Ramsey County

December 24, 2007

Howdy!!!!

If I could ask one thing of Christmas, that would be not come so fast the next year.  In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, time flies by faster and faster each year.  With Lake Region Extension Roundup just around the corner again (two weeks, January 8-9) we are turning our attention towards the next growing season.  It does not matter whether it is cropping, horticulture, livestock or whatever else you might think of, the next year can be very rewarding and yet very stressful.  Managing livestock enterprises through these high commodity prices or wondering if crop inputs will rise or fall or taking care of our trees and gardens so they are presentable to not only us but also our neighbors or speculating that prices will rise or fall, depending on weather around the world, are all stress factors that affect our daily lives.  Lake Region Extension Roundup is a great place to start thinking of some of these growing ideas for the next growing season.  There are so many more that I could write about but would take weeks. 

Each and every one of us deal and have dealt with the above mentioned areas and all in different ways.  With higher commodity prices comes higher food and feed prices which affect all of us, whether we are rural or urban.  Higher input costs are pushing many different avenues of living and keeping up with the cost of living becomes more stressful every day.  Who would have ever thought we would see seed and nitrogen costs of this magnitude, 20 years ago. 

Keeping our yards and gardens in tip top shape also affects AND reflects all of us.  I have had farmers talk about the need of horticulture in the rural setting but as I drive around the county yard, cleanliness and beauty are becoming more prevalent, daily.  There is something to be said to wake up in the morning and see something of beauty around us.  The day seems so much brighter.  I can remember feeding cows, on a cold winter morning, and admiring how neatly my feed yard looked and also wondered if a different layout might benefit my efficiency.   

I write about some of these issues, not only because they are real and affect us daily, but we also need to be thankful for everything we have and been given.  With the season of Christmas brings joyful occasions and memories but most importantly solidifies the real meaning of Christmas.  Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and I hope the New Year will be the best year yet for all of you.  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

   Calendar!!!

                        January    8-9               Lake Region Extension Roundup
                        January    8                   Ramsey County Shooting Sports (Air Rifle)
                        January    31                 Deadline to apply for Faller HRSW
                        February 7                   Ramsey County Crop Improvement annual meeting
                        March     4                   Ramsey County Shooting Sports (Archery)
                        March    17                  Private Pesticide, Starkweather 9-am
                        March    26                  Private Pesticide, Devils Lake 9-am
                        March    26                  Private Pesticide, Devils Lake 6- pm

524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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