By Jim Measel
Apr 30, 2021 10:55 AM
BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) â The past month did not bring April showers to Branch County.
As April comes to a close, the Michigan State University Extension Service weather station at the Bloom Dairy Farm recorded just over one-and-a-half inches of rain for the month.
It measured just under two inches of rain for all of March.
The weather has dry throughout Michigan recently, apart from some rain showers this week. But there has not been enough precipitation to ease dry conditions across the state.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly all of the Lower Peninsula is currently in a Moderate Drought. It comes after a winter season that was drier than normal and those dry conditions have continued for much of the spring season so far.
TRAVIS NELSON
MARQUETTE It’s election season once again, as the May Consolidation ballot hits Alger County on Tuesday.
There are four county proposals and three jurisdictions Burt Township, Mathias Township and Munising Township have separate township proposals. All ballot information was found on the Michigan Voter Information Center website.
County proposals
The 911 millage proposal to repeal and replace existing millage:
Voters will be asked to permit the county to fund all 911 emergency telephone dispatch system operations by authorizing a new increased millage of 1.00 mill by repealing and replacing the previously approved millage of 0.50 mill. Repealing and replacing the previous millage will limit the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property, and be increased by 1.00 mill from 2021-26. It is estimated that 1.00 mill would raise about $404,400 when first levied in 2021.
In the Weeds podcast on farm financial decisions
This series hopes to guide you in upcoming decisions regarding the farm bill, COVID-19 financial relief and crop marketing.
Listen to the Michigan Field Crops podcast channel for a new “In the Weeds” series exploring financial decisions facing farmers. You will hear from agribusinesses and researchers about their recommendations for financial management. The episodes are posted, so go get listening!
Series 7 Episode 1: COVID Financial Relief & Farm Bill: Go Sign Up!!
Michigan State University Extension educators Monica Jean, Jon LaPorte and Corey Clark sit down to discuss COVID-19 financial relief programs that farmers can apply for, as well as updates on the Farm Bill programs.
By Kristia Postema
Capital News Service
Disease and a newly identified fungus have been killing Michigan’s blue spruce population for roughly a decade, and the dangers show no signs of slowing.
Symptoms of the fungus known as diaporthe include branch die-back that moves up the tree and sometimes kills it, said Jill O’Donnell, a Michigan State University Extension senior agriculture and agribusiness educator, said.
Diaporthe was first identified in blue spruce during studies done from 2011 to 2018. The findings were published this year.
“The problems tend to be in older trees, but we did see some problems in the Christmas trees,” O’Donnell said.
Jacklyn Lenten
MARQUETTE Jacklyn Lenten of Negaunee has been named the Northern Michigan University Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences 2020-21 outstanding graduating senior. She is graduating Saturday with an environmental science degree with a concentration is in natural resources.
Lenten will attain a self-designed EEGS cluster minor in environmental justice and advocacy. For two years, Lenten has served as a co-leader of the NMU Conservation Crew, and she is an active member of Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society.
As a field technician for the Outdoor Learning Area, Lenten helped transform the GeoPark into a garden.
She was the first Upper Peninsula native to be named a John A. Muter Scholar, and she took part in Michigan State University Extension’s Lake and Stream Leaders Institute.