Shape the future of SFA

By Liz Morris-Otto, SFA Board President SFA has been hard at work for months now, crafting a strategic plan to guide our work for the next few years. To guide that effort, we’d like to know who you are, where you come from, where you are headed – and how we can help you get…

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Volunteer at the Annual Conference

By Jerry Ford • Chapter & Events Coordinator The SFA Annual Conference is Saturday, February 10, 2024 in St. Joseph, and we’re looking for some volunteers. Most needed are people to help with our Conference Kids program.  This is the only volunteer position that comes with free registration for the conference, so sign up early.  Shifts are 90…

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Lunch & Learn in Alexandria to kick off 2024

Join the Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) and Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) on January 18th in Alexandria for a discussion on improving farm resiliency through alternative forages and forage management. Four area dairy farmers will be sharing strategies around forage selection and grazing management that they have seen increase the ability of their farm to weather the recent…

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With eyes on 2024, Give to the Max!

This Thursday, November 16 marks Minnesota’s ‘biggest giving holiday.’ Early givers have already rounded up a total of $10,500 for our Give to the Max campaign! TWO Generous donors — one a Minnesota-based family foundation and the other a corporate community fund —  are putting up a $20,000 match. Our lofty goal is to fully match…

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New Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP)

The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) is a new program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by the USDA in USDA’s farm lending prior to 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act provides $2.2 billion in assistance for…

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Now Hiring: Grants Manager

July 17 Update: Thank you for helping us spread the word! The application window is closed. We’re hiring! SFA is seeking a part time, remote Grants Manager residing in Minnesota. We are looking for a high-energy, proactive, and talented professional with the experience required to quickly make a positive impact on our organization. The hourly…

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MN Ag Water Quality Certified farmers are more profitable!

By Angie Walter • Agricultural Water Quality Certification Project Outreach Coordinator For the fourth year in a row, data analysis shows that farmers who are Ag Water Quality Certified are more profitable than farmers who are not certified. This data comes from the farm financials of farmers enrolled in Farm Business Management. Details on the economic studies…

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DGA Mentor Roundtable May 1

Angie Walter and the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship are hosting a free dairy roundtable in Albany, Minn. on Monday, May 1. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., aspiring and established dairy producers are invited to meet at Hillcrest Family Restaurant for lunch and discussion. The discussion will focus on how soil and plant health are related,…

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Take Time for Wellness this Season

By Dan Zimmerli, Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator My social media feeds are taken up with farmers filling up their greenhouses and getting excited for the growing season. On my farm, we’re doing the same. During this time of year it’s easy to get excited for all the things to come over the growing season:…

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