Extension

Utah is currently in one of the worst droughts since recording began in the late 1800s. Many reservoirs are at an all-time low, and some are drying up completely. Because of this, a statewide alarm was sounded by the governor asking the public to conserve water. 

It can be a challenge to keep gardens growing well as summer heats up, so Utah State University Extension provides a Gardener’s Almanac to help. The almanac provides a checklist of tasks with tips, links and further information.

With the midsummer heat upon us, we are beginning to see a few storms. This rain is good, of course, because this brings some badly needed moisture.

With the state of Utah facing an extreme drought, this Fourth of July personal fireworks are banned in some areas and heavily discouraged statewide. 

The pandemic had many people reflecting on their mental health, and for some of it meant turning to apps for help. USU Extension’s Family Life Specialists, Dr. David Schramm partnered with Impact Suite to help come up with a new mental wellness app. He is here with us today to talk about this new app.

Farmers markets are known for offering an ever-changing variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Although variety is a benefit of shopping at local farmers markets, it can be difficult and overwhelming to come up with a menu for the week without knowing what will be available at the market.

Drought-tolerant landscaping has become a popular option in dry areas to lessen the need for water on people's lawns. Joining me today is Rick Heflebower, USU Extension Horticulturist in Washington County, to talk about this method of drought management.

Climate change seems to be a hot topic in politics and science. Last April, Extension members from all over the country came together to talk about their role in this issue. Joining me today is Roslynn McCann, Sustainable Community Specialists with USU Extension. 

In April, President Biden introduced the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan to help grow the middle class, expand benefits of economic growth, and make the United States more competitive. This plan includes changes that could affect some people in agriculture. Ruby Ward is an agriculture entrepreneurship specialist with USU Extension. She joins me today to talk about how this plan would affect agriculture.

While visiting the meat section at the grocery store this year, you may have noticed the prices of meat such as pork rising.

Just as humans must learn to adapt to changes in water availability during a drought, so must wildlife. Less water means less available habitat for wildlife, and since Utah is home to a sizable number of wildlife species, prolonged drought can create a perfect storm for human-wildlife conflict at the urban-wildland interface. 

With over 90% of Utah experiencing extreme drought, 2021 is one of the driest years on record. This fire season has the potential to be one of the worst seasons yet. Mike Kuhns, USU extension forester, joins me today to talk about wildfire prevention. 

Not only did 2020 have a negative impact on small businesses, employment and school schedules, it also had a negative effect on home food preservation supplies. This was due to the sharp increase in people wanting to become more self-reliant, combined with manufacturing plants that either completely shut down or operated with a significantly reduced workforce.

Did your fruit trees flower and set fruit this spring? If not, what can you do to encourage flowering and fruit sets? In this segment, we'll explore some common problems and how to mitigate them. 

Just as humans must learn to adapt to changes in water availability during a drought, so must wildlife. Less water means less available habitat for wildlife, and since Utah is home to a sizable number of wildlife species, prolonged drought can create a perfect storm for human-wildlife conflict at the urban-wildland interface.

June is here, the sun is shining, and gardening is in full swing! Consider these tips from the Utah State University Extension Gardener’s Almanac to help make your yard and garden the best they can be. Also included are links for tips and additional information.

June is a great month for the garden. By now, your early planting should start to come into production. I've already been harvesting lettuce and radishes, and kale. My early peas are flowering, and I should have snap peas next week- all those things look really good. 

Earlier this week, the meat processing business, JBS, was hit with a cyberattack that caused it to temporarily shut down some of its operations in Utah and other parts of the United States, as well as Australia, and Canada. Food security experts are looking at how this could effect the security of our food chain. 

A close relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is mutually beneficial when it comes to the health and well-being of both. Grandparents provide acceptance, patience, love, stability, wisdom, fun and support to their grandchildren. This, in turn, has positive effects on a child’s well-being.

Bee City and Bee Campus USA, is an initiative of the Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes enhancement and conservation of pollinators. Its goal is to bring together communities to sustain pollinators.

Keeping your lawn green while conserving water during a drought may seem difficult. In some areas of the United States, people are turning to artificial grasses to save water. Joining me today is Kelly Kopp, a USU Turfgrass Specialist to talk about artificial grasses.

Due to drought conditions throughout the state, Governor Spencer Cox recently issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for Utah. To date, 100% of Utah is in the moderate drought category, and 90% of the state is experiencing extreme drought.

Utah State University Extension Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative Resource Center is holding a wellness summit on opioid harm reduction. Joining me today is Dr. Sandra Sulzer, USU, Extension Health, and Wellness Specialist.

Container gardening has become popular as planting areas in the landscape have become smaller. Some containers are used to grow vegetables or specimen shrubs, while others display a beautiful splash of color. For thrilling container gardens, consider these tips.

Spring is the best time to plant fruit trees. Nurseries and garden centers have both bare root and potted trees ready to plant. Either type of tree is equally good, but bare root trees are typically less expensive to purchase. For apple trees, choose trees that are on a dwarfing rootstock.

Keto, paleo, gluten-free, and vegan are some of the diets you have probably heard about on social media that are also known as fad diets. Joining me today is Carrie Durward, Extension Nutrition Specialist at Utah State University. 

It is easy to get caught up in the events of the past or the future. However, doing so only brings worry and causes you to miss out on the present. On the other hand, mindfulness – or focusing on the present moment – leads to better health, lower anxiety and greater resilience to stress. Learning to incorporate the concept of “flow” is one of several ways to increase mindfulness.

I hope you had some time to get your cool-season vegetables into the garden in April. The weather was good, and that late rain in the month helped things move along nicely. 

April showers bring May flowers – as well as a multitude of gardening tasks. The Utah State University Extension Gardener’s Almanac provides a checklist for each month as well as links for tips and further information.