Growers Benefit from Soil Fertility Program

Alger County Alger County Extension P: 906-387-2530 E-mail: [email protected] 413 Elm Avenue F: 906-387-2710 Web: www.msue.msu.edu/Alger Munising, MI 49862 April 2006 Growers benefit from soil Comments included:  “[It] helped me understand what I need to do to fertility program improve my farming practices and how I need to evaluate fertilizer practices.” A series of six soil fertility workshops organized  “Good explanation of soil sampling and crop by Alger County MSU Extension director Jim Isleib, nutrient requirements.” was offered across the Upper Peninsula in March. Isleib used funds from Project GREEEN Forty-eight gardeners, agri-business (Generating Research and Extension to meet professionals and MSU Extension staff members Economic and Environmental Needs), the plant attended the evening programs. Those who industry initiative at MSU, to deliver the programs, completed the evaluation indicated that they which featured MSU Department of Crop and Soil planned to change their soil fertility practices based Science professors as main speakers. on what they learned. Darryll Warncke, professor and Extension Comments from this group included: specialist in soil fertility, and Ron Gehl, assistant  I’m glad MSU resource people came up here. professor and Extension specialist in soil fertility, Since we are so far from MSU, it is a huge help covered such topics as efficient and environmentally for them to come up to us. responsible fertilizer use and soil testing.  Good explanation about plant needs and soil Afternoon workshops targeted farmers while conditions. Informative on what fertilizers to evening workshops were aimed at gardeners, buy and how to read them. I didn’t know there homeowners, agri-businesses. was so many different soil conditions in the U.P. Meetings were held in Bruce Township (Chippewa County), Sault Ste. Marie, Escanaba, Mass City (Ontonagon County) and Chassell Engaging uninvolved youth (Houghton County). Biomass and other new options in agriculture Thirty-three farmers representing more than Economic development 10,000 acres attended the workshops. Of these, 25 Recycling indicated that they would be making changes in their Natural resource education Land use education soil fertility practices as a result of attending the program.

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facing communities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners, the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture. Tax Management Programs Help Community Meetings Identify Alger Forest Land Owners Issues

Forestland owners had a chance to learn about Thirty-six people from across Alger County met timber sale income tax management during a series of twice in March to identify the local issues that they educational programs offered in January and February. believe MSU Extension could address to improve the Private forestland owners and the tax preparers who quality of life for everyone in the county. assisted them found got their answers from Karen This diverse group represented a cross section of age, Potter-Witter, MSU professor and Extension specialist occupation and interest. Alger County’s issues are being in forest economics. combined with input from other Michigan counties to Potter-Witter “wrote the book” on timber sale tax develop statewide initiatives. management, along with William L. Hoover of Purdue Alger County issues included:  Engage more uninvolved youths and their families in University, in the North Central Regional Publication available, positive activities. Include a component in NCR 343, “Minimizing Federal Income Tax for Forest youth activities to address childhood obesity. Landowners.:  Encourage and develop new options in the Alger With support from the MSU Forestry Extension County agricultural community including biomass Area of Expertise Team, Potter-Witter traveled the U.P., production for energy and industrial uses, niche sharing her knowledge of this challenging and technical markets such as local farmers’ markets and food topic in Mackinaw, Alger and Marquette counties. cooperatives, organic food and livestock feed Participants included private forest land owners, tax production. preparers, accountants and professional foresters.  Facilitate the development of a creative, long-term, Because timber harvests are very infrequent on any adequately staffed program to market the Alger particular woodlot, land owners are often not familiar County area to new business interests. with the tax implications. This program helped land  Develop local, economically viable recycling owners and tax professionals head-off problems in a programs allowing participation of Alger County constructive, non-regulatory environment. households, businesses and public organizations.  Increase awareness of students and the general public in Alger County regarding acceptable Life of Lake Superior program management choices for local natural resources receives national award including forests, surface and ground water.  Improve capacity of township, city and village The Life of Lake Superior summer youth program zoning and planning groups in Alger County. has been receiving a large amount of attention. In October, the program’s organizers received the National Upcoming Events Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Team Award. May 13 -- Alger 4-H Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser The award included a $500 stipend for its May 20 -- Munising Spring Clean-Up continuation and improvement. Activities during the June 3 -- Master Gardener Plant Exchange, Deerton program’s five years have given young people the June 10 -- Youth Fishing Derby chance to take part in Native American cultural June 20 - July 18 -- Life of Lake Superior Summer experiences, offshore science experiments, the area’s Youth Program maritime history, sport fishing and geology field trips. July 29 --Field Day at U.P. Experiment Station, Alger County Family Strengths Educator, Joan Chatham Vinette, accepted the award on behalf of the Alger County MSU Extension team at the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Conference in Philadelphia on September 28, 2005.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824