Nutrition recommendations have a new look, but the main messages haven’t changed much. MyPlate, the new nutrition recommendation icon, shows how much of your plate you should devote to vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins. It replaces MyPyramid, which depicted the food groups as different-colored bands in a pyramid. The NDSU Extension Service can help you learn how to improve your diet and work regular physical activity into your lifestyle.

Yellowjackets have sometimes been mistakenly called bees, but they are in the wasp classification. All females are capable of stinging, which can cause pain. However, yellowjackets are important predators of pest insects.(Photo courtesy of W. Cranshaw, CSU, Bugwood.org)

Make sure the structural materials in your home are dry before you rebuild. Rebuilding too quickly after a flood can lead to mold growth and cause wood and wall coverings to deteriorate. County Extension offices have moisture meters you can borrow to check whether you've adequately dried the parts of your home that flooded.

Your garden may be extra bountiful this summer, thanks to warm temperatures and regular rainfall. If you have more fruits and veggies than you can use now, preserve some to eat this winter. But don't let your efforts become hazardous to your health. Make sure you use research-tested recipes and follow proper food preservation methods. 

More than 1,000 families are better prepared to send their kids to school for the first time with help from Gearing Up for Kindergarten, Extension's 16-week school-readiness program. Children learn skills they'll need in school, such as playing with others, taking turns, reading, math and science, as well as sensory and motor skills. Parents learn ways to help their children gain confidence and have a successful school entry.

Three key steps in recovering from a flood are evaluating your business or home's foundation and structural soundness before entering, removing water from the basement slowly and removing wet or damp material quickly because mold, which is a health hazard, can grow in one to three days. You may be able to salvage some items, but you'll need to discard others for safety reasons. 

Do you wonder about the quality of the water in your well or the water your livestock are drinking? The NDSU Extension Service is offering free water quality testing at several Research Extension Center field days this summer. You'll also be able to pick up a sterile bottle you can use to collect a water sample to send to a laboratory for a bacteria test. The lab will send you the results.

Forty-six rural North Dakota communities have participated in Horizons, an 18-month program with education, coaching and activities to broaden their leadership base and help them address issues such as poverty, economic decline and population loss. Communities' accomplishments include obtaining grants, gifts and loans; expanding tourism; increasing volunteerism; and converting closed schools to new uses.

Trees provide a multitude of benefits, such as shade, protection from the wind and providing habitat for many species of wildlife. The actual planting of a tree can be as simple or as complex as you like. Nevertheless, there are a few important tips to keep in mind. Learn more about tree planting, care, pest management and those species adapted to North Dakota conditions.

Communities throughout North Dakota have gained playgrounds,  housing, visitor centers, swimming pools, improved emergency services,  child-care and fitness facilities, economic development, and cultrual and recreational opportunities through the Rural Leadership North Dakota program. Do you want to help  your community, organization, business, farm or ranch grow? The deadline to apply for the next RLND class is May 31.