Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Mahaska County

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CPBmdRw9s/

Maintain an active compost pile by keeping it damp and turning it routinely. Got more questions about composting? Go to https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/composting-faqs

06/16/2026

Join us for a Story Walk June 23rd at 10 AM
Eddyville public library

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GBVjqktS9/

Training for Community Organizations

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DGbpFANP8/

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DmqLudCGZ/

Want to safely customize tested recipes?
Have some fun and safely make products that you and your loved ones will enjoy.
PRO TIP: Ball now has a tested recipe for elderberry jam.
Follow these guidelines to keep your products safely shelf-stable:
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/play-it-safe-safe-changes-and-substitutions-tested-canning-recipes

06/16/2026

As you are all most likely aware (or were made aware of its presence last week when it arrived...) some severe storms rolled through much of south-central and southeastern Iowa last week. Hail reports along with plenty of reports of high winds and excessive moisture/flooding resulted. Due to this, a blog post detailing information regarding storm damage to crops and what to expect/what to look for was written by our Field Agronomists.

June 11, 2026 Content Author: Rebecca Vittetoe , Meaghan Anderson, Logan McCrea The storm systems that moved across the state this week have brought wind, heavy rainfall, and hail. Below are resources to help assess crop damage following these storms.  Wind damage Some corn fields have been left ...

06/16/2026

Iowa Drainage School is coming to Northwest Iowa!

This August, drainage contractors, engineers and consultants, NRCS professionals, watershed coordinators, county administrators, and anyone interested in subsurface drainage design and maintenance, can participate in the three-day program to learn about the design, installation, and maintenance of drainage systems.

Registration deadline is August 17. Learn more 👉 https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/iowa-drainage-school-comes-northwest-iowa-august

06/16/2026

Those tall plants with delicate white flowers popping up along roadsides and field edges may look harmless. They are not. Poison hemlock is a toxic plants in Missouri and every part of it is poisonous, whether green or dried. This plant spreads aggressively, with a single plant producing up to 38,000 seeds.

How to identify poison hemlock:
• Height: Can reach 6 feet or taller
• Stems: Smooth, hollow, hairless with distinctive purple blotches or streaks
• Leaves: Fern-like, finely divided, with a strong unpleasant odor when crushed
• Flowers: Small white flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters
• Growth cycle: Low rosette the first year, tall flowering plant the second year
• Poison hemlock is often confused with Queen Anne’s lace, but that plant is shorter, hairy and not toxic

How to get rid of it safely:
• Hand removal: Only for small infestations and with full protective clothing
• Mowing or tillage: Can help reduce spread
• Herbicides: Most effective in the early rosette stage before flowering

Safety tips:
• Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when handling
• Avoid inhaling plant material during removal
• Never burn poison hemlock — inhalation can be dangerous
• If unsure, do not touch the plant

Get more info: https://brnw.ch/21x3mpd

Consult the W**d ID Guide for additonal photo of Poison Hemlock and Queen Anne's Lace: https://brnw.ch/21x3mpe

06/16/2026

Looking for an easy meal when you don’t feel like cooking? Check out the blog today to see what Jody turns to for a quick meal idea. go.iastate.edu/YXSMU9