Farming

Empty pesticide container collection: Aug. 21, 9 a.m. to noon, Renville County Highway Shop, one-half mile south of Bird Island on County Road 5. Pesticide containers must be high-density polyethylene plastic (imprint of HDPE & No. 2 on the bottom), have been triple- or pressure-rinsed to be pesticide free, and have all caps, foil seals and labels removed. No mini-bulk containers or containers with dirt or other materials stuck to the outside will be accepted. For more information, contact the Renville County Soil and Water Conservation District at 320-523-1550, extension 101.

Gardening

Master Gardeners Table Topics: Every Tuesday, 1 to 3 p.m., Willmar Public Library, a Master Gardener will be at the library to answer questions. The library will also have a display with books to check out and handouts that will change each month.

Dykstras: Bill and Helene Dykstra will have their garden open daily from noon until dark until frost. Freewill donations for Guatemala will be accepted. Take Kandiyohi County Road 5 south of Roseland for one mile, go east on 210th Avenue and turn south on 37th Street.

Top performing annuals for the home garden: Aug. 21, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., display garden, University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 State Hwy. 329 in Morris. Enjoy a walking tour with Steve Poppe, horticulture scientist at the WCROC. This “Come Grow with Us” class is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, call 320-589-1711. If raining, class will be indoors.

Master Gardener training: Oct. 1, deadline for applications new Master Gardener volunteers. Those selected for the program will participate in an internship, which starts with the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener core course training on Jan. 11. The course is taught online or in-person at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum by University of Minnesota Extension educators and faculty. Interns will complete 50 hours of volunteer service in the first year, working with local Master Gardener volunteers on a variety of projects that educate the public about gardening and horticulture. After completing the internship, volunteers become certified University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners. To remain certified, Master Gardeners must contribute at least 25 hours of volunteer service annually. For an application packet and more information, call the University of Minnesota Extension Kandiyohi County office at 320-231-7890 or go online at www.mg.umn.edu. Fee is $290 for course and materials and $30 for a background check, total $320.

Outdoors

Deer conversation open houses: Area wildlife managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are again inviting the public to open house meetings to ask their deer-related questions and offer thoughts on deer issues. The meetings are a way to encourage conversations about deer and deer management, enhance local relationships and foster two-way communication between the DNR and the public. In addition to discussing general concerns about deer, individuals can ask DNR staff about last year’s harvest data, provide topics that the DNR’s deer advisory committee should be aware of, and discuss upcoming hunting season changes. There is no formal presentation; people can arrive any time during the scheduled meeting times. The DNR encourages people who can’t attend a scheduled meeting, but who have questions about deer management, to contact a local wildlife manager. A list of area wildlife offices is available online at mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife. Opportunities to visit with area wildlife staff are scheduled:

• Watson: Aug. 20, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Lac qui Parle DNR headquarters, 14047 20th St. S.W.
• Glenwood: Aug. 22, 7 to 9 p.m., DNR wildlife office, 23070 N. Lakeshore Dr.

Special fishing regulations open houses: The DNR is hosting 17 public meetings for anglers and others to give their opinions about proposed changes to special fishing regulations for 30 lakes. Many of the changes concern special northern pike regulations on certain lakes. The two meetings run by the Spicer area fisheries are:

• Spicer: Sept. 18, 6 p.m., Dethlefs Community Center, concerning walleye regulation change on Green Lake.
• Roseville Township: Sept. 25, 6 p.m., Roseville Township Hall, concerning largemouth bass regulation change on Long Lake