MN Tree blossoming dates

May 3, 2015 - N. Carlson

N.Carlson - April 15, 2012

Over the past 10 years or so I have been taking a photo of the first blossoming of the crab tree in our front yard.  The blossoming appears to be more temperature related than to the amount of available sunlight.  So far no pattern yet.  2012 was a very warm spring 2013 and 2014 were very cold springs.

2020                 May 9, 2020

2019                 May 13, 2019
2018                 May 12, 2018
2017                 May 5, 2017
2016                 April 29, 2016
2015                 May 3, 2015
2014                 May 23, 2014
2013                 May 20, 2013
2012                 April 15, 2012
2011                 May 18, 2011
2010                 April 28, 2010
2009                 no data
2008                 May 16, 2008
2007                 May 3, 2007
2006                 May 2, 2006
2005                 no data
2004                 no data
2003                 May 8, 2003
2002                 May 21, 2002

May 16, 2008 - N. Carlson

April 29, 2016 - N. Carlson

May 5, 2017 - N. Carlson

May 12, 2018 - N. Carlson

May 13, 2019

May 9, 2020

Solar power next to wind turbines

7,040 Panel Solar PV set up near Slayton, MN - on grid in 2013

The 2 Megawatt solar powered system is now connected to Xcel Energy's grid.  Ecos Energy is attempting to pair the solar system with a nearby wind turbine in the hopes of balancing out the electrical load.  Wind tends to blow more strongly at night than the day. 

A full article on the Solar PV is available at the Star Tribune.

The solar panels are manufactured by Slayton, Minnesota Solar Panels Website: SolarPanels-Energy.

A Minnesota 2020 article The Northern Sunshine State points out that solar panels as currently designed operate more efficiently at colder temperatures making Minnesota's solar energy resources comparable to those in southern states.

The Rural Minnesota Energy Board provides a pdf on Utility Scale Solar Energy in Minnesota comparing solar and wind energy production.

http://www.dglobe.com/event/image/id/32031/headline/Solar%20farm/

 

 Click on the link above for an article in the Worthington Daily Globe.

Is there a link between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and mycotoxin exposure?

Brewer, J.H.; Thrasher, J.D.; Straus, D.C.; Madison, R.A.; Hooper, D. Detection of Mycotoxins in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.Toxins2013 no. 4: 605-617.

The abstract and full article are available through the Toxins website.

Past exposure to a water damaged building was correlated to elevated urine concentrations of mycotoxins in the urine of 93% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients (N=104 of 112).  Mycotoxin levels were below detection limits for ochratoxin, aflatoxin, or macrocylic trichothecenes in a control population (n=55) with no history of exposure to a water damaged buildings or moldy environments.

Aspergillus ochraceous - produces ochratoxins

Aspergillus flavus produces Aflatoxins

Stachybotrys spp. can produce macrocylic trichothecenes

In the past, researchers have had difficulty establishing cause and effect with respect to airborne mycotoxin exposure and human health.  This paper shows an association that suggests the need for further study.