SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
KANABEC COUNTY TIMES
11
www.moraminn.com
NEWS BRIEFS
DNR | SUBMITTED
ECE SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR COMMUNITY AWARD Applications are being accepted for ECE’s Touchstone Energy Community Award. Any civic organization or nonprofit in ECE’s service territory is eligible to compete for the award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the local community. Organizations are eligible to apply for themselves or community members may submit an application on behalf of a deserving organization. ECE will recognize the local winner with a plaque and a $500 cash prize. The organization will
then compete with other electric cooperatives statewide for $1,000. Applications are available at eastcentralenergy.com and must be received at ECE by Oct. 26, 2015. LIVESTOCK INVESTMENT GRANTS AVAILABLE Minnesota Department of Agriculture reminds livestock producers to apply for a portion of $2 million in grants available for on-farm improvements. Qualifying expenditures include the purchase, construction or improvement of buildings or facilities as well as fencing, feeding and waste management equipment.
Producers who suffered a loss due to a natural disaster may also apply. The grant does not pay for livestock, land purchases or debt refinancing. Past applicants who did not receive an award need to reapply for the 2016 program. These grants are incentives to start programs which must begin after Aug. 1, 2015. Farmers transitioning into livestock, beginning farmers and those with a positive environmental impact receive priority. Application deadline is Dec. 18, 2015. Apply online at: http://tinyurl.com/ mdalivestock.
Conservation Officer Bret Grundmeier (left) and Col. Ken Soring, DNR Enforcement Division director (right).
DNR names 2015 Officer of the Year The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has named Bret Grundmeier its 2015 conservation officer of the year. He currently works out of the Hinckley station. In 2004 he was hired as a DNR conservation officer and stationed in Mora. “Officer Grundmeier uses a common sense approach when taking law enforcement action, giving the honest person the benefit of the doubt. But when enforcement action is needed, he takes it,” said Col. Ken Soring, DNR Enforcement Division director. “When education is a better approach, he will use his knowledge and ability to help the person understand why they need to take corrective action.” Soring added that Grundmeier’s familiarity of his station, knowledge of user patterns, working peak weekends and peak hours, provide for a strong enforcement presence and effectiveness in his area. Grundmeier also received another honor when Shikar-Safari Club named him Minnesota’s International Wildlife Officer of the Year. Safari Club International protects hunting rights and promotes wildlife conservation worldwide. Graduating from South Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture/biology, Grundmeier worked as a wildland firefighter stationed in the Black Hills Bret Grundmeier of South Dakota and as an offiConservation Officer cer for the Shelby County Conservation Board in Iowa. Growing up on a dairy farm, Grundmeier knew he wanted to find a way to work outside. “Throughout my career I found I enjoyed working in the natural resources field as much as I enjoyed being a police officer, so the position of conservation officer was a perfect fit,” he said. Throughout the year he goes from spending time patrolling on a snowmobile and on frozen lakes, to patrolling area waters in a boat or kayak, to checking fall hunters from a pickup truck or ATV. He also gets the opportunity to meet young people in his area while teaching at DNR safety classes. “It’s amazing how many of these kids remember me, and are excited to come up and talk when they later see me working out in the field. That is definitely one of the more rewarding parts of the job,” Grundmeier said. He was surprised when he was told about the awards. “Getting recognized in this way is no doubt a high point in my career,” Grundmeier said. The enforcement division’s strategic plan can be viewed at www.dnr.state.mn.us/enforcement/sp/index.html.
‘It’s amazing how many of these kids remember me, and are excited to come up and talk when they later see me working out in the field. That is definitely one of the more rewarding parts of the job’
Your Lawn and Garden Guide
M
Mushrooms in the Lawn and Garden
ushrooms growing in the lawn, on mulch or in the garden may make you think that something is wrong. Often our fi rst instinct is to try and get rid of them. However mushrooms are actually a sign that your soil has lots of organic matter in it and is a healthy soil for plants to grow in. Fungi help in the decomposition of organic matter in the soil. They can break down complex organic compounds, like those in dead leaves and wood chip mulch, into substances plants can access. A good example is a rotting tree stump. Mushrooms will colonize around and on the tree stump, helping it breakdown into a rich, crumbly loam that plants love. Most of the mushroom activity is taking place below the soil surface. The toadstools ruining your view are just the fruiting bodies of a much larger, intricate network. Mushrooms send out a network of fi laments call hyphae which join in a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. The plant enjoys many benefits, not the least of which is increased surface area on its roots, and the fungi accesses carbon from the plant, which they need for growth. This mutually beneficial relationship is call mycorrhiza. Some of the known benefits to plants include: • Aiding in their ability to take up water and nutrients from the soil, which means less watering and fertilizing for you • Improved drought tolerance and disease resistance • Protection against stress from weather conditions and transplanting • Increased growth rate of plants at all growth stages Mycorrhizae aren’t just good for plants, they also improve the soil. They can improve soil structure and its drainage and even suppress soil-born diseases. Mycorrhizae are increasingly used to improve poor soil and repair contaminated soil. How to Get Rid of Mushrooms in the Yard or Mulch Mushrooms are opportunistic and when their spores land on some nice, damp organic matter, they will take hold. There are places where you just don’t want to see mushrooms dotting the surface and you don’t need to feel guilty about getting rid of them. Their hyphae are
Rather than using a fungicide that can upset the balance in the soil and won’t do much to get rid of the mushrooms in the long term, simply rake them up and bury them or better yet, put them in the compost where their efforts will be appreciated. You will have to do this several times, before they get the message. If possible, let the soil dry out in the area, to discourage regrowth. A fi nal word of caution: If you do have a lot of mushrooms popping up and you have small children or curious, hungry pets, make sure they don’t mistake them for a snack. This is one instance when it might be wise to remove them. Scientists are still studying the different types of mycorrhizae, their relationships between specific fungi and plants and how we can encourage and, more importantly, not disturb this association. There are now mycorrhizae sold in garden centers and they are often included in potting soils. I expect we will continue hearing more about this in the future. FYI - What’s the Difference between Mushrooms and Toadstools? The terms “mushroom” and “toadstool” are not really scientific classifications. There are many thoughts on how to differentiate them, most commonly with mushrooms being edible by humans and toadstools being toxic. Technically mushroom refers to fungi in the genus Agaricus, like the white button mushrooms in the grocery store, and toadstool refers to all other fungi, edible or not,. But the terms are so often used interchangeably this distinction has become moot.
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probably so deep in the soil, lopping off the above ground portion won’t really hurt them.
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