Foster County Independent - The Official Newspaper for Foster County

More than a month has passed since bad weather forced many of us to adjust our plans to celebrate Christmas. The snow piles that surround us are a daily reminder of the challenging conditions that we...

My mother-in-law moved into assisted living about ten years ago. The move required significant downsizing. That’s never an easy task. So many memories are associated with certain pieces of furniture...

I asked friends at the Carrington Senior Citizen Center if they had ever experienced a four-day-long snowstorm like the one we had Dec. 13 – 16. “Yes,” one person answered, “but never this...

Last summer I worked with several Extension staff to offer a program called “Junior Beef Producer” to teenagers interested in the livestock industry. The day-long program provided young cattle...

“You gave this to me one Christmas,” said my mom, pointing toward a terra cotta flower pot wrapped in woven wicker. “Do you remember?” she asked. More than 40 years have passed, but yes, I...

The onlookers held their breath and watched as the marble spiraled toward the opening at the bottom of the funnel. It was the first step in a chain-reaction machine built by five Foster County...

Combines were moving through the fields of Foster County throughout October and into early November. Soybeans were harvested first, and then the attention turned to corn. Some farmers had to wait for...

Perhaps you saw the announcement that NDSU Extension will offer the Master Gardener Program again this winter. If the possibility of becoming a certified Master Gardener interests you, don’t wait...

This summer (June – August) was the 14th driest on record in Foster County, and the dry weather has continued into fall. The NDAWN stations near Carrington and McHenry received 0.6 and 0.7 inches...

Our trees and shrubs need some care as winter approaches. If conditions remain dry, then it’s recommended to thoroughly water evergreens before the ground freezes. By filling the needles with...

Highly productive. Disease resistant. Cold tolerant. This may sound like a description of a new corn variety, but it’s not. It’s actually a list of desirable traits that Jamestown resident Megan...

I was outside watering last week when a crowd of small, red insects scattered in all directions from the base of one plant. I quickly recognized the insects to be immature boxelder bugs. It is a sign...

Rainfall amounts varied significantly across Foster County during August. A series of weather systems brought as much as 1.5 inches of rain to parts of the county during the middle part of the month....

Drive by my house and you’re likely to say to yourself, “There’s a lawn that has some issues.” Dandelions, thistles and a host of other weed species have gained a large foothold in my yard....

“I liked how hands-on all the sessions were and how all the Extension staff were willing to work with us.” That was the comment of a participant in the Junior Beef Producers Workshop, recently...

“Our crops look really good.” That was the positive report of one Foster County producer at the end of July. “Our corn has tasseled,” the man continued. “I always say if that happens before...

“Our crops look really good.” That was the positive report of one Foster County producer at the end of July. “Our corn has tasseled,” the man continued. “I always say if that happens before...

Last week I noticed potatoes blooming in some of the community garden plots. The next four to six weeks are critical to prevent the development of potato scab, the most common disease affecting...

I was walking through chest-high grass in a pasture last week, heading towards a dugout that I’m monitoring for livestock water quality. I heard a small splash as my foot hit the ground. Just a...

The NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab is a tremendous resource that relatively few people know about. The lab has been serving North Dakotans for more than 40 years, helping to identify pest and disease probl...

Thank you to many volunteers whose efforts made the 2022 Foster County Fair a success. A total of 126 4-H’ers, including 37 Cloverbuds, exhibited projects at the fair. The exhibits included 373...

My wife and I recently spent a wonderful evening enjoying pie and ice cream with a group of friends. While we were together, I had my first opportunity to taste haskap and aronia berries. I understand...

The Carrington REC received 11.9 inches of precipitation between April 1 and June 20. That is 6 inches above normal. McHenry received even more rain, 14.9 inches, during the same period. That amount...

The community garden project is taking shape, despite the challenges of wet weather. Twelve gardeners signed up for the 10-by-20-foot plots this spring. Some of the applicants didn’t have suitable...

“The worst planting conditions of my lifetime.” That’s how one Foster County resident recently described the past two months. “What about the spring of 2020?” I asked. “We had corn in the...