Many gardeners like to get a head start on the gardening season by starting flower and vegetable seedlings indoors. Successfully growing seedlings indoors requires high quality seeds, a germination medium, containers, lights and other supplies, note horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. To have additional questions answered, contact the Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline @iastate.edu.
Three new video resources were added to the Pork Information Gateway (PIG) to aid producers who focus on raising pigs using alternative methods of production. Two videos focus on biosecurity and one on sourcing feed.
Fat provides various fatty acids for the horse. Essential fatty acid requirements have not been established for horses, however, most equine diets will likely meet essential fatty acid needs. Linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid are essential fatty acids that cannot be made by the horse and must be supplied by the diet.
Produce growers may not grow the same quantity of product as row crop producers, but tracking the numbers is just as important, if not more so. This Ag Decision Maker article and its corresponding publication outline the importance of good record keeping and offer links to budget worksheets and decision tools.
The December edition of Ag Decision Maker links to updated files to help farmers with their net worth statement, farm income statement and financial performance measures.
Landscape trees need proper care and management throughout their lives, and one of the most important tree management practices is pruning. When done properly, pruning can improve the health and structure of trees, and provide a safer environment for people, pets, and property. Pruning is more than just indiscriminately removing branches. Proper pruning includes knowing which branches to remove, when to do it, and how to minimize damage to the tree.
It has been 30 years since Iowans started talking about radon gas. Awareness has increased greatly, but the risk still exists. So let’s have a quick reminder discussion about radon.
There seem to be no limits to the creative capacity of nature lovers, so one can find design specifications for structures for anything from a turtle to an osprey. Many different shapes, sizes, and designs are available for ‘bird houses’. Boxes for secondary cavity nesters also come in all shapes and sizes to target dozens of species in Iowa.
A new breeding program at Iowa State University is helping farmers looking to diversify their production system. The program, which is being overseen by Arti Singh, adjunct assistant professor in agronomy at Iowa State, is exploring the ways green gram and black gram can be used to accelerate productivity and profitability.
Spring is a great time to plant new trees on an acreage. Do you know the differences between planting bare-root trees and container-grown trees? When should each be planted and what applications work well for each type?
