Sheep producers need to watch for abortions, stillbirths and weak lambs during the upcoming lambing season, according to North Dakota State University Extension Service sheep specialist Reid Redden. “Numerous infectious agents are commonly found in U.S. sheep flocks, and they can cause diseases such as chlamydia, vibriosis and toxoplasmosis,” he says. Chlamydia is caused by
Take Steps To Prevent Abortions In Sheep
Prevent Ice Dams
While the chance of your roof collapsing from an ice dam is very small, ice dams still can cause damage,” says Carl Pedersen, North Dakota State University Extension Service energy educator. Homeowners have a few steps they can take to prevent ice dams. “The key is to ensure your roof is constructed properly with suffi
Take Precautions Against Insect Stings – for Sep. 23, 2010
Insect bites are nothing to trivialize. For some people, getting stung or bitten by certain insects can send them into anaphylactic shock, which is a violent reaction that can be fatal. At the first signs of stress, such as dizziness, feeling faint, drop in blood pressure, cramps, nausea, chills and fever, the person is administered
Preserve Food Safely – for Aug. 26, 2010
Your garden is probably producing way more vegetables than you can eat now, so you’ve decided to can some to use later. You’ve found lots of recipes on the web and in old cookbooks, and friends and family have offered you tons of advice on how to preserve. “The trouble is that most of those
Start Thinking About Planting Seeds
Spring seems like a long way off, but in the gardening world, it is closer than we think. Seed catalogues are out, which gives the avid gardener an itch this time of year. “Many gardeners like to get a head start by planting their own seedlings indoors,” says Sheldon Gerhardt, North Dakota State University Extension
Snowpack Inaccessible For Thirsty Cows
Recent snow and ice storms and power outages have been brutal for livestock and livestock producers. Those conditions have kept livestock from getting enough drinking water. Beef cattle, for example, need eight to 10 gallons per day. Producers might be tempted to think their cattle can survive by eating snow as a water source, but
Plants Reduce Indoor Pollution
R esearch by scientists has found that houseplants can reduce pollution levels dramatically by cleaning indoor air. T he World Health Organization reported in 2002 that harmful indoor pollutants represent a serious health problem that is responsible for some 1.6 million deaths every year. “The indoor air quality is compromised by VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
You Can Control Holiday Spending
Don’t let holiday spending overwhelm you. Prepare a holiday budget using realistic expenditures and stick to it, advises Debra Pankow, North Dakota State University Extension Service family economics specialist. Some financial planners recommend spending no more than 1.5 per cent of your annual income. For families with an annual take-home income of $50,000, that means
Autumn –A Good Time For Yardwork – for Oct. 8, 2009
Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs, plant winter-hardy bulbs, control weeds and get the garden in shape for the next growing season. Most trees and shrubs are available at retail stores in manageable containers that have the entire root system of the plant. Known as “container-grown” plants, they are placed into
Wash Hands After Handling Animals
Contact with animals poses serious health risks, especially for young children who are prone to putting their fingers into their mouths. Petting zoos and fairs have been associated with infectious disease outbreaks in humans. Those outbreaks have been caused by a number of pathogens, including E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter, cryptosporidium and coxiella burnetii. North Dakota
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