The Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church proudly announced the ordination of Rev. Thanael Certa-Werner as a Full Elder on June 8, 2025. Rev. Certa-Werner currently serves as the pastor of Burke, Herrick, and Gregory United Methodist Churches, leading the recently formed Abundance Parish in Gregory County, South Dakota.

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One of the leading reasons why shelterbelts fail is from inadequate weed and grass control. Weed and grass control are very critical from the time the trees are planted, until they are three to five years old. Weeds and grass that are not controlled compete with the trees for the moisture, nutrients and light. Even during years when there is lots of moisture the shelterbelts do best when the weeds and grass are controlled. It is best to control the weeds and grass for as many years as you can. Weed and grass control is required on all trees that are cost shared through the Farm Service Agency or the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Don’t forget to check your trees if fabric was installed on them. A slit or X is cut in the fabric to accommodate the new trees during installation.

Once your new trees are planted, there are some things that can be done to improve their chances of survival. The first thing is to pack the trees immediately after they are planted. This removes the pockets from the soil and establishes good soil/root contact.