Arlington - The McLeod County Chronicle

Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 25, 2013, page 8www.arlingtonmnnews.comAmericanismEssay WinnerIn GaylordJose Felipe, a sixthgrade student at theSibley East ElementarySchool in Gaylord, wasrecently chosen by theGaylord unit of theAmerican Legion Auxiliaryas the winner of itsAmericanism EssayContest, according toAmericanism EssayContest CommitteeChairperson VernetteMehlhop. A certificateand $25 prize wasawarded to Felipe atthe elementary schoolon Friday, April 19.Enterprise photo by Kurt MenkJose FelipeMinnesota soybean farmers venture to ChinaAbout one quarter of allU.S. soybeans are exported toChina, making them the singlelargest soybean exportcustomer. Some Minnesotafarmers now have a broaderunderstanding of the market’smagnitude and the work thathas gone into cultivating it.A group of 27 farmers recentlytraveled there with theMinnesota Soybean Research& Promotion Council’s(MSR&PC) See For Yourselftrip. While on the trip, participantslearned about the challengesfacing Chinese agriculture,the import-exportoutlook and were able to seefirsthand how their soybeancheckoff dollars are being invested.During the trip, farmerstoured feed mills, soy foodprocessing plants, food marketsand aquaculture farms.Minnesota farmers had theopportunity to hear from theirinternational representativesat the United States Meat ExportFederation (USMEF),the U.S. Embassy in China,the United States SoybeanExport Council (USSEC) andU.S. exporters.“The trip to China exceededmy expectations. It was awonderful, educational experience,and I feel confidentand comfortable in how thesoybeans we grow here arebeing promoted abroad,” saidJim Sallstrom, farmer fromWinthrop and participant onthe See For Yourself trip.This is the eighth year ofthe See For Yourself program,and it has helped fosterrelationships with internationalcustomers. The U.S.-China soy industry relationshipis collaborative and tripslike this help to build astronger relationship withChinese customers. The economiclandscape in China israpidly changing with agrowing middle class that isgradually moving from ruralareas to cities and demandinga diet higher in meat protein.Minnesota soybean farmerscan help meet this growingdemand.“This increasing demandfor protein drives the demandfor northern U.S. soybeans.Chinese market opportunitiescontinue to expand at an incrediblepace,” stated TomSlunecka, Minnesota SoybeanExecutive Director andparticipant on the See ForYourself China trip. “Withoutthe investment of checkofffunds, access to the evergrowing Chinese marketwould be lost to South Americanbeans.”The agriculture industry in ABC Seamless Siding & Gutters (800) 247-2041China is very strong, contributing10 percent of the nation’sgross domestic product(GDP) and 35 percent of thelabor force.Over half of Minnesota’ssoybean production is exportedto feed people and livestockaround the world.China is the largest customerfor U.S. soybeans with purchasesexceeding $10.5 billionin 2011. As demand forcrops continues to grow globally,farmers are meeting thechallenge through the use oftechnology and the developmentof international businessrelationships.The international marketingof soybeans and meats isa priority for the soybeancheckoff that MSR&PC administerson behalf of Minnesotasoybean farmers. Thesoybean checkoff is an investmentsoybean farmersmake in order to increaseyields, improve quality andexpand markets for soybeansin the U.S. and around theworld.The See For Yourself trip,organized by MSR&PC, providesan opportunity for Minnesotafarmers to see firsthandhow their soybeancheckoff is being used to addvalue to their soybeans in theinternational market.Arlington Conquerors look forward to summerIt’s beginning to look a lotlike Christmas. Wait aminute, Christmas was threeand a half months ago! Eventhough the weather is dreary,the Arlington Conquerorswere not fooled at their meetingon April 14. Instead oftalking about Christmas, theclub looked ahead to summer.The club heard the reportsfrom the Federation and PDCmeetings. Members alsostarted talking about ourcommunity pride project.The club will hold its nextmeeting at the Senior CitizensBuilding on Sunday,May 5. It will be a potluckand there will be alumni ArlingtonConquerors’ memberswho will reminisce aboutwhat it was like to be an ACmember “back in the day.”DNR urges homeowners to resistpruning or removing coniferswith red needles until late springConifers growing in Minnesotahave had a long, hardwinter with plenty of opportunitiesfor winter injury, accordingto the Department ofNatural Resources (DNR). Bynow, many people have noticedconifers full of brownand red needles, especiallyalong highways. People mighthave seen the conifers in theiryards, or along buildings anddriveways, are turning red orbrown.In spite of their appearance,people should not prune or removethe discolored trees.Chances are good that thetrees are alive and healthy beneaththeir mask of red needles.Buds were well protectedduring the winter and willgrow once spring arrives, saidJana Albers, DNR foresthealth specialist.The most evident damage,caused by de-icing salts, occurredon white pines growingalong highways. This saltywater settles on the pines andis absorbed into individualneedles, killing them backCelebrate Arbor Month and brightenMinnesota by planting trees in May“Plant Trees for aBrighter Minnesota,” is thetheme of Arbor Month inMay, the Department ofNatural Resources (DNR)said. Arbor Day, April 26,marks the beginning of amonth-long celebration oftrees.The idea is to encourageMinnesotans to replacetrees lost during the pastyear’s tornadoes, floods,blowdowns and snowstorms.“These newly plantedtrees will brighten Minnesotaby creating matureforests that will improve theenvironment, enhance ourquality of life and fosterrecreation,” said Jenniferstarting at the tips. Other damageto conifers can be causedby winter drying, or needledehydration.“Throughout the winter,each passing car sends upclouds of salty water,” Alberssaid. “Winter injury is alsocaused by strong, dry winds,many days of bright sunshineand low relative humidity thatdries the needles.”Some trees or groups oftrees seem to get winter injuryevery year. It is likely thetrees are stressed due to poorsite conditions.Native tree populations areadapted to their location.Moving seeds or seedlings100 miles north or south oftheir site of origin can resultin damage due to winter injury.Prevention techniques:When selecting trees toplant, choose species that areadapted to local growing conditions.Avoid planting white andred pines, balsam fir andwhite spruce within 150 feetTeegarden, DNR forestryoutreach specialist.To celebrate ArborMonth, the DNR sent 3,600packets to educators, cities,nurseries and others consistingof “Plant Trees for aBrighter Minnesota” poster,instructions on how to plantseedlings and balled andburlapped trees.The DNR has partneredwith the City of Duluth tocelebrate Arbor Month asan effort to encourage thegreater Duluth area to recoverfrom last year’sfloods. A celebration isscheduled May 15 inChester Park between11:30-2 p.m., with aplanned 1 p.m. ceremony.of a highway to prevent saltdamage.Avoid planting yew andarbor vitae on south or southwestsides of buildings or insunny and windy locations.Erect temporary barriersaround conifers susceptible towinter burn. They can bemade of plywood, burlap, tarpaper or plastics.Just after the snow meltsand prior to bud break, rinsede-icing salts off both conifersand hardwoods.Reduce or eliminate the useof de-icing salts.Replace trees that have severewinter injury year afteryear. They are not in the rightlocation and will only declinedue to needle and twig lossover a period of many years.Keep conifers properly wateredthroughout the growingseason and fall. Decrease thewatering slightly in Septemberto encourage hardeningoff. Water thoroughly in Octoberuntil freeze-up.The park lost many trees inthe floods.Activities includeseedling and tree plantingand archery. State ForestryDivision Director ForrestBoe and Duluth Mayor DonNess are scheduled tospeak. It’s free and open tothe public. Registration isnot required.Visit the DNR’s ArborMonth Web page for moreinformation about plantingtrees in Minnesota and tofind a local celebration.For an Arbor Monthpacket, contact the DNR InformationCenter atinfo.dnr@state-.mn.us, 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367.City-Wide Garage Salesin Arlington Friday & Saturday, May 10 & 11Startingat 8 a.m.Just gather upyour unuseditems and bringthe followinginfo to TheArlingtonEnterprise/Sibley Shopperoffice.Yes! We’re having a Garage Sale May 10 & 11!Deadline: Wednesday, May 1, 2013.Name: ________________________________________www.larsonbuilders.com License # 2447Tri-County Household HazardousWaste Collectionin GibbonAt the Sibley County Highway Shop (corner of Ely & E. Mill Rd.)Thursday, May 2nd 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.For residents of Le Sueur, Sibley, & Nicollet CountiesExamples of Acceptable Items:Paints & stains, thinners,solvents, home & garden chemicals, roof & driveway tars,household cleaners, aerosols, acids, bases, adhesives,rechargeable & button batteries, mercury thermometers &thermostats, and fluorescent bulbs (from households only!).WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ACCEPT:Business bulbs or business waste ofany kind; or explosives or ammunition.For more information,call the Tri-County Solid Waste Office at 507-381-9196http://www.co.sibley.mn.us/tricounty_swo/index.htmlK6,8,10,12,14,16,10,20,22,24,26,28,30CEaA15-16E16-17SaAddress: ______________________________________Time: __________________a.m. to ____________p.m.List of items (Limit 10): _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________For only $ 15 00 you can:1. Place your Garage Sale Ad2. Receive 2 FREE GarageSale SignsOffice Hours:Mon., Tues., Wed.8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Thurs.8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.Fri. CLOSEDIf enough participate, advertising will include The Sibley Shopper,Arlington Enterprise and the Glencoe Advertiser.Sponsored by The Sibley Shopper and Arlington Enterprise.