Atlantic, Iowa – The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program is again offering a summer webinar series in 2016. The series is free, and open to anyone interested in attending to learn more about the benefits of shade in landscape, tree problems and native garden insects. In addition, Master Gardeners who attend will gain educational hours for attending. The Cass County Extension office in Atlantic will be one of the host sites for these two-hour webinars in June, July and August of 2016.

Details for the summer webinars at the Cass County location:

• Tuesday, June 14 at 6:30 PM – Got Shade? ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturist Denny Schrock will teach participants how to utilize shade plants in the landscape while focusing on plants native to Iowa.
• Tuesday, July 12 at 6:30 PM – Getting to the Bottom of Tree Problems with Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca, ISU Extension and Outreach plant pathologist and diagnostician with the ISU Plant and Insect Clinic. Participants will become familiar with some of the common symptoms of tree problems and learn what to keep an eye out for.
• Tuesday, August 9 at 6:30 PM – What’s all the Buzz About? Nathan Brockman is the curator of the butterfly wing of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University. Attendees will learn about insects native to Iowa and what to do to increase the enjoyment of these six-legged garden visitors.

To register, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu. The webinars are free of charge and open to anyone who may be interested.

(Press Release from Cass County Extension)

Iowa ranks in the top ten states in all things beef.  On Thursday, June 16th, join Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa in learning details about different kinds of cattle operations and where your beef products come from. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a supper served by the Mills-Montgomery County Cattlemen.  The meal will be held at the Will & Deb Frazee Century Farm at 1080 230^th St., Emerson.  Following supper, The Frazee family will present information about their cow-calf operation.

As a group, they will then caravan to Gregory Feedlots, located on J-18 between Randolph and Tabor.  David Trowbridge will give a presentation and a tour of the feedlot operation beginning around 7:45 p.m.  The event is expected to conclude at approximately 8:30.

Not only will this be a wonderful learning opportunity for women interested in learning more about varying aspects of ag production, it will provide excellent information to youth who might be contemplating a career in beef production, or 4-H and FFA members enrolled in either market or breeding beef projects.

This event is open to anyone, with pre-registration required by Monday, June 13^th.  To register, call Iowa State University Extension & Outreach-Mills County at (712) 527-3316, Fremont County at (712) 374-2351, or Montgomery County at (712) 623-2592.  Special accommodations may be requested by contacting these offices.  The cost is $5 per person, including the meal, payable at the door.  Proceeds will be used to offset the cost of the program.  Participants should dress casually and appropriately for the outdoors, and wear close-toed shoes.

This event is sponsored through a partnership of Fremont, Mills and Montgomery counties Farm Service Agency, Soil and Water Conservation District, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, and Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa.  Women, Land & Legacy is committed to offering learning opportunities for rural women in areas such as business, management, agriculture and family.

(Press Release from Montgomery County Extension)