In February of 2018, wildlife biologists and veterinarians investigated the suspicious death of 32 trumpeter swans in a Clinton County wetland. This incident, and others, has prompted interest in finding ways to reduce lead exposure and curtail these unnatural deaths.
Water sustains life in the garden and often becomes the center of attraction when added to a yard or garden. Starting a water garden — even one as simple as a large container of water — also expands the gardener’s choice of possible plants to be enjoyed.
Acreage Living has featured articles on compost in prior issues. Still looking for help in establishing a compost pile for your small farm or acreage? The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has a new publication that can help!
If this spring revitalization were a cast of characters, I think we’d agree that geese and robins play the leading role. But my favorite, and perhaps one of the most undervalued supporting characters in this annual revival, is the American Woodcock.
Record low temperatures have created a deep frost line that is likely to get deeper as temperatures stay cold throughout January. What does that mean for water lines, livestock and the Midwest?
Let there be no mistaking it, bats are important. And, in light of a long history of changes to forest habitats, new emerging pressures associated with energy development and an exotic disease-causing fungus that’s been wreaking unprecedented havoc on eastern populations in the last decade, many of Iowa’s bats are in trouble.
The varroa mite (Varroa destructor) is the most serious pest of honey bee colonies worldwide. Virtually all feral (or “wild”) honey bee colonies have all but been wiped out by these mites, and beekeepers continue to struggle with varroa infestations in their hives. It is vital to understand the varroa mite and the options available for its control.
Securing a rural acreage remains a primary concern and challenge. The main risks include vandalism, trespass, theft and drug activity.
When designing beneficial habitat that houses as well as providing a valuable foraging area for wildlife, brush piles are an often neglected and overlooked aspect of any acreage-improvement habitat design, yet the easiest and least expensive to construct.
Small Farm Scoop
