Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy  November 9, 2009
 
            Enjoying the beautiful weather last week was a welcomed change of pace for me and my family and for many, many local farmers.  It was great to see the fields alive and buzzing with harvesting equipment!  Soybeans were the focus of many the last few days.  There was even some corn being taken out.  Speaking of corn, a lot of corn in the area has been affected by mold.
            The concern we have about moldy corn is actually …

Music:  are you performing a solo at a contest or at another event?  Tape it and enter it at the fair.  You will also need a copy of the music and a short report.
Crops:  overfill an ice cream bucket and sort through the grain.  For a good shelled corn exhibit, go out and pick 30-40 ears of corn.  Let them dry well then shell the ear by hand.  Take the end kernels off first, then shell off the good kernels for your exhibit.  Also consider an exhibit of 10 ears …

The Turner County Courthouse will be closed on the following dates:
Wednesday, November 11:  Veteran’s Day
Thursday & Friday, November 26 & 27:  Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday and Friday, December 24 & 25:  Christmas Holiday

Congratulations to all of our award winners at the Turner County 4-H Recognition Event.
Meritorious Award:  Pam & Gene Stapleton
Friends of 4-H Award:  Tim Flint, Joel Buseman and John Rist
4-H Leader Awards:  Jill Poppenga - 5 years; Kristi Rops and Rise Jongeling - 10 years; Cal Graber - 30 years; Dorothy Schnose - 35 years
All Around Horse Awards:  Beginner:  Harlee McKenney; Junior:  Kayla Marquardt; Senior:  Colleen Bevers
Steve Hanten Memorial Award:  Joel Buseman
Top Record Books:
Beginners:  1st:  Kasey Buse; 2nd:  Travis Leber; 3rd:  Jacia Christiansen
Juniors:  1st:  Kayla Marquardt; 2nd:  Megan Christiansen; 3rd:  Kassidy …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy 
October 30, 2009
            It would be nice to see the weather cooperate for a while to allow everyone the opportunity to get a few things done outside since there is still plenty left to do.  There are soybeans to finish harvesting, wheat to plant, and for almost all farmers in the county, corn to harvest.  We get maybe one day a week that is actually decent for harvesting.  It just keeps raining and misting every day!  I  I love fall but …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy  October 23, 2009
 
            Halloween preparations are right around the corner in my house.  My son, Benjamin, wants to be Diego while my daughter, Ada, still has not made up her mind.  One day she says she wants to be a bumble bee, the next day she wants to be a princess, and then the next day she wants to be a witch.  If the thought of Halloween is not scary enough many are faced with the thought of when and whether …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy
 
October 16, 2009
 
With cold weather we have gotten outside, the threat of Hantavirus increases.  Hantavirus is caused by a virus carried by rodents.  With the cooler temperatures, rodents are starting to move indoors.  Hantavirus can result in Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) which causes the lungs to fill with fluid and can cause respiratory failure.  It was first detected in 1993 in the southwestern United States.  Since 1993, approximately 440 cases have been reported in the nation.  South Dakota has reported 13 cases since …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy  October 8, 2009
            The crisp air sure makes me think about fall and the smell of harvest in the air.  Harvest has been on everyone’s minds around here lately as all this rain has stopped or in some cases really slowed down harvesting.  With harvesting comes the question, where and how to store the grain and what about drying the grain?  I am going to share with you some grain drying tidbits of information:
            Grain drying refers to the removal of …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy  October 2, 2009
Just as soybean harvest was starting in the area, the rainy, cold weather of October had to arrive.  As I write this article most people that I have talked to have received over an inch of rain.  I don’t ever want to say we don’t need rain but this rain could have come at another time.  Sure, we like a good soaking before winter as there are areas that still could use some more moisture but not as we …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy, September 25, 2009
            Grain harvest is exciting because of all the activity going on with the tractors and wagons, trucks, augers, and combines.  But with this excitement also comes danger.  SDSU Extension Farm Machinery and Safety Specialist Dick Nicolai said, “When it’s harvest time, the pressure is on.”  “Good weather and daylight hours always seem to be at a premium during harvest season.  The most severe farm tragedies often involve machinery.  Missing guards and shields, failure to recognize hazards, and careless …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy  September 17, 2009
Fall is the time of year that I enjoy!  I love the smell of the fresh, crisp air; watching the leaves change color; eating anything that has to do with pumpkin or apples; and watching the scenery as farmers go about harvest and start working with the fruits of their labor.  We are approaching that time of year that every farm family I know anticipates—harvest. 
Many farmers are getting restless as they are waiting for their crop to “hurry …

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 3rd, 4th , and 5th 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 …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy September 3, 2009

With the start of September brings the completion of the South Dakota State Fair and thoughts about harvest and plans for next year.  It is that time of year when farmers make decisions on whether or not they are going to plant winter wheat. 
            The recommended time to plant winter wheat is September 15 through October 10.  For our area we recommend holding off until at least September 20; although most guys will plant winter wheat into soybean …

Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy 
August 28, 2009
  
            It’s hard to believe that another Turner County Fair has come and gone.  I started working here in 2005 and have worked at/attended the fair every year since I started here.  There is one thing that I have noticed every year and that is the enthusiasm that everyone (young and old) has for the fair.  It’s amazing to see all the people come together in a small town to enjoy themselves and support the fair.
            Since August has …

Connie’s Comment by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy
August 21, 2009
          The 129th Turner County Fair has come and gone.  It always amazes me that we spend a year planning for the fair to have it come and go in just a few days.  I don’t think we could have asked for any better fair weather this year.  It was great.  It was so nice to see everyone (animals included) enjoy themselves this year.  I always enjoy getting out and visiting with everyone at the fair and of course …