work with you.  If you are a teacher or parent who thinks that this would be a worthwhile program and/or would like to be involved please contact me.  I would really like to promote agriculture and science here in Turner County but I cannot do it without your help. 

For your information:  There will be a Soybean Cyst Field Day on September 17, 2009 at 4: 30 p.m. with a meal to follow.  The event will be held at Jim Reiner’s farm, located 3 miles west of Hurley, S.D.  The farm is located about one-half mile north of the intersection of 453^rd Avenue and 284^th Street, with plots on the west side of the road. 

Sheep Growers’ annual convention set for Sept. 26 in Huron

The 72nd annual South Dakota Sheep Growers’ Association annual convention is set for September 26^th, 2009 in Huron, S.D.  Registration starts at 8 a.m. at the Crossroads Convention Center, 100 4^th St. S.W.  The convention and program are free, and tickets for the Master Lamb Producer Recognition luncheon program and evening banquet are available for purchase during registration.

The morning program begins at 9 a.m. and topics covered include:       Recommendations for use of co-product feeds in lactation and finishing lamb diets; SDSU sheep program highlights from SDSU professors/South Dakota Cooperative Extension specialists; Promoting fresh American lamb in the U.S.; South Dakota damage control program initiatives; and Keys to success in the wool market.  The afternoon program begins at 1:30 p.m. and includes a presentation on commercial sheep profitability.  An update will also be provided on the sheep industry in the U.S.

The annual SDSGA business meeting will take place at 3:30 p.m.

A Horse Owners Seminar is scheduled for September 30^th, 2009 at the Southeast Research Farm (SERF).  The SE Research Farm is located 5 ½ miles west and 2 ¾ miles south of the I-29 Beresford exit.  The farm’s address is 29974 University Road.  There is no cost for the seminar but pre-registration is required.  Call (605) 764-2756 or (605) 356-2321 by Friday, September 25^th in order to pre-register.  The seminar starts at 6:30 p.m. and topics covered include:  basic horse nutrition and the nutritional requirements of various ages and classes of horses; pasture establishment; grazing management; health and hoof care; equine disease prevention and dry lotting considerations.

Go ahead and call the office or check our website at http://www.turnercounty4h.com and click on the agriculture tab for upcoming programs and additional information.