Landscaping

Garden Art: Something from Nothing

Adding some garden art to your backyard does no require a lot of money, who doesn’t love something made from nothing? Gardens seem to be a natural home for all things re-used and up-cycled…it just seems to make nature happy, doesn’t it? And, it lets us be uber-creative as well… So, time to visit the local junk shop, because here are some ideas for garden art that will give personality to any yard, porch or garden!

Using old glass insulators on copper rigid tubes

Using old glass bottles on wooden dowels

Real Estate (Farm & Ranch Land)

Farm Credit Services of America Updates Benchmark Farm Values for First Half of 2018

Farm Credit Services of America Updates Benchmark Farm Values for First Half of 2018 in the grain belt states served by Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) appear to have adjusted to a new normal. Even with seasonal fluctuations, farmland values have remained generally consistent since 2015.

 

“Farmland values are largely dependent on geography and have adjusted to reflect their market’s current supply and demand,” said Tim Koch, chief credit officer for FCSAmerica, which tracks the values of 64 benchmark farms in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

 

Farmland values peaked in the last half of 2013 in FCSAmerica’s lending territory. Nearly five years later, Iowa has seen the largest drop in values at 17.8 percent, followed by Nebraska at 17.6 percent. South Dakota’s farmland is off 10.8 percent since it peaked in the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

Twelve benchmark farms in South Dakota showed no change in value, three increased and eight decreased in value.

 

FCSAmerica appraises its benchmark farms twice a year, in January and July. In addition, the cooperative compiles records from farmland sale in its four states. The cooperative’s objective in using the benchmark farms is to track real estate values without the influence of changes in land quality on sale prices.

 

Overall, farmland prices and the quality of land held steady through the first half of 2018. Public land auctions increased 56 percent in South Dakota, 23 percent in Iowa and 7 percent in Nebraska. However, the overall availability of farmland was unchanged from 2017, with private and realtor sales declining in each state.

Garden Pests

Raccoons in the Garden

Raccoons in the garden are nocturnal animals that are thriving thanks to increased human contact, as anyone with an unsecured dumpster or trash can will attest. Wild populations prefer areas with trees and water nearby. But more and more they are found roaming city streets at night due to man’s generosity in providing new sources of food, water, and shelter. Beside garbage cans, raccoons are notorious for their love of sweet corn. These omnivores will also eat strawberries, tree fruits, peas, potatoes, melons, and grubs found in your lawn. They will dig holes in maturing melons and munch on ripening tree fruit. They make holes in lawns and mulch piles looking for insects to eat. Like squirrels, they also have been known to clean out bird feeders.

To discourage raccoons from visiting your yard, stow water and food supplies, such as pet bowls and bird feeders, out of reach at night. You can also deter raccoons with repellents, scare tactics, and a good fence. I use two wire electric fence which will keep deer and rodents out of the garden. Successful homemade repellents include a dusting of baby powder, cayenne pepper, or blood meal on vegetables and corn ears. In a small garden, cover individual corn ears or melons with bags taped shut. Place baffles on the trunks of fruit trees to prevent raccoons from climbing them. Prune overhanging limbs that raccoons might use to launch themselves into the fruit tree. To prevent lawn damage, control grubs and other insects. You can scare raccoons temporarily with loud, intermittent noises or lights, but the racket generated by motion-sensor noisemakers or lights may prevent you from getting much sleep at night! The best deterrent is a good fence. Raccoons are agile and smart, so build your fence well.

 

  1. A raccoon will rinse its food in water prior to eating it. When there is no water close by, a raccoon will still rub its food to remove debris.
  2. Some hypothesize that the purpose of a raccoon’s black mask is to reduce glare, helping it to see better in the dark.
  3. A group of raccoons is called a nursery.
  4. Although raccoons only live 2-3 years in the wild, a raccoon can live up to 20 years in captivity