Pennington County Extension

09/22/2026

09/18/2026

The fall season presents an opportunity for those who wish to treat infestations of buckthorn.

Common and Glossy buckthorn are both classified as noxious weeds by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and are an invasive plant. This shrub or small tree has become a major threat to North American ecosystems. It can outcompete native vegetation and it is a favorite place to overwinter for the soybean aphid.

Fall is an opportune time to treat buckthorn as it retains its green leaves long after most other trees have gone dormant. It stands out and is easier to treat plus there is less chance of overspray killing native trees.

If you have buckthorn on your property, now is the time to treat it. Pennington County AG Services and Pennington Soil and Water Conservation District have advice on how to treat your buckthorn. They also have buckthorn blaster kits used to treat buckthorn using the “cut-stump” method. These kits are available for free, while they last, to Pennington County residents who have a sincere interest in removing buckthorn from their property.

Contact Pennington County Ag Services from 7:30-12:30 at 218-683-7030 or Pennington SWCD at 218-683-7075 for more information.

09/14/2026

4-H adults and youth leaders (grade 7+) are invited to attend the 4-H Leadership Workshop: “Connect, Inspire, Lead” at the University of Minnesota Crookston, Saturday, October 24. Participants will connect with others, be inspired to teach and learn leadership skills to strengthen their local club gatherings. For more information and to register, visit z.umn.edu/Oct4Htraining.

09/08/2026

University of Minnesota Extension Announces 2026 Commercial and Non-Commercial Pesticide Safety Recertification Options

The University of Minnesota Extension’s Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education (PSEE) program has announced upcoming recertification opportunities for commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators in agricultural categories (Categories A, C, H, K, N, and O).

Applicators maintaining their Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) license can meet their recertification requirements by attending an in-person workshop, participating in a live webinar, or completing a self-paced online course.

In-Person Workshops and Webinar Schedule

In-person workshops include lunch and refreshments. Registration costs are $145 for Category A plus one additional category, or $190 for Category A plus two additional categories.

November 9, 2026 (7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.):
Location: Online via Zoom Webinar
Categories Covered: A and H
November 12, 2026 (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.):
Location: Syngenta Seedcare Institute — Dennison, MN
Categories Covered: A, H, and C
November 23, 2026 (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.):
Location: Bigwood Event Center — Fergus Falls, MN
Categories Covered: A, C, and H
Self-Paced Online Recertification (Canvas)

For applicators seeking a flexible schedule, UMN Extension offers self-paced online recertification courses delivered through the Canvas learning platform.

Course Dates: October 19, 2026 – November 16, 2026 (Course closes at 11:59 p.m.)
Registration Deadline: October 11, 2026
Cost: $70 per category
Available Categories: Category A (Agricultural), Category C (Field Crops), Category C (Fruit & Vegetable Crops), Category B (Aerial-Drone only), as well as Categories E, F, J, L, and P.
Technical Requirements: Online courses must be completed on a desktop or laptop computer equipped with Google Chrome, working speakers, and a functional camera for identity verification via Honorlock. Online courses cannot be taken on a tablet or mobile phone.
How to Register

Applicators are encouraged to check their license card or use the MDA License Lookup Page to confirm which categories require recertification this year.

To register for in-person workshops or the Canvas online course, visit the official University of Minnesota Extension page at:

Recertification workshops for Categories A, C, H, K, N, O

09/08/2026

09/02/2026

Sanders 4-H club earned a blue ribbon on their awesome banner! Congratulations 🍀

09/01/2026

https://extension.umn.edu/food/preparing/cooking-at-home/food-preservation

Step-by-step guides for preserving and storing food safely at home, including canning, drying, fermenting, freezing, and pickling.

09/01/2026

https://extension.umn.edu/about/i-want-to/volunteer/about-master-gardener/become-a-master-gardener

Find out how to apply to be a Master Gardener and register for the core course.

09/01/2026

🍀And they are off to the Minnesota State Fair! 🎡Pennington County 4-H'ers joined neighboring counties this morning enroute to their general encampment experience this week. This portion of Pennington County's delegation includes (l to r): Isabel K., Fia O., Mickaela R., Lilly K., Bree B., Ramsey K., Daphney K., Jacie M., Luke V., Theo H., Teddy O., and Brayden M. We hope you have the best time representing Pennington County 4-H! 🍀