Long winter prompts temporary beaver season extension

Due to prolonged ice cover, the beaver trapping season in the northern third of Minnesota will be extended through Thursday, May 15.
The season was scheduled to close statewide on Wednesday, April 30, but a second consecutive winter of persistently frozen lakes and rivers in the north prompted the Department of Natural Resources to temporarily extend the 2013-14 season. Beaver trapping will close as scheduled in the southern two-thirds of the state.
Trappers who participate in the season extension will be required to take the following modifications to prevent incidental otter catch:

• Foothold traps must be set in at least 8 inches of water.
• Body-gripping traps must be completely submerged. Those with a jaw opening greater than 7 ½ inches must be set with the trigger wires moved all the way to one side of the trap. The wires must point straight down.
• Snares must be set with stops affixed to the cable to ensure that the portion of the snare that makes up the noose loop may not be less than 4 inches in diameter when fully closed.

The season will be extended north of state Highway 200, east of state Highway 73 and north of the Pine-Carlton county line. A map of the open area (the north mink/muskrat/beaver/otter zone) can be found on page 48 of the 2013 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook, which is available online www.mndr.gov/regulations/hunting.

2014 Minnesota Grown Directory loaded with local farms

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The annual Minnesota Grown Directory is now available, just in time for spring.  The directory is a statewide guide to purchasing directly from local producers.  The 2014 edition boasts a record setting 978 farms and includes the most Community Supported Agriculture farms and farmers markets.

The 2014 directory turns a new page by featuring spokeswoman and Minnesota Olympian Carrie Tollefson’s family by her side. “This is in line with our transition from showing Carrie as a ‘world-class athlete’ to a ‘world-class mom.’ Carrie’s athletic accomplishments and her genuine passion for local farms continue to make her the ideal spokeswoman for the Minnesota Grown Program,” said Minnesota Grown marketing specialist Jessica Miles. “Carrie and her family whole-heartedly believe in eating healthy, local food whenever possible.”

The Tollefsons’ also exemplify the directory’s growing number of family friendly activities, recipes and educational agriculture facts and trivia. Parents and educators can use these exciting activities as a tool to introduce and attract kids to agriculture. The directory also contains ideas for dining out or crafting a Minnesota Cooks inspired recipe in your kitchen.

You can order free, printed copies of the Minnesota Grown Directory by calling Explore Minnesota Tourism at 1-888-TOURISM.  You can also order your copy online or look up local farms at www.minnesotagrown.com. The online directory makes it easy to find farms via product, city, zip code, or the interactive map.

MnDOT Safe Routes to School grants support 138 Minnesota schools

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation today announced the recipients of $4.8 million in federal grants for Safe Routes to School. The grants will support Safe Routes to School at 138 schools in 50 communities.

“These projects will help communities increase opportunities for children to walk and bike to school,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “More students walking and biking means less traffic on the road and in front of schools, improving safety and promoting healthier kids.”

Schools received grants in two categories:

-       Planning – Funding to complete a Safe Routes to School plan to help analyze existing conditions, gather public input and identify potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions at K-8 schools. Plans will be completed by the Regional Development Commission or a planning consultant hired by MnDOT.

-       Infrastructure – Funding for improving the environment and infrastructure around the schools such as crosswalks and trails.

MnDOT announced the available grants in December 2013. It received 85 applications and funded 60 applications. The total amount requested was $11.3 million.

All Safe Routes to School grants in this solicitation are federal funds. The infrastructure grant includes a 20 percent local match. Each infrastructure grant includes a resolution of support from the local governing body to ensure community support. No local match is required for planning assistance grants.

Since 2005, MnDOT awarded nearly $15.5 million in federal funds to communities to support Safe Routes to School. The majority of funding—$13.1 million—was awarded for infrastructure projects. The remainder was allocated for non-infrastructure items and activities.

This solicitation used the remaining federal Safe Routes to School funds. Federal funding for the program is now available through the new Transportation Alternatives Program. Safe Routes to School projects occur in all 50 states.

The list of grant recipients is below. More information is available at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes.