Monthly Newsletter- April 2024

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Purdue Extension-Wabash County

A Word From the ANR Educator

Happy April Everyone,

March went about as fast as the windy conditions we had for the majority of the month. Fields have gone from dry, to wet, to dry, to frozen to thawed and everything in between. Farmers are getting equipment ready and all we need now is warm temperatures.

In the extension office we finished up Ag in the Classroom for all our MSD, Wabash City and North Manchester 4th Graders. Depending on weather we got to talk about Ag Expo, 4-H camp, soils, baby chicks, drones, farming and much more. We have tried to have a quick lecture portion and also hands-on portion for each classroom. Our Ag day is focused around our Ag and natural resources program area and I try to give shout outs to our Heath and Human Sciences and 4-H youth programs, especially since we visit all seventeen 4th grade classes in the county.

In other news, the Spring 2024 Extension Master Gardener Training has begun in partnership with Wabash and the surrounding counties (Huntington and Miami). Topics covered in March included: plant health, Indiana soils, invasive plants, weeds, and turf. There are 18 individuals in the class and we are excited to cover more material in April.

Depending on when you read this I may or may not be in the country. I was selected to go to Costa Rica with a team of 9 other ANR Extension Educators to learn about extension on an international level. We will be going from April 2-12. During the trip we will learn about renewable energy, tropical farming practices, reforestation and many other topics.

If you have any questions about upcoming programming or Ag questions in general, feel free to reach out to the Extension Office. I will have limited access to emails during the beginning of the month.

Phone: 260-563-0661 (Ext 1408) or emailing me directly at gschortg@purdue.edu

Best Wishes,

Geoff Schortgen

County Extension Director

Ag and Natural Resources Educator Wabash County

Featured Story

Weed Wrangle at Paradise Springs

On March 23rd the Upper Wabash Invasives Network (UWIN) got a team of 20 individuals to come help clean up an area at the Paradise Springs City Park. The group spent time educating volunteers about the invasive shrub bush honeysuckle and how to remove it from an area. Bush Honeysuckle was planted originally for soil erosion, but proved to be very invasive by overtaking the margins of woody areas and providing no benefits to our native ecosystems. A cut-stump method was used, this is where the shrub is cut with pruners or a small hand chainsaw and then immediatly treated with herbicide to prevent sprouting. The UWIN team will visit the Paradise Springs site for the next 2 years to prevent grow back and also expand the area we cleared out.

Coming up in April

Plant & Seed Giveaway & Swap

North Manchester Public Library

If you have extra bulbs, starts, seeds or plants and are hoping for some new herbs, veggies or flowers; this is definitely the program for you! Show up anytime between the hours of 4pm and 6pm with your giveaways and trades, and enjoy a fun time with fellow plant lovers, gardeners and amateur landscapers.

Don’t have anything to trade? No problem! Members of the North Manchester Pollinator Educators and Purdue Extension of Wabash County will be on hand to answer questions and give away seeds and seedlings (we hear there may even be aloe vera plants!).

Click HERE to register!!

Plant & Seed Giveaway & Swap

Troyer Memorial Library

Calling all gardeners (new, experienced, and enthusiasts!). If you have extra seeds, bulbs, houseplant starts or garden starts, and you'd like to swap with another gardener OR give them away to a newbie, this is the program for you!

ALL are welcome to come and get some seeds and plants--even if you don't have anything to swap.

Purdue Extension Hot Topics is a monthly webinar series that hits on a timely subject with an expert. These are free, live and virtual discussions on the latest research and best practices.

Register once to be signed up for each monthly program. If you can make it on, great! If you can’t make a month, no problem. (If you've already registered, no need to do it again.)

Can't make it on live? That's okay. We record every session and post here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx1L2c89r3d3P7LspotyPzg

#PurdueHotTopics #PurdueExtension

Join us April 17th as we discuss 'Eat Midwest Fish" with Amy Shambach, Aquaculutre Marketing Associate.