Master Gardener course to be held.

MSU Extension offers 14-Week Extension Master Gardener Course in Marshall

Do you want to learn more about Michigan’s plants, trees, shrubs, grasses, and share this knowledge with people in your community? Does engaging in research-based training on 14 major horticulture topics and environmentally sound practices excite you? Would you like to improve the quality of life and inspire others in your community through service-based horticulture activities? Enrollment is now open for the Calhoun County Extension Master Gardener training.

Who:    18 years of age or older

When: Mondays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., August 24, 2020 to November 23, 2020

Where: Online and Marshall United Methodist Church, 721 US Hwy 27N in Marshall

Please note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will be held online via Zoom until we are able to meet in person.

How:  Application and Registration Link will be provided after the applicant has begun the Volunteer Selection Process (VSP) - Click here to start: https://msu.samaritan.com/custom/502/#/volunteer_home

Cost: $325 (scholarships may be available) 

Michigan State University Extension offered its first Extension Master Gardener program in 1978 and since then, more than 40,000 residents from 80 Michigan counties have been involved in the MSU Extension Master Gardener Program.

Enrolling in the Extension Master Gardener Program as a trainee requires only an enthusiasm for gardening and a willingness and commitment to attend the 14-week training and pass all open-book quizzes and tests with a minimum score on each of 80%. After completing the course, trainees perform 40 hours of science-based volunteer activities within their first year.

MSU Extension encourages anyone interested who would like more information to visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/master_gardener_volunteer_program/join-us/ or email Julie Ford at fordjul2@msu.edu.

Application deadline is August 1, 2020.

Why should I get an MSU Soil Test?

Why you should test your garden’s soil and what you’ll learn when using MSU Extension’s handy soil test kit.

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Gretchen Voyle, Michigan State University Extension

Smart gardeners often think of getting their soil tested in preparation for planting in the spring because it can give seeds or plants a better chance of growing. But there are gardeners who have not heard about soil testing or are not sure what kind of information a soil test will give them.
It could be about the World View or the “Me” View.
World View: By knowing what nutrients are already in the soil, you are not adding additional, which can run off from the site. Fertilizer washing off into drains, ditches or other areas can contaminate surface and groundwater. Phosphorus causes abundant plant growth in ponds and lakes. The verdant green surface of the water is caused by algae and duckweed which are enabled by excess nutrients. Gardeners with a soil test recommendation aren’t guessing; they are using science for an answer.
“Me” View: If I know what’s in my soil, I just have to add what will help my plants grow better. I know what to use and how much to apply. This saves me money and I get better plants and better vegetables and fruit. I know what to buy and how much to use.
Where can I get a Soil Test Self-Mailer? Purchase at shop.msu.edu or some local Michigan State University Extension office have them for sale.
What kinds of tests are available? Your soil can be tested for use as a vegetable garden, lawn, trees, shrubs, flowers, tree fruit and small fruit—each are available as individual tests. For each purchased soil test, you can choose one kind of test. Each kind of test is designed for the crop or kind of test you select.
How much does this cost? A test and kit costs $25, which includes envelope and postage to send the kit to the MSU Soils Lab. You do not have to go to the post office; you just drop it in the mail box.
What do I get for my money and how long does it take? You receive an envelope containing a plastic bag for the soil that you will mail back, directions on how to take the soil and an information sheet to fill out and return. Your return envelope does not need postage. In about two weeks, you will receive an email with your recommendation.
What does it test for? This test is for nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, soil pH and organic matter percentage. Your recommendation will include which nutrients are needed and in what amount per 1,000 square feet. Nitrogen will be included in the recommendation, if needed.
What does it not test for? Contamination, heavy metals or pollutants. It would be necessary to contact a private lab for specialized testing for these. A soil test for nutrients does not test for evidence of disease or insect problem or any sort of contamination.
How often should I get a soil test? Once every three years will give you the ability to see how much the soil has changed since you have been following your recommendation. You will also find out what you need to do differently like add less potassium or reduce the amount of organic matter you have been adding. Keep your tests and put them where you can compare them.
Are there certain amounts of nutrients or a soil pH that my soil should have? The nutrient amounts will be part of your recommendation, telling you what to add. A soil pH of 6.5 or in the vicinity works well for a vegetable or flower garden and a pH of 6.0 or slightly above for trees and shrubs. If the soil has five percent organic matter or a little higher, it is adequate.
If I have a question about my soil test recommendation, what can I do? Online, email your question through the Ask an Expert box on the www.msusoiltest.com webpage. Or by phone, call the Michigan State University Extension Lawn and Garden Hotline: 888-678-3464.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Master Gardener Volunteers Make a Difference in Their Communities

PRESS RELEASE

Bob Bricault, Michigan State University Extension

Jackson County Master Gardeners are truly a resource to their community. Committed to sharing gardening knowledge to educate and introduce a wonderful, healthy hobby to future generations. You will find them teaching healthy gardening practices in community gardens, starting plants from seeds with children, hosting gardening seminars in libraries, planning and developing beautification projects, working on conservation issues, teaching local gardeners pest and disease management skills, and promoting native plantings that attract birds, butterflies and bees. Master Gardeners are a unique group of people that come from every walk of life, sharing one central theme, a dedication to share their love of gardening.

Master Gardeners receive over 40 hours of training from Michigan State University Extension horticulture educators, learning about soil health, growing fruit, vegetables, trees, and flowers, smart management practices for pests and diseases, as well as basic pruning skills. This certificate program has been held for over 30 years in Jackson County and across the state. If you are a garden enthusiast that would like to improve your gardening knowledge and are excited about sharing gardening knowledge with others in the community, then the Master Gardener program is for you.

MSU Extension will host the Master Gardener Program in Jackson this winter.

Location: 1715 Lansing Avenue, Suite 257 in Jackson, Michigan
Date: January 21 through April 28, 2016
Time: Thursday evenings, 5:30 – 9:30 pm

Program fee: $300

*A limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need.

 Those interested can contact our office at 517-788-4292 to find out more about the program or go on-line to the Gardening in Michigan website and click on “Becoming a Master Gardener” at http://mg.msue.msu.edu/  

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.  

MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Watch for European crane fly injury to turfgrass in April and May

European crane fly is now established in many locations in southeast Michigan and near Grand Rapids. Follow the link below for management recommendations for heavily infested turfgrass and lawns.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/watch_for_european_crane_fly_injury_to_turfgrass_in_april_and_may

Protecting Your Shorline

MDARD pesticide applicator recertification credits now available online

Pesticide applicators in Michigan can now keep their certifications current with minimal investment in time and travel.

Posted on February 14, 2014 by James DeDecker, Michigan State University Extension

 

In Michigan, those who wish to purchase or apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) must pass an exam to become a certified pesticide applicator. Once achieved, individual certifications are valid for a period of three years, at which point the applicator can retake the appropriate exams to maintain their status. Certified applicators can also elect to avoid reexamination and instead renew their certification by accumulating educational recertification credits during the three-year-certification period. Private applicators must secure 16 private core credits while commercial applicators need eight commercial core credits and eight additional credits for each category they are certified in (e.g., field crops, turf, etc.).

Traditionally, credits have only been offered to those attending in-person educational programs related to pest management, commonly held by Michigan State University Extension or industry representatives. Recently, however, credit offerings have expanded to include live and recorded online educational content. One example of these new online credit opportunities is the MSU Integrated Pest Management Academy Webinars catalog. This series of eight, half-hour, recorded online programs have been approved for a total of four MDARD recertification credits. Applicators can view these programs at any time, at their own pace, and claim one credit for every two webinars completed.

Live online programs are also being approved to offer recertification credits. This includes the upcoming 2014 MSU Extension Field Crops Webinar Series. On Monday evenings from Feb. 24 through March 31, MSU field crop specialists will address key production points for the coming growing season in a condensed virtual format. These live webinar programs will run from 7-8 p.m. EST and can be viewed independently at no cost online over a high-speed Internet connection. One MDARD pesticide recertification credit will be available through each event for application to the Private Core, Commercial Core or Field Crops categories.

For those that prefer to get out of the house or wish to avoid the computer, both of the online programs highlighted above are based on content from traditional, in-person programs available in coming weeks. The IPM Academy is a two-day workshop held annually in late winter. It is designed to prepare growers, consultants and public sector employees to implement an integrated and informed approach to pest management. The Field Crops Webinar Series is based on a statewide series of Field Crops IPM meetings also offered each winter.

An updated listing of all programs approved for MDARD pesticide applicator recertification credits can be viewed online. It is not clear at this point what the future of online recertification credits will
look like for Michigan pesticide applicators. Is online learning as valuable for applicators as traditional, in-person meetings? Could there be a limit imposed on the number or percent of credits earned remotely? As an educator, I certainly agree that it is easier to identify and engage a distracted student when they are physically present. Yet in today’s world, nothing beats the convenience and low cost of online programs.

Any questions regarding the MDARD pesticide applicator certification process can be directed to Faye Burns at 517-373-9752.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

MSU News for Ag - Landscape 10/3/11

We’ve published the following articles at: http://news.msue.msu.edu/news/category/turf_landscape

and: http://news.msue.msu.edu/news/category/nursery_christmas_trees

SureGuard herbicide issued Section 24(c) label for Michigan nurseries

Oct 3, 2011 | Thomas A. Dudek | The State of Michigan’s Department of Agriculture has issued a 24(c) label for herbicide SureGuard for dormant application to field-grown ornamental nursery stock. Some application limitations need to be followed.

Got innovative youth education ideas? Get funded!

Oct 3, 2011 | Dale R. Mutch | Details you should follow when submitting a grant proposal to the NCR-SARE Youth and Youth Educator Grant Program for sustainable agriculture.

So you want to write a farmer/rancher grant

Oct 3, 2011 | Dale R. Mutch | Follow these important tips for writing a successful NCR-SARE farmer/rancher grant proposal.

NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program

Oct 3, 2011 | Dale R. Mutch | Have a great idea about how to enhance sustainable agriculture and your farm’s future? Consider writing a NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant!

Master Gardeners answering questions statewide

In the past, anyone calling a local Michigan State University Extension office with a gardening question might have to get an answer from someone in a field other than consumer horticulture. That all changed when Master Gardener volunteers from Genesee, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Oakland and Washtenaw counties stepped up and generously donated their time to answering questions that come through the existing toll-free number. Now statewide, people can get answers to questions from a consumer horticulture expert concerning vegetable and flower gardening; lawns, shrubs and trees; indoor plants; and garden and house pests.