Beneath the surface of LaSalle Lake, the deepest natural lake fully in Minnesota, is a hidden archive of climate data going back thousands of years. It’s stored in varves, or annual layers of sediment deposits on the lake’s bottom. Just like tree rings, varves indicate the age of the sediment and can be studied to reconstruct past environmental conditions. “The […]

Lyman Paulsen has been named this year’s Pipestone County Conservationist of the Year. He said it came as a surprise when he found out a few weeks ago that he’d been selected to receive the honor. Paulsen and his wife, Roxanne, live southeast of Hatfield and grow corn, beans and oats. Their son, Nick, farms with them and raises stock […]

Since mid-July, I’ve noticed something strange in several maple trees I’ve driven by: their leaves are starting to show fall color! Sometimes it’s just the tips of the branches turning red or yellow; other times, it’s concentrated in one section of the canopy. It’s eye-catching, but also a little concerning. After all, it’s not supposed to look like October out […]

The list of potential farm — and farm-related — dangers is long. However, Lakefield Ambulance Service Director Elsie Kruger said, a little forethought and common sense can help everyone — farmer and non-farmer alike — make it through the upcoming harvest season safe and sound.  “We’re lucky in Jackson County that we typically don’t see a lot in the way […]