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1. ATV Safety For Farm Work, Recreation
by Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Farm operators may purchase all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to haul livestock feed or get to the field but ATVs often serve another purpose: recreation. Since youth are frequently victims of accidents involving the popular multi-wheeled vehicles, it’s important that all family members know and follow necessary precautions every time ATVs are used—for work or for play.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, four out of every 10 people treated each year in emergency rooms for ATV injuries are under age 16. In 1993, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported at least 50 injuries (including one fatality and nine hospitalizations) from farm-related ATV accidents. Not included are many accidents unrelated to agriculture.
For more information visit Safe Farm, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1563C.pdf
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2. Clothing For Sun Protection
by Pat Brinkman, Extension Education, Onio State University
Covering up when in the sun is one approach to ultraviolet ray protection. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants or long skirts will provide optimum protection. Generally, fabrics with a tighter, denser weave, in dark colors, layered, and a matte or dull finish, give the best protection. Unfortunately, these fabrics tend to be hot and less comfortable to wear. Knit constructions, such as cotton t-shirts, give relatively poor protection (SPF rating of 4.8) since UV rays pass through loops on the knit structure.
Several companies are marketing sunlight or UV resistant fabric. These fabrics usually have a tighter weave or knit and are usually darker in color. Many sun-protective fabrics have a label listing the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value, which is the level of protection the clothing garment will provide from the sun’s UV rays (on a scale from 15 to 50+). The higher the UPF, the more protections from UV rays.
Three categories of UPF protection include:
15 to 24 provides “Good UV Protection”
25 to 39 provides “Very Good UV Protection”
40 to 50 provides “Excellent UV Protection”
A garment labeled “sun-protective” or “UV-protective” has to have at least a UPF of 15. Garments can lose their sun-protective effectiveness if they are too tight or stretched out, damp or wet, and worn and washed frequently.
In Australia children’s swimsuits made from sun-protective fabric that cover the child from neck to knees are popular. These are now available in some areas of the United States.
In addition to clothing that covers the skin, remember to wear hats that provide protection. Brims of three inches or wider shade eyes, ears, and neck. Some styles provide loose flaps or drapes to cover ears and neck. Choose styles that allow for air circulation and offer protection as well as comfort. Many fashionable styles are available that are good-looking and functional.
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3. Prevent Heat-Related Illness This Summer
by Dr. William Campbell, UNL Biological Systems Engineering
Nebraskans not accustomed to summer's warmer weather are at a higher risk for heat-related illnesses. Warmer than usual weather can trigger heat-related problems.
If weather forecasters talk about a day that will be especially uncomfortable with high heat indexes, people should be careful. People who haven't conditioned themselves to hot weather and try to exert themselves find that their bodies are not ready to work in high temperature conditions.
For example, people who work in air conditioned offices for months on end and then try to do yard work on a hot weekend are vulnerable to heat-related problems. The elderly also are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, as are those recovering or recently suffering from an illness.
Prevention of heat-related illnesses is key. Once affected by a heat-related illness, the body will remember how it responded to heat stress, and if put in the same situation will revert to the same response pattern to try to protect itself.
Heat-related illness can be prevented by becoming gradually conditioned to hot weather. People need to pay attention to how they are feeling and take breaks when they are over exerting themselves in high temperatures. Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing, getting an adequate amount of rest and drinking plenty of fluids also are part of prevention. If a person is not using the restroom often enough, they are not consuming enough fluids.
The days to be especially cautious of heat-related illness are those just after several days of cool, nice weather, when the body is not conditioned to heat. It is important to do strenuous activities during the morning hours. Try to stay away from mid- to late afternoon or early evening hours, or windless times of the day.
There are four types of heat-related illnesses. The first stage of heat-related illness are cramps, caused by overexertion in hot weather, poor physical condition or dehydration. The second stage is fainting, caused by overexertion or a drop in blood pressure. The third stage is heat exhaustion, caused by excessive heat or dehydration. Symptoms are paleness, dizziness, nausea, fainting, a moderately increased body temperature, sweating and cool, clammy skin.
Heat stroke is the most dangerous stage of heat-related illness, caused by exposure to high temperatures. Symptoms of heat stroke include warm skin and no sweating.
Treat heat-related illnesses by finding a cool place to rest, cooling down the body with a wet cloth and drinking fluids. When recovering from heat, the individual can determine how fast to intake water. If they do not want to drink, they will need to be encouraged. If enough water is not consumed, the body will go back into shut down.
If a person is not treated quickly, it will take longer for him or her to recover. Heat-related illnesses can result in death if treatments aren't followed and the person is not put in an environment where he or she can cool down.
If treatments are not working, if the person's temperature continues to rise and the person stops sweating, the heat is too much for the body to cool itself down and medical care will need to be sought.
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4. Updated Information Regarding Mosquito Repellants
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Repellents are an important tool to assist people in protecting themselves from mosquito-borne diseases.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of products containing active ingredients which have been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing. EPA registration of repellent active ingredients indicates the materials have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human safety when applied according to the instructions on the label.
Repellents For Use On Skin and Clothing
CDC evaluation of information contained in peer reviewed scientific literature and data available from EPA has identified several EPA registered products that provide repellent activity sufficient to help people avoid the bites of disease carrying mosquitoes. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection:
- DEET (Chemical Name: N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethly-3-methyl-benzamide)
- Picaridin (KBR 3023, Chemical Name: 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)- 1-piperidinecarboxylic acid 1-methylpropyl ester )
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus* or PMD (Chemical Name: para-Menthane-3,8-diol) The synthesized version of oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- IR3535 (Chemical Name: 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester)
EPA characterizes the active ingredients DEET and Picaridin as “conventional repellents” and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, PMD, and IR3535 as “biopesticide repellents”, which are derived from natural materials. For more information visit "Active Ingredients Found in Insect Repellents."
Published data indicate that repellent efficacy and duration of protection vary considerably among products and among mosquito species and are markedly affected by ambient temperature, amount of perspiration, exposure to water, abrasive removal, and other factors.
In general, higher concentrations of active ingredient provide longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient, although concentrations above approximately 50% do not offer a marked increase in protection time. Products with less than 10% active ingredient may offer only limited protection, often from 1-2 hours. Products that offer sustained release or controlled release (micro-encapsulated) formulations, even with lower active ingredient concentrations, may provide longer protection times.
Regardless of what product you use, if you start to get mosquito bites reapply the repellent according to the label instructions or remove yourself from the area with biting insects if possible.
These recommendations are for domestic use in the United States where EPA-registered products are readily available. See CDC Travelers’ Health website for additional recommendations concerning protection from insects when traveling outside the United States.
Repellents For Use On Clothing
Certain products containing permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use. Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. The permethrin insecticide should be reapplied following the label instructions. Some commercial products are available pretreated with permethrin.
EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:
- Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label.) Do not use repellents under clothing.
- Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
- Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays, do not spray directly on face— spray on hands first and then apply to face.
- Do not allow children to handle the product. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child. You may not want to apply to children’s hands.
- Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation are generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
- After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. (This precaution may vary with different repellents—check the product label.)
- If you or your child get a rash or other bad reaction from an insect repellent, stop using the repellent, wash the repellent off with mild soap and water, and call a local poison control center for further guidance. If you go to a doctor because of the repellent, take the repellent with you to show the doctor.
Note that the label for products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specifies that they should not to be used on children under the age of three years. Other than those listed above, EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for using registered repellents on children or on pregnant or lactating women. For additional information regarding the use of repellent on children, please see CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use.
DEET-based repellents applied according to label instructions may be used along with a separate sunscreen. No data are available at this time regarding the use of other active repellent ingredients in combination with a sunscreen. See "How To Use Insect Repellants Safely" for additional information on using EPA-registered repellents.
*Note: This recommendation refers to EPA-registered repellent products containing the active ingredient oil of lemon eucalyptus (or PMD). “Pure” oil of lemon eucalyptus (e.g. essential oil) has not received similar, validated testing for safety and efficacy, is not registered with EPA as an insect repellent, and is not covered by this CDC recommendation.
References:
Barnard DR, Xue RD. Laboratory evaluation of mosquito repellents against Aedes albopictus, Culex nigripalpus, and Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol. 2004;41(4):726-30.
Barnard DR, et al. Repellency of IR3535, KBR3023, paramenthane-3,8-diol, and DEET to Black Salt March mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Everglades National Park. J Med Entomol. 2002; 39(6): 895-899
Fradin MS, Day JF. Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites. N Engl J Med. 2002; 347(1):13-8. Thavara U et al. Laboratory and field evaluations of the insect repellents 3535 (ethyl butyletylaminopropionate) and DEET against mosquito vectors in Thailiand. J of Am Mosq Cont Assoc. 2001, 17(3):190-195
For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/westnile, or call CDC at 800-CDC-INFO (English and Spanish) or 888-232-6348 (TTY).
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5. Lock Up Pesticides, Prevent Poisonings
By Clyde Ogg and Erin Bauer, UNL Extension Pesticide Safety
Every 13 seconds a poison control center receives a phone call about an unintentional poisoning. Children are at a much greater risk of unintentional poisonings from pesticides and household products. It is essential for parents and caregivers to lock up all pesticides, including farm, acreage and household products.
Prevent pesticide poisonings by storing all pesticides safely. If possible, store them locked up in a separate room or building and post a warning sign on the locked storage area. If nothing else is available, use a locked cabinet. Avoid stacking pesticide containers and shipment boxes. Use metal shelving instead of wood to avoid absorption if a spill occurs. Store all pesticide products in their original containers. Never reuse pesticide containers.
Be prepared for accidental pesticide spills in storage areas and have a spill kit available. Know the three "Cs" for pesticide:
- Control: If a spill or leak occurs, control the spill to prevent further spillage or leakage.
- Contain: To keep spills from spreading, use absorbent materials such as kitty litter. After spills soak into the kitty litter, carefully clean up the spilled pesticide and absorbent material.
- Clean-up: Transfer the pesticide and materials into plastic bags and dispose of them according to label instructions. When cleaning up spills, use chemical resistant gloves and other protective clothing and equipment as needed.
Also, help prevent pesticide poisonings by always applying pesticides safely. Read the label. Follow all directions carefully. Make sure that children stay away from mixing, loading or application zones. Pesticide residues are likely to get on clothing, truck and tractor cabs and other areas.
Remove pesticide-contaminated shoes before entering the home. Always remove contaminated clothing and wash thoroughly before coming into contact with children and other family members. Don’t mix pesticide-contaminated clothing with family laundry. Take steps to avoid moving pesticide residues from truck and tractor cabs into clean areas, such as inside the home.
Remember to prevent pesticide poisonings by teaching children about pesticides and encouraging them to ask questions. Pesticides can seem harmless to children. They may see them as food or drink. Teach them to ask an adult before they eat or drink anything.
The National Poison Center hotline is 1-800-222-1222.
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6. Weed Control in Pastures
by Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Due to cost, time, grazing restrictions or by personal choice, many people choose not to use chemical methods of weed control in pastures. Weed control without chemicals is a viable option. However, there are many factors to consider.
Check out “Weed Control in Pastures Without Chemicals” by Dennis Cosgrove and Jerry Doll, Extension Specialists, University of Wisconsin, to see how they get the upper hand on weeds.
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7. Poison Hemlock,
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Poison hemlock leaves and flowers of are similar to those of parsnips and carrots. In fact, many deaths have occurred as a result of people mistaking it for the edible species of the carrot family. The use of hemlock as a poison goes back many years in history. It is said that the ancient Greeks used it to poison their enemies and political prisoners. Socrates, condemned to die as a political prisoner in 329 B.C., drank the juice of the hemlock plant and committed suicide. Native Americans were known to dip their arrows in hemlock.
All classes of livestock and wildlife are affected by the toxins of poison hemlock. Cattle, goats, and horses are the most susceptible domesticated animals because they are least able to metabolize the toxic agents. Symptoms of poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the animal, and include trembling, muscular weakness, loss of coordination, dilation of pupils, a weak and slow heartbeat, coma, and eventually death from respiratory paralysis.
Poison hemlock can cause fetal deformation if a pregnant animal eats the plant. Toxins can pass into the milk of an animal, affecting the offspring, and in the case of dairy cattle can affect the safety of milk that humans consume. To reduce livestock exposure to poison hemlock's toxins, prevent grazing when the plant is the only available green forage.
To learn more about poison hemlock visit this website:
Poison Hemlock: The Toxic Parsnip, http://www.btny.purdue.edu/WeedScience/2003/Articles/PHemlock03.pdf
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8. Vegetable Garden Pests
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
The goal of a vegetable gardener is raising high quality produce. A pest management plan would include frequent inspection of plants, correct identification of pests, using preventive measures when possible and using both nonchemical and chemical methods of control.
Some pests to watch for are:
Squash borer: Examine the stems of the squash plant. Usually, a yellowish sawdust type of material called “frass” is located on the lower part of the plant -- an indication of the borer in the plants. Sometimes a crack is located on the lower portion of the stem. If borer is suspected, a sharp knife can be used to slit the stem carefully and remove the larvae. After this is done, pile soil around the plant and water thoroughly.
Cucumber Beetle: These beetles can be disastrous if not controlled. These insects not only chew the leaves, flowers, and fruits, but they also spread bacterial diseases as they visit the plants. Since they multiply very fast, treat as soon as they are noticed with a recommended insecticide.
Aphids and Mites: These insects will be found under the leaves. A good surge of water pressure from the hose will usually remove them.
Four-Spotted Sap Beetle: This beetle is attracted to cracked or over ripe fruits. The best defense is to buy crack resistant cultivars and keep garden areas clean of over ripe fruit.
Mexican Bean Beetles: Leaves with a lace like appearance may mean you have Mexican bean beetles. They eat the lower surface of the leaves between the veins. Clean up plant debris after harvest to discourage hibernating beetles. Treat at the first sign of injury.
If you choose to use a pesticide treatment remember to apply chemicals at dusk when pollinating bees are gone. Insecticides cannot be used during harvesting time. To reduce infestation, clean up all the unwanted fruits and dispose of them. If pesticides are used in the garden, identify the problem first, read the label carefully and apply them with caution.
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9. Late Summer Garden Vegetables
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
There is still time to plant many vegetable crops. The last practical dates to plant specific crops are listed below.
- June 20, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, muskmelons*, watermelons*
- July 1, lima beans, sweet corn*
- July 20, cucumbers, summer squash
- August 1, beets, carrots, snap beans, Swiss chard
*Denotes early maturing varieties such as:
- Muskmelon - 'Earlisweet', 'Burpee Hybrid'
- Watermelon - 'Sugar Baby', 'Petite Sweet', 'Mickeylee'
- Sweet Corn - 'Earliking', 'Aztec', 'Sundance', 'Seneca Horizon'
It is often difficult to estimate when vegetable crops will be ready to be harvested. Weather conditions effect growth and development of the crop and can advance or delay maturity. For flowering vegetables, days from flowering provide a fairly accurate determination of harvest time.
Days from Flowering to Maturity |
Crop |
Time (days) |
| Cucumber, slicing |
15-18 |
| Eggplant |
25-40 (2/3 maximum size) |
| Muskmelon |
42-46 |
| Pepper, green |
45-55 |
| Snap Bean |
7-10 |
| Summer squash & zucchini |
3-4 |
| Sweet Corn |
15-23 (from silking) |
| Tomato, red |
40-50 |
| Watermelon, icebox |
28-32 |
| Watermelon, large |
50-60 |
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10. Why Are Honeybees Collapsing?
By Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
Honey bee colonies in the U.S. are overworked and under-appreciated. They are the world’s most important pollinators of many fruits, vegetables and seed crops, contributing billions of dollars in value to agriculture and our diet. Bees also pollinate wildflowers in our natural ecosystems and much of what we plant in our home gardens. Without honey bees, and other bee pollinators, the produce section in our grocery stores would have about 1/3 fewer fruits and vegetables and it is impossible to estimate how many flowers would not set seed.
Honey bees in the U.S. are maintained by beekeepers, who keep them as a hobby, as a side-line profession, or commercially as a livelihood. All beekeepers harvest honey from their colonies, a wholesome and healthful product. Some harvest other products such as beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, and propolis, which are used to make candles and cosmetics, or serve as nutritional supplements and medicine. Beekeepers keep their colonies of bees in cities, suburbs, and the countryside. Some maintain their colonies in one location year round, and some transport their colonies long distances to follow the blooming plants for honey and to provide pollination service to crops. Some beekeepers propagate “nursery” stock (more bee colonies and queen bees) for sale around the country.
Unfortunately, honey bees are subject to diseases and parasitic mites. The mites were inadvertently introduced into the U.S. in the 1980s. These maladies weaken colonies and can lead to the collapse and death of colonies. Beekeepers are careful to control these pathogens and pests in their colonies, but it has become increasingly difficult because the diseases and mites have developed resistance to some of the treatments. New treatments are currently available which reduce the risk of the pests developing resistance. Fortunately, colonies that die from diseases and mite parasites can be replaced with nursery stock, but overall, the number of bee colonies in the US, and the number of beekeepers, has been drastically reduced over the last 20 years.
In addition to the stress that diseases and mites place on the immune system of bees, our environment is not as friendly to bees as it was in the distant past, which also adds to the overall stress on bees. Urban sprawl and agricultural practices have limited the amount of bee “pasture” (flowers such as clover, alfalfa) available to the bees for their food. The use of pesticides on crops to kill pest insects can have the negative side-effect of killing beneficial insects such as bees. Many pesticide applicators choose pesticides with low residual and low toxicity to bees. But new classes of pesticides, such as those that are systemic (move through plant tissue) may contribute to the stress on bees’ immune and detoxification systems because the pesticide may be incorporated into the pollen and nectar. While we know that pesticides can adversely affect bee health, GMO crops have not been shown to directly affect honey bees.
Finally, the beekeeping heroes that transport their colonies across the nation to pollinate crops for our nation’s food supply face extreme difficulties in supplying bees that are strong and healthy enough for pollination. Often, a large number of bee colonies are required to pollinate a particular crop. For example, over 1 million bee colonies are required to pollinate almonds in California during late February and March. Moving such large numbers of colonies into a relatively small area places even more stress on bees. In these conditions, the bees may become nutritionally stressed, they may be at increased risk of pesticide exposure, and definitely are at increased risk of disease and mite transmission among colonies.
It is no wonder bees are suffering. But the biggest question is: is the collapse of honey bee colonies this year due to yet another factor? Is there a new disease afflicting bees? Are the effects of new classes of pesticides contributing to bee deaths? Why are the bees leaving the colony and not returning? What is the so-called Colony Collapse Disorder? Scientists across the nation are trying to figure this out. At this point, it is unclear why so many bee colonies are dying, and the name Colony Collapse Disorder is a placeholder until its nature can be determined for certain. Most likely, the bees are dying from a number of contributing factors that collectively place an enormous burden on the immune and detoxification systems of bees, eventually "putting them over the edge."
What can you do? Don’t panic. Educate yourself.
If you are a beekeeper, make sure your colonies have adequate pollen and nectar stores at all times. Replace old brood combs with new “foundation” to eliminate disease spores, and sample your colonies for mites regularly so you can control them when needed.
If you are not a beekeeper, please appreciate the bees in our environment! Spread the word about the benefits of bees. Support research and extension efforts to promote the health of honey bees. Learn to keep bees yourself!
What is the University of Minnesota doing about the problem?
Dr. Marla Spivak, Gary Reuter, and students focus all of their research and extension efforts on keeping bees healthy. They teach several classes to the public, including keeping bees in northern climates, and raising and breeding queen bees. A new on-line course will be available soon that deals exclusively with beekeeping management techniques that can be used to prevent and mitigate disease and mite transmission. The Bee Lab web site has education materials on how to protect bees from pesticides, as well as materials on many general beekeeping practices. The research efforts in Spivak's lab concentrate on breeding bees for "hygienic behavior" - a mechanism of resistance against bee diseases and parasitic mites. They are also researching ways to bolster the immune system of bees.
For more information visit the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, http://www.extension.umn.edu/honeybees/
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11. Coping with Nuisance Wildlife
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Many of us love the outdoors. We enjoy outdoor recreation, wildlife watching, hunting, fishing, gardening, hiking and camping. Many people enjoy simply watching wildlife. Nest boxes for birds, bats and other wildlife are popular items purchased or constructed by many people. We spend large amounts of money feeding wildlife -- primarily birds. In addition, gardening, landscaping and wildlife observation are popular past times for young and old alike.
While many people enjoy watching wildlife, sometimes wildlife interferes with other human activities. Wildlife eat our birdseed, dig up our gardens and landscape plants, and eat or damage our fruit, flowers and vegetables. When wildlife populate a place where they are unwanted or cause damage to valuable plants or structures, they are no longer appreciated. Instead they become a nuisance. Some wildlife repellents can work effectively, at least to a limited degree, for dealing humanely with nuisance wildlife.
Check out this website on repellents for problem wildlife.
"Chemical, Visual and Auditory Repellents for Reducing Problems with Urban Wildlife", http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/wildlife/repellents.htm
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12.
What Water Well Owners Need to Know about Drugs in Water
From the National Ground Water Association
Recent news reports about the presence of drugs in America’s water supply have created some public concern over the safety of water, but there are basic steps that the owners of private household water wells should always take to reduce risk to their drinking water.
These safety steps should be practiced under any circumstances—not just in response to the recent news reports about widespread detection of trace amounts of drugs and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in America’s water supply. EDCs mimic or block hormones.
If you already own a water well, here are three steps you can take to reduce risk to your water supply:
- Get a well maintenance check-up by a qualified water well systems contractor to determine whether the well is properly constructed, clean and in good working order.
- Have your water tested annually for bacteria, nitrate and anything else of local concern. Check the water more frequently if there is a change in the water’s taste, odor or appearance.
- Should any contaminants above levels of health concern remain after proper well maintenance, including cleaning, if necessary, a water treatment device may resolve any water quality issues.
For those considering a new well, it is important to use a qualified water well system contractor to properly locate and construct the well to minimize the potential for contamination of the water.
Finally, proper septic system maintenance can be crucial in helping to protect groundwater from contamination, particularly from harmful bacteria. A properly working septic system can effectively treat sewage so the effluent that flows back into the ground can be naturally filtered by the soil. However, a failing septic system can result in inadequately treated effluent, potentially contaminating the groundwater. Septic systems should be checked and pumped by a professional contractor. The Office of National Drug Policy recommends that many drugs not be poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet.
It is important to note that no U.S. federal drinking water standards exist for pharmaceuticals and EDCs in water. Consequently, many water testing laboratories do not have the equipment necessary to test for these compounds. Water treatment experts find that existing technologies show promise in removing many of these substances from water. Such technologies include activated carbon, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and ozonation.
National Ground Water Association; April, 2008
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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13. Arboretum and Botanical Garden Tours Scheduled for Eastern Nebraska, Continues July 10
Mark your calendars for the following tours of Nebraska arboretums and botanical gardens scheduled for 2008. The free tours will offer a chance for tree lovers, garden enthusiasts and green industry professionals to see and learn more about many great plants and many great gardens the state has to offer.
The tours will emphasize rare and impressive trees, but will also be a great opportunity to see many other beautiful garden plants and the wide variety of birds, butterflies and insects that visit them. The tours are coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum in partnership with local affiliated sites.
More information will be available on the NSA web site, or by contacting NSA at (402) 472-2971 or jevertson1@unl.edu. Watch for additional tour locations to be added later.
- Thursday, July 10, 8:00am to 11:00am: Forest Lawn Cemetery Arboretum, Omaha.
- Saturday, August 23, 8:30am to 11:00am: NSA Display Gardens and Maxwell Arboretum, UNL East Campus, Lincoln. Plants will be for sale from the NSA green house during the event.
- Thursday, Sept 18, 9:00am to Noon: Lincoln Regional Center Arboretum. A brief NSA curators meeting will be held after the tour.
- Thursday, Oct 23, 3:00pm to 5:30pm: Blair Fall Color Tour including Steyer Park and Black Elk Park.
- Saturday, Oct 25, TBA: UNL City Campus fall color tour and Husker tailgate party prior to game with Baylor.
- Thursday, Nov 6, 3:00pm to dusk: Nebraska City Fall Color Tour including Arbor Lodge State Park, Nebraska City High School and NADF Arbor Day Farm.
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14. Multi-State Grape Growers Field Day, July 28
This will be the fifth in this series of Multi-State Field Days, hosted this year by the University of Missouri’s Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology.
This Field Day promises to be well worth the trip. An outstanding program has been developed that will showcase an excellent newly developed vineyard, Farmeier Brothers and a more established vineyard and winery, Baltimore Bend Vineyard and Winery.
The cost is $25 per person, which includes breaks, lunch and all materials. Registration fees are non-refundable.
Download a registration form at http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture/
Deadline for registration is July 11, 2008. Registration must be postmarked by July 11, 2008. Registration received with a postmark after July 11, 2008 will be assessed a late fee of $10.00.
| Morning Session: Fahrmeier Farms 9374 Mitchell Trail, Lexington, Missouri |
7:00 – 8:00 am
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Vendor Set Up |
8:00 – 9:00 am
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Registration and Refreshments |
9:00 – 10:00 am
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“Winegrape Varieties for Midwestern Vineyards”
Dr. Paul Domoto, Professor of Horticulture, Iowa State University |
10:00 – 10:30 am |
Break—Visit Exhibitors and Refreshments |
10:30 – 11:15 am |
“Trellis End Assemblies: A Critical Component of Long Term Profitable Vineyards”,
Eli Bergmeier, Viticulture Research Specialist, ICCVE, University of Missouri |
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
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“Use of Growth Tubes in Midwestern Vineyards”
Dr. Keith Striegler, Director, ICCVE, University of Missouri |
12:00 – 1:00 pm
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Lunch and Exhibitor Presentations |
| Afternoon Session: Baltimore Bend Winery 27150 HWY 24, Waverly, Missouri |
1:00 – 1:30 pm |
Travel to Baltimore Bend Winery in Waverly, Missouri
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1:30 – 2:15 pm |
“Trellis Systems for Midwestern Vineyards”, Dr. Paul Read, Professor of Horticulture and Viticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
2:15 – 3:00 pm |
“Crop Load and Canopy Management for Sustainable Yield and Improved Fruit Composition”, Andy Allen, Viticulture Extension Associate, ICCVE, University of Missouri |
3:00 – 3:30 pm |
Question and Answer Session
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3:30 – 5:00 pm |
Baltimore Bend Winery Tour and Wine Tasting |
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15. From Recipe to Reality Seminar, August 8
The Food Processing Center is offering a one-day seminar for all individuals interested in exploring the idea of starting a food manufacturing business. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Program dates for 2008:
August 8 - Lincoln, NE
October 27 - Lincoln, NE
Contact Jill Gifford at (402) 472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu for an information packet. For more information, visit the UNL Food Processing's Food Entrepreneur web site. |
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