February 11, 2020 • Page 12 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Extension Spotlight Extension Specialist Shares Expertise BY BRENDA K. JOHNSON P&D Correspondent The potential of 1,250 more hours of horticulturerelated public service may result from the Yankton regional training site at Walnut Village last summer. South Dakota State University Extension specialists and interns helped make it happen. Twenty-five prospective South Dakota Master Gardeners (interns) from the Yankton drive-in area and a dozen Missouri Valley Master Gardeners audited weekly classes last summer. After at least 50 hours of horticulture and environmental classwork directed to needs of home gardeners, interns worked online and were tested on horticulture, diseases, insect and weed identification. Each intern agreed to fulfill 50 hours of public service in exchange for a discounted course rate. To remain active in future years, each Master Gardener provides a minimum of 20 hours per year of public service and takes part in a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education annually. Missouri Valley Master Gardeners of the Yankton area hope to include interns in projects like the spring and fall flings, public yard and garden tours, native grass projects at Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, City of Yankton public tree inventory, a Human Services Center garden project, farmers market booths, 4-H, county or state fairs, Boys and Girls Club garden, consulting with gardeners at Healthy Yankton Community Gardens, Yankton Seed Library presentations, articles and other projects. South Dakota Extension data showed that Yankton County had at least 450 hours of public service from Master Gardeners in 2019. Thanks to Yankton Press & Dakotan and other local media for their public service announcements that have helped these efforts. South Dakota State University Extension Specialists train interns with on-site and online classwork and present sessions in the annual update education for South Dakota Master Gardeners. Last summer, classes were conducted in Watertown, Sturgis and Yankton. Locations change each year to serve areas of the state. Extension Specialists and Master Gardeners who assist the public aim to provide current, research-based consumer horticulture information and services. Since South Dakota Extension moved to a regional center model for plant assistance and expertise in the past decade, the public relies more on distance communication. This series of articles is to introduce the South Dakota Extension specialists who trained Master Gardeners in Yankton and share about their activities and resources available for the public. and asparagus. Other articles address common plant diseases and treatment. See Extension website: www.extension.sdstate. edu. She and the other extension specialists also serve the public as consultants. Her areas of expertise include sustainable ——— horticulture crop Dr. Rhoda Burrows, production, work PHOTO: BRENDA K. JOHNSON professor of Horticulture with S.D. Specialty Rhoda Burrows, SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist, conat South Dakota State Producers Associa- sulted with wine grower Greg Stach at his Lewis & Clark Lake University and SDSU Extention, grape produc- Vineyard near Yankton last June as shown in the photo. Grape sion Horticulture specialtion research, and growers, Master Gardeners and Interns were invited to the tailgate ist, works at West River farm food safety session. Research and Extension in recommendations wet and dry soil conditions. vegetable and fruit safety in Rapid City. She covered fruit from the U. S. Food and Burrows sees high tunthe flooded gardens. and vegetables, herbaceous Drug Administration, and nels as one important way SOIL AND PLANT INTEREST plants, food safety and com- soil interactions with hortifor extending the short One of Burrows’ recent mon plant disease topics at culture crops. growing season in South Master Gardener update the intern training. “I see my role in South Dakota. They are greentopics relates to her PhD SERVICES AND RESOURCES Dakota as facilitating people houses that cover in-ground work at University of Minto do what they want to do crops. Active in the South Working for South nesota on the soil microto grow plants commercially Dakota Specialty Producers Dakota since 2001, Burrows or for themselves,” she Association, she has helped bial community and how it has written many articles interacts with plants. Local said. “I step back and watch secure funds for high tunthat are available to the Master Gardeners sponwhere the needs are and nels, partnering with other public online. Her topics sored a Fall Fling about soil figure out how we can meet agencies such as Natural range from the basics of and no-till gardening last fall those needs.” Her activity Resources Conservation S.D. vegetable and fruit to help improve gardening with innovative plant proService. The association growing to others featuring grams that she helps lead, had founding members from results. tomato, sweet corn, grapes, and her grant writing for Soil around us is filled the Yankton area. Specialty Aronia and other fruit with organisms that are funds to implement ideas, crops grown commercially variety recommendations, interconnected with the shows her focus. in this state include honey, plants growing there. Tiny Burrows is a comushrooms, hops, various fungal threads are called coordinator of Sustainable vegetables, Aronia, grapes mycorrhizae. They benAgriculture Research and and others. efit the plant by taking up Education (SARE) in South “When you have people nutrients. Because fungal Dakota. It’s alternative agriwith no income and comthreads are so much smaller culture; a way of trying an modity foods and you have than plant roots, they can idea to see if it’s feasible. the ability to grow fresh get into areas of soil spaces “We try to encourage produce, that’s exciting. that are too small for roots farmers to use practices Another producer has a to enter. Mycorrhizae can that are economically and couple of high tunnels and extend further than roots ecologically sustainable. has a number of youths to using less energy. They add Farmers and other South produce their own gardens to the plant’s root system. Dakotans are on our Adviin Kyle. I help with educa“Chemically, mycorsory Board,” she said. “It’s tion there once in a while,” grass roots.” she said. She sees the South rhizae are able to dissolve She looks for native Dakota Master Gardeners as nutrients from soil and take them into the fungus and plants or their cultivars as assisting in garden educatransfer them to the plant. a source for new crops betion projects like these too. Their presence helps the cause they have more benAs Marne Creek flooded efits such as antioxidants. in Yankton in 2018, Burrows root keep out pathogens and decrease root disease. She mentions the potential was contacted by Healthy of Honeyberries because Yankton Community Garden They can help the plant increase drought tolerance they grow in alkaline clay organizers and she probecause they get extra soil and can tolerate some vided public guidelines for water from the soil, but there are hormonal changes too,” she said. “The fungal threads also increase cell division in plants.” “These mycorrhizae were with plants when they Benson Ag Sales, • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals first evolved and have been Meridian tenders- logo there since. These tiny 1007 Broadway Ave fungal threads in the soil Used 2 and 4 box tenders Yankton, SD Used 240 bulk and 990 fuel trailer 605•665•4494 connect plants. Seedlings of adult plants with mycorrhiWe can find a new or used tender zae can have mycorrhizae for your needs. passed to the seedling. Now with crops going towards 402-741-1999 - 402-741-2350 “no-till” practice, mycorrhizae are not disturbed so much. It allows the network to grow and thrive,” she said. Used 2 and 4 box tenders Cover crops give mycorUsed 240 bulk and 990 fuel trailer rhizae and soil bacteria a We can find a new or used tender food source for a longer for your needs. time in a year. ‘Mother Nature abhors a vacuum.’ When we disturb the soil, weeds grow immediately. We curse the weeds, but Regular Meeting they help maintain the Mission Hill Township North microbial community in the soil. We respect what weeds As per South Dakota Codified Law 8-5-1 do and work with them,” The Board of Supervisors of Mission Hill Township (N) Burrows said. will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, February 25th, 2020 at Vangan Lutheran Church, Mission Hill, South Dakota at 7:00 PM. finding the right Anyone wishing to add items to the agenda may do so in job is easier writing to the Township Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the Friday before the above mentioned meeting date. than you think Let Our Family Business Keep Yours In The Go With: Cox Auto Benson Ag Sales TENDERS 402-741-1999 • 402-741-2350 Thank You! The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan would like to thank the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band for the terrific concert last night. We would also like to thank all of the people who attended as well as those that volunteered to help make this event possible. Special recognition and thanks goes to Yankton Hy-Vee for assisting with the food and beverage for the band and the Lewis & Clark Theatre for the use of their fine facility. Jackie Sempek, Clerk 44342 307th St. Mission Hill, SD 57046 JOB OPPORTUNITIES at Herd Co Feedlot near Bartlett, NE. POSITIONS AVAILABLE for Feed Truck Drivers, Equipment Operators And Maintenance Workers. Herd Co offers Competitive Wages, Full Benefits including Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, Paid Vacation and Sick Leave. Call 402-482-5931. Contact Chad or Galen. Forward resumes to becki@herdco.net when you’ve got the right direction Stop searching. The Help Wanted section of the Missouri Valley Shopper lists many possible new job opportunities. Find a career that’s right for you. MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y