Sustainable Farming Association

From Natural Gas Fields to Pasture: Patrick Toomey Joins SFA’s Staff

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:47:13 GMT

For those of you that have not met me, my name is Patrick Toomey, the new Grazing Education Lead with SFA. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with SFA members to deliver top-of-the-line, relevant trainings to graziers across the state.

Unlike most farmers and ranchers I was not born into it, and did not even work in agriculture until my thirties. I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in Plymouth, MA. My grandfather is a big influence on my life. Even though he did not own the family farm (they were forced to sell in the 40’s), he always talked about how great living on the farm was. This was definitely the seed that sprouted my passion for family farms. I attended high school in Connecticut and after injuries derailed my hockey dreams, I decided to move out west for a change of scenery. I attended the University of Wyoming and graduated in 2011 with a degree in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management.

After graduating, I knew that I wanted to work in the ranching world, but having no contacts, experience or opportunities (and having monthly student loan payment), I decided to start my career in the natural gas fields in south-central Wyoming. The Wamsutter Basin is the bottom of a historic inland sea characterized by clayey, saline and sodic soils with occasional islands of sand dunes. These are some of the harshest soil conditions on earth, and my job was to reclaim the disturbance back into the natural state.

By working in these harsh environments I learned a lot about the interactions between soil, plants, and animals that led to successful reclamation. One site that I vividly remember was coming upon a flock of several thousand sheep in the winter that was penned in a reclaimed site that we had fenced the summer before and seeded two summers prior. Fearing having to do a total re-do on the site, we were surprised when we came back in the spring and found that site had more diverse and robust vegetation than the surrounding undisturbed sites. These little breadcrumbs were the start of my soil health journey and acted as a spring board to a life of constant questioning and learning.

After several boom and busts in the oil and gas world, I decided to make a change and began working as a technical service provider for the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC). I worked all over the country and with Tribes as diverse in their herd goals and traditions as the landscapes I worked. From the northern rolling plains of north-central Montana to the pink sand and cactus of Sandia, New Mexico, I got a crash course in not only management and outcomes in different environments, but also of how culture and personal beliefs drive decision-making. It was through ITBC that I met Mimi Hillenbrand of the 777 Bison Ranch in Hermosa, SD who introduced me to Holistic Management and Allan Savory.

Visiting the 777 and attending courses on Holistic Management was the catalyst for me into the agriculture world. Reading Holistic Management was like all the dots coming together for Charlie in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Everything that I had observed and didn’t fit the paradigms I was working in suddenly made sense.

Following ITBC I decided to enter the private consulting world under the tutelage of Roland Kroos at Crossroads Ranch Consulting. Those two years were a master class in reading the landscape, leading open discussions with various stakeholders, creating and planning educational events, and in the Holistic Management framework. I loved consulting but ultimately made the first holistic decision by walking away. With two young daughters it was just too hard to be away from home.

After making this decision my wife and I decided to move from Rapid City to Brandon, South Dakota where I was offered a position as the Rangeland Management Specialist for the NRCS out of Luverne, MN. This was an interesting step for me: I went from working with top 10-20% ranches in the country to working with people just starting out on their journeys. Being in SW MN, grazing was often looked at as an afterthought. By taking an individualized approach and focusing on farming operations as a whole, I was able to gain a foothold in an area that most would use as a stepping stone position. Grazers started specifically asking for me to help them with their projects.

However, whenever working in or for a government agency, the winds of change always blow. The uncertainty and shuffling of funds, agency goals, and personnel wore me down. When the job opportunity for this position was flown I jumped at the chance. The shutdown slowed the process down as did the uncertainty at the agency. When Jon called me and offered me the position, I knew it was the right choice to pursue. Working with farmers that want to change and need the coaching and knowledge to do it is what I am all about. I am excited to be able to facilitate educational opportunities and humbled to be a part of so many farms’ stories on how they made the switch from surviving to thriving. Thanks for having me, now let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!

You can meet Patrick at several of our field days and events this season, and contact him at patrick@sfa-mn.org or 844.922.5573 Ext. 703.

Introducing: the Kazoo Action Networking Group

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:58:43 GMT

Since most of these people are also foodies, environmentalists, and members of SFA, demand grew for non-GMO, and even certified organic, kazoos. In order to support the cacophonous demand for these premium, value-added products, SFA members have formed the the Kazoo Action Networking Group. Working alongside University researchers, there are whispers that their developments could become “the next Kernza®.”

The SFA Board of Directors is discussing the possibility of changing the organization’s mission to reflect a new direction: Making barely tolerable music, one kazoo at a time.

For those wondering, research on the impact of swamp swan farts has been paused due to cuts in grant funding, though they did get as far as discovering that the flatulence of the Cygnus buccinator sounds remarkably like a kazoo.

You can see a video of the Kazoo Action Networking Group’s (KANG) first meeting here .

(Happy April Fool’s Day.)

By Jerry Ford and Katie Feterl (but mostly Jerry)

A new SFA Networking Group is assisting researchers from CFANS and the U of M School of Music on developing sustainable practices for the cultivation and marketing of non-GMO traditional kazoos.

This effort began when an undergraduate intern was studying the effects on climate change from nesting trumpeter swan farts – commonly called “swan swamp gas.” These birds feed on calamagrostis (reed grasses), and the researcher noticed that the stalks on giant reeds were not only hollow, but had a perforation, known as a labium, a little below the ligule. The ligule is the sheath at the base of the leaf, and consists of a thin membrane. When wind enters the labium, it acts as a fipple mechanism that sets up a sympathetic vibration in the ligule membrane, and under the right conditions can produce musical pitches.

Not only does this miracle of nature mask the sound of trumpeter swan farts, but it sparked a musical revolution when immigrants from the Kainuu region of Finland found that they could harvest the labium/ligule section of the reed stalk, and after a few weeks of curing it in a dry sauna, do a bit of whittling, and have a serviceable melodic musical instrument. As the popularity of the instrument, which was at first call a Kainuuza, grew, enterprising Swedes from neighboring towns found they could fashion the Kainuuza, which in their dialect was call a Kanzuu, out of tin cans and old socks without all that mucking about in a reed marsh while smelling swan gas. Now traditional music fans and stubborn Finns have brought about a resurgence of interest in the original Kainuuza, which was translated from the Swedish into English as “kazoo” and the name stuck.

Introducing: NW Minnesota Soil & Water Quality Learning Exchange

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:30:39 GMT

By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director

Next week, SFA is launching a one-of-a-kind event in Northwest Minnesota: the NW Minnesota Soil & Water Quality Learning Exchange .

After working on some projects in Northwest Minnesota for more than three years, it has become clear that the region has a unique agricultural and ecological context that deserves its own gathering. Many soil health and regenerative agriculture events in Minnesota are held in the central or southern parts of the state, which can limit the attendance of our friends from the far north. So, in being true to our values at SFA of being nimble, innovative, and collaborative, we decided to bring the conversation northward.

Northwest Minnesota’s landscape is shaped by its more abundant crop diversity, soil types, water resource concerns, and differing opportunities than some of their southern counterparts. This learning exchange is designed to bring farmers together to share their experiences—both successes and challenges—while implementing soil health practices in this unique environment.

Participants will hear directly from farmers, connect with local conservation partners, and leave with real-world tools and practical insights to improve soil health, protect water quality, and strengthen working lands across the region.

Featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Kris Nichols

I’m especially excited that Dr. Kris Nichols will be joining us as a keynote speaker. Many longtime Midwest Soil Health Summit attendees will recognize her name from summits of years past.

Dr. Nichols is one of the world’s leading soil microbiologists and the founder of KRIS Systems (Knowledge for Regeneration and Innovation in Soils). She was the Chief Scientist at the Rodale Institute for over three years where she oversaw fifteen projects on organic agriculture. Prior to joining Rodale Institute, Nichols was a Research (Soil) Microbiologist with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in North Dakota and a Biological Laboratory Technician with ARS in Beltsville, MD. During her time with USDA, she focused on mycorrhizal fungi and the investigation of glomalin – a substance produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Her work focuses on understanding soil biology and how regenerative practices improve nutrient cycling, water efficiency, and overall farm resilience. Through her research on carbon flow from plants to microbes and nutrient and water cycling, she continues to develop practical tools farmers can use to better understand and manage their soil health.

Dr. Nichols is a native of Southwestern Minnesota, and received Bachelor of Science degrees in Plant Biology and in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s degree in Environmental Microbiology from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Maryland. In recognition of her work, Dr. Nichols has received several awards including the 2012 Conservation Research Award from the International Soil and Water Conservation Society.

In addition to Dr. Nichols’ keynote presentations, breakout sessions with SFA’s classic farmer-to-farmer learning format will feature producers and advisors from across the region sharing their experiences.

Sessions will cover topics such as:

Smart ranching just a few miles from the Canadian border
Using cover crops to help mitigate pest pressure in sugar beet production systems
How livestock integration into cropping systems creates doubles wins when commodity prices are depressed
How precision profitability mapping can help make 2026 your most profitable year yet

If soil health, water quality, and practical solutions that work in Northwest Minnesota or anywhere inspire you, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

SFA has reserved a room block at the Seven Clans Casino in Thief River Falls. Grab your ticket, book your room, and join us next week for a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and exchange ideas with farmers and conservation partners from across the region. Click here to register.

This event is made possible through the partnership of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Pennington, Cass, Beltrami, and Koochiching counties, along with support from Farmers for Soil Health – Conservation Technology Information Center, Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, Green Lands Blue Waters, and the Red River Basin Commission.

Four New Board Members Elected

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:26:00 GMT

“These new Board Directors bring deep farmer-centered experience and practical leadership that will help guide SFA’s work in the years ahead,” said Nominations Committee Chair Yvonne Baller. “We are delighted to welcome their service on our Board.”

Learn more about all of our board members on the board page here .

Mika Thuening brings a broad food-systems perspective rooted in a deep commitment to farmers and food producers. Her work spans international agricultural supply chains, sustainability innovation, and social enterprise, including roles with Fair Trade USA, FLOCERT, and as a founder of Taproot. Across her career, Mika has focused on building more transparent, resilient, and equitable agricultural systems.

Timothy Usset is a farmer focused on sustainable agriculture, farmland access, and long-term land stewardship. He and his family operate 150 acres of a sesquicentennial farm transitioning to an organic, regenerative system. Timothy also brings extensive experience in public service and leadership, currently serving on the Orono School Board, the City of Independence Planning Commission, and as State Chaplain of the Minnesota National Guard.

Melissa Driscoll will pass along her chapter delegate Director role and continue her service on the board as an at-large Director. A farmer for 15 years at Seven Songs Organic Farm and a former representative of SFA’s Cannon River Chapter, Melissa brings a strong commitment to farmer leadership, equity, and community-based agriculture across Minnesota.

Kim Melton brings hands-on experience supporting farmers in improving soil health, water quality, and farm profitability. Currently with the Red River Basin Commission, she has led conservation and grant-supported initiatives that helped more than 60 farmers implement reduced tillage and cover crops across over 10,000 acres. Her background in ranching and conservation strengthens the Board’s regional representation in northwestern Minnesota.

The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota’s (SFA) Board of Directors has elected four new at-large Directors. These four leaders hold diverse experience in farming, food systems, conservation, and public service, bringing valuable skills to strengthen our farmer-led work. With a vision of a vibrant Midwest where regenerative farms, rural communities, and the land thrive, SFA’s mission is transforming agriculture, one farm at a time.

Summit to offer connection, new ideas, and challenge

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:48:00 GMT

By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director

I was sitting at my desk on a late-August morning, working through the usual pile of emails, calls, and an ever-encroaching calendar when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen—and my heart skipped a beat. Grandin, Temple flashed across the caller ID.

As part of my charge under the 2024–2027 SFA strategic plan, I was asked to reimagine our beloved Summit and make sure it continues to lead in an increasingly crowded space of regenerative and soil health programming. That phone call was one of those moments when you realize: we’re doing exactly that.

Why am I so stoked for this year’s summit? Because the lineup —both speakers and topics—shows how we’re evolving while still setting the pace. Last year we went north and learned from our Canadian neighbors about regenerative success in their climate, eh? This year, we’re heading south and west, with speakers joining us from Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin—alongside incredible homegrown talent from right here in Minnesota. Different geographies, shared purpose: exchanging paradigm-shifting practices and principles that sustain both profitability and regenerative outcomes.

This year, we’re also deliberately broadening the scope. You told us last year that you wanted more breakout sessions and more topics—so we listened. We’ve added sessions around additional pasture-based enterprises (pastured pork, anyone?) and diverse grass-producing ecosystems like silvopasture. We’ll also tackle succession and transition planning with expert CPA and founder of Thousand Hills Cattle Company, Todd Churchill. After all, what’s the point of building a great regenerative operation if we can’t pass it on to the next caretaker?

You’ll hear from Caitlin Word, a regenerative ranching consultant from Noble Research Institute with ranching roots in New Mexico, on why regenerative grazing and profitability aren’t competing goals—but synergistic tracks. Her colleague Josh Gaskamp will dig into how strong wildlife outcomes and adaptive grazing management go hand in hand.

Keith Berns, founder and co-owner of Green Cover Seeds and a Nebraska-based pioneer in the cover cropping world, will take us underground—exploring the soil’s hidden economy and why soil health doesn’t just make sense, it makes dollars. Keith’s company is well-known for developing the SmartMix Calculator for formulating cover crop and seeding mixes, a tool used frequently by SFA’s consulting team.

We’ll also welcome back SFA’s former Soil Health Lead, Jared Luhman, sharing insights from hosting more than 250 episodes of the Ranching Returns Podcast . Jason Cavadini, a grazing specialist with University of Wisconsin Extension, will walk through grazing enterprise budgets and how to build resilient forage chains using annuals and cover crops.

And as if all that weren’t enough—that phone call with Dr. Temple Grandin became a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to welcome her to the Summit. Dr. Grandin’s contributions to livestock handling and ranching are unmatched, and her openness about her personal experience with autism has profoundly shaped how we understand working with animals—and with each other.

As much as we could keep talking about speakers and sessions, our Summit is really about you. It’s a chance to step away from the farm or ranch (don’t worry—it’ll all still be there when you get back. Trust me, it always is for me), invest in yourself, and reconnect with why you do this work. Come be inspired. Come be challenged. Come discover new ideas and connect with your regenerative community.

We designed the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit with you in mind—and we’re confident you’ll leave with some ideas to transform your operation and community. We hope you’ll join us in March.

Dr. Temple Grandin to Keynote the 2026 Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:55:00 GMT

…and we are simply over the moon about it. Dr. Grandin’s trailblazing work in the beef cattle industry is world-renowned and part and parcel of today’s agriculture. Throughout her career, Dr. Grandin has studied livestock behavior to develop facility designs, handling equipment, and standards that prioritize animal welfare which are utilized by meat processing plants and food companies across the industry.

Dr. Grandin is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, where she has taught and conducted research for over thirty years. Having dedicated her life as a scientist and author to improving livestock handling practices and advancing animal welfare, her myriad of achievements and awards are too numerous to list in full here. They include:

Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Named a “hero” in the TIME 100 2010issue of 100 most influential people
Meritorious Achievement Award from the Livestock Conservation Institute
Induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Women’s Hall of Fame, and Cowgirl Hall of Fame

In addition to her industry accolades, Dr. Grandin is a prominent figure in the autism community. She is the author of several books on visual thinking and her lived experience with autism — experiences which guided her research and informed her designs. Her life story was the subject of the 2010 HBO biopic Temple Grandin, which starred Claire Danes and won several Emmy awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie, a Golden Globe, and Peabody Award.

Dr. Grandin and other speakers including Jared Luhman and Jason Cavadini, will lead the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit on March 3 & 4, 2026 at the Willmar Conference Center (Minnesota). Registration will open mid-November, and will once again feature our popular Early Bird discount for SFA members. Stay tuned for additional announcements about the Summit schedule, speaker lineup and special features.

SFA at Farm Aid 40

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:04:00 GMT

SFA is thrilled to be part of Farm Aid’s 40th annual festival — the first one held in Minnesota!

From noon to 5 PM, you’ll find us in “The Fertile Ground” neighborhood of HOMEGROWN Village . We’re demonstrating the differences between soil samples from fields managed conventionally and regeneratively using a slake test . We’re really looking forward to chatting about the soil health principles with concertgoers and making new connections.

Fellow “villagers” include Marbleseed, Land Stewardship Project, the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, Renewing the Countryside, Minnesota Farmers Union, and so many more allies from the Midwest and across the country. We encourage you to come say hello to our staff and to enjoy everybody’s engaging exhibits and activities!

If you can’t attend, there are several ways to still enjoy the concert from wherever you are.

Welcoming Joel Barr

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 19:20:00 GMT

As an SFA consultant, Joel is a resource for expertise on market garden production and farm enterprise management systems. We interviewed him on our podcast, Dirt Rich, about how he has made his farm management more efficient and simplified systems. Click here to listen , or look up episode 77: Simplifying Farm Management wherever you get your podcasts.

You’re welcome to contact Joel with questions at joel@sfa-mn.org , or to work with him through SFA’s Farmer-to-Farmer Consulting Program. Watch for an announcement soon about his first SFA educational event, coming in early fall.

Meet Joel Barr, our new Market Garden & Farm Management Systems Consultant!

Joel owns and operates Abraham’s Table Farm in Sandstone, Minn. which produces and direct markets organic vegetables, pasture raised chicken, eggs, and beef. With over a decade of experience and multiple opportunities to start and build farms, Joel has learned what works and what doesn’t. He and his team rely on simple, lean, and agile management systems to cut waste, keep the team focused, and most importantly, grow and deliver a lot of nutrient dense food to their community.

As an aggressive learner Joel is largely self-taught and enjoys the interdisciplinary aspects of small scale farming as well as the pressure and necessity of turning abstract theory into practical and profitable practices. His degree in English and background in teaching enable him to be an effective communicator, speaker, and writer. Joel believes that small scale farming can work and is excited to help farmers establish better practices that set them up for success.

Harvest Festival celebrates with Food, Farmers, Community

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:59:00 GMT

By Julie Allen • Lake Superior Chapter Coordinator

Harvest Festival strives to be a zero-waste event, which means that trash will look differently than at other events. We require all of our food vendors to use BPI-certified compostable serviceware, which will then go to WLSSD’s organics recycling to turn into garden soil. There will be only 4 waste stations at the festival, and this is on purpose. Volunteers from Eco-Rotary and others help visitors sort their waste so that it goes into the proper bin. Last year, we had only 8 bags of landfill waste after this all-day event, and that included waste that was already in the park!

The major sponsors of the 2025 Harvest Festival are Minnesota Power and Whole Foods Co-op. For a lineup of all the vendors, exhibitors, sponsors and activities, visit sfa-mn.org/harvest-festival . You can also see the festival map on our website. Follow us on Facebook for updates.

The Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association (LSSFA) hosts events to enhance our local food system. This year’s farmer-to-farmer field days include farm tours and educational events on silvopasture, growing flowers, and more. For more information, please visit our website www.sfa-mn.org/lake-superior/ or our Facebook page @lakesuperiorsustainablefarmingassociatoin. In addition, check out our new website for recipes featuring locally-produced food: www.RootsandRecipes.org , where you can submit your own recipes, too!

The post Harvest Festival celebrates with Food, Farmers, Community appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

Celebrate the harvest season at the 31st Annual Lake Superior Harvest Festival on September 6, 2025, brought to you by the Sustainable Farming Association. From 10am-4pm at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, come and enjoy the largest farmers market in the region as well as artisan vendors, live music, educational demonstrations, and a renewable energy fair. This free family-oriented event celebrates the diverse agricultural bounty of the Lake Superior region as well as the organizations focused on sustainability working to enhance our community. Donations are welcomed at the entry to support this community festival. Parking is $10/car at Bayfront.

Harvest Festival started 31 years ago with just a Farmers Market, and this year the farmers’ tent will showcase the season’s bounty. Shoppers can come early and stock up, and then drop off heavy bags at the “Produce Parking Station” at the LSSFA Info Tent while they enjoy the festival. Harvest Festival activities include maypole dancing, petting chickens, a blacksmith, and crafting with Duluth Folk School. Food available will include ice cream, coffee, lots of baked goods, tacos, fried fish, and much more. Artists and crafters from our western Lake Superior region will be showcasing and selling their wide variety of work from stone carvings to candles to recycled wool mittens. You can also expect to see a fleet of electric vehicles on display, thanks to Minnesota Power and the other utility companies of the Arrowhead region.

We’re hiring!

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:32:00 GMT

October 15, 2025: The application period for this position has closed.

SFA is hiring! We’re looking for an experienced Grazier to join our team as Grazing Education Lead. This full-time position is funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to expand regenerative grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed. Our ideal candidate has a solid background in grazing management, excellent communication skills, and a passion for supporting farmers in their transition to regenerative practices. Read the position description here to learn more.

Apply for $100 per acre/animal unit to implement conservation practices

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 20:18:00 GMT

By Katie Feterl • Communications Director

You can apply to implement a practice on a maximum of 160 acres or animal units. There are additional payments available for producers who qualify as Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, or who operate fewer than five acres.

Click here to watch a new video that shares program details and experiences from participating farmers.

The participating counties are East Otter Tail, Fillmore, Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Root River (Houston), Stevens, and Wadena. Soil & Water Conservation District offices (SWCDs) in these counties are your local point people for this program. Their staff are working one-on-one with applicants to plan, apply, implement the practices, and complete grant reporting. Producers can apply directly via the Virginia Tech website , however they are strongly encouraged to contact their districts beforehand to discuss the program and ask for any needed assistance in completing the application.

To get started, connect with your local SWCD staff:

East Otter Tail: Mitchell Janson, mitchell.janson@wadena.mnswcd.org, (218) 346-9105

Fillmore: Riley Buley, riley.buley@fillmoreswcd.org, (507) 887-0240

Root River (Houston): Dave Walter, goosey10@hotmail.com, 507-724-5261 ext 3

Kandiyohi: Margaret Johnson, margaret.johnson@kandiyohiswcd.org, 320-403-4350

Redwood: Brian Pfarr, brian_p@redwoodcounty-mn.gov, (507) 637-2427

Renville: Pamela Wizenburg, pamelaw@renvilleswcd.org, (320) 523-1559

Stevens: Austin Norby, Austin.norby@stevensswcd.org, (320) 589-4886

Wadena: Alyson Levig, alyson.levig@wadena.mnswcd.org, (218) 632-4201

This funding is available through the Alliance to Advance Climate Smart Agriculture , a national USDA-funded pilot program led by Virginia Tech University to support the adoption of climate-smart practices.

Farmers, ranchers, and landowners operating in eligible counties are invited to apply to participate in the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture program through July 28, 2025!

This program offers selected applicants $100/acre or animal unit to implement common conservation practices:

Cover Crops
No-Till/Strip Till
Reduced Till
Conservation Crop Rotation
Feed Management
Nutrient Management

Mid-year State of the Association Report

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:11:00 GMT

By Lucinda Winter • Executive Director

Also terminated was our partnership with The Nature Conservancy as a sub-awardee on their Climate Smart Seedling Production Network (CSSPN). While The Nature Conservancy’s Minnesota Million tree planting initiative will continue, the grant supporting the creation of networks of seedling growers in Minnesota ended and we had to say good-bye to consultants Ryan Sullivan and Stefan Meyer, who were working with SFA to recruit, train and support new seedling producers. While this outcome was very disappointing, it’s my belief that the relationships SFA forged during the two years we worked on the CSSPN project will lead to future collaborations that will benefit the Association and our partners.

Amid these discouraging events, some good things happened. First, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) awarded SFA a $260,000 grant: “Expanding Regenerative Grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.” This funding will help us scale up our Farmer-to-Farmer Consulting program by covering the cost-share portion of consulting fees for farmers and ranchers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa who are seeking technical support with grazing. (Jonathan Kilpatrick did a deep dive on the NFWF grant in a recent blog, which you can read here .)

The Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) awarded SFA a $20,000 grant to support our Farmer-to-Farmer consulting program in their service area, allowing us to scale up our work with farmers in Southwest Minnesota.

And in June SFA received its largest ever unrestricted gift from a private Minnesota philanthropic foundation. This $250,000 gift is transformational, and we are just now wrapping our arms around its capacity building potential for SFA and for you, our members.

So as the second half of a turbulent 2025 begins, I’m happy to report that your Association is in solid financial health. We have nine chapters fully engaged in producing local events that build community connections and provide a framework for mutual aid, an engaged and productive board of directors, and a growing membership base.

We are focused on the future, exploring how we can creatively utilize the significant new funding we’ve received to offer you additional farmer-to-farmer support and access to financial resources. And we’re looking at ways we can help build chapter capacity. I’ll share more about both initiatives in the coming months.

As for me, I’ll be spending this coming Sunday enjoying the Minnesota River Chapter’s Sowing Seeds event at Brooke and John Knisley’s beautiful organic farm in Madelia. This mid-summer celebration of local foods and lost arts, now in its third year, is a blast –- combining a farmers and makers market, homesteading skills demos, kid’s activities and excellent food. The forecast is for a fine summer day with lots of sun. Perfection. I hope to cross paths with some of you there, or at one of our other upcoming festivals and events . As always, if you’d like to have a conversation with me about your SFA member experience, please reach out to me at lucinda@sfa-mn.org .

Those of you who were present at SFA’s February Annual Conference may recall that during my opening remarks I expressed concerns about our 2025 financial stability. The Trump administration had just “frozen” a large number of Federal grant contracts while they were under review, withholding payment for work already performed and pausing ongoing grant activities. As farmers know better than most people, uncertainty is uncomfortable. Without knowing the outcome of this unexpected announcement, all we could do was tighten our belt and plan for a worst-case scenario.

Several months later, we do know the outcome. Several Federal Climate Smart grants which supported our work were terminated by the USDA after review by the new administration. Among them was our long-time partnership with the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) which supported Angie Walter’s excellent work coaching mentor-mentee apprenticeship pairs as Minnesota Education Coordinator for the program. That work has ended, and we’re grateful that Angie has agreed to continue as a dairy consultant with SFA.

New Funding to Support Our Farmer-to-Farmer Mission

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:08:00 GMT

By Jonathan Kilpatrick, Farmer Education Director

“Almost 20 years ago, we had the opportunity to begin one-on-one coaching with individual farms,” says Kent Solberg, SFA’s Senior Technical Advisor. “This funding not only ensures that we can continue to provide individual, customized farmer support, but expand opportunities to work with additional farms and like minded organizations in Minnesota and surrounding states. SFA has long recognized and provided support for the well managed thoughtful integration of livestock as a key soil health principle, as an opportunity for both experienced and beginning farmers to improve their bottom line, and as a means of expanding regenerative agriculture across more acres.”

Second, SFA has joined a multi-state collaboration through the Green Lands Blue Waters Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group to support the project “Gaining Ground for Temporary Grazing in Minnesota,” funded by Minnesota NRCS. This initiative unites a diverse team of grazing professionals working to advance regenerative practices across the region.

Jane Jewett, Associate Director of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and the Grazing Coordinator at Green Lands Blue Waters, highlighted SFA’s long-standing role in the working group: “The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota has been a vital member of the Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group since its inception in 2011. This multi-state network of grazing education leaders has produced grazing-focused resources that serve both educators and farmers across the Upper Midwest. SFA’s farmer-led perspective has ensured that our materials consistently hit the triple mark: grounded in science, visually engaging, and delivering compelling messages.” Jewett, a farmer herself, is also a longtime member of SFA.

Through this project, I will lead the development of two practical handbooks designed to help agency staff and conservation professionals organize effective soil health field demonstrations. Additionally, sharing insights and fostering discussion on regenerative grazing principles and practices at conferences and workshops around the state will be part of my work with this project. This grant will also contribute support to the continued growth of the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit.

Together, these new funding opportunities mark a significant step forward in expanding access to practical, farmer-led grazing support and advancing regenerative agriculture across the Upper Midwest. Is it a coincidence—or is the time truly right to scale up regenerative grazing across Minnesota and beyond?

With growing uncertainty around federal programs and agency involvement, it feels as if the weighty responsibility for building resilient food and farming systems may increasingly be falling to farmers, ranchers, and organizations like SFA. Fortunately, grazing livestock offers practical answers to many of the most pressing questions we face today—questions about rural viability, economic opportunity for small and mid-sized farms, nutrient-dense food, and environmental stewardship.

“There is a long history of research showing the value of forages and grazing in agricultural systems,” Jewett notes. “Recent modeling highlights just how beneficial it can be to have livestock and grazing components on farms. Farms gain from improved soil health and multiple income streams. Positive environmental effects even outpace the direct farm benefits: reduced water runoff, less silting of streams and rivers, and lower phosphorus and nitrate loads in water. As water quality concerns become more acute, this is a great time to be promoting grazing models with potential for wider adoption. Temporary grazing options can weave into farmers’ existing systems and provide an easier on-ramp to grazing than some models of all-forage operations.”

Embracing perennial systems and regenerative grazing isn’t just a trend—it’s a hopeful path forward. We’ve all witnessed the consequences of a degraded agricultural system: dust storms blanketing highways causing multi-car pile-ups, gullies draining precious topsoil into waterways, and declining food nutrition under the weight of corporate consolidation.

Regenerative grazing offers practical solutions to many of the pressing challenges we face today. By increasing perennial cover on the landscape and encouraging farm diversification, we can revitalize rural economies, strengthen farm profitability, and safeguard our soil and water. With the right support, regenerative grazing becomes a powerful tool to build a more resilient, sustainable food system—for today and for future generations.

Will you join us ?

Could you use a knowledgeable mentor or a fresh set of eyes on your operation? SFA’s Farmer-to-Farmer Consulting Program connects you with experienced farmers who can offer personalized support, insight, and encouragement as you pursue regenerative agriculture.

Whether you’re just getting started, have years of experience, or fall somewhere in between, our consultants can help you identify next steps, explore new opportunities, and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Join us and take the next step in building a resilient, regenerative farm.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2004.25.085287 “Expanding Regenerative Grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.”

SFA is excited to announce two new grant awards that will significantly strengthen our work of transforming agriculture, farmer-to-farmer consulting, and providing adaptive grazing support across the Upper Midwest.

First, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded SFA a $260,000 grant: “Expanding Regenerative Grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.” This funding will help us scale up our Farmer-to-Farmer Consulting program by covering the cost-share portion of consulting fees for farmers and ranchers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa who are seeking technical support with grazing. In addition to direct support for farmers, this grant will allow us to produce more grazing-focused media , including case studies, podcast episodes, and educational resources. It will also provide support to our Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit , helping us expand the impact of this newly rebranded event.

Kent Solberg in his element, an on-farm consult.

Jane Jewett at SFA’s 2024 Annual Conference.

Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers

Mon, 12 May 2025 17:08:00 GMT

As we look at the weather forecast and study the drought monitor, it appears that we are in for another dry spring and summer in the upper Midwest. According to the drought monitor, about 75% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions and it’s only the beginning of May.

In a timely webinar on May 19 from 7:00-8:30 PM , SFA’s Jonathan Kilpatrick and Kent Solberg will share practical, field-tested strategies for navigating drought with confidence. This webinar focuses on real-world tools, grazing management adjustments, and resource planning to help you stay productive through dry spells. Topics will include stretching forage, minimizing losses, adjusting grazing rotations, de-stocking decisions, and long-term planning for resilience.

Whether you’re in an area that is already experiencing droughty conditions or you just want to be prepared, this webinar will offer actionable insights to support your operation through the coming challenging conditions.

Click here to register for the webinar . It is free to attend, and advance registration is required. You will receive the link to the Zoom meeting when you register.

Jonathan Kilpatrick is the Farmer Education Director at the Sustainable Farming Association and a grazier based in west-central Minnesota. He works directly with producers across the region to build resilient grazing systems.

Kent Solberg is an experienced livestock producer and grazing consultant who serves as SFA’s Senior Technical Advisor. His decades of experience in regenerative grazing systems provide valuable perspective on adapting to environmental stressors like drought.

Kent Solberg shared eight tips for managing pasture and livestock during drought in this recent blog post .

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2004.25.085287 “Expanding Regenerative Grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.”

Preparing for Drought in the Pasture

Wed, 07 May 2025 21:17:00 GMT

By Kent Solberg • Senior Technical Advisor

1) Delay grazing until your dominant cool season grasses are at least 10-12″ tall and have three full leaves to help shade the ground, minimizing evaporative loss. Bare soil temperatures can exceed 130°F on 85-90°F days allowing for 100% loss of soil moisture to evaporation. Soil temperatures in grass shade can be 15-35 degrees cooler. Temperatures greater than 130°F begin to kill soil microbiology. Given the current conditions, be more concerned about protecting soil moisture vs. losing sleep over cool season grasses forming a seed head.

2) Take no more than 20-30% of the standing forage biomass to protect overhead cover/shade.

3) Consider part-time grazing, limiting livestock access to three hours per day during midday or afternoon on small paddocks to take advantage of higher Brix concentration. Do not graze the same paddock two days in a row. Limit livestock utilization to <35%. Plan for extended rest after this grazing event. Bale graze or unroll hay on a site that could use extra fertility the remaining 21 hours. Confine animals to this “opportunity paddock” to minimize damage to the larger pasture. Hay is relatively inexpensive right now, so it’s a good “insurance policy” to grab some now and feed longer to let pastures get more mature.

4) Reduce the number of mouths to feed. If you don’t have a cull list, build one NOW. Cattle prices remain at all time highs. Better to sell animals that are not fully meeting your expectations sooner rather than later during good market prices than waiting and hoping for rain that may not come. We don’t know how long these high cattle prices will hold. If you direct market, work to move up butcher dates. Income from marketed animals can be leveraged into additional hay or feed to stretch pastures, and simply having less mouths to feed will also help. Keeping the best of the best of your herd or flock will be the foundation of stronger genetics in the future.

5) Identify and secure reserve pasture acreage in your area. This may or may not be possible nearby. It may require transporting animals at some point this season, but if you are resistant to culling you will likely need additional acres to support your herd or flock this year.

6) Plan for an extended forage recovery period. The amount of precipitation we receive is one of the greatest factors determining how quickly forages recover. If we don’t get adequate rains soon, it will take that much longer for forages to recover.

7) DO NOT throw the gates open to let the animals “fend for themselves”.

8) Hope is not a plan. If you don’t have a drought plan now, this needs to be your top priority. Waiting can be extremely costly and you may pay the price for years to come.

If you have questions, please contact me at kent@sfa-mn.org or Jonathan at jonathan@sfa-mn.org.

Even with pastures greening up fast, 2025 is shaping up to be another drought year. Much of Minnesota (>74%) is still rated as Abnormally Dry or Moderate Drought according to the US Drought Monitor . Most of Minnesota was dry last fall and the snowpack for much of the state was below average. Pasture grasses require adequate moisture in the fall to build energy reserves and root mass for the next spring. This is the 5th consecutive year of moderate or more severe drought for portions of north central and south west Minnesota; thus we have not recovered from previous drought in some areas.

The majority of cool season grass (our dominant forages) growth for the year occurs during May and June. The National Weather Service forecast for the next 10 days shows zero chance of rain and temperatures in the high 80’s and even 90’s in some areas for a number of those days. If you graze livestock, you should already be preparing for reduced forage resources this year. The following tips can help stretch and protect forage and soil resources. We MUST keep the ground covered to stretch the soil moisture you currently have and to protect soil biology:

Want to learn more about navigating drought?

Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers Webinar

May 19, 7:00-8:30 PM

Click here to learn more and register.

Five Summer Festivals

Wed, 07 May 2025 20:49:00 GMT

By Jerry Ford • Chapter & Events Coordinator

Five SFA chapters host a local foods-centered festival each year, and they are all busily preparing for their 2025 events. Learn more about each one at www.sfa-mn.org/festivals . Here are a few ways you can get involved:

ADMISSIONS : Tickets are on sale or will be soon.

BE A VENDOR : All five festivals have vendor space available for local farmers, makers, food purveyors and artisans.

VOLUNTEER : Volunteering to help at these festivals can be fun and rewarding.

Sowing Seeds

Sunday, July 13, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Alternative Roots Farm, Madelia MN

A fun and memorable afternoon that is all about celebrating local foods and rediscovering traditional self-sufficiency skills. Hosted by the Minnesota River Chapter of SFA. Click here to learn more .

Saturday, September 20, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Burlington Northern Park, Wadena MN

Minnesota Garlic Festival

Saturday, August 9, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

McLeod County Fairgrounds, Hutchinson MN

Fun-filled, family-friendly and fragrant, featuring fantastic foods, celebrity chefs, marvelous music, area artisans, goofy games and lots of garlic – all in support of a healthy environment and vital rural communities. Hosted by the Crow River Chapter of SFA. Click here to learn more.

Lake Superior Harvest Festival

A family-oriented event featuring a huge farmers market, live music all day, expanded Energy Fair experience, nonprofit exhibitors tent, educational demonstrations and much more. Hosted by the Lake Superior Chapter of SFA. Click here to learn more .

Saturday, September 6, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth MN

Deep Roots Festival

Saturday, September 13, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

North Circle Seeds, Vergas MN

A community celebration that increases our connection to local foods and the farmers and growers who make them in the Lake Agassiz Region. Hosted by the Lake Agassiz Chapter of SFA. Click here to learn more.

Saturday, September 20, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Burlington Northern Park, Wadena MN

Minnesota Salsa Fest

All ages enjoy an eclectic mix of original and traditional music from regional artists intermixed with an abundance of artisans and farmers selling their wares and produce. Hosted by the Central Chapter of SFA. Click here to learn more.

Farm Day Growers & Makers Markets

Wed, 07 May 2025 19:54:00 GMT

This summer, SFA and Lift Bridge Brewing Company are partnering to host a series of monthly local Growers & Makers markets! Every third Saturday from June through September, we will be showcasing the best in local produce, meat, cheese, pickled veggies, and hot sauce, as well as amazing talented artists, craftspeople, and vendors.

Market Dates: June 21, July 19, August 16, & September 20

Time: 11 AM – 3 PM

Featured Beer: Farm Day Golden Ale
$1 from every Pint, $0.50 from every Can & $2 from every Crowler sold of Farm Day during the event will be donated to SFA.

Come shop, grab some grub from the food truck, enjoy some beverages, and say hello at the SFA table!

Click here to join the Facebook event.

Interested in being a vendor?

We’d love to fill the market up with as many SFA members as we can (although membership is not required). The vendor fee is $100 for all four markets, or $30 a la cart for each date. This is an outdoor market, rain or shine! You supply your own tent, chair, and tables.

If you want to sign up as a vendor, please contact Events@LiftBridgeBrewery.com with the following details:

What you sell.
Would you like to attend all (4) dates for $100?
If a la carte dates work better for you, please include which date(s) you wish to attend.
Your social links (Website, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)

Learn how to raise your own meat chickens this summer!

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:27:00 GMT

This webinar is part of our 2025 Homesteading Series. More to come! All events will be posted to the Minnesota River Chapter’s webpage . As a follow-up to this event, we plan to do a Hands-On ‘How to Process your Meat Chickens’ Workshop mid-Summer in South Central MN… Stay Tuned!

Registration is required to receive Zoom meeting link. It is free to participate. Click here to register .

You’ve probably heard that chickens are the gateway into Homesteading life. There’s a reason! Raising your own chicken meat and eggs requires fairly minimal inputs and infrastructure to begin on your own. With egg and meat prices on the rise, this summer sounds like a great time to begin raising your own!

We’ll talk specifically about:

Ideal breeds to raise for meat – different characteristics of each
Where to get chicks – many places are sold out or not accepting new orders
Raising chicks in the brooder – ideal temperatures, body language to be attentive to, starter feed, why protein content matters
Determining when chicks are ready to transfer to outdoor conditions – using feathers as an indicator, growing ration
Differing types of Outdoor Raising Methods – tractors, mobile coops, electric netting
Predators to be aware of
The end – how to know your birds are ready for processing

About the Presenter Jonathan Kilpatrick has been raising chickens since age 10, developing hands-on expertise in brooding, raising, processing, and marketing poultry. One of the stops in his agriculture education was an internship and apprenticeship at Polyface Farms, where he gained extensive experience with commercial scale pastured production of broilers, layers, and turkeys. With over 20 years of experience, Jonathan combines practical knowledge with real-world insights to help others succeed in poultry production. His experience spans every stage of the process, from chick to market, offering valuable guidance to farmers at any level. Jonathan and his family raise pastured broilers on their farm in Alexandria, MN, and plan to make that one of their centerpiece enterprises.

Info: Mary Fischer, mary@sfa-mn.org

Expanding our perspectives, addressing pressing issues at the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 01:17:00 GMT

By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director

It’s hard to believe that in just two weeks, we’ll be right in the middle of the inaugural Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit ! Still on the fence (no pun intended) about attending? Let me give you a few reasons—beyond our all-star lineup of speakers—why you should reconsider.

Beyond the session titles

Maybe you’ve skimmed the session list and felt like none of the topics directly apply to you. But here’s the thing: one of my roles in putting this summit together is working closely with our speakers to shape their presentations. And I can tell you firsthand, it’s impossible to capture everything they’ll bring to the table in just the title and description.

Just yesterday, I was on the phone with one of our speakers. As he gave me an overview of his presentation, it was clear he would be tying together some of the most pressing issues for farmers today. He practically read my mind when I first asked him to speak!

Click here to register.

Learning from those in the trenches

Research shows that farmers and ranchers learn best from other farmers and ranchers — SFA’s bread and butter. Every speaker and panelist at this summit works the land themselves. This isn’t a conference full of theory. It’s a place to hear real, practical ideas from people who understand the challenges firsthand. And when they leave the summit, they will put their boots back on (just like you will) and go back to their profession of farming and ranching.

We intentionally mix local voices with nationally recognized speakers because bringing in ideas from different regions and climates broadens our perspectives. It’s easy to get stuck in the same cycle of ideas, but when we challenge our paradigms, we discover new opportunities that might just change the way we farm.

Making it more accessible

Worried about the cost to attend? We get it. That’s why we worked hard to shave costs where we could. Thanks to the generous support of our Presenting Sponsor, the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association (and all our sponsors), we were able to cut ticket prices by about 10% from last year. Plus, we’ve introduced a special student rate to encourage younger generations to attend.

Sidenote: If you’re reading this and would like to contribute to a scholarship fund for next year’s summit targeted at young/beginning/emerging farmers, please get in touch with me .

Highlights from local speakers

Come to Willmar prepared to ask questions, take notes, and connect with the grazing community before the season gets busy for all of us! This is going to be an incredible event, and I can’t wait to see you there! I’ll leave you with some local speaker highlights:

Anneliese Walker – A livestock producer, educator, and SFA member, Anneliese also works for Maia Grazing, helping ranchers build more profitable operations with advanced grazing planning software. Her breakout session will connect the dots between stocking rates, grass inventory, and business finances.

Jeff Duchene – As Minnesota’s NRCS State Grazing Specialist, Jeff will provide an overview of infrastructure and technical assistance programs available to producers. Attendees can also check out NRCS’s grazing equipment and demonstration trailer, packed with fencing, watering systems, and other essential tools.

Margaret Chamas – As Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Livestock Viability Manager, Margaret will dive into the world of virtual fence technology, sharing her experience and where and when it makes sense for producers. She’ll also lead a breakout session for those who are interested in getting started with small ruminants and the opportunities and challenges of raising sheep and goats.

Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association Panel – A dedicated session on grazing infrastructure for multiple livestock species featuring MN farmers and ranchers with decades of insights on fencing, water systems, and more.

Click here to register.

A discussion table with Grant & Dawn Breitkreutz at the 2024 Summit in Mankato

Member Spotlight: Caroline Hegstrom & Growing Organic Farming

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:21:00 GMT

By Katie Feterl • Communications Director

Like all SFA farmers, Caroline Hegstrom wears many hats. She is a very active member of our Association Board , serving both as the delegate for the Lake Superior Chapter and the Board secretary. Out in the field, she runs The Boreal Farm in Duluth (organic vegetable and flower CSAs; farmstand) as well as Taiga Farm & Seed , which specializes in seeds for us northern growers in Zones 3 and 4 .

Caroline has only ever been an organic farmer — she started preparing to be certified organic in 2014. “When we opened our doors [in 2017], we were certified organic from the very beginning,” she says. Today Caroline is a new member of the Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force and a farmer mentor in the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) . I sat down with her at the end of 2024 to learn more about these roles and the opportunities they present to our members.

Organic Advisory Task Force

According to Minnesota statute 31.94 c , the Organic Advisory Task Force (OATF) is responsible for advising the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner and the University of Minnesota on policies and programs that impact organic agriculture. Caroline says that this includes making recommendations on organic rulings for the Minnesota legislature, as well as recommendations on the task force itself to make sure that it reflects the state’s stakeholders in the organic sector. OATF also assists in producing the annual Minnesota Organic Conference.

Current OATF representatives include organic handlers, processors, certifiers, retailers, farmers, consumers and others. Representatives from University of Minnesota faculty and Extension also sit on the advisory board and in part act as a conduit between the task force and the university to encourage organic information being incorporated into curriculum. Caroline is proud to provide representation to Minnesota’s CSA farmers in the task force.

During the first OATF meeting Caroline attended, she said that one of the largest discussions the group had “was about farms claiming organic that aren’t organic, or saying that they use organic practices when there’s a lot more than just not doing herbicide and pesticide in organic farming…this is a real concern or issue that consumers don’t really understand what organic means.” They also considered questions around “regenerative” vs. “organic.” Are they the same? Does one supersede the other? How do language and practices play a role in labeling? The task force is responsive to ongoing developments and even cultural or consumer changes in agriculture. Caroline takes her role on advisory body very seriously.

What does Caroline most want organic farmers to know about the OATF? “I am their representative. They are welcome to come to me with their concerns, their issues, their feedback, their questions, and I will do my best to both represent them and get them connected to where they need to be to get their answers.” Caroline can be reached at theborealfarm@gmail.com .

Transition to Organic Partnership

The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) pairs experienced mentors with mentees in order to help farmers through the years of transition. It is facilitated by the University of Minnesota and funded by the USDA.

The length of participation in the program will depend in part on farming experience and documentation skills, but a farmer could be a mentee for up to three years: first preparing for certification, then becoming certified, and potentially continuing work to implement any further changes a certifier might require. Mentees receive mentoring, technical assistance, and a generous education stipend —all free of cost.

Caroline recently joined the program as a mentor, and as you might guess, her forte is specialty crops. Part of her motivation for being a TOPP mentor is to cultivate new organic growers in her community. At least as of the time of our conversation in December 2024, Caroline is the only organic grower in the Arrowhead region. She says there’s a lot of opportunity in making the transition.

“Those who are in northeast Minnesota who have ever contemplated being organic, this is the time. I’m right here, I’m available to them, it’s easy for me to get to their farm, and we’re working with the same soils.”

Other mentors are available to work with farmers in other parts of the state. If you are interested in the program, you can check out the program website or contact Caroline Hegstrom at theborealfarm@gmail.com .

New Member Discount with Red Wing Shoes

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:13:00 GMT

We’re excited to announce another great benefit to SFA membership, a 10% discount on Red Wing Shoes! This member-exclusive discount will save SFA members 10% on all IN STORE purchases of regularly priced Red Wing Brand footwear. When you visit a Red Wing retailer, you’ll be measured for an accurate fit to ensure maximum comfort and all Red Wing footwear owners receive free conditioning and laces. We’re excited to partner with this producer of quality Minnesota-made footwear!

You’ll need to provide proof of SFA membership to receive the discount so make sure to have your membership confirmation email or portal page with your membership term handy. If you can’t find your confirmation email, need a new one, or have any other questions on accessing this benefit you can email our Membership Manager Suzanne and she’ll help you out. Find your nearest Red Wing retailer here .

New year, new dues, and a new member benefit!

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:42:00 GMT

New Membership Benefit

Starting January 2025, SFA members receive a 15% discount code from Powerflex Rotational Grazing Supply ! We’re excited about this new partnership, it’s a natural fit for our network. Save money on your fencing supplies with this annual, non-transferable discount.

Don’t forget, Members also receive a 15% discount from North Circle Seeds , a Minnesota-based seed company selling diverse, culturally appropriate, certified organic Open Pollinated and Heirloom seeds.

Redeem your discount by using an SFA code at online checkout. Both the Powerflex and North Circle Seeds codes are provided in your membership payment confirmation emails going forward and on the “SFA Members-Only Page” when you log in to your SFA account .

Membership Structure and Dues

SFA is introducing new membership levels and dues at the end of January. This new structure was approved by our Board of Directors at their November 2024 meeting. Our dues have not changed since 2017, and the time has come for us to make adjustments to better fund our Chapters and Association support services.

The new membership levels and their corresponding dues are listed below and will apply to all new and renewing memberships beginning January 31, 2025. If you are already a member, you will not experience the change in dues until your current membership term ends.

If you’re not a member yet or have a lapsed membership, join before January 31 to lock in a year of membership at our current rates.

For current members, the new membership level options mean you will have to manually renew at the end of your membership term and pick a new level. After you choose a new level, you’ll be able to re-sign up for automatic renewal. We’ll send you reminder emails when your membership term is coming to an end.

Implementing these organization-wide changes – and ensuring there are no hiccups in your membership experience – is a new venture for our team. We’ve tried to anticipate and mitigate challenges/errors that a new structure may create in our database and email system, but if you notice that something slips through the cracks don’t panic! We will be happy to troubleshoot and make sure your membership is squared away.

Stay tuned for more email communications in the coming weeks with further details. And if you have additional questions, you can always email me at suzanne@sfa-mn.org .

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be charged more on January 31, 2025 if my membership is active? No. The new dues amounts will only apply when you join or renew your membership on January 31, 2025 or after.

Can I renew my membership early and get one more year of the current dues? You sure can! You can always renew early. Renewal always extends your membership a full year out from your membership’s expiration date, rather than the date of payment.

What if I have my membership set up to auto-renew? Thank you, we love auto-renew! It saves staff time and resources, and we hope it’s more convenient for you too.

After we sunset the old membership levels on January 30, 2025, memberships will no longer auto-renew for those levels. If you have auto-renew enabled for a membership level that won’t exist after January 30, 2025, you will need to select a new membership level and enable auto-renew again. You can select a new membership level beginning January 31, 2025. It is also perfectly fine to wait until your membership expires (or anywhere in between) — whatever works best for you.

How much of my dues support my local chapter? Along with the increase in member dues comes an increase in chapter support. If you are a member of a chapter, 75% of your dues will go to your chapter. This is up from a flat rate of $10 per membership.

By Suzanne Miller-McFeeley • Development & Membership Manager

Happy New Year from SFA! This year marks the 35th anniversary of SFA’s founding, a milestone truly worth celebrating. Our Association staff and Chapter leaders are hard at work planning a 2025 full of educational events and opportunities to connect and learn from each other. Check out our event schedule here! We are also launching a new membership benefit and changes to our membership structure and dues.

If you haven’t met Suzanne Miller-McFeeley yet, allow me to introduce her!
Suzanne joined our team of consultants in 2023 and was recently named our Development & Membership Manager. She is now our go-to person for all things membership, and has hit the ground running in implementing our new board-driven membership dues structure. A South Dakota farm kid herself, she truly enjoys connecting with SFA-ers and looks forward to building up our membership experience. If you’re at the Annual Conference February 8, be sure to say hello!
-Katie Feterl, Communications Director

New Membership Levels:

Beginning: $30 (previously ‘Pay-What-You-Can’)
Individuals who are current students, beginning farmers, and others on fixed or limited incomes are welcome to join.

Individual: $60 (previously $40)
For individual farmers and community members who support sustainable farming.

Household: $90 (previously $50)
Extend the benefits & discounts included with your SFA membership to the other members of your household [may specify up to 4 members to include with membership].

Business/Organizations: $240 (renamed and previously $150)
For agriculture professionals, organizations, conservation groups, and government agencies, [may specify up to 5 employees to include with membership].

Transforming: $500 (new member level)
Membership in support of SFA’s Mission [may specify up to 5 individuals to include with membership]

History

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:08:00 GMT

What follows is a timeline of highlights of SFA’s history. The examples and stories are not meant to be events or experiences that have been judged more important than others; rather, to give readers an example of the breadth of SFA’s reach and experience in the Minnesota farm community.

The history of the Sustainable Farming Association starts with the Land Stewardship Project. In 1987, LSP launched a Stewardship Farming Program comprised of 25 farm families who were interested in sharing and learning sustainable farming techniques. The farmers in this group also met with researchers from across the state to develop research plans and data regarding sustainable farming practices. This group of family farmers became well-known, and the benefits they were reaping from this farmer-to-farmer network became apparent to other farmers. “A New Dawn” states that “It became clear there was a need for forming some sort of permanent venue that would bring people together in a farmer-to-farmer information sharing type situation.” In the winter of 1988, Tammy Keith-Wellstone was hired to begin organizing a farmer-to-farmer network.

A steering committee for this new network had its first meeting on March 23, 1988. They settled on the name the Sustainable Farming Association of Southeast Minnesota. Their goals were to publish an area newsletter highlighting local sustainable farming, sponsor summer farm tours in individual counties, and hold an annual winter meeting and workshop, among other things. They began with 30 dues-paying members.

In 1988, the second SFA chapter, Western, was created with 41 dues-paying members. The following year, SFA’s Articles of Incorporation were submitted to the Minnesota Secretary of State, and in March 1990 the bylaws were adopted – SFA was “officially” born as a distinct organization. By 1992 there were four chapters: Western, South Central, Central, and Cannon River.

By 1991, SFA began to move toward becoming a statewide organization. A teleconference with representatives from six chapters convened on Aug. 29, 1991. Shortly thereafter, a chapter handbook was developed to assist farmers in creating their own chapters of SFA, and chapter coordinators began meeting on a quarterly basis.

Individual chapter control was a key component, and “… that structure was no accident,” Ralph Lentz, one of SFA’s founders, said at the time. “The organization’s ability to make inroads into university, government and local communities during the past decade is a significant achievement. And it’s been done through an organizational structure that allows individual chapters to remain as independent as possible from the statewide umbrella.” Right from the get-go, SFA was designed to give each chapter the freedom to make their own decisions and create their own identity.

March of 1992 saw the first SFA annual meeting with over 100 people in attendance. Each chapter elected two people to serve on the statewide board. This would not change until 2007 when the bylaws were amended to elect only one member from each chapter. In addition, the bylaws would allow for no more than four at-large members with the goal of recruiting people with expertise and knowledge in financial, legal, or marketing areas to increase organizational capacity and fundraising abilities.

By the early 90s, LSP continued to work with SFA chapters, though the relationship was more formalized through the use of contracts between the organizations. LSP staff worked on chapter boards, handled grant writing and administration, fostered planning processes, developed promotional materials, and handled many of the nitty-gritty details that come with community organizing.

A New Dawn states, “As LSP began to wrestle with the policies of government programs and private corporations, the organization inevitably became controversial, making some people uneasy.” By 1995, LSP and SFA were struggling with indistinct roles and responsibilities and a general confusion by the public of the difference between the two organizations.

As Mary Ellen Frame wrote in the Spring 1995 CornerPost: “SFA has so far most definitely steered clear of taking a political position. What we are about is sharing of information, ideas and methods. We feel that taking a definite stand on political questions could interfere with our ability to attract a wide spectrum of farmers. My understanding is that LSP, having launched us like a good parent, has worked itself out of a job, as far as SFA is concerned.”

According to A New Dawn, “The work of LSP was still ethics, stewardship talk, and policy work. But a sharing network was needed that transcended political boundaries.”

In August 1989, the first SFA newsletter, the Network News, was published. The publication known as the CornerPost was the newsletter distributed by the Southeast Chapter, and by August 1992 there were various editions of the CornerPost being published by individual chapters. On October 21, 1992 the first statewide CornerPost was mailed.

The first CornerPost editions included then, as they do now, a wealth of information about upcoming SFA events, community events, and educational opportunities. Issues dating to 2005 are available on the SFA website.

That first issue was dedicated to the late Gerold Redig. Throughout the issues of CornerPost, there are many articles in memory of those farmers who have been our mentors and friends that we have lost over the years. Going through the old editions while researching this article, I find myself above all thankful for the chance to get to know these folks, even if it is just through the pages of a newsletter. I was consistently touched by their dedication to the next generation of farmers by caring for their land and generously sharing their knowledge.

As Mary Jo Forbord said in a 2008 issue of CornerPost, “Let this be the season when educating and mentoring young people is the crop that you add to the diversity you already sow. It’s a crop that just might reap rewards beyond what you could imagine.” I smile to think of the conversations we would have with these people now, and how we could walk with them through their fields and ours to see how much has changed for the better.

The Lake Superior Chapter (formerly known as the Northwest Chapter until 2006, when the name was changed to reflect the many producers and consumers from Wisconsin) launched its premiere event in 1994, the Harvest Festival. For over two decades, the Harvest Festival has served to connect Duluth producers and consumers. Each year at the Bayfront Festival Park in downtown Duluth, the festival features live music, education exhibits, family activities, and, of course, food. The festival and its vendors are all locally sourced and grown. In 2014, the festival partnered with the Twins Port Bridge Festival for an even grander event that drew in upwards of 5,000 people, a new record!

The Harvest Festival was just the start of great things for the LSSFA chapter as soon to follow was “Farmers Take the Stage,” a family oriented evening of music, storytelling, contests, and overall entertainment showcasing the many hidden talents of farmers usually kept between themselves and their livestock. As a spin-off, “Farmers Take the Stove” started in 2004, a fundraising dinner grown and cooked by chapter members. “Farmers Take the Stove” provides an opportunity for community members to truly taste how darn good local, seasonal produce can taste, particularly when it is cooked by our neighbors. In 2005, LSSFA launched yet another successful program, the Urban Farm Tour, which demonstrates the opportunities for farmers at any scale to grow food whether they are backyard chicken coops, community gardens, or miniature orchards.

As if that weren’t enough to keep LSSFA busy, they also work in partnership with LSP to facilitate the Lake Superior Farm Beginnings program. Long time organizer Cree Bradley explained in a 2008 issue of the CornerPost, “The LS Farm Beginnings program is a farmer-taught educational training and support program designed to help people evaluate and plan their farm enterprises. Students of farm beginnings are involved in hands-on learning focused on practical skills in sessions taught by successful farmers.”

SFA has taken under its wing a similar program: the Sustainable Food Production (SFP) program. SFP was initially a one-year diploma program through M State Fergus Falls but was tragically discontinued after three short years. Thankfully, SFA took the program under its umbrella in 2013, and the program offers often sold-out short courses on topics like Deep Winter Greenhouses and small ruminant husbandry as well as an intensive Farm Skills 101 semesters.

The Minnesota Dairy initiative was launched in 1998 under long-time SFAer Jeremy Lanctot, with the goal of assisting organic and grass-based dairy farmers in making well-informed decisions to enhance their farm’s profit, quality of life, and benefit to the environment. SFA Livestock & Grazing Coordinator Kent Solberg continues to work with MDI as a regional coordinator, working with producers to answer specific operational questions and serve as a resource to other coordinators. SFA’s role in MDI focuses on providing resources and information to start, transition to, or improve any aspect of grass-based and organic cow, goat, and sheep dairies.

The first official GrazeFest was held August 13, 2005, at Mary Jo and Luverne Forbord’s Prairie Horizons Farm. It should be mentioned that while 2005 was the first official GrazeFest, workshops of the same ilk had been held since SFA’s birth. GrazeFest was “… designed to help educate farmers and consumers about the benefits of grass-based production practices” (CornerPost 2008). Over the last ten years, SFA’s GrazeFest has evolved into a series of events that bring together conservationists and consumers for learning and ideas exchange through workshops, field days, bus tours, and demonstrations, all with the goal of equipping graziers with the foundations they need to provide the nutritional and environmental benefits of pasture-raised foods.

GrazeFest began as a two-day workshop hosted by three families but has since expanded to be an on-going series that includes topics such as farm profitability, stockpiled forages, outwintering, and soil fertility.

A highlight each year is SFA’s annual appearance at the Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis, where the urban community gets a chance to meet farmers raising pastured livestock. They are able to learn directly from the farmer what the benefits of these grass-raised products are. Visitors also enjoy delectable samples prepared by Mary Jane Miller and even had the chance to rub elbows with the likes of then- Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak, who stopped by for a visit in 2009.

In June of 2012, SFA received a grant from the Pasture Project at the Wallace Center to continue the development of GrazeFest. Ever striving to embrace the most up-and-coming practices in rotational and management intensive grazing, SFA continues to expand its related programs. In 2012, SFA co-hosted a workshop specifically for veterans in Minnesota that featured the use of draft animals in a profitable farm operation. 2014 saw the first-ever Midwest Soil Health Summit, a two-day cutting-edge soil health conference that featured renowned soil health experts Gabe Brown and Richard Bieber. Over the years, SFA events have brought some incredible cattle, grazing and soil health speakers to Minnesota including Greg Judy, Joel Salatin, Allan Nation, Jim Gerrish and Gearld Fry.

In 2005 SFA began presenting the Farmer Emeritus Award, which “is not about what a farmer did last year, today, or what he says he’ll do tomorrow. Instead it’s about a lifetime of learning, patience, commitment, stewardship, and passion for the land and farming.” (CornerPost) “Emeritus” in this case certainly doesn’t mean retired or retiring, despite the fact that some award recipients have been well into their 90s. In fact, I was once told by an SFA member that, “Farmers don’t retire. We just die out in the field and then they throw some dirt over us.” The first award was presented in 2005 to SFA founding father Ralph Lentz and continues to help SFA recognize the incredible achievements of the farmers in our community.

The Minnesota Garlic Festival: it seems impossible to think that prior to August 12, 2006, Minnesota didn’t have this funky-smelling celebration. Festival founding father Jerry Ford said in a New York Times article that garlic “… has funk value. An onion’s an onion, but garlic is like the Grateful Dead of vegetables.” The Garlic Festival does indeed have funk value, from the delicious smells of garlic cooked in various dishes at the Great ‘Scape Cafe to the entertainment with musicians ranging from Mu Taiko Drummers to bagpipers. The Peculiar Pragmatic Promenade did not join the festival until 2009, but it is difficult to imagine the festival without it. The Garlic Festival is above all a family-oriented event that uses “stealth education” (as Jerry calls it) to teach folks about sustainable agriculture by connecting the people to their food and their farmers.

In its first year, the Garlic Festival drew 700 people to the Wright County Fairgrounds, the first home of the festival. The festival has since changed locations to its current happy home at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson and continues to grow in popularity, as last year 3,200 people attended. It is not unusual for vendors to sell out of garlic, which can happen early as I have personally witnessed festival-goers sneaking in before the official start time, only to scurry away moments later with huge grins and 30 pounds of garlic clutched to their chests.

My first year at Garlic Festival I found myself enjoying a bowl of garlic ice cream while having a very serious conversation about mycorrhizal fungi with a person dressed head-to-toe as a goat (as part of the Narren of New Ulm). If that isn’t an accurate description of the Garlic Festival experience, then I don’t know what is.

In the summer of 2010, SFA began a rebranding journey, including a new logo. CornerPost also saw changes in 2010 as it dropped from quarterly publications to one issue annually. Not wanting to lessen our communication but still save on costs, a new and improved version of our e-newsletter, SFA Connect, was launched for biweekly delivery to keep members in the loop.

These past projects and milestones represent big moments in the history of SFA but they only tell a few pages of our story. The real milestones in SFA are not the things listed here, but things you all have witnessed on your own farms and in your own communities. Ruminants rotationally grazed in thoughtfully installed fencing, cover crops improving your soil tilth, Festival of Farms, community partnerships, friends new and old at the dinner table. “A New Dawn of Farming” tells us that SFA’s original mission statement was written up by Mike Noble who, struck by inspiration in his milking parlor, scribbled it down on a scrap of paper in 1993. Today, that little milk-made gem of magnificence is no longer our official mission statement, but it still rings true: “The Sustainable Farming Association recognizes the wisdom within ourselves and our communities to find ways of farming that are economically viable and ecologically sound. In the spirit of cooperation we offer mutual support and fellowship to strengthen our families and communities. Our diversity enhances the sharing of resources, new ideas, and approaches to farming.”

Sharing the Wisdom of the Community: The Evolution of a Network

Click here for “A New Dawn of Farming” (SFA history spanning 1990-1998)

By Kelsey Wulf

Being tasked with writing a brief history of the Sustainable Farming Association was both a joy and something of a burden. How can a person possibly capture the history of such a dynamic and important organization in just a few pages?

In my studies, I pored over SFA archives and dozens of back issues of CornerPost. I quickly learned to eat before reading, as chapter coordinators seem to enjoy waxing on about delicious potluck items over the years. It is quite a unique emotion to lust after a dish served some twenty-odd years ago in a kitchen I’ve never visited.

The early history of SFA in this article prior to 1998 comes primarily from “ A New Dawn of Farming: The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota’s Formation & Growth ,” published in September of 1998 and written by Audrey Arner and Brian DeVore. For those of you interested in an in-depth and detailed look at the organization’s early days I recommend reading through that document. I will not have enough space here to list the names of all those pioneering people who made SFA possible.

Beginning Grazier Handbook

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:59:00 GMT

Download a PDF version of the handbook here .

Introduction

Training and Technical Assistance

Production Resources

Farm Business Planning

Additional Education Resources

Funding: Loans and Grants

Appendices

Introduction

Designed to assist the beginning grazier in designing and implementing a grazing system, this handbook is a starting place for you to quickly and easily find pertinent information. Most of the resources listed include website links – explore these links to find additional grazing information that is specific to your interests.

Linked at the end of this guide are lists of businesses that supply equipment and seeds for grazing systems. Use this list to find suppliers and negotiate the best value when purchasing. The goal of the handbook was to provide information; listing does not mean we endorse any of these suppliers.

This handbook was compiled in 2015 and updated in Summer 2021 by the Sustainable Farming Association with support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Other support for the handbook came from Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Pasture Project.

Training and Technical Assistance

A Minnesota nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainable agriculture education, networking, demonstration and research, SFA has had a strong focus on soil health and good grazing practices for over 20 years.

Staff

Kent Solberg , Grazing and Livestock Specialist, kent@sfa-mn.org Tyler Carlson , Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead, tyler@sfa-mn.org Doug Voss , Grazing Lead, doug@sfa-mn.org Wayne Monsen , Special Projects Coordinator, wayne@sfa-mn.org Angie Walter , Dairy Grazing Education Coordinator, angie@sfa-mn.org Jerry Ford , Network Coordinator, jerry@sfa-mn.org

Programs

Soil Health Silvopasture and Agroforestry Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship

Events

Midwest Soil Health Summit , annually in March SFA Annual Conference , annually in February Field Days, Cafe Chats and Workshops

Resources There are numerous print and video resources on the SFA website and YouTube Channel

Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRCS is a division of the US Department of Agriculture with regional offices in Minnesota that provides funding and technical assistance to farmers who want to improve the conservation practices. One of their focus areas is permanent pasture with rotational grazing.

Service Centers Each state in the Upper Midwest has a state NRCS office, though individual graziers will find most of their interactions are with their local Service Centers, and these are a good place to start.

Minnesota Local Service Centers Iowa Local Service Centers Wisconsin Local Service Centers South Dakota Service Centers North Dakota Service Centers

Technical Support and Grazing Specialists

NRCS offers technical support, advice, and resources in on numerous topics related to conservation and water quality ( https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mn/technical/ ), with a particular emphasis on grazing ( https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mn/technical/grazing/ )

NRCS has staff and contractor Grazing Specialists to advise beginning and experienced graziers. Contact you local Service Center (above) to connect with a Grazing Specialist in your area.

Programs for Graziers NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) EQIP “promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals” is the most commonly utilized NRCS program to help graziers with establishing new permanent pasture. More information specific to Minnesota here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mn/programs/financial/eqip/nrcs142p2_023506/

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) CSP is a “conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.” Whereas CSP is more focused such items as improving wildlife habitat, controlling soil erosion and water quality, many of these “enhancements” can be beneficial to grazing operations. More information specific to Minnesota here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mn/programs/financial/csp/

Again, the place to start is with your local Service Center – listed above.

Land Stewardship Project (LSP) Farm Beginnings

®

The Farm Beginnings ^® Program works to get more successful farmers on the land and organize for a system in which family farmers can flourish. Farm Beginnings provides wide range of trainings, including Farm Dreams, Farm Beginnings, and the Journeyperson Course.

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA)

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship links experienced dairy graziers with those who want to farm and provides a guided pathway to independent farm ownership. Sustainable Farming Association manages a DGA program specific to Minnesota: www.sfa-mn.org/dairy-grazing-apprenticeship

South Dakota Grasslands Coalition

SD Grasslands Coalition serves and enhances grasslands by educating grassland managers to adopt sustainable and profitable management. Mentoring Network: www.sdgrass.org/mentoring-network Grazing School: www.sdgrass.org/grazing-schools

North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition

The North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition has established a grassroots based guidance and council to interested ranchers on grassland management. The advice the mentors provide is based upon knowledge and experience gained on their operations and the interaction they have with other ranchers across the region.

GrassWorks

GrassWorks is a grassroots membership organization that provides leadership and education to farmers and consumers for the advancement of managed grass-based agriculture to benefit present and future generations.

Practical Farmers of Iowa

Practical Farmers of Iowa is an open, supportive and diverse organization of farmers and friends of farmers, advancing profitable, ecologically sound and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture through farmer-to-farmer networking, farmer-led investigation and information sharing.

Pasture Project

The Pasture Project works in the Upper Mississippi River Basin to increase the number of acres of farmland that are sustainably managed. Long-term commitment to sustainable management requires an alignment of economic and environmental interests. We accomplish this by expanding grass-based systems of livestock production and introducing cover-crops and periodic livestock grazing into row crop farming, all of which both increase profits and rebuild soils and water cycles.

Production Resources

Silvopasture Handbook : designed to assist land managers and technical support staff on designing and implementing a Silvopasture system in woodlands.

Online Version Print/PDF Version

Cover Crop Fact Sheet This Cover Crop Fact Sheet is a concise resource for new and experienced farmers.

Soil Health Videos Bale Grazing, outwintering, grazing cover crops, fencing and more.

Soil Health Resources Savanna restoration for pasture, grassfed beef, bison and more.

Videos

Intro to Small Ruminant Pasture Management Basic Stockmanship & Livestock Handling Winter Bale Grazing at Cloverleaf Grass Farm

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Website with links to numerous publications on grazing. Including:

The Cropland Grazing Exchange (CGE) matches livestock farmers with crop farmers who have forage (crop residues, cover crops, etc.) to harvest.
and more.

MN Natural Resources Conservation Service Publications

Grazing and forage management publications, including:

Guide to Pasture Condition Scoring
Maximizing Cool Season Forage Production on Pastures
Managing Grasslands for Profit
Working Trees for Livestock
and more.

University of Minnesota Extension

Numerous articles and videos on grazing-related topics, including:

Green Lands, Blue Waters

There are a number of good resources on contract grazing on the Green Lands Blue Waters website.

Resources

Watering Systems for Grazing Tutorial (video)

Fence Building Tutorial (video)

Land Stewardship Project

Grazing & Soil Health Resources

Renewing the Countryside

Farmland Access Hub

The Farmland Access Hub is a consortium of partners including non-profits, government agencies, local companies, and private citizens dedicated to assisting beginning farmers with their quest for land tenure.

Premier One

This is a commercial fencing supply company that has some excellent fact sheets for beginning graziers. SFA does not endorse their products. This page on their website includes instructions and charts on fencing systems and equipment for multiple types of livestock.

Pasture Pro

Another commercial fencing supply company that has some excellent articles for beginning graziers. SFA does not endorse their products.

Fencing Tips Grazing

Periodicals

Graze “The magazine that’s by graziers, for graziers”

Graze is a print magazine devoted to promoting management-intensive rotational grazing and family-scale livestock farms. If you want to start a livestock farm or ranch, if you are looking to reduce costs and labor, if you’re organic-certified or thinking of transitioning to organic, then Graze is for you.

The Stockman Grass Farmer – The Grazier’s Edge

The Stockman Grass Farmer has been a grazing publication since 1947 devoted solely to the art and science of making profit from grassland agriculture. Each month it brings its readers the latest information on high profit grassland ideas from all over the world.

On Pasture

On Pasture is a subscriber and sponsor supported weekly, online magazine for graziers. Each week we publish 5 to 7 articles, translating research and experience into practices farmers and ranchers can use right away.

Hay & Forage Grower

Farm Business Planning

Sustainable Farming Association Adjust 2015: New Farm Reality Check

SFA’s Adjust 2015 project reviewed the key difficulties experienced farmers faced early in their farming careers. The New Farm Reality Check curriculum gives farmers tools to help avoid the most common of those pitfalls, which will strengthen business plans and ultimately improve chances of long-term success – financial benchmarks you should be incorporating into your plan, considerations for business plan assumptions, dealing with and planning for changes in family structure and function, and tools for building a team of experts to help you launch your business.

Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

Beginning Farmers

The purpose of The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) is to bring together the diverse interests of the agricultural community with interests from across the University community in a cooperative effort to develop and promote sustainable agriculture in Minnesota and beyond. their Beginning Farmers webpage has the Whole Farm Planning book & the Goal-Setting Handbook and the Building a Sustainable Business book.

Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service

Fearless Farm Finances

This resource is packed with instructions, tips and tools for setting up and managing a farm’s financial system, and includes real-life examples from successful farmers, with sample data to show how forms and records should look.

Cornell University Small Farms Program

The Cornell Small Farms Program offers a suite of more than 20 online courses, primarily taught by Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, to help farmers improve their technical and business skills.

Additional Education Resources

Pasture Water Systems

University of Minnesota Extension – watering system design for rotational grazing. The Cattle Site – Alberta Agriculture and Food and Agriculture Stewardship Division. Grass Fed Solutions – How to Build a Mobile Cattle Water System for your Pasture Rotation.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

This website provides information on the effects of grazing on natural resources. The USFWS has Waterfowl Production Areas and National Wildlife Refuges that are available for grazing.

Greg Judy from Green Pastures Farm

Greg Judy is from Rucker, Missouri and rotationally grazes livestock on rented lands. Greg has written how-to books as well as gives on-farm tours and presentations.

Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm

Books, videos and more from this icon of multi-species grazing.

Neil Dennis on Mob Grazing

Neal Dennis was an experienced mob grazier from Saskatchewan. He was a well-known presenter and loved to share his experiences with mob grazing.

Brown’s Ranch, Bismarck, N.D.

Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement that focuses on regenerating our resources.

Funding: Loans and Grants

NRCS Programs (see above)

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Livestock Investment Grants (MDA)

AGRI Livestock Investment Grant (MDA)

These grants encourage long-term industry development for Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers by helping them improve, update, and modernize their livestock operation’s infrastructure and equipment.

Beginning Farmer Loan Program (MDA)

This program was established to help people who want to farm in Minnesota, and offers affordable financing, a reasonable down payment and built-in safeguards, such as farm management training and financial planning to help minimize the risk all farmers face.

Agricultural Improvement Loan Program (MDA)

A loan participation program to assist eligible farmers to finance capital improvements to their farming operation.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Microloan Program

These loans focus on the financing needs of small, beginning farmers, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms, farms participating in direct marketing and sales such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, organic and vertical growing methods.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Financial Assistance For Family Farmers (PDF):

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has loans for farmers and ranchers that are unable to obtain credit elsewhere. Contact your local FSA office for information.

Dairy Business Planning Grant (MDA)

This program covers 50 percent of the cost of completing a business plan for a dairy operation. Producers who have applied for this grant are exploring the feasibility of expansion, environmental upgrades, stray voltage testing or transferring the operation to the next generation producer. Applications are funded on a first come first serve basis.

Dairy Profitability and Enhancement Teams Grant and Minnesota Dairy Initiative:

These grants encourage business planning and modernization activities and other improvements on Minnesota dairy farms.

North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Grants

NCR-SARE’s Farmer Rancher Grant Program is a competitive grants program for farmers and ranchers who want to explore sustainable solutions to problems through on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects.

Lakewinds Organic Field Fund

A grant program dedicated to making an impact on local farming and organic food by furthering the development and sustainability of farms in the region.

Appendices

This list of resources is not intended to be all inclusive and does not constitute an endorsement. It is simply offered as a service to aid the producer in finding available resources; there may be other sources out there for some of these products and services.

Scroll through below, or click these links to download a printable list:

GRAZING SYSTEMS VENDOR LIST (updated June 2021)

Portable windbreak vendor list (updated June 2021)

FENCE CONTRACTORS/INSTALLERS/D ESIGNERS

Southwest Minnesota K Fence , Daniel and Therese Hall, Butterfield, MN 507-956-2657 tereseh77@gmail.com

Grassland Solutions , Matt Schafer, Cokato, MN 320-286-2196

K-Fence , Zumbro Falls, MN (507) 753-2706 (507) 753-2943 info@kfence.com

Dana Melius , Ashton, SD C-605-216-4410

Grant Breitkreutz , Redwood Falls, MN 507-430-0607 gdbreitkreutz@hotmail.com

Mohr’s Fencing , Aberdeen, SD (605) 225-9633

Rausch Fencing , Onaka, SD 605-380-5311

Ludemann Fencing , Shane Ludemann. Fort Pierre, SD (877) 472-0776

Olson Fencing LLC , Mike Olson, Winona, MN 507-421-6934 mike@olsonfencingllc.com

Deutschlander Fencing , Brian Deutschlander. Pine City, MN 320-629-1288

Seven Pines Farm & Fence , Kent and Linda Solberg, Verndale, MN 218-445-7580 sevenpinesfarmandfence@gmail.com

Horsman Fence Co. , Kevin Horsman, Utica, MN 507-281-4420 507-259-6312

FENCING SUPPLIES

Many local feed/farm and big-box “fleet farm” stores carry fencing supplies.

Premier1Supplies, Washington, Iowa 52353 www.premier1supplies.com

Seven Pines Farm & Fence, Kent and Linda Solberg, Verndale, MN 218-445-7580 sevenpinesfarmandfence@gmail.com

Cammack Ranch Supply, Union Center, SD 605-985-5591 cammackranchsupply.com

Gallagher Catalog 800-531-5908 gallagherusa.com

Jeffers Livestock 800-533-3377 jefferslivestock.com

Kencove Catalog 800-536-2683 www.kencove.com

Grassland Solutions, Cokato, MN 320-286-2196 www.grasslandsolutions.com

Common Sense Fence, Geotek, Inc, Stewartville, MN 800-533-1680 geotekinc.com

K-Fence, Zumbro Falls, MN 507-753-2943 www.kfence.com

Kiwi Fence Products, Blairsville PA 800-536-2683 kiwifence.com

Southwest K Fence, Daniel and Teresa Hall, Butterfield, MN 507-956-2657

Hutchison Incorporated, Grinnell, IA 800-588-6155 hutchison-inc.com

PASTURE SEED AND NATIVE GRASS SEED

Albert Lea Seed House Albert Lea, MN (800) 352-5247 www.alseed.com

Minnesota Native Landscapes, Otsego, MN 763-295-0010 mnnativelandscapes.com

Agassiz Seed and Supply, Locations in ND, SD and MN www.agassizseed.com

Behm Seed Company Atwater, MN 320-974-3003

Paul Hamann, Fountain, MN 507-268-4980

Millborn Seeds, Brookings, SD 888-498-7333 www.millbornseeds.com

Sharp Bros Seed Co., Healy, KS (620)398-2231 https://sharpseed.com

Prairie Restorations, Inc., Several Locations in MN 1-800-837-5986 www.prairieresto.com

WATERING SYSTEM CONTRACTORS

K-Fence, Zumbro Falls, MN (507) 753-2706 (507) 753-2943 info@kfence.com www.kfence.com

Southwest Minnesota K Fence, Daniel & Terese Hall, Butterfield, MN 507-956-2657

Grassland Solutions, Cokato, MN 320-286-2196 www.grasslandsolutions.com

WATERING SYSTEM MATERIALS

Many local feed/farm and big-box “fleet farm” stores carry watering system supplies.

Cammack Ranch Supply, Union Center, SD 605-985-5591 cammackranchsupply.com

Jacobsen, Inc., Adair, IA 800-243-7473 jacobseninc.com

K-Fence, Zumbro Falls, MN (507) 753-2943 www.kfence.com

Jobe Valves jobevalves.com

Hutchison Incorporated, Grinnell, IA (800) 588-6155 hutchison-inc.com

Agri Supply www.agrisupply.com/tanks-tubs-stock-tank/c/2800028/

Gallagher Catalog 800-531-5908 www.gallagherusa.com

Frost Free Nose Pumps www.frostfreenosepumps.com

JUG Livestock Waterer 800-584-6675 thejugwaterer.com

Rural Mfg. Co., Inc., Freeman, SD 800-477-7135 ruralmfg.com

Carlson Wholesale, Inc., Rochester, MN 877-700-2694 carlsonwholesale.net

Cobett Company, E. Peru, IA 888-699-4722 cobett.com

Sustainable Farming Association

Financial Resources for Beginning Vegetable & Fruit Growers

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:49:00 GMT

This is meant only as a reference point in your search for ways to begin or increase your farm enterprise, and is not meant to be a complete listing. I have not personally vetted these programs.
– Jerry Ford, SFA Network Coordinator, jerry@sfa-mn.org

I have put together this page based on correspondence with these Extension personnel. They are happy to talk with you about the many aspects of fruit and vegetable growing.
Natalie Hoidal, hoida016@umn.edu, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Horticulture and Food Systems
Annie Klodd, kloddann@umn.edu, Extension Educator – Fruit and Vegetable Production
Megan L Roberts, meganr@umn.edu, Ed. D., Extension Educator in Agricultural Business Management

Obtaining Farmland

USDA Farm Ownership Loans :

Connect with your county FSA agent , who can help you work through the details.
Some of FSA loans are guaranteed farm loans, which means they are backed fully backed by FSA. They are lower risk loans f or the lender in case the farm doesn’t work out and typically offer lower interest rates than traditional lending without an FSA partnership could for the farmer.
Lenders are the FSA’s client when using a guaranteed loan, so with a guaranteed loan the farmer is making an application to the lender not FSA.
Because the USDA historically underserved women and minorities, a portion of FSA loan funds are specifically dedicated to women and minority applicants .

Minnesota’s Beginning Farmer Loan Program and Aggie Bond Beginning Farmer Loans

Here’s a comparison chart of the two.
These come with requirements that you enroll in farm business management education , which is probably a great idea, anyway. FSA and many banks have the same FBM requirement for beginner farmers, not just MDA and RFA.
These programs are not limited to just farm ownership: buying depreciable assets, etc are allowed.
Ryan Roles , MDA, is the program contact.
FSA also has a specific Beginning Farmer Loan program: “with the single exception of the Direct Farm Ownership Down Payment Loan, the Beginning Farmer classification is not related to a type of loan program; it references a specific, targeted funding source.”

Local Banks

Checking with your local bank can be a good start, especially if you live in an agricultural area.
Banks that are lending institutions are eligible to participate in many USDA and MDA loan programs, so your local bank may be able to help you navigate which loan program is best for you without being restricted to only federal options.
Some federal loan options specifically require that you to have been denied for traditional lending , so start with a local agricultural lender if possible (it could be a bank, a credit union, or a farm credit lender).
Farmers should do their homework before the meeting and if at all possible come prepared with a business plan, accurate balance sheet, a projected cash flow, and three years of income history.

The Farm Credit System

These are private lenders organized as member-owned cooperatives.
In Minnesota, Compeer and AgCountry are two Farm Credit System members. Because of their unique structure mandated by Congress, they sometimes are able to provide the best rates and loan benefits for farmers.
For example, Compeer Financial has some innovative loan programs for new farmers

Realtors

Realtors can actually play a significant role in helping people find farmland and set up private contracts with land owners for farm transitions, including things like contract for deeds, life estates, or for non-ownership, long term guaranteed leases.

Finding Farmland

MDA’s Farmlink
Renewing the Countryside Farmland Hub
Land Stewardship Projects’s clearinghouse
Free Online Tool for Building a Draft Lease

Farm Infrastructure and operations:

NRCS Programs

For infrastructure such as high tunnels (EQIP program), and to install things like perennial vegetation strips (CSP or AMA program).

USDA Farm Operating Loans

These can be used for equipment, livestock, seed, fertilizer, cash rent, building repairs, family living expenses, and more.

MDA Agricultural Improvement Loan Program

Meant for buildings, other permanent structures, and occasionally farmers can also meet requirements of the MDA grant programs . Grants of course are always superior to loans because you don’t have to pay them back. The Specialty Crop Block Grant or the Value-Added Grant might be worth browsing over.

USDA Microloans

similar to the MDA loans above, but often used for smaller projects.

Banks, credit unions, and farm credit lenders

These institutions are not just for farm ownership. It is also great to explore these for these types of loans, too.

Business Planning

MDA AGRI Beginning Farmer FBM Scholarship

This can help to pay for Farm Business Management credits for beginning farmers.

MDA Beginner Farmer Tax Credit

This gives retiring farmers and other landlords a tax incentive to rent or sell land to a beginner. The beginner then gets a credit to enroll in FBM.

AgPlan.umn.edu

This site has business plan outlines and examples specific to agriculture and gives you an easy to use template

More Info

The USDA has a great guide to all of their different loan and grant programs HERE .
Their New Farmers site is also really good for navigating different programs.
Specifically, the Access to Land and Capital part of the site is great for differentiating some of the different loan programs and how they apply to various aspects of starting a farm and business.

Sustainable Farming Association Resources for Vegetable & Fruit Growers

The Minnesota Premium Garlic Project
The Minnesota Asparagus Project
Soil Health for Fruit & Vegetable Growers PDF
Networking Groups: Twin Cities Growers Network , Upper Midwest Garlic Growers , Deep Winter Producers

‘Give to the Max’ and help us transform agriculture

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:29:00 GMT

Our new mission – transforming agriculture, one farm at a time – pays homage to SFA’s origins and long history as a farmer-to-farmer network. It brings into focus that we are part of a larger movement of farmers, landowners, and local food and climate advocates seeking to change the agricultural paradigm to one that honors and supports the farmers who produce our food and protects our land and natural resources.

Please consider making a donation to SFA today either on our website , or on our GiveMN page . Your Give to the Max contribution will help support the backbone of our organization: staff, infrastructure, and day-to-day operations through our general fund. Throughout the last week, we’ve spotlighted specific “behind-the-scenes” work supported by the general fund; these elements are crucial to delivering high-quality programs and maintaining our commitment to our members.

Your generosity empowers us to maintain and grow our impact, and thanks to a generous match all donations made today up to $5,000 will be doubled! Don’t wait, donate during Give to the Max Day to make twice the impact. Thank you for your support.

By: Lucinda Winter Executive Director

Today is Give to the Max Day ! Minnesota’s annual giving holiday is always a sure sign that the year is coming to a close. This has been a year of growth and evolution for SFA. Through our newly refined mission and strategic plan, we are focusing on what we do best: providing boot-on-the-ground support for farmers and landowners to reach their ecological and financial goals.

Thursday is Give to the Max Day

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:45:00 GMT

Today is the final day of early giving before Give to the Max Day! Give your gift to support our general fund today on our Give to the Max page or SFA’s website . Thanks to a generous match provided by board directors, staff, and members every donation up to $5,000 will be doubled!

SFA has forged a reputation as a trusted resource for farmers and ranchers seeking to improve their soil health practices and whole farm resilience. Our digital assets are a vital part of the infrastructure that enables us to reach farmers around the state with educational resources and community forums they need to pursue their goals.

SFA Digital Asset Highlights

SFA’s website : home to our extensive Resource Library containing Case Studies, Fact Sheets & Reports, Handbooks and much more as well as this Blog and Events Calendar
Our new Member’s Directory and Marketplace designed to help SFA members connect with each other and sell, swap, and share resources
Our Facebook page and YouTube Channel provide opportunities to connect with other members, educational content, and event updates

The effort and know-how to create and maintain these assets as user-friendly resources are powered by SFA consultants Laura Borgendale and Becky Ankeny and are supported by our general fund.

General Funds Spotlight: Laura Borgendale

Our Webmaster, Laura Borgendale, has provided web and tech support to SFA for over a decade, including spearheading our big website redesign in 2023. The Borgendales are also longtime SFA members, and Laura frequently enjoys time at the family farm in western Minnesota (pictured here). It is invaluable to the organization to be able to call on her for her tech expertise when surprises come up, and to have her keeping us “live” online. Her work is made possible through our general fund.

General Funds Spotlight: Becky Ankeny

Becky Ankeny is SFA’s go-to resource for all things graphic design – she makes us look good! Becky’s talents ensure our digital assets and publications feature well-designed, informative, inspiring and impactful visuals that help us effectively communicate our mission. Currently living in Arizona with roots in Blue Earth, Minnesota, she likes to volunteer at local urban farms and has a passion for taking food photography of fruits and veggies she buys at farmers markets. Her work with SFA is made possible by our general fund.

Your impact doubled during Give to the Max!

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:31:00 GMT

Only three more days until Give to the Max Day! This year, we’re focusing our Give to the Max contributions on our vital general fund.

SFA’s mission of transforming agriculture one farm at a time is driven by our dedicated team. We maintain a lean operating structure with four core staff members supplemented by role-specific consultants with specialized skill sets.

Our general fund supports our consultant’s work in key behind-the-scenes areas like grant writing, finance and accounting, and membership support. These roles are crucial for SFA’s day-to-day operations and free up our core staff to focus on implementing our programs and serving our farmer members, which improves our overall efficiency.

Thanks to a generous matching gift, every dollar will be matched up to $5,000, doubling your impact. Donate today through November 21st to help us reach our $15,000 Give to the Max goal to support the behind-the-scenes work that enables us to continue transforming agriculture one far at at time. You can support SFA with your Give to the Max gift today through SFA’s website or on GiveMN.org today!

General Funds Spotlight: Suzanne Miller-McFeeley

Most of SFA’s programming — such as our educational events, workshops, research, on-farm consulting and technical assistance — are funded by grants. But did you know that nearly all of these grants are won through competitive application processes? Applying for grants to fund our programs requires researching opportunities, building relationships with funders, developing budgets, synthesizing a team’s worth of ideas into a compelling proposal, and submitting oodles of paperwork.

This is where our Development and Membership Manager Suzanne Miller-McFeeley steps in. She manages our grant applications and other fundraising activities, securing the funding that make our programs possible. Suzanne’s grant writing, as well her membership support work, is made possible by our general fund.

General Funds Spotlight: Lauren Barry

Vegetable farmer by day, Finance Director…also by day. Lauren keeps SFA humming by managing bookkeeping, invoices, payroll – all the behind-the-scenes work that the organization truly couldn’t function without. She also plays a key role in budget planning that informs our strategic plans each year. Lauren’s work is supported by our general fund.

Support SFA this Give to the Max Day!

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:09:00 GMT

It’s nearly time for Minnesota’s state-wide giving holiday: Give to the Max! We are thrilled to share that a group of generous board directors, staff, and donors have put up $5,000 to match your donations, dollar for dollar. Cl ick here to give.

The official Give to the Max day is scheduled for November 21, but early giving is already underway. This year SFA is focusing our Give to the Max contributions on a critical, but often overlooked need – general operating funds.

SFA is known for being nimble and quick to respond to the changing needs of farmers, an ability that is driven by dedicated staff and essential projects supported by general (aka not restricted to a particular grant program) funds. While grant funding provide valuable fuel for specified programs, your support of our general fund gives SFA the flexibility to respond to urgent needs, adapt to changing circumstances, and ensure our core services remain strong and sustainable no matter what the future holds.

Why is general funding so important?

Flexibility to Act Quickly: General fund donations allow us to allocate resources where they are needed most—whether it’s scaling up programs in response to growing demand, covering unexpected costs, or addressing critical operational needs that ensure long-term success.
Sustaining Essential Services : Your contribution helps support the backbone of the organization: staff, infrastructure, and day-to-day operations. These elements are crucial to delivering high-quality services and maintaining our commitment to our members.
Greater Efficiency: With fewer restrictions on how funds are used, we can maximize our impact, ensuring that every dollar goes toward advancing our mission, not just the designated projects.

General Funds Spotlight: Katie Feterl

Many of you are already familiar with Katie Feterl, SFA’s Communications Director. But did you know that much of her work is supported by our general fund?

Whether it’s connecting members with vital resources and news through our CONNECT newsletter, co-leading our Twin Cities Metro Growers Network, or answering your questions about registrations and events, Katie’s contribution to transforming agriculture one farm at a time is made possible by support from our general fund.

Support the Backbone of SFA

Your contribution helps support the backbone of the organization: staff, infrastructure, and day-to-day operations. These elements are crucial to delivering high-quality services and maintaining our commitment to our members. Your generosity empowers us to not only maintain but also grow our impact, allowing us to better serve our farmer-to-farmer network and continue transforming agriculture, one farm at a time.

We invite you to join us in this vital work by contributing to our general fund. Your Give to the Max gift—of any size—will have a lasting effect, enabling us to continue meeting the needs of our farmer network, both now and in the future.

Give via SFA’s website or on GiveMN.org today!

An assuring blast from the past

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:22:00 GMT

“Why did you join SFA? Why are you still a member?”

Brief stories from about a dozen members are included in the post. Some joined in the 1980s, some are no longer with us. One is now an integral member of our staff (you can probably figure out who is ~~old~~ seasoned enough for that).

You’ll find that all these years later, our members today still have similar stories to tell. Both SFA and the world around us have grown and changed over 30+ years, and yet, what brings people into the farmer-to-farmer network has remained steady. Here are members’ words from 2010 that stood out to me the most:

I couldn’t say it better myself. Our Fall New Member Drive officially ends this Sunday, November 10. We invite you to join us (or rejoin, if it’s been a minute). Click here to learn more — there’s a special gift in it for the first 50 new members, too.

Thank you to former SFA Executive Director MJ Fobord for sharing some documents from her archive that brought us down this little historical rabbit trail.

By Katie Feterl • Communications Director

Throughout our Fall New Member Drive, we’ve been sharing member experiences, in their own words. By now you may have seen posts spotlighting folks like Tom Barthel, Dayna Burtness, and Bianca Goncalves Da Costa, among others who shared their reflections in video interviews .

With members top of mind and a fresh mission statement and strategic plan setting our sights on the future, it felt very timely this week to come across an “SFA Branding Blog” that chronicles an earlier period of reflection, taking stock, and looking ahead. This 2010 post that predates most of our current team was written in the midst of developing a brand identity and new logo for the organization, and it asks the same questions we’ve been approaching members with over the last month:

“SFA drives change on the ground.”

“You can talk to people, and…people will answer you. People are willing to share.”

“Changes have been brought about through the connections people made in SFA, and the support they receive and the ideas they were exposed to.”

“It’s farmer-to-farmer, we can’t help it.”

“It’s one of the organizations I’m really proud to be a member of.”

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 20:30:00 GMT

As our Fall New Member Drive continues, we wanted to highlight one of the lesser-known benefits of SFA membership: access to innovative research and shared learning!

SFA is a leading regional partner in sustainable agriculture research, and our members receive priority in SFA research and education projects. Whether it’s soil health and silvopasture case studies , cultivation research on premium Minnesota Garlic , evaluations of the PaddockTrac forage management tool, or a myriad of other research areas, SFA is a valuable resource for cutting edge applied research and evaluation of tried and true regenerative ag practices.

However, SFA members receive far more than just access to research. Our local chapters, networking groups, and events provide forums and opportunity to share ideas and practices with other farmers and ag professionals and learn from each other.

Click here to learn more about becoming a member. Don’t wait, the first 50 new members to join during our Fall Member Drive get a free SFA fleece-lined knit cap!

Check out the video below to hear Julie, Jim, Angie, and Kate share how their SFA membership has created valuable opportunities for their farms.

“It’s one of the organizations I’m really proud to be a member of.” – Jim VanDerPol

Who are SFA members? Meet Bianca Goncalves Da Costa.

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 19:56:00 GMT

Who are SFA members? We call ourselves the “farmer-to-farmer network,” but our ecosystem is far wider. We attract and partner with people and organizations interested in shifting the agricultural paradigm from an extractive model to a regenerative one. Our 1,300 members include both seasoned and new farmers and ranchers, as well as agricultural educators, agency staff, local food advocates, homesteaders, eaters, and conservationists.

During our Fall New Member Drive , “meet” some of our members and see how they’ve benefited from joining SFA, in their own words. We’d like to introduce you to…

Bianca Goncalves Da Costa

Bianca is an international student pursuing her PhD at the University of Minnesota. She works on research in sustainable livestock production systems, and her PhD project focuses on investigating different options for farmers to raise dairy calves. Bianca joined SFA to have access to hands-on learning opportunities and connect with the local farming community.

Become a member during our fall member drive to tap into diverse programming, educational events, and networking opportunities powered by our network. The first 50 new members to join will get some sweet SFA swag for free: an SFA fleece-lined knit cap! Click here to learn more about membership benefits , or join here now .

“The SFA community is fantastic and super friendly! SFA organizes several practical educational activities on farming methods that benefit farmers, the community, and the planet. I wish I would have more time to go to every event! I particularly enjoy the significant number and quality of hands-on events focusing on agroecological livestock practices! I was working on a native prairie research project and got great insights from the “Prescribed Goat Grazing for Savannah Restoration” event.

I love their initiative to bring a collective and collaborative approach to solving problems relevant to the farming community, such as access to veterinary services. I also find it amazing how SFA supports rural and urban residents interested in becoming land stewards, so I know that no matter where I live, I can count on SFA educational content and events to support me in producing healthy food and taking good care of our planet!”

Bianca Goncalves Da COSTA, PhD Candidate

SFA Member since 2022

Who are SFA members? Meet Dayna Burtness.

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 19:45:00 GMT

During our Fall New Member Drive , “meet” some of our members and see how they’ve benefited from joining SFA, in their own words. We’d like to introduce you to…

Dayna Burtness

Dayna did not grow up on a farm, in fact, she didn’t even grow up in a farming community. She grew up in a suburb of the Twin Cities with no exposure to farming. At 19 years old, she was unsure of what direction to go. When a friend recommended she try farming, she gave it a shot and fell in love!

Her career in agriculture started off as a vegetable producer, but in 2015 she and her husband purchased a farm in Houston County and began raising pastured hogs. Today they raise and direct market more than 70 pastured hogs per year, and house two incubator farmers who raise pastured chickens, ducks, sheep, and goats.

“Learning from innovative farmers from all over the state is one of my favorite parts of being an SFA member. Our farm is always evolving to meet our quality of life and ecological goals, so as we consider different enterprises or practices, it feels good knowing that there’s a large network to tap into with questions or ideas. Plus the monthly newsletter is always chock full of useful info, so that’s practically worth the cost of membership alone. Thanks, SFA!”

Dayna Burtness, Nettle Valley Farm
Spring Grove, Minn.

Who are SFA members? Meet Tom Barthel.

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 20:57:00 GMT

During our Fall New Member Drive , “meet” some of our members and see how they’ve benefited from joining SFA, in their own words. Our first member we’d like to introduce you to is …

Tom Barthel

Tom Barthel is a longtime SFA member and owner/operator at Snake River Farm in Becker, MN. Growing up on a dairy farm instilled a love of agriculture in Tom, and he went on to found Snake River Farm in 1969. In the 70s he farmed as many as 700 acres of corn. After realizing his operation was not sustainable, Tom shifted to a pasture-based operation and focused on his electrical engineering career.

In the late 90s, he developed a grass-based production system and began to build his direct-to-customer sales enterprise. He now raises grass-fed bison, beef, lamb, and pastured hogs. Snake River Farm sells direct to over 500 Minnesota families and supplies USDA inspected, grass-fed meat to schools. The Farm is in the fourth year of a multi-year plan to transfer the business and knowledge to the next generation.

“SFA has provided me with terrifically useful scientific knowledge and practical know-how for two decades. The Soil Health Summits have been a particularly rich source of both scientific and practical knowledge. The Summits are a wonderful opportunity to speak directly with leading scientists and farm experts about soil regeneration.
SFA has been a crucial source of information as we have transitioned our farm from irrigated row crops to 100% grazing. Our 30-year switch to sustainable farming has made our farm business far more profitable, far more durable, far more environmentally friendly, and far more satisfying.”

Tom Barthel, Snake River farm
East Central Chapter of SFA

Join SFA during our Fall New Member Drive!

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:40:00 GMT

For more than 30 years the Sustainable Farming Association has brought together Minnesotans interested in improving soil health, growing healthy food, and revitalizing rural communities. Our “Farmer-to-Farmer” network continues to bring together farmers, ranchers, researchers, advocates, ag professionals, and eaters to transform agriculture, one farm at a time.

Member discounts

SFA members receive reduced pricing on SFA events including field days, workshops, the Annual Conference and Midwest Grazing and Soil Health Summit . Members also receive 15% off all seed orders from North Circle Seeds !

On-farm Consulting

This pilot cost-share program enables our team of technical assistance consultants (farmers themselves) to visit your farm, help you set goals, and plan steps to reach them.

Click here to learn more about member benefits and to join the farmer-to-farmer network!

Become a member during SFA’s fall new member drive (Oct. 21-Nov. 10) to tap into diverse programming, educational events, and networking opportunities powered by our network. The first 50 new members to join will get some sweet SFA swag for free: an SFA fleece-lined knit cap! Early next year our membership dues will increase, so don’t wait! Click here to join.

Join the community

Become an at-large member or join one of nine regional SFA chapters for fellowship, farmer networking, and local programs. Connect with other community members through our new Member Directory and list buy/sell/trade opportunities in our marketplace.

Announcing SFA’s new mission and strategic plan: Sharpening the focus of our work to serve you better.

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 20:35:00 GMT

So we set out with the clear goal of better differentiating SFA from the other amazing Minnesota NGOs advancing regenerative farming, and a desire to do better by you – our members. How could we make our educational events and services more relevant and increase the value you place on being part of the SFA community? How can SFA continue to lead in educating farmers and farming advocates on topics that matter the most, and to support the innovative thinking that creates new opportunities to scale up regenerative farming?

Our new mission – transforming agriculture one farm at a time – pays homage to SFA’s origins and long history as a farmer-to-farmer network. It also reminds us that we are part of a larger movement of farmers, landowners, local food and climate advocates seeking to change the agricultural paradigm to one that honors and supports the farmers who produce our food and protects our land and natural resources.

The road map that will guide our work during the next three years was developed largely in response to what you told us you value most about SFA in our recent survey – Education, Collaboration, and Community . These are some of the ways we’ll put those values into action:

Expanding our partnerships
Deepening collaborations with our Chapters
Focusing on hands-on practical skills training and personalized technical assistance – bringing the classroom to your farm
Enhancing your membership experience

Look for more articles from me in future issues of CONNECT diving a bit deeper into how our new strategic roadmap translates into meaningful value for our members.

Registration will open in the next few weeks for our 2025 Annual Conference , scheduled for Feb. 8 In St. Joseph, and for our Midwest Grazing and Soil Health Summit on March 19 and 20 in Willmar. I look forward to seeing many of you at one of those flagship events or one of the many educational offerings being planned for the coming months.

By Lucinda Winter, Executive Director

After many months of work by our staff, consultants, board directors and all of you who completed our first-ever survey, I’m delighted to share SFA’s new mission and strategic roadmap with you.

This new mission and focus for our work felt necessary at this time. Our previous strategic plan was approved by the Association’s board of directors in 2019, just before Covid came along and remade the world. And because of the proliferation of organizations working to advance regenerative ag in Minnesota, many people have expressed to us that it can be confusing to tell them apart and know who to connect with for what.

“I have never been more proud to be an SFA member and to serve on the Association Board. Board members, staff, and consultants were deeply engaged in the strategic planning process and in developing a new mission. Thank you to everyone who put so much time and thought into making this happen!”
– Liz Morris Otto, President
SFA Board of Director

“Round up” for Farmers at Lakewinds throughout October

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:44:00 GMT

October is National Co-op month, and while you’re visiting Lakewinds Food Co-op you can also support SFA!

Throughout October, you have the opportunity to round up your bill at any of Lakewinds’ three locations (Richfield, Minnetonka, and Chanhassen). Proceeds will go towards our pilot On-Farm Consulting program . Led by fellow farmers, this program is one of the ways we’re getting boots on the ground to transform agriculture — one-on-one, in the field.

Take it from Amy and Kate of Ashby, Minnesota:

“We knew we wanted to restore pastures to native prairie and introduce animals back onto our land, but with so many options, weren’t sure where to begin.

Jonathan and Tyler spent hours with us walking the land, discussing soil health, windbreaks, what animals made the most sense for grazing options and answering all of our questions. After three hours I felt so much more confident in our plan and was armed with a number of resources for funding our project too!”

So far, Lakewinds shoppers have raised $6,213.14, and we still have half a month to go! Thank you for lifting up Minnesota farmers, and happy National Co-op Month.

SFA’s Midwest Soil Health Summit Evolves

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:05:00 GMT

More than just a name change, the Summit’s evolution acknowledges and celebrates the deep connection between soil and livestock in building thriving ecosystems and communities.

By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director

For 11 years, the Sustainable Farming Association has proudly hosted the Midwest Soil Health Summit, an educational event developed during a time when soil health was still a budding concept.

According to our resident historians, the Summit emerged as a platform for sharing agricultural innovations and assisting farmers in successfully adopting principles to enhance soil health. Thousands of people have gathered with leaders in the soil health movement at past Summits, sharing their successes and challenges and fostering invaluable networking opportunities among farmers and ranchers.

As the importance of soil health has become more widely recognized and soil health education more readily available, we are shifting the educational focus of the Summit and rebranding the event as the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit.

SFA has long been at the forefront of grazing management education here in the Midwest, advocating for the integration of livestock into cropping systems through practices like cover crop and crop residue grazing. Grazing plays a vital role in building resilient, regenerative systems that enhance the health of both the land, the livestock, and the communities that the soil sustains.

For those concerned about a shift from our roots in soil health, rest assured: it remains the core of everything we do. Healthy soils are the foundation of successful grazing systems. Grazing animals and thriving soils are intertwined like roots and soil — driving nutrient cycles, sequestering and cycling carbon, and fostering biodiversity both above and below ground. This new emphasis allows us to explore the dynamic harmony between grazing and soil health—together, they create a regenerative path forward for farmers and ranchers.

I invite you to join us in Willmar on March 19 & 20 for the inaugural Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit . Stay tuned for announcements about registration, speakers, and exciting new partnerships, as we continue to transform agriculture, one farm at a time.

Seed School Seeks Students for October Intensive

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:57:00 GMT

SFA and North Circle Seeds owner Zachary Paige are pleased to announce an intensive, multi-day Seed School, to be held at the North Circle Seeds Farm in Vergas, MN October 25-27th, 2024. This opportunity is made possible through a grant from West Central Initiative Foundation (WCIF).

Participants will be notified by October 1 with a registration deadline of October 6. We’re able to offer this three-day intensive learning experience because of generous grant support from WCIF. Registration is $80 per person. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Tentative Schedule : Friday 10/27 beginning at Noon, Saturday 10/28 all day, and wrapping up Sunday 10/29 about 1pm.

Lodging : Lodging quarters for up to 3-5 people as well as unlimited camping with tents is available on our farm. There is also the Pelican Rapids Motel nearby. Lodging costs will be covered if you prefer to lodge there.

Why seed saving?

About Zachary Paige

Zachary holds a Masters in Plant Breeding from Iowa State University and has taught dozens of shorter seed workshops. He’s a member of the Lake Agassiz Chapter of SFA, and started North Circle Seeds in 2019.

Zachary will lead a three-day immersive training where participants will learn all things seed saving, including: seed sourcing, pollination/isolation, harvest, cleaning, winnowing/threshing, storage, germination testing, and more so participants will learn how to save seeds successfully for their own operation—that is, those seeds best adapted to their particular environment.

This engaging hands-on workshop will touch on the history, structure and growth of the modern seed industry, its extreme centralization, and the worldwide grassroots counter-movement that’s creating new opportunities (especially for smaller and mid-sized operations) to learn how to save seeds. Participants will learn everything from basic terminology to innovative new strategies for transitioning their operation with seed-focused and sustainable methods.

Space in the School is limited to eight to ten participants who have a deep passion for saving seeds and an interest in sharing the information they have learned with others. If this sounds like you, please fill out this questionnaire by September 26, 2024 , so we can learn a bit about where you are in your seed saving journey and what you hope to gain from participating in the School.

The practice of seed-saving — the harvesting, cleaning, drying, and storing of plant embryos — has been around for thousands of years. Indigenous societies in North America stewarded food systems that relied on collecting and saving seeds for nearly 10,000 years. More recently, farmers in Minnesota did the same. Not so long ago, if you wanted to eat you had to grow your own food, and that meant saving seeds from one harvest to plant the next season. The process wasn’t political or controversial; it was what humans did to survive.

But over the past century, a series of changes in how we live and work effectively put an end to small-scale seed-saving. Between 1900 and today, the percentage of Americans who live on farms shrunk from nearly 40 percent to less than 1 percent and in fewer than 100 years, seed-saving, a practice that had always been essential to human survival, went from mainstream to something most of us are barely aware of, something happening at the fringes of our food culture — small farms, Native communities, survivalists. Even in the growing Organic, Sustainable and Regenerative farming movement, barely any farmers save their own seed or know how to, dependent on hybrid seed.

During the past 10 years, Zachary has taught more than 30 seed saving trainings, but all fall short of a thorough education. Most requests for a seed saving presentation are from 1 to 4 hours, which only scratches the surface of basic knowledge needed to save the dozens of species of vegetable seeds, each with their own rules and guidelines. The reason this Seed School is so special is that we will be integrating seed saving techniques from harvest all the way to storage of all major vegetable categories – each with their own unique rules and guidelines.

About the school

North Circle Seeds farm will host the Seed School, utilizing its community Seed House that was built in 2023 as a central hub. North Circle Seeds has all of the seed saving tools and equipment available for participants to go into the field, harvest and dry/process the seeds on the farm. Zachary has hosted several 1-day seed saving workshops here in 2024.

This immersive workshop will also strengthen social bonds through storytelling, science, and hands-on farming. Our goal is that this rare, collaborative learning opportunity will inspire more farmers to seed save in our region. Seedman Zachary Paige will be available to provide ongoing support to trainers following the School.

Questions? Reach out to Zachary Paige at zacharypaige@gmail.com .

Cover Crop Options after Small Grain Harvest

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:38:00 GMT

After harvesting small grains, farmers have a unique window to plant cover crops that can maximize these benefits. Here, we explore various cover crop options to consider post-harvest and how they can contribute to a more resilient farming system.

Pre-work

Selecting the Right Cover Crop Species

Now, let’s talk about selecting specific cover crop species. While this article won’t provide a one-size-fits-all recipe for your cover crop mix (remember the first two points we discussed), I will outline some general principles for species selection.

Keys to Success with Cover Crop Mixes

1. Focus on Grasses

Cool Season Grasses : As the seasons shift, prioritize cool season grasses. Excellent options include annual ryegrass, oats, barley, triticale, and cereal rye.
Proportion : Ensure grasses form the majority of your mix as they will provide most of the carbon that will build soil organic matter and provide armor on the soil.

2. Use Brassicas Sparingly

Seeding Rate : Limit brassicas to no more than 2 pounds per acre. Given that most brassica species have well over 100,000 seeds per pound, a small amount goes a long way.
Grazing Considerations : When designing a mix for grazing, be mindful of the amount of brassicas and legumes to avoid the risk of livestock bloat.

3. Limit Legumes :

Seeding Rate : Use legumes, such as clovers, in moderation—typically a couple of pounds per acre is sufficient due to their small seed size.
Balance : Avoid overloading your mix with legumes to maintain proper soil nutrient balance and prevent potential digestive issues in livestock.

While this brief article isn’t exhaustive by any means, it hopefully has provided some key principles to get you started with cover crops after a small grain harvest. For more detailed planning, we recommend using the SmartMix Calculator on the Green Cover Seed website. This open-source, free tool helps you design mixes based on your specific resource goals and provides in-depth information on the characteristics and traits of each species. By entering your top goals and next crop, the calculator suggests appropriate species to plant.

However, if you’re ever unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our consultants for tailored recommendations that work best in this region. As always, if you have any questions about cover crops or soil health, feel free to contact our team. Happy harvesting and planting!

By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director

While persistent rainfall across the state is delaying the start of small grain harvest for many farmers, this downtime can be used to plan for post-harvest cover crops. Planting cover crops immediately after harvesting small grains like wheat, barley, or oats can be highly beneficial and is a great way to take advantage of the moisture we’re getting.

Cover crops are a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture, offering numerous advantages such as:

Improving Soil Health : By keeping a living root in the soil and maintaining soil cover.
Biodiversity : Diversifying the species grown on every acre.
Livestock Integration : Providing excellent grazing opportunities for livestock.

Before we begin designing a cover crop mix, there are two key considerations to address.

One of the most crucial aspects is understanding your resource concerns and the specific needs of your land. So, let’s identify your priorities. Is your primary goal to cover bare soil and prevent erosion from fall rains? Do you aim to build up nitrogen levels before next year’s corn crop? Or are you looking to maximize the utility of your acres by incorporating fall or winter grazing? Each of these objectives represents a resource concern or goal. By clearly identifying these priorities, we can tailor the cover crop mix to effectively meet the specific needs of your land.

Secondly, always start with the end in mind. Consider how you plan to terminate the cover crop. Cover crops planted at this time of year offer a great termination option with the onset of winter, as we can design a mix that will naturally winter-kill, allowing you to plant directly into the residue in the spring. Herbicide and tillage are also effective termination methods, while grazing provides an opportunity to harvest and cycle some of the nutrients produced by the cover crop before it is terminated.

Cover crop seed options can be categorized into three main plant functional groups: grasses, legumes, and broadleaves (forbs). Research from the University of Minnesota has shown that maximum biomass production occurs when at least nine species are included in a diverse mix. Since diversity is a key soil health principle, we recommend incorporating at least nine species in your cover crop mix whenever possible—three from each functional group.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Grasses : Include options like cereal rye, oats, and annual ryegrass.
Legumes : Consider species such as clovers, vetches, and peas.
Forbs : Incorporate broadleaf plants like radishes, turnips, and kale.

Context is crucial. Always consider your next crop when choosing your cover crop species. For example, avoid planting cereal rye if you plan to sow spring wheat the following year, or radishes if canola is in your rotation. By carefully selecting your cover crop species, you can create a mix that meets your resource goals, increases your soil heath, and aligns with your crop rotation plans.

Planting a cover crop after your small grain harvest can be even more economical by utilizing the grain that escapes the combine. Here’s a handy method to factor that into your cover crop mix.

1. Estimate Grain Left in the Field

Place a catch pan behind the combine to collect any grain that passes through.
Weigh the grain collected in your catch pan.
Calculate the grain loss per acre:
Divide 43,560 (the number of square feet in an acre) by the square feet of your catch pan.
Multiply this result by the weight of your sample. This will give you the weight of grain lost per acre.

2. Sampling and Spreading

Combines do not distribute losses evenly, so take samples from various locations in the field to get an accurate estimate.
Once you estimate the pounds of small grain seed already present in the field, subtract that from the amount you need to seed.
Depending on the loss, sometimes you only need to drill a small amount of legume and brassica seed.

3. Optimize Chaff Spreader s (if your combine has them)

Set your chaff spreaders to distribute chaff as evenly as possible across the width of the header on the combine.

By incorporating these steps, you can efficiently use the residual grain in your field, reducing the need for additional seed and making your cover cropping efforts more economical.

August 8 Café Chat to explore no-till and cover crops

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 22:31:00 GMT

Could implementing practices like cover crops and no-till on your farm work for you and your bottom line? What if you could get paid to do it?

Enjoy a meal and conversation with area farmers and your Soil Water Conservation District this Thursday, August 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Duffy’s Riverside Saloon in Redwood Falls. Lunch is on us!

Phil and Robin Smith (Renville County) will share their experience in transitioning the family farm to no-till corn, soybeans, winter cereal rye, and year-round cover crops.

Renville and Redwood Counties’ Soil Water Conservation District staff will also present a unique opportunity for farmers in participating counties (including Renville and Redwood) to receive $100 per acre or animal unit to implement common conservation practices through the Alliance to Advance Climate Smart Agriculture Pilot program.

Applications for this program are open July 15-August 16, 2024, so this is a great time to get the scoop. There will be plenty of time for discussion. Registration is free, and walkups are welcome . Bring your questions and an appetite!

Click here to learn more about the pilot Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture program.

Click here to download the flyer.

Bounty and Blooms: Cut Flower Tour

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 16:41:00 GMT

Click here to download the flyer.

Cut flowers can be a diversifying crop for fruit and vegetable growers, adding an income stream in the form of bouquets and arrangements. And in the case of R. Roots Garden , even edible flowers!

On Monday, August 12 from 5:30-7:30 PM, the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network will enjoy an evening at Queen Frye’s North Minneapolis farm. Queen will share how she has integrated edible flowers into her urban farm through an AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant. She’ll also share what she learned in the process, and her vision going forward.

The event will also feature:

Free Community small plates crafted by HEAL Mpls
Culinary demonstration by Chef Kenji
University of Minnesota Student Organic Farm flower bouquet displays and highlights from cut-flower research project*
Original poetry by Queen

It is free to attend! Advance registration appreciated, walkups welcome. Learn more and register here.

* Bounty and Blooms: Integration of Cut Flowers in Urban Vegetable Farms is funded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (2024).

Hands-on workshop: “Foundations of Fencing”

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:35:00 GMT

Are you intrigued by the thought of building your own fences? Or, have you tried and need a refresher on how to do it? Fence building is both an art and a science, and properly built fences make for years of happy neighbors and livestock success.

Learn the ropes with Kent Solberg and Jonathan Kilpatrick during our in-field workshop on August 13, 2024 in Alexandria and get hands-on experience building permanent fence systems!

Properly installed corners and braces form the foundation of long-lasting fences, no matter the fence type. We will spend a portion of our time going over the basics of permanent fence construction. Then we will actually construct an H-brace corner system and a New Zealand corner and brace. We will teach the New Zealand fencing knot, discuss insulator selection and installation, and string high-tensile fence wire together.

This will be a very hands-on workshop, with plenty of time for you to help dig post holes, install braces and tie insulators on. We are capping the attendance at 16 people to allow for the best instructor-to-student interaction and to allow you to fully participate in the process.

Registration: Advance registration is required, $25/person. Lunch is provided. Click here to learn more and register.

About the presenters : For many years, Kent owned and operated an agricultural fence contracting business. He has used and consulted on both electric and non-electric fence systems for over 30 years. Jonathan has built and maintained many different styles of fencing for various classes of livestock in a variety of climate

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). This event is co-hosted with Great River Greening.

Click here to download the flyer.

Dr. Don Wyse: a dynamic force

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:13:00 GMT

During my tenure as chair of the State SFA board, I was also working shoulder-to-shoulder with Don, leading efforts to commercialize the new crops and cropping systems in development through the Forever Green Initiative. I had the honor of witnessing (and learning from) his unremitting drive to do everything in his power to foster healthy lives, soil and communities. This 2019 Forever Green presentation is one he gave hundreds of times and is the vision he was working on to the very day he passed.

Although his loss is tremendous, Don was also adamant that the work required “all hands on deck.” I believe his most important skill was his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, tell them the story of his work and make them champions for sustainability in their corners of the world. I am one of them.

Additional reading

Don Wyse’s Obituary
University of Minnesota ag visionary, Forever Green Initiative founder Don Wyse dies , Star Tribune, July 2024
Growing a New Future for Farming , New York Times, May 2022
Don Wyse remembered as early champion of sustainable agriculture research in Minnesota , MPR, July 2024

By Connie Fernholz Carlson • Crow River Chapter member; former SFA Board member and President

It is with deep sadness that I share with all of you the sudden passing of University of Minnesota professor, Dr. Don Wyse, on July 2, 2024.

Dr. Wyse was a dynamic force for clean water, healthy soil, sustainable agriculture and a fierce champion for rural communities. Wyse was pivotal in the formation of a family of sustainability-focused organizations that SFA interacts with regularly, including Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP), Green Lands Blue Waters, Center for Integrated Natural Resource Management (CINRAM) and the Forever Green Initiative. You can watch and listen to Wyse explain the vision for these organizations in this video that was created when he was recognized with the highest distinction the University awards faculty members, the Outstanding Community Service Award.

Dr. Wyse was known for his keen intellect, ever-present sense of humor, his use of the occasional “damn” or “hell” in a meeting and his passion for people, the land and justice. He was shaped by his farm upbringing in Ohio; his research on weeds, water and the environment; his fifty years of teaching at the University of Minnesota and, most importantly, his family. It was rare that he didn’t mention at least one of these topics (or use one of those curse words) in a conversation.

Six Apps in the Toolbox

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:31:00 GMT

While most of us as smaller-scale farmers may not be using guidance systems or drones, there are still many ways that we can use technology on our farms. In most of our pockets is a phone that is more capable than the computers that filled an entire room when my parents were in college. How can we maximize this pocket-computer to benefit our farms and make management easier?

Here are six apps that I regularly use for farming/ranching and my consulting work and believe can help you leverage technology in your farming journey:

1. Field Area Measure

This is one app that I use very frequently. This simple yet invaluable GPS app allows you to measure distances and areas (using multiple units of measure) and mark locations for future reference. It is super handy for planning grazing and paddock size. You can also use geo-location to physically walk an area and the app will record your path and the corresponding distance or area. With the paid version, you can save fields and add photos or dates to a pin.

For those who want to have a grazing mapping app but don’t want to shell out the money for the software, this can work well. I often pull up this app when I’m helping clients plan their grazing or illustrating paddock size. We can both see a certain paddock size on the app and also walk out that same area.

2. Merck Vet

The Merck Veterinary manual is a long-standing go-to resource for veterinarians. This app compiles key information from the manual into a user-friendly format, including videos, charts, and explanations of illnesses and diseases. As someone who likes to understand as much as I can about an illness or issue, I like to use this app to further research an issue after working with a vet to diagnose what’s going on.

Note : Always consult a licensed veterinarian with any livestock health concerns or needs. This app exists for the layperson simply as a way to expand your knowledge of common livestock diseases and illness.

3. Cattle Market Mobile

This is one of my favorite ways to keep an eye on cattle markets around the county. It aggregates popular commodity and economic reports in one place for easy comparison of the markets. You can set up a dashboard with your favorite reports for easy access in the future. A couple handy tools including a gestation calculator and calf profit and loss calculator are included. (A similar app designed for sheep folks is ASI News, or American Sheep Industry News. It has market reports as well as handy tools.)

4. Altimeter

You might wonder why an altimeter app is on a list of favorite farming and ranching apps. When planning infrastructure projects such as water systems, roads, and ponds, knowing the rise and fall of the terrain is very helpful.

When planning gravity water systems, knowing the number of feet of fall from the water source to usage point can help determine anticipated psi. Too much fall and the pressure can be so much that you are blowing out valves and fittings. Not enough and you don’t have enough pressure to fill your water tank.

When planning roads, you can map a road to minimize washouts and water bar building (water bars are similar to speed bumps but designed to move water off a road) to make sure that water is moving the right direction.

When deciding where to place a pond, understanding the size of the watershed can influence the size and potential capacity of the pond.

5. Grain Drill Calculator

This handy app developed by Oklahoma State University helps you calibrate your grain drill or planter. Simply enter the diameter of your drive tire, row spacing, target rates, plus a few other metrics, and it will calculate your plant population and help you evaluate the rate your drill is set at.

Note : Always make sure to double-check the app with a manual calibration. Double-check seed placement, slot closure, and that your tubes are clear of any debris before and after you start planting.

6. PictureThis

Identifying plants has become so much easier with this app. Simply snap a picture of part of a plant and you can identify what it is. While I’m familiar with most common species in pastures and forests, using this app when I am not certain of what I am seeing has helped me to grow my botanical knowledge. (Another similar app for this purpose is Seek).

These six apps transform the smartphone in your pocket into a powerful farming tool. What are some of your favorite apps? Share in the comments below—I’d love to hear what you use and why.

By Jonathan Kilpatrick, Farmer Education Director

Last month, during a consultation with a self-proclaimed octogenarian farmer, I was struck by just how much change this gentleman has seen over the years. One of the things that I love about talking to folks who have been farming their entire lifetime is the breadth of perspective that they have on agriculture. For a much younger farmer like myself, it’s fascinating to sit at the kitchen table with these folks and hear about what farming was like 20, 30… even 60 years ago.

Gone are the days of the 8-row planter being the newest, greatest piece of farm machinery; when barn cleaners were the go-to equipment for removing manure from the dairy barn. The last two decades have seen a technological revolution, transforming every aspect of life, including agriculture. Today we’re living in an era where drones are used to apply cover crop seed and satellite imagery helps detect pest pressure.

Now hiring: Climate Smart Seedling Production Network Project Lead

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:31:00 GMT

**July 23, 2024 update: This position has been filled.

Fast Facts:
This position is a part-time, remote consulting contract that will sunset in October of 2027.
Time commitment: 30-40 hours/month
Hourly rate: $40-$55, depending on experience
Travel within Minnesota and occasional overnight lodging required. Mileage and travel expenses are reimbursed.

Overview:
The Climate Smart Seedling Production Network (CSSPN) Project Lead is responsible for managing the scope of work detailed in SFA’s CSSPN agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The overall objective of SFA’s work is to lead recruitment and training of Minnesota tree seedling producers to help them become successful tree growers.

More specifically, the goal is to support the recruitment and training of 25 to 30 new or emerging farmers, organized into two networks/cohorts based on geographic area. The Project Lead also supervises any contractors hired to perform outreach, recruitment and training grant duties.

Click here for the full position description.

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume in one PDF to Lucinda Winter at lucinda@sfa-mn.org .

SFA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons. SFA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment.

Understanding the Biological Soil Tests – July Field Day

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:33:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered if your soil can go to work for you to provide more nutrients for your crops than it is?

Do you wish there was a way to know how much of the fertilizer you are applying is actually getting used by the plants, or is it washing away into our water sources?

Are you getting tired of spending more and more inputs every year with the same results?

Let’s discover what you might be missing out on with conventional soil testing. Join SFA’s Kent Solberg and Jonathan Kilpatrick on July 10 in Roosevelt, Minn. for a soil health field day. Click here to register .

This ‘201-level’ workshop will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. We will dive deep into the suite of soil health tests known as the Haney, PLFA, and Total Nutrient Digestion. Using reports from soil samples collected this spring by the Lake of the Woods SWCD staff, we’ll look at the results in the classroom and then head out to three different farms to get our hands dirty analyzing the soils.

Using both classroom and in the field time, we will compare contexts, cropping rotations, and practices and see how our management influences the results on our soil health test and the economics of our cropping systems.

This event is provided at no cost to you, thanks to a partnership with the Lake of the Woods and Roseau County Soil & Water Conservation Districts.

Advance registration is requested , and walkups are welcome! Lunch will be provided. Come prepared to spend several hours in the field in the middle of summer.

Click to download flyer.

Making soil health gains with your Prevent Plant acres

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 21:39:00 GMT

Consideration #1: Herbicide History

The first, and most important in a corn and soybean system, is the herbicide history over the past three growing seasons on any particular field.

Herbicide rotation restrictions will determine what may be used as a forage or cover crop. In general, pre-emergent soybean herbicides have some of the longest rotation restrictions. Restrictions change over time, so it is important to check the label for each product used. Too many cover crop train wrecks could have been avoided by checking rotation restrictions on all herbicide products applied to a particular field over the past three growing seasons.

If not confined by herbicide rotation restrictions, a multi-species cover crop blend can provide some of the greatest benefits to your soil. Ideally, these blends would include one or more grasses, legumes and a broadleaf or forb. Building soil aggregate structure with diverse cover crop blends can help address compaction that can lead to water ponding and erosion.

Consideration #2: Your farm goals

Next, determine your goals for the prevent plant seeding. You may find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions to clearly identify what you want to achieve:

Will the seeding be used for forage? How will the forage be harvested and stored?
Am I looking to:
- minimize erosion?
- prevent fallow syndrome?
- build soil aggregate structure?
- adjust the carbon:nitrogen ratio?
- break pest cycles?
- cycle nutrients?
What type of equipment do I have access to for seeding?
If I am hiring out the field work, when are they available?
Is there enough latitude in the rotation restrictions for a multi-species cover crop?
What is the plan for next season?
How will I terminate the cover crop?

Consideration #3: Context and climate of covers

An opportunity in disguise

Prevent Plant conditions can be an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade for your farm. A little research and careful thought can go a long way in getting the most out of less-than-ideal conditions. As always, if you have any questions about cover crops, soil health, and options for your prevent plant acres, feel free to reach out to our consulting team.

Jonathan Kilpatrick: jonathan@sfa-mn.org or 844.922.5573 Ext. 712

By Kent Solberg, Senior Technical Advisor & Jonathan Kilpatrick, Farmer Education Director

Recent rainfall events have prevented farms from completing corn and soybean planting. Decisions made in the next few days can have impacts not only for this cropping season, but for years to come. Some farmers are thinking about either short-season corn or soybeans, planting annual forages, or utilizing cover crops to prevent fallow syndrome in subsequent years.

For growers in the midst of making these urgent decisions, there are a number of considerations that can aid in determining which forage or cover crops may fit your context.

Cover crops are an investment in soil health and the future of your farm. Three of the principles of soil health are living root, armor, and diversity. Cover crops are crops that are not typically thought about as a cash crop as soybeans and corn are, but many farmers are finding that cover crops allow opportunities for grazing (integrating livestock is another principle of soil health!), forage harvest, or just building up the soil. By planting a cover crop instead of leaving your ground un-planted, you are keeping the soil covered, a living root growing, and adding some diversity of different plant species. Following these principles will lead to a healthier soil that is less reliant on costly inputs.

When shopping for cover crop seed, the sales team should ask about your field, its management history, crop rotation and your goals. A number of companies offer pre-mixed blends. While pre-mixes may appear easy on the surface, understanding the context of your field and your goals before purchasing any cover crop seed will help ensure the greatest degree of success when selecting cover crops.

Remember, broadcast seed rates are higher than drilled rates. A benefit of farming in a northern climate like Minnesota is that we can use cold weather to terminate covers. Warm season annuals are highly vulnerable to freezing temperatures negating the need for other termination methods. If the plan is to plant soybeans next season, be careful selecting legumes as a cover crop. Keep total brassica (radish, turnip, kale) amounts under 2 lbs. per acre.

Click here to learn more about the soil health principles.

Change is Good

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:23:00 GMT

After a thumbs up from staff and some additional folks, we made it so. Now when you list on the bulletin board, your listing will be seen by any visitor to the SFA website, providing you with access to a much broader audience (and hopefully more takers).

In other news, we’re moving to a monthly publication schedule for CONNECT during the summer. Our Comms Director Katie Feterl has several special projects on deck for the next few months, and with any luck most of us will be outside and away from our computers as much as possible during the brief Minnesota summer. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on SFA activities during the upcoming event and festival season.

Before you go — like many of you, I love to read. Once in a while I come across something that I think might be of interest to you. Here’s a recent article that changed my way of thinking about animal welfare. From the April 23, 2024 issue of NYT Sunday Magazine: How Do We Know What Animals Are Really Feeling? Enjoy.

By Lucinda Winter • Executive Director

One of the things I like about working at SFA is the number of informal conversations that we as staff have with our members, often through email and when returning voicemails. So it was no surprise that I heard from several members after we launched our online SFA Bulletin Board with suggestions on how it could be even better.

When we launched this new member benefit, the idea was that current members could list or browse each other’s offerings of resources and opportunities. Since then, some folks have suggested that the bulletin board would be a more useful marketing resource if any website visitor could view it, but only members could list on it. Why didn’t we think of that?

Holistic Weed Management Workshop

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:07:00 GMT

Come join SFA’s Specialty Crop Lead Dan Zimmerli of Cedar Crate Farm, a mixed vegetable operation in Waldorf, MN, for a workshop on holistic weed management. Cedar Crate Farm produces over 70 varieties of vegetables available at farmers market, CSA, and through wholesale partners.

The free event will be held on Monday, June 24, from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Dan will discuss holistic weed management approaches that work in sustainable and organic systems. Cover cropping, creating stale seed beds, cultivation tools, timing of cultivation, and a demonstration of his walk behind tractor are all slated to be discussed.

This workshop is for:

Emerging or beginning farmers wondering where to start and what weed management tools to acquire first.
Experienced growers who are looking to refine their weed management strategies and want to see how other experienced growers manage weeds.
Consumers and advocates who want to better understand the complexities and what it takes to grow local, nutrient-dense produce!

Registration: It is free to attend. Advance registration is required, and walkups are welcome. Click here to register.

Address: 4396 240th Ave. Waldorf, MN 56091

Click here to download a flyer.

Prescribed Goat Grazing for Savanna Restoration

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:17:00 GMT

On Monday, June 24 from 4:00-7:30 p.m., graziers, land managers, and interested members of the public are invited to Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan to take a look at the techniques and considerations for using goats to control buckthorn.

“For those of you thinking about bringing small ruminants into your vegetation management work, this should be a very informative opportunity to learn from the experts,” says Tyler Carlson, the Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead for SFA.

Carlson will co-present this field day with Brad Gordon and Alex Bahr of Great River Greening , park staff, and Kyle Johnson with Diversity Landworks . Diversity Landworks is currently managing the working herd at Lebanon Hills.

Park staff and Great River Greening restoration professionals will share their plans for restoration, as well as some of the other tools they’re using to achieve their goals. Additional discussion ranging from general buckthorn control considerations, to native understory seedings, to prescribed fire will follow.

Advance registration for this event is required. It is free to attend. Please register by clicking here.

Notes on parking, walking, and food:

We’ll meet at the Lebanon Hills Regional Park visitor center. Ample parking around it on the east side of the park.
We’ll need to walk on unpaved trails for a stretch. It could be a total of 1 mile walking round trip (10-15 minute walk each way).
Boxed lunches and beverages will be provided.

Address: Lebanon Hills Regional Park Visitor Center, 860 Cliff Road Eagan, MN 55123
Info: Tyler Carlson, tyler@sfa-mn.org

Click here to download a flyer.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

Drink for a Cause!

Wed, 08 May 2024 20:47:00 GMT

On Tuesday, May 21 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., you can support a sustainable future for Minnesota farmers (and eaters like you) just by grabbing a drink or dinner at Wooden Hill Brewing Company in Edina.

10% of all taproom sales will go directly to SFA’s programming!

Wooden Hill has an extensive selection of beers, hard seltzers, ‘beertails,’ and several non-alcoholic options. You’ll want to check out their kitchen’s menu, too — this ain’t your average bar food.

We hope you’ll join our local staff and board members for a happy hour that night! Bring a friend or the family for a nice night out on the patio or in the spacious taproom.

No registration is required.

Address: 7421 Bush Lake Road Edina, MN 55439

Pasture Walk Series to Begin in Otter Tail County

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:09:00 GMT

It’s safe to say that spring is here (although, you never know in Minnesota), and we are excited to be kicking off our season of pasture tomorrow!

On the fourth Thursday of each month, SFA will host an engaging pasture walk with a specific focus at various Minnesota farms. All of the walks will be free to attend, and some will include a potluck.

Our first walk will be on Thursday, April 25 from 5:30-7:30 at Uhren Grass Fed Beef in Vining, Minnesota. We will take a look at some areas that Dave bale grazed with the cattle this past winter, as well as some areas he bale grazed several years ago. Discussion will follow on different tactics and techniques for bale grazing and outwintering. We will also get to see how the bale grazing has improved the soil and forage production!

Registration: It is free to attend. Advance registration appreciated, walkups welcome. Click here to register.

About Uhren Grass Fed Beef: Dave and Susan Uhren’s farm is 482 acres in Ottertail County, on the farm where Dave was born. His family has records of the Uhren family farming this same land all the way back to 1895! Dave, Susan, and sons got their first cattle in 2007, and started learning about adaptive rotational grazing. In 2017, they began converting 142 tillable acres back to perennials. They started out-wintering their cattle and bale grazing to improve the soil fertility. Currently running about 70 pairs of Black Angus cattle and using low-input methods for maximum profitability, they founded Uhren Grassfed Beef in 2018 with the goal of providing their community with local, healthy, grass fed beef.

Address: 18547 County Highway 59, Vining, MN (Look for the SFA signs!)

Info: Jonathan Kilpatrick, jonathan@sfa-mn.org

Growing sales while building up a farm and a family

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 20:53:00 GMT

Market more effectively with Charlotte Smith on April 18

Registration

Advance registration requested, walkups welcome. This workshop is $150 for SFA members, and $175 for nonmembers. Members, please log in to see member price. Lunch is included with registration. Click here to register.

See you in St. Joe!

By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director

Before working for SFA, I managed a ranch that sold grass fed meats direct-to-consumer. It was around the time I started that position that I came across some of Charlotte Smith’s marketing resources and podcast, “ The Profitable Mindset Podcast .” I started listening faithfully and gleaning from her content online.

When I took over the management position, the ranch had experienced a meager 20,000 dollars in total sales the prior year. Armed with my experience growing up on a direct-to-consumer farm operation, my previous learning and management positions, and Charlotte’s resources, I got to work.

Running an agricultural business is not an easy task and adding a marketing enterprise on top of that adds complexity. However, by following proven marketing principles that work across all industries, we started seeing success. One of Charlotte’s common results from students (and the name of one of her online marketing courses) is them being able to 5X their farm sales. By the time I wrapped up my tenure in the position, we had indeed done just that. I had grown the sales of the ranch to well over 6 figures annually. And we didn’t add any more employees, it was mostly just me running the ranch and doing all the marketing.

How did we do that? Coupled with a dogged determination, carrying out the marketing principles that Charlotte imparts played a huge role. Plus, on top of growing those sales numbers, we improved soil health, livestock genetics, grass management, the quality of the product we sold, farm infrastructure, and added two kids to our own family!

Because of my personal experience applying the principles of effective marketing that Charlotte teaches, I’m super excited for the opportunity to have Charlotte come and teach us how to more effectively market our farm products in person on April 18th .

Preview the Workshop on Dirt Rich

If you’re curious to learn more about the workshop and Charlotte, I recently chatted with her on SFA’s Dirt Rich podcast. Check it out here , or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Bonus Offerings

Attendees will have the opportunity to have Charlotte Smith review their website, social media feed, or email newsletters during the workshop (sign up during registration). Each registration also includes Smith’s book, Farm Marketing from the Heart.

Two new Member Benefits are live!

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 21:01:00 GMT

Members of SFA now have access to a Member Directory and Bulletin Board when they log in to their account portal. Here’s how to use them.

If you haven’t used your account before, please click here to set up a password .

The Member Directory

The directory is designed to be another avenue of connection for those in our network. It only accessible to members, and only visible when you are logged into your SFA account. You control which personal details (Name, email, city, state, phone number, or chapter) you would like to share. You may opt out of participating in the directory (and opt back in) at any time.

You can also personalize your member listing with a photo and bio, if you’d like. Your bio might include what you raise, your farm name, or something you’re looking for help with (or something you can help others with!).

To opt out/in and make edits to your membership directory profile, click on “Membership Directory Profile” in the menu on the left of the screen (it’s the one with the pencil icon). Next to each detail you may share on your profile is an eye icon. You can click the icon to toggle between sharing that detail on your profile and hiding it. Be sure to click “Submit” on the bottom of the page to save your changes.

Note: Due to the digital architecture of this platform, any members who join after April 2, 2024 will automatically appear in the member directory. If you do not wish to participate in the directory, simply opt out using the instructions above.

The Bulletin Board

The Bulletin Board is a members-only feature designed to help you sell, swap, or share resources and opportunities with fellow SFA members. All posts will be approved by admins before they are posted.

To start out, we have set up a few categories and types of listings. With time and feedback, we can make updates as needed.

If you have any questions, please send us an email at info@sfa-mn.org .

Let’s Farm Well Retreat Postponed

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 19:33:00 GMT

The Let’s Farm Well Retreat at the Abbey of the Hills Retreat Center in Marvin, South Dakota, has been postponed.

Watch for a new date later this year so you can join us for some relaxation, reflection, and connection!

You can also sign up for our Connect e-newsletter to get updates on this event and more. Just scroll to the bottom of the page and find the sign-up form in the right hand corner.

Shape the future of SFA

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:20:00 GMT

Your candid responses to the open-ended questions will be especially helpful as we make decisions about the work we focus on going forward. We truly appreciate your time and candor in completing this survey. If you’d like to be included in a drawing for a $50 credit toward SFA swag or event fees, you’ll have the opportunity to do so at the end of the survey.

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 there.

So, we’ve created this first-ever SFA survey. We want to hear from all of you: farmers, homesteaders, landowners, donors and supporters, partners and allies, event sponsors and exhibitors — everyone in SFA’s extended network. Click here to take the survey, which will be open through March 26.

If you are a farmer who also connects with SFA wearing other hats, please complete the survey first as a farmer. After you answer questions about your farming operation, you’ll be given an option to complete a much shorter set of questions so we understand your other connections to SFA. Your responses will be anonymous and used only for planning purposes.

Midwest Soil Health Summit benefits farmers across scales; crops

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 22:30:00 GMT

Ford: They pay me, but I’d go anyway.

Learn more and register at www.sfa-mn.org/midwest-soil-health-summit . Members receive discounted registration. And, find the current schedule here , featuring keynote speakers Mitchell Hora, Dale Strickler, and Burke Teichert.

By Jerry Ford • Chapter & Events Coordinator

Why have I gone to 9 of the 10 Midwest Soil Health Summits so far? Well, yes, as many of you know, they pay me to. After all, I’m the EVENTS & Chapter Coordinator for SFA, and I manage the logistics for the Summit. But the truth is that I’d go regardless.

Back in the early 20-teens, John Mesko, our Executive Director at the time, and Kent Solberg, whose title with SFA then is lost in the mists of my mind (something like “Grazing Guru”), came to me saying, “Help us put together a big conference that’s all about soil health, and we want to get Gabe Brown to keynote.” Soil health was a new term to me, but it had a nice ring to it, and I was vaguely familiar with Mr. Brown’s work, so I said, “Sure, let’s do it.”

The nice thing about event management is that I often have down time while the sessions are going on, and I got to sit in during that first summit in Alexandria. Mind blowing.

You see, in addition to this SFA gig, I’m a farmer . Many of you have heard me say that I’m actually a conservationist who is blessed to have a farm, and that we produce three things for our community: grassfed beef, certified organic garlic, and conservation. The soil health principles and practices I began to learn through the Summit and SFA’s accompanying programming were like deep dives into the soil & water conservation practices I was already doing. We’d been rotational grazing cattle for some time, and the things I learned from the folks at the Summit just kept ratcheting that up. Sure, some of those presenters are doing it on 5,000 acres, but many of the principles were scalable to my 50 acres. My land is better for it.

And I started bringing those principles into my vegetable growing – we were doing more root crops for market back then – with less tillage, cover crops, extensive rotations, and perennial walkways. It took a couple of seasons to get relatively proficient at it, but now it’s just how we do things.

We also reached out to our renter. Our family has a couple hundred highly-erodible tillable acres that we’ve leased to our neighbor – also a dedicated conservationist who’s continued the soil and water practices that my father-in-law implemented in the 1940’s – for many years. He does corn, soybeans, hay and some small grains. With what I was learning from SFA’s soil health programming, and with our dedicated NRCS and SWCD folks here in Wright County, he has adopted several new practices. We’ve both been in a few EQIP and CSP programs over the years, and we’re continuing to measurably increase topsoil and fertility.

So, sure I get paid to be at the Midwest Soil Health Summit. What a great job I have! Plus, I get to help make it possible for you folks to have this opportunity as well. Even better. And it’s improved the land, soil and water for my community. I call that a home run.

I’d love to see you at the Midwest Soil Health Summit on March 13 & 14 in Mankato. I’ll buy you a beverage-of-choice at the Dale Strickler book-signing and social hour on that Wednesday.

Luhman: What I’m looking forward to at the Midwest Soil Health Summit

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 20:12:00 GMT

Midwest Soil Health Summit
March 13 & 14, 2024 | Courtyard Marriott Mankato
Click here to register

This and so much more will be discussed at SFA’s 2024 Midwest Soil Health Summit and I can’t wait to see you there! Learn more and register at www.sfa-mn.org/midwest-soil-health-summit (SFA members get a discount). And, find the current session schedule here.

Important lodging note: Our room block discount at the Courtyard Marriott Mankato ends on Tuesday, February 20. After this date, you may still reserve a room, but it will be at the regular rate. To make a reservation with a discount, mention “Soil Health Summit” when reserving at (507) 388-1234.

By Jared Luhman • Soil Health & Grazing Lead

Over the past year I have taken a significant step back from my responsibilities with SFA to focus on farming with my family! However, I have stayed involved to assist Jonathan and the team in the planning of our Midwest Soil Health Summit !

This is one of my favorite SFA events where we bring in some of the country’s leading soil health, crop, and livestock experts and give attendees the opportunity to network with farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals from around the state. In 2024, our focus is on “Managing for Profit with the Soil Health Principles.”

With crop prices trending downwards as we come off three of the driest years we’ve seen in decades, it is more important than ever to learn how you can implement soil health building practices in your operation. Perhaps it’s learning better grazing management to increase forage production, or using cover crops to get the life in your soil working for you to reduce fertilizer inputs, or reducing the carbon intensity of your operation through cover crops and no-till in order to receive a premium for the grain you produce.

Many people see soil health and profitability as unrelated. However, we know soil health is a tool to help farmers increase their bottom line and the resilience of their land, livestock, and businesses.

Mitchell Hora , a regenerative crop farmer from Iowa and founder of Continuum Ag, will share how to use soil health as an offense to increase farm profits.

Dale Strickler, experienced grazier, agronomist, and cover crop expert, will present how to use cover crops in both livestock and cropping contexts to create drought resilient and economically resilient farms.

Burke Teichert , a well-known ranch manager and ranch business consultant, will talk about how soil health and livestock come together to create profitable livestock farms and ranches.

These keynote experts will be joined by some of Minnesota’s pioneering farmers sharing how they used soil health to increase profitability.

Volunteer at the Annual Conference

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 22:24:00 GMT

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 minutes in length, with two shifts in the morning and two more in the afternoon. Pick one, and you’ll have the rest of the day free.

Other volunteer positions:

Session Monitor: Keep sessions on time, manage the room – and you get to pick the sessions you want. See the session schedule here .
Registration Helper: Assist SFA staff at the registration desk.
Exhibitors Helper: Assist the Exhibits Coordinator – the shift is early morning, over by the first sessions.

How to sign up:
Email Jayna Larrea , Volunteer Coordinator, with the following information in your email:

Name and mobile phone number.
If volunteering for the Conference Kids program, please list your preferred first and second time preferences: Morning 1; Morning 2; Afternoon 1; Afternoon 2.
If volunteering for Session Monitor, list the session(s) you prefer to monitor; see the session topic and times here.
Or state that you would like the registration or exhibitor helper positions.
Or simply write, “Put me where you need me.”

Jayna will email you confirming the shifts and positions that you are scheduled for, and will include further instructions. Thanks very much for helping out!

Midwest Soil Health Summit Speaker Spotlight: Burke Teichert

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:52:00 GMT

Experts from near and far will convene in Mankato for the 11th annual Midwest Soil Health Summit on March 13 & 14, 2024 to dig into “Managing for Profit: Soil Health Principles as a Profit Strategy.”

Meet Burke Teichert

Summit Schedule

Also headlining the two-day Summit will be farmers and ranchers Mitchell Hora and Dale Strickler . Local farmer speakers and sessions will be announced very soon. Keep an eye on the Summit homepage.

Registration

Early Bird pricing runs until January 15, 2024: $125 for members, and $175 for nonmembers. Members must log in first to see the discounted pricing.

Farmers, ag resource professionals, agency staff, hungry learners – all are welcome to attend and learn together. We hope you can join us!

Burke Teichert is one such expert who attendees will hear from during a keynote presentation, breakout session, and at our popular discussion tables.

Burke was raised on a family ranch in western Wyoming. His father and grandfather were ahead of their time in understanding the importance of low-input, low cost agriculture.

He studied Agricultural Economics at Brigham Young University and received an M.S. from University of Wyoming (UW) in Agricultural Economics with emphasis in Farm and Ranch Management. From there, he began a storied career that has spanned academia, the artificial insemination industry, and ranch management and consulting (across a few countries, to boot).

In his time of managing ranches in a number of climatic environments and locations, he learned that while adhering to the same principles no two ranches could be managed the same—thus the need for adaptive grazing and adaptive management to fit practices to the individual ranch while using the same principles.

Since retirement, Burke has worked as a contract manager, consultant and speaker at events such as the Summit! We are excited to have him join us.

Click to download flyer.

Lunch & Learn in Alexandria to kick off 2024

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:28:00 GMT

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 drought years.

Forages & Grazing for Improving Farm Resiliency
January 18, 2024 11am-2pm
Pizza Ranch, 1522 Broadway St. Alexandria, MN 56308

This is a “lunch and learn” opportunity for central Minnesota dairy farmers to get together and hear from other dairy farmers who have implemented some specific strategies for increasing their farm’s resiliency in challenging times. There will be time for attendees to ask questions and share strategies they have implemented. Attendees will also learn how MDI can assist their dairy operation in setting operational goals, making improvements and planning for the future.

While this workshop has been designed for dairy farmers, we encourage farmers and ranchers who would benefit from the principles of grazing and forage management to join us. There will be plenty to learn that will be applicable to your operation.

Jeff Duchene, NRCS State Grazing Lands Specialist will also talk about NRCS practices for forage and grazing, including some new annual forage practices.

There is no cost to attend! Advance registration requested, walkups welcome. Click here to register .

Info: Derek Schmitz, derek@sfa-mn.org

About our panelists:

Nate Walter: Nate and his wife Angie (SFA’s Ag Water Quality & Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Coordinator) own and operate Walter Organic Dairy Farm in Villard, MN. They milk about 100 cows and raise their own feed on 350 acres of certified organic land. They rotationally graze their cows and have experimented with some non-typical forages. Come hear what strategies have worked for them as they seek to increase their farms profitability and resiliency.

Derek Schmitz: Derek and his wife Taylor operate Grassrich Dairy in Cold Spring, MN. They are known for their intensive grazing and maximizing their cows’ abilities to harvest as much forage as possible. They are in the process of transitioning their farm to certified organic.

Ron Klaphake: Ron and his family farm near Sauk Centre, MN on their certified organic dairy. Ron has been experimenting with alternative forages for several years with the goal of improving soil health while producing high-quality feed in a positive ecological and economical way.

Dr. Brad Heins: Brad is a dairy professor and oversees the research at the U of MN West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, MN. His areas of interest include cattle genetics, organic production, and forages. He will talk about his research around forages and grazing.

With eyes on 2024, Give to the Max!

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 22:47:00 GMT

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 these funds, and raise a total of $40,000 for our 2024 programming. We’re 25% of the way there. Will you help us meet our goal?

SFA is known for being nimble in responding to the changing needs of farmers. In 2024, we plan to expand our programming to better serve seasoned farmers by offering multi-day, field intensives and schools that dig deep into topics like direct marketing, stockmanship, and nutrient density in food production. We plan to partner with national thought leaders to expand our understanding of these topics and others.

Farmers play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The educational opportunities we provide will help farmers adapt their operations to be resilient in a changing climate. It’s an investment for the long haul.

Please consider making a donation to SFA today. Early giving is underway, with the official Give to the Max Day on Thursday, November 16. All gifts will be matched up to $20,000. New to Give to the Max? Click here to see what “Minnesota’s giving holiday” is all about.

Four ways to help us meet our match:

Make a donation on our GiveMN page.
Save on fees! Make a donation right on the SFA website.
Renew or become a member on the SFA website.
Share our campaign with others through email, social media, or word of mouth.

The impact of our work

Central Chapter member P.M. shared her recent experience with SFA’s on-farm consulting program:

“It was so helpful to walk the land with Jonathan and see it through the expert eyes of a sustainable farming professional. I got ideas for everything from an ideal location for a high tunnel greenhouse, to grant opportunities for grazing fencing. He also pointed out a new invasive (redcedar) starting to become established, and gave ideas for how to manage the already established buckthorn.

More than anything, he helped me see a number of pathways forward at this juncture on my farm where I’m looking at ways to retire and/or transition to different sources of income. I hope to make it to some of the SFA field days to see some of these ideas in action on other successful farms.”

-P.M., New York Mills, Minn.
Central Chapter member

We have a BIG Match!

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 03:29:00 GMT

We have exciting news! TWO Generous donors — one a Minnesota-based family foundation and the other a corporate community fund — are putting up a $20,000 match for our Give to the Max campaign. Our lofty goal is to fully match these funds, and raise a total of $40,000 for our 2024 programming. Early giving has begun, and we are already over $5,000 in.

We will continue our annual signature events in 2024: the SFA Annual Conference is scheduled for February 10, and the Midwest Soil Health Summit “Managing for Profit with the Soil Health Principles,” is March 13 & 14.

Four ways to help us meet our match:

Make a donation on our GiveMN page
Make a donation on the SFA website
Renew or become a member on the SFA website
Share our campaign with others through email, social media, or word of mouth.

Annual Conference registration open

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 16:58:00 GMT

Come one, come all! Registration for the 2024 Annual Conference is open.

We can’t wait to reconvene with hundreds of you farmers, ag professionals, aspiring growers, homesteaders, and local foods supporters. Join us at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Members can take advantage of a $25 Early Bird discount. Register by December 15, 2023 to get the best price (and be sure to log in first). It’s a really good time to become a member of SFA .

The Conference has sold out for the past few years with a long waitlist, so we highly recommend getting your tickets ASAP.

Registration Pricing

Early Bird Members – $50
Members (starting December 16, 2023) – $75
Nonmembers – $100
Emerging Farmers – no cost
Kids’ Program – $20 (advance registration only)
Dining Hall lunch ticket – $15

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities

We are also now accepting applications to be a sponsor or exhibitor at the Annual Conference! Learn more and apply here .

Urban Roots Farm Tour and Soil Discussion

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:24:00 GMT

Twin Cities Metro Growers Network event, September 11, 2023

Writing and photos by Lia Spaniolo, University of Minnesota Extension Educator

“Prepping the beds” and “harvesting” are Nana’s and Malachi’s responses when asked about their favorite farming activity on the farm. They both are youth interns who work at Urban Roots , a non-profit organization based on the East Side of Saint Paul, to grow fruits and vegetables for sale at local farmers markets and in community supported agriculture (CSA) shares. Nana and Malachai shared with our tour group that through working with Urban Roots they have developed more confidence in farming, talking with other people and how to be successful at work. Their stories exemplify Urban Roots’ mission: to cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food, and community.

More than twenty people gathered on a beautiful September evening at the hilltop of Rivoli Bluffs Farm and Restoration Site, one of five urban garden sites where Urban Roots grows fresh produce for the local community. Skyler Hawkins, Urban Roots’ Market Garden Farm Director, led the group around the five-acre site where about ¾ of an acre is in active production. The rest of the land is undergoing ecological restoration efforts that point to the site’s storied history.

In the 1870s, the area had been used for railroad housing and repair. By the mid-1900s, it became a street sweeping dump site. Pollution control and remediation efforts began in 2008, and ten years later the first orchards and gardens were planted and hoophouse installed. Today, the airport flight path overhead restricts housing development, and the city has given Urban Roots a seven-year lease to farm on the land. Now they are sorting out financial, legal and logistical challenges of installing a more efficient irrigation system than the complex network of hoses and timers connected to nearby fire hydrants.

As expected from its past uses, the soil is also heavily compacted making it a challenge to grow edible plants. Along the slopes, invasive Siberian elm trees have been replaced with native species that add pollinator habitat, buffer runoff and anchor the soil. The compacted soil on the hilltop was planted this year with drought-tolerant Japanese millet to suppress weeds and to start to break up the hardened clay.

But the tough conditions on parts of the site are not visible in other areas where the variety and vigor of plants abounds. Skyler showed us the children’s sensory garden filled with bright orange marigolds, winter squash interplanted among rows of fruit trees, and the hoophouse filled with watermelons behind a large field of broccolini. The community garden plots are grown by neighbors to the site; one community gardener could even be heard calling “Welcome!” to our group from the balcony of the multigenerational housing adjacent to the garden.

Other groups also grow at Rivoli Bluffs: growers from CLUES are trialing sesame plants in their plot where the flowers were a welcome treat for the butterflies and a surprise to many of us on the tour to see this tropical crop growing in Minnesota. Land stewards through Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi also tend to plants here and have taught on the beneficial uses of stinging nettle. Agricultural knowledge runs deep in the Twin Cities, and at Rivoli Bluffs, plant and people relationships are being forged through learning and growing alongside one another.

The tour wrapped on the hilltop with an engaging discussion of soil health practices, led by Natalie Hoidal, University of Minnesota Extension Educator for local foods and vegetable production. Natalie and Skyler shared their collaborative research project as they sought to learn the best way to manage Rivoli Bluffs’ soil. Since 2021, soil tests were taken twice a year at Rivoli Bluffs and data was tracked over time. Through the process, Urban Roots staff learned that more compost does not always mean better soil health. In fact, overapplication of compost can cause detrimental effects like too much phosphorus, organic matter, soluble salts and increased soil pH, which is what the data showed after previous applications of compost. In the years following, soil nutrient levels mostly recovered, but the pH still hovers above optimal growing conditions for most crops. While compost is often an easy-to-access source of nutrients, farm managers should take caution to avoid applying too much.

As the sun began to set, the group continued a lively discussion about different soil management strategies and agreed that ultimately each site is unique. A single management recommendation cannot be made for all farms. Except for one: production farms would benefit from regular soil testing to better understand nutrient levels and how they change over time. Learn more about how to take a soil test and submit it for analysis through the UMN Soil Lab at soiltest.cfans.umn.edu . A regular test costs $19.

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network is a collaboration between the Sustainable Farming Association and the University of Minnesota Extension. For questions, comments or suggestions, contact Twin Cities Metro Growers Network coordinator Lia Spaniolo at spaniolo@umn.edu or visit https://sfa-mn.org/twin-cities-growers-network .

Enchanted Meadows Pasture Walk

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:20:00 GMT

Our last pasture walk of the season with Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship will be held Thursday, October 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in La Crescent, Minn.

Click here to register.

Meet Angie Walter at Enchanted Meadows , an organic, pasture-based dairy in La Crescent. Chad & Melissa Crowley and Art & Jean Thicke milk Ayrshires here on the Mississippi bluffs. We’ll discuss pasture diversity, rest periods, and outwintering cattle for soil health benefits.

This event is free to attend, and lunch is provided. Advance registration appreciated for the lunch order, walkups welcome.

Enchanted Meadows was featured on SFA’s Dirt Rich podcast series in 2022. You can listen to episode 59: Enchanted Meadows – In Transition here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Address: 32979 Pier Ridge Rd. La Crescent, MN 55947

Granite Falls Café Chat

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:53:00 GMT

SFA is bringing a café chat to Granite Falls!

*SFA’s member benefit of on-farm consulting where simple and realistic steps can help farmers gain control and understanding of the soil they work with everyday

Free to attend! Lunch will be provided. Registration is requested, and walkups are welcome. Register here .

Address: 723 Prentice St, Granite Falls, MN 56241

Join us at Falls Cafe & Canoe on Tuesday, October 24 from 12:00-1:30 PM for lunch and a casual conversation featuring the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program as well as SFA’s popular On-Farm Consulting services .

Come to this informal gathering for lunch during the busy harvest season and a chance to have a direct conversation with SFA experts Angie Walter, dairy farmer & DGA Education Coordinator, and Jonathan Kilpatrick, Farmer Education Director.

Discussion topics will include:

*How the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program could benefit your farm and help solve labor and succession issues practically

*Attainable financial incentives available to farms and upcoming opportunities

Midwest Soil Health Summit 2024 Early Bird registration open

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:58:00 GMT

Registration

Early Bird registration offers a $25 discount and runs until January 15, 2024: $125 for members, and $175 for nonmembers. Members must log in first to see the discounted pricing. (If you’re doing the math here, yes. It does make sense to become an SFA member today! )

Click here to register.

Early Birds get the deal!

We’ve got some big news… Early Bird registration for the next Midwest Soil Health Summit is open!

Our biggest soil health event of the year will be held at the Courtyard Marriott in Mankato on March 13 & 14, 2024 . We’re excited to really dig into our theme: “Managing for Profit with the Soil Health Principles.”

Headlining the two-day Summit will be farmers and ranchers Mitchell Hora , Dale Strickler , and Burke Teichert (at right, top to bottom).

Hailing from different parts of the country, each will bring unique expertise on crop farming, ranching, drought resilience, farm profitability, and much more. Local farmer speakers, to be announced soon, will also offer their expertise in presentations and panel discussions.

Farmers, ag resource professionals, agency staff, hungry learners – all are welcome to attend and learn together. We hope you can join us!

Sponsorship

Sponsors make MSHS a reality! Please consider supporting our event at a perks level that is meaningful to you. Click here to learn more about sponsorship. New this year: sponsors have the option to complete their application on our website .

Ag Water Quality Field Days coming to Ogilvie; Parkers Prairie

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:53:00 GMT

View two diverse farms, discuss soil health and find out what motivated them to get Ag Water Quality Certified at two field days this September.

At each event, the farmers will be on hand to discuss their soil health practices as well as the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program certification process.

Fri., Sept. 22 • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nelson Grass Farm , 1622 Garden St. Ogilvie, MN 56358 Register here.

Wed., Sept. 27 • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. L’etoile du Nord Vineyard, 16451 NW Irene Ct NE Parkers Prairie, MN 56361 Register here.

For the fourth year in a row, data analysis shows that farmers who are Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certified are more profitable than farmers who are not. This data comes from the financials of farmers enrolled in Farm Business Management.

This data indicates a positive return on investment for the whole farm conservation management producers implement to become Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certified.

Lunch included! Angie Walter will lead a presentation on the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program at each event. Click here to download a flyer.

Free to attend. Advance registration requested for catering count. Info: angie@sfa-mn.org

Adaptive Grazing Management in Drought Discussion Sept. 13 near Spicer

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:55:00 GMT

Are you suffering from drought over the past growing season(s)? Has drought forced you to make financial decisions that set your farm and goals back?

Join SFA’s Soil Health Lead Jonathan Kilpatrick and Grazing Lead Doug Voss for a free event to discuss livestock management in drought from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wed., Sept. 13, at a working pasture, 7143 71st St, Spicer, Minn.

Click here to register.

Info: mary@sfa-mn.org .

Note: This pasture is south of Spicer on 71st St NE between 60th and 75th Aves NE. This is just west of the Swanson Waterfowl Production Area on County Rd 8 NE. SFA signs will be posted at nearby crossroads to direct you.

Directions from Willmar: Take U.S. Highway 71 north just out of town, then turn right on 37th Ave NE/County Rd 90. Then go left on County Rd 9 NE. Continue on then turn right on Glacial Ridge Trail/township 26. Finally, turn left on 71st St NE and the site is about a half-mile down the road.

Directions from Spicer: Head south on MN-23 W toward 113th Ave NE/Lake Ave S. Turn left onto 71st St NE. After nearly a mile, turn right to stay on 71st St NE. The event site is about a half mile down the road.

SFA staff and volunteers occasionally take photos during our workshops, cafe chats and field days for promotional purposes and to use as documentation of events to share with our funders. If you do not wish to be photographed, please let our event host know — we’ll make every effort to make sure you are not photographed.

We will gather on a leased pasture that Voss Farms just began leasing this season, and Jonathan and Doug will discuss multiple drought management methods that may work for your farm. Take a look at feeding hay on pasture in these tricky weather conditions to still bring significant value to your grazing land.

Discussions on custom grazing, watering systems, and fencing infrastructure will also be included. Attend this event to learn these proven techniques as well as network with other farmer attendees who are going through the same situation.

Please wear footwear suitable for walking in tall grass as we work our way around the pasture for the evening. Also, please bring your own water bottle to keep hydrated.

Free; registration is required to reserve a box lunch. Walkups welcome but may not receive food.

DGA PaddockTrac Demo at Walter Farm is Sept. 7 in Villard

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:32:00 GMT

SFA’s Angie Walter is hosting a DGA Fall Pasture Walk and demonstration of the PaddockTrac system from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 7, at her Walter Organic Family Farm, 11034 110th St, Villard.

The PaddockTrac device, which is in the prototype phase, mounts to the front of a UTV or 4-wheeler and uses sonar waves to measure forage height in pastures. Once the data is saved and uploaded, its app generates a grazing wedge. The Walters drive their pastures weekly, using their eyes and the data from the grazing wedge to get a fuller picture on which to base their grazing management decisions.

This event is free and includes lunch.

Click here to register.

In the meantime, you can read more about the DGA/PaddockTrac project here , and listen to SFA’s podcast episode on the technology here .

Info: Angie Walter, angie@sfa-mn.org or 320.815.9293.

TC Growers Farm Tour is Sept. 11 at Urban Roots Rivoli Bluffs Farm

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:15:00 GMT

Attendees should be prepared for walking. Limited seating is available so bring a folding chair if preferred. Bring a water bottle; no potable water is available on-site. Please note that this event is not at the main Urban Roots location on Payne Avenue.

Registration requested; walkups welcome.

Click here to register.

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network is a collaboration between SFA and the University of Minnesota Extension. For more information, email spaniolo@umn.edu .

Join us for an educational tour and reunite with the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network for our last event of 2023, set for 3:30-6 p.m. Mon., Sept. 11, at Urban Roots Rivoli Bluffs Farm, 749 Arkwright St, St. Paul.

Take a guided walking tour and learn from Market Garden Farm Manager Skyler Hawkins and youth farm staff about their many on-site projects including ecological restoration work, orchard, hoop house, staircase, medicine garden, nature path, community garden, and a community space. The farm has been trialing cover crops and new ways of managing the soil’s nutrients, which will be a special focus of this tour.

University of Minnesota Extension Educator Natalie Hoidal will also share soil management practices and soil compaction research that has been conducted at the farm in cooperation with the farm staff

The event will begin with a meet-and-greet with Lia Spaniolo, new Hennepin County Extension Educator for Urban Ag and Small Farms.

Dirt Rich: Grazing Management, Drought, & the NRCS

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 12:03:00 GMT

Jeff Duchene is a Grazing Specialist for the Minnesota NRCS , which offers both financial and technical assistance to producers to help them meet their land management goals and address their natural resource concerns.

In conversation with host Jonathan Kilpatrick, Duchene shares how his formal education combined with years of learning directly from producers has been foundational in his career: “I think every producer I’ve worked with over the years I’ve learned something from.”

The pair also discuss the process of applying for NRCS programs like EQIP , and pointers and resources available to help navigate the current drought.

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , and Podbean

New Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP)

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 20:30:00 GMT

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 this program.

According to the USDA, “Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in its farm loan programs prior to January 1, 2021 and/or are currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that were the subject of USDA discrimination that occurred prior to January 1, 2021, are eligible for this program.”

DFAP is administered through nongovernmental contractors. Analytic Acquisitions administers the program in Minnesota, and The Midtown Group does so nationally.

Additionally, eight trusted community-based organizations are serving as cooperators with USDA and third party administrators to implement DFAP and assist farmers and ranchers in applying. Those cooperators are:

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF)
Rural Coalition (RC)
Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)
North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project (LLPP)
Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG)
National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers)
Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC)
National AgrAbility Project (NAP)

“If you feel you have been discriminated against while seeking a USDA farm loan, or that you were not treated well in the servicing of your loan, you may be eligible,” said John Zippert, retired Director of Programs at FSC and current Rural Coalition Board Chair.

The application period is open now. Applications are due October 31, 2023. Applications for this program are free and do not require a lawyer. Applications may be submitted online, at a designated office, or through the mail.

Free technical assistance on how to complete the application is available from the eight cooperators and from Analytic Acquisitions. Please contact 1-800-721-0970 or info@22007apply.gov for assistance.

Learn more about DFAP, eligibility, technical assistance, and the application process at https://22007apply.gov .

New Upper Midwest Garlic Directory

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 23:19:00 GMT

If you missed the Garlic Festival (and even if you didn’t), you can still get your garlic! The 2023 Upper Midwest Garlic Directory is now live.

Inside this online directory you’ll find nearly two dozen growers selling both seed and culinary garlic, plus other garlic products. There are over twenty-five varieties to choose from.

The garlic growers are all members of SFA, hailing from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. They have also all tested negative for Garlic Bloat Nematode.

Check out the directory at https://sfa-mn.org/garlic-directory .

Minnesota Garlic Festival Seeks Volunteers

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 22:27:00 GMT

There is a sign-up form through Sign Up Genius with information about the different shifts and their roles. Simply click the link below, review the shifts available and click on the shifts you want to reserve. You’ll get an email confirmation and I’ll have your shifts recorded. You will also get automatic email reminders before the event.

See all the Volunteer Information, including the handbook and release form here . Then, sign up on Sign-up Genius here .

Aside from being part of one of the coolest (and most fragrant) summer festivals in MN, you’ll get free admission, a staff t-shirt, special parking, and other perks throughout the day!

By Olivia Olson • MN Garlic Fest Volunteer Coordinator

As we’re gearing up for the Garlic Festival on August 12, we are looking for a few more volunteers to join us and help make the day run smoothly. We are especially looking for volunteers with the information tent, kids games and kite building, end of day tear-down/clean up, and staffing zero-waste stations during the festival.

Here’s the details:

Saturday, August 12th, 10AM – 5PM

McLeod County Fairgrounds
840 Century Ave. SW
Hutchinson, Minnesota

Visit the new MN Garlic Fest Official Website and Schedule of Events here.

Foundations of Fencing Workshop

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:14:00 GMT

Are you intimidated by the thought of building your own fences? Do you simply need a hands-on refresher?

There are limited seats remaining for our Foundations of Fencing workshop on August 11 in Pine River! Join Kent Solberg and Jonathan Kilpatrick, along with members of the Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council , for a day in the field learning about and building permanent fence systems.

Foundations of Fencing

August 11 | 10 AM – 4:30 PM

Happy Dancing Turtle, Pine River

REGISTER

Properly installed corners and braces form the foundation of good fences, whether high tensile, woven wire, or barbed. We will spend a portion of our time in a classroom setting going over the basics of permanent fence construction. Then we will get in the field and actually construct four different types of bracing systems and corners: the H-brace, the New Zealand diagonal brace, a Mule system, and a “deadman” brace. We will also teach the New Zealand fencing knot, discuss insulator selection and installation, and string fence wire.

This will be a very hands-on workshop , with plenty of time for you to get your hands dirty learning how to do the work.

We are capping the attendance at 16 people, to allow for the best instructor-to-student interaction. It is $60 to register, and a boxed lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required. Sign up now to secure your spot!

Kent Solberg owned and operated a fence contracting business for many years, and has used and consulted on electric and permanent fence systems for over three decades.

Jonathan Kilpatrick has built and maintained a variety of styles of fencing for many classes of livestock.

Dirt Rich: Dealing with Drought

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:06:00 GMT

July has seen swaths of Minnesota move into increasingly intense drought conditions, per the U.S. Drought Monitor . With the 2021 drought in the rearview mirror, five SFA farm consultants from across Minnesota gathered for a roundtable drought discussion on our latest episode of Dirt Rich.

Listen in to hear how Angie Walter, Derek Schmitz, Doug Voss, and Tyler Carlson are approaching and planning ahead for drought in each of their unique grazing operations. While conditions have changed since this conversation was recorded in early June, their goals and decision-making strategies are evergreen.

You can listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , and Podbean .

Remember that you are always welcome to reach out with questions. Our team of staff and consultants have a wide range of expertise. Drop us a line! SFA also offers our members on-farm coaching and consulting. You can get started here .

We know that drought can be a real source of stress for farmers. Minnesota has resources to help you cope. Reach the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670, or text FARMSTRESS to 898211, or email farmstress@state.mn.us . More information and additional resources are available here.

Beyond Your Backyard: Prairie Conferences

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:57:00 GMT

One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Laura Jackson with the Tallgrass Prairie Center, said the old adage “if you build it they will come” holds true. And that somehow when we reconstruct prairie, the wildlife that lives there finds it. “And if they’re not giving up, we shouldn’t either.”

In Minnesota, prairie used to cover 1/3 of the state with 18 million acres. Today, we have 250,000 acres of native prairie left.

Prairie is vitally important to all of us. Prairies like wetlands and woods are working together to produce clean air, filter water, and store carbon. The decisions we all make will determine the future. And when you look across a conference room filled to maximum capacity with 600 people representing 27 states and three countries who share a passion for prairie, there is really only one takeaway: hope. Hope that this much energy and passion combined will bring about change and with it a permanent legacy of prairie-for now and for the future ahead.

The last week of June was the North American Prairie Conference in Altoona, Iowa.

The conference kicked off with a trip to the Hayden Prairie Preserve. We learned that Hayden prairie is one of the largest Iowa remnants outside of the Loess Hills. It is a beautiful prairie filled with life and yet, I was sad. It is a small space. And I found myself yearning to make it bigger. So that the sedge wrens, dickcissels, viceroys, and clay-colored beetles that we found would always be here. Would never be forced to move onward if this last little stalwart patch of prairie is lost. Everyone deserves to have a home, after all. It will take all of us together to make sure this place, their home, is always so.

Later during the conference we learned that in 1945 an Iowa botany professor, Dr. Ada Hayden, visited the site and made sure the family knew what a special site this was. That same year it became public land. Make no mistake, this special place remained so because of the family that stewarded it through the years, and now diligent wildlife managers have taken over the care of the stewardship watch. It sparked something in me. One person. One interaction. I don’t know what happened on that day in 1945, but I can imagine there were many excited gasps as each new plant was discovered. The sedge wrens and dickcissels watching the excited humans while the walking sticks ambled in the vegetation below, unbothered by the humans deciding their future. After all, walking sticks have important things to do in a day. People and the choices we make matter. There is power in the passion for prairie.

Networking Groups Welcome Lia Spaniolo

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 21:20:00 GMT

SFA is pleased to welcome Lia Spaniolo from the University of Minnesota Extension as our collaborator in coordinating two of our networking groups! Lia will work with us to co-lead the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network and Ecological Service Livestock Network .

Keep a look out for events this fall with both networks.

And, a special thanks to Kaitlyn Albers, who supported a couple of great tours with the TC Growers this spring as Interim Extension Educator!

Below is a message from Lia Spaniolo.

Hello! In June I became the new University of Minnesota Extension Educator for Urban and Small Farms in Hennepin County. I am thrilled for this opportunity to help growers be successful in this unique food and farm landscape.

I was born and raised in Michigan where I earned my Master’s degree in Community, Food and Agriculture and Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Michigan State University (MSU). While in school, I worked at the MSU Student Organic Farm that had a 300 member CSA. I also spent three years in Washington State working with Hmong, beginning and minority farmers on business development. I moved to Minnesota in 2019 and spent the last three years as Program Coordinator for the Anoka County Extension Master Gardeners.

I am committed to building healthy and resilient communities through locally-based food and agriculture. Food is central to everyone’s daily life. The source and quality of the food we eat has a profound effect on our bodies, society and the environment. The challenges on the road to building a life-giving food system are many, but the collective will is strong and the vision enduring to create a system that benefits all.

Thank you to Karl Hakanson for his years building relationships in this community. While I don’t expect to fill his shoes entirely, I hope to bring as much value to the people and networks he cultivated. Thanks also goes to Kaitlyn Albers for bringing me up to speed in my first week and advancing several important projects during her time as interim Extension Educator.

I look forward to getting to know and collaborating with the people and organizations in this region who care about good food, ecological agriculture and building community.

Say ‘Hey’ to SFA at FarmFest

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 22:51:00 GMT

Will you be at FarmFest this year? Come say hello at the Soil Health Tent!

We will be at the Redwood County event all three days, August 1-3, co-hosting the Soil Health Tent with Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and a whole crew of great partners. We’ll have rainfall demonstrations, cover crop and Kernza plots, live sheep grazing, and more! Many soil health leaders will be on hand to network and answer your questions. Find us at Booth #SR14.

Learn more and buy tickets to FarmFest at https://www.ideaggroup.com/farmfest .

Watering Systems for Livestock Workshop

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 18:20:00 GMT

Want to get some ideas for bringing your watering system to the next level? Come on out to Voss Farms in Paynesville on Friday, July 21, 1:00-5:00 PM !

During this field day, Doug Voss and Jonathan Kilpatrick will be showcasing many options and opportunities for graziers to provide water to their livestock. You’ll see several elements in action with cattle, including:

Controlled river water access
Diaphragm nose pumps
Water hauling options
Artesian well (developing a spring), and
Pipeline watering systems.

Doug Voss and family own and operate Voss Farms and GrazeTek with many like-minded partners. They graze custom cattle and their own livestock on their farm, and at other sites around the area.

This event is free to attend. Registration is requested, and walkups are welcome. Register here .

Kernza: Grain, Grazing, or Both?

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:57:00 GMT

What are the possibilities around using Kernza® for both a forage and grain? View Kernza plots and how it can fit into a grazing system at a free field day from 2 to 5 p.m. July 14 at the U. of M. West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 State Hwy 329 Morris.

Brad Heins, Extension Specialist and Professor for Dairy Management at U of M Morris, will showcase the Center’s Kernza plots that have been grazed for over five years, sharing observations and taking a side-by-side look at grazed and un-grazed Kernza.

SFA Soil Health Specialist Jonathan Kilpatrick will also be on hand to discuss forage chains and how Kernza can fit into a grazing system.

This event is free. Registration requested; walkups welcome. Register here.

Now Hiring: Grants Manager

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 02:57:00 GMT

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 rate for this contract position is $30 to $35 per hour, depending on experience.

Position open until filled. For more information on the position and how to apply, please click here .

Workshop: Is your soil functioning?

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 22:43:00 GMT

Click here to download a flyer.

Join SFA’s Kent Solberg and Doug Voss along with Lake of the Woods Soil & Water Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff for an afternoon in the field from noon to 3 p.m. Wed., July 5, in Williams, Minn.

We will be looking at ways we can evaluate whether or not our soils are functioning properly. Hosted on Bill Bendickson’s farming operation, we will discuss the context of the farm and the crops produced, utilize a rainfall simulator to see the effects of rain on differing soil management methods, and then have rotating break-out stations to try out methods for evaluating soil health.

This will be an action-packed afternoon, come ready to learn! This event is free to attend. Registration is requested, and walkups are welcome. This workshop is being made possible with funding provided by the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment.

Click here to register.

Directions: Signs will be placed to help people find the location. A tent will be set up in the field.

Starting in Williams
Travel north on County Road 2 (Wilderness Avenue) for 2 miles
Turn east on County Road 58 (24th Street NW) travel 1 mile
Turn south on County Road 61 (70th Ave NW)

New Case Studies Tell Hopeful Stories

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 22:50:00 GMT

Click here to view the case studies.

A brand new volume of farm case studies are hot off the press. This time, the case studies highlight farms and their soil health practices who are certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) .

Angie Walter, the MAWQCP Outreach Coordinator with SFA, began working on this project in 2021 thanks to a boots-on-the-ground grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to promote the program. She took the opportunity to visit ten farms across Minnesota to learn about the variety of soil health practices each has implemented, the effects those practices have had, and what motivated them to get certified through MAWQCP.

“Case studies are beneficial to other farmers who are looking to implement practices on their operations,” Walter said. “Farmers like to hear what other farmers are doing and how it has worked for them. It’s also important for farmers to see how Ag Water Quality Certification could benefit them and their farm operation.”

Readers can find the case studies on the SFA website alongside the three previous volumes of soil health case studies in the growing Resource Library. Printed copies will be available at many SFA field days and workshops this year. Visit the SFA Event Calendar to see what is coming up near you. Farmers can also get a printed copy from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and from MAWQCP certifiers .

“I hope you enjoy reading these farm case studies as much as I enjoyed meeting these farmers and learning what they are doing,” Walter continued. “I have a lot of renewed hope in our farm community after hearing many of their stories.”

If you have any questions about MAWQCP, you can also contact Angie by phone or email: 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Beyond Your Backyard: Bumble bee Buzz

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:36:00 GMT

Now don’t get too sad. Theirs is a story of strength. A tiny bee, surviving the Minnesota winter and breathing new life into spring and summer so our flowers, shrubs, and trees can shine through the season. That’s something to celebrate. What better way to end the ‘Ode to Nature’ series with a part 3 dedicated to none other than the bumble bee.

(If you missed part 1 or part 2 , just click here or here and you’ll be all caught up!)

Bumble bee Buzz

Oh look a fuzzy bumble bee
Abdomen thorax head
those are the parts of my body at least that’s what I read
Not to mention 4 wings, no I don’t usually sting

I’m going from flower to flower collecting pollen and nectar just about every hour
I take it back to my nest, add some saliva and boom I’ve made a tiny loaf of bee bread
That’s how i feed my babies so they don’t wind up dead

Raise my young down in the ground
Unlike most of my other bee friends
I live in a colony not singly

I carry pollen in all different ways sometimes in a tiny basket on my leg
Or stuck to my tummy
No it’s not funny

I’m a bee and I know what I need:
Plant native wildflowers and grasses that bloom all sea-son
Avoid pesticides so I can stay alive
Leave open space for my nest
And I’ll take care of your flowers, garden and all the rest

By Megan Benage

Well, was that a suspense builder or what? You might have even thought that I forgot about part 3 of this ode to nature series, but not so! Sometimes field season and surveying prairies is just very, very distracting in the best way. I’ve been enjoying visiting all of my prairie friends again and seeing them thrive. I’m always amazed at how well they do even in low moisture years. It is definitely a testament to the power of native plants and native ecosystems!

One of my favorite things to see are the first emerging Queen bumble bees. Their large buzzes can be heard from a while off as they zip through the prairie searching for pollen and nectar to sustain them and provision the nest for their new colony to come.

I hope I never stop feeling joy when I first see them. There is something about a fuzzy bumble bee that gives you hope. They’ve just overwintered in the ground—sometimes in bitterly cold conditions. They have the whole future colony inside of them and their one job after emerging in spring is to find food, provision the nest, lay the eggs, and then they die before the new colony is born.

Drought again?

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:46:00 GMT

Eventually, we decided to add drip tape to some of our field crops after it was clear it was going to be a very dry year. We targeted our drip tape to crops that were going to be in place for a long period of time. For us, that meant we added drip to our field tomatoes & peppers, as well as cucumbers and melons. We also got really jealous of folks who have systems to lay down drip tape and plastic in one pass. Laying the drip tape was labor intensive since we were doing it manually. We also don’t love the disposable nature of drip tape.

Getting some crops to germinate in those years was a challenge. Beets and carrots were particularly difficult, and they’re two of our top crops in total sales. We needed to irrigate them as soon as we planted them, and then either keep irrigating them or cover them in order to ensure good germination.

Drought years have at least one big advantage for small scale producers: the reduced weed pressure. Drought years are a good opportunity to make sure no weeds go to seed on your farm, which will in turn help reduce your weed seed bank.

Need help getting started with irrigation? Drop me a line at dan@sfa-mn.org and I’ll do what I can to help you get started.

By Dan Zimmerli • Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator

2022 and 2021 proved to be very dry seasons for most farmers in Minnesota. Depending on where you are, 2023 feels like it might be another dry year. It’s impossible to know for sure, but long-range models indicate that June will trend drier than normal for much of the state. With large portions of the state already hoping for rain, I thought I’d share my experiences from the past couple of years.

My family, staff and I grow produce southeast of Mankato. We were able to adapt and adjust pretty quickly to the dry conditions of the past couple of years and we’ve learned a few things. We farm on three acres, and while we didn’t have the equipment or well to water all three, we did have some irrigation equipment in the form of overhead sprinklers and drip irrigation. We had enough equipment to water the most valuable crops on our farm where we measured value in terms of dollars/square foot. Since the total area we could irrigate was the limiting factor it made sense to target the irrigation we were doing to the highest value crops. For us that meant crops like carrots, beets, and lettuce. We decided not to irrigate crops like potatoes, sweet corn, and winter squash just due to the large area they take up.

Fencing for Small Ruminants Workshop

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 22:08:00 GMT

Due to popular demand for our spring workshop, we are hosting another Semi-permenant and Temporary Energized Fence Systems for Small Ruminants workshop!

Join Jonathan Kilpatrick and Kent Solberg for this free, hands-on event suitable for both beginning farmers and those who need a refresher. They will cover the basics of electric fencing geared towards small ruminant producers, but anyone using electric fencing will benefit. They will also discuss techniques used by operators with large, commercial-scale small ruminant flocks to manage rotational grazing cost-effectively.

Registration is required. Space is limited to 30 participants. Learn more and register here .

Insurance and liability considerations for agritourism

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 19:03:00 GMT

By Jerry Ford • SFA Network Coordinator

This article was originally written for the University of Minnesota Extension’s Fruit and Vegetable News blog.

Insurance is very important for all farming operations, but is especially important for agritourism operations that host visitors on this farm. This article details important topics related to insurance for agritourism farms.

This article was not written by an insurance professional or a lawyer. Please note that insurance policies vary across providers, and that agritourism activities like u-pick, farm stays, and tours all have different risks and considerations for insurance and regulations. This article is meant to serve as a starting place, but please reach out to a lawyer or insurance provider for more detailed information as it pertains to your specific agritourism activities.

Before talking about insurance, let’s talk about the law.

Laws related to liability and agritourism

We are fortunate in Minnesota to have a statute that specifically protects those of us involved in agritourism: Minnesota Statutes; 604A.40 AGRITOURISM; IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY .

This statute limits the liability of the farmer or agritourism professional: “an agritourism professional is not liable for injury, damage, or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities.”

It lists many of things that you would want to do at your on-farm event and covers most potential hazards, including “natural hazards” and “ordinary dangers of structures or equipment ordinarily used in farming or ranching.” See section (c) for that list (it includes “farm stay”.)

However, it is important to note that it does not specifically cover activities that would normally not occur on a farm, and these could be open to interpretation: i.e. It could be argued that a hay ride would be a normal farm activity, but that a bounce house would not.

This statute applies whether the participants are paying or getting in for free.

There are important caveats. In order to be protected by this statute, the agritourism professional must be in compliance with it. Negligence can include if you commit an act “that constitutes negligence or willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant” and certain claims “arising out of the sale or use of alcohol at an agritourism facility.” The SARE guide “ Come & Get it: What you need to know to serve food on your farm ” has some good examples of what could be considered negligent.

The easiest requirement to comply with, and yet the one that, at least in my experience, is very often overlooked is “Subd. 3.Posting notice.” You are negligent if you do not “post plainly visible signs at one or more prominent locations in the premises where the agritourism activity takes place that include a warning of the inherent risks of agritourism activity.” If you do not post these signs where they can easily be seen by your farm visitors, you are not protected by this statute.

Here is the sign that SFA provides for our on-farm events. If you do not already have such signs posted at your farm, it is an easy step to do.

So, let’s say you have a guest on your farm and they get hurt and decide to file a claim against you. If you’re in compliance with this statute, you are “not liable for injury, damage, or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities.” However, that does not stop them from filing a claim or suing you and claiming that you were negligent.

Insurance considerations

Please note that, as I stated above, this is information from a layperson, not an insurance professional or lawyer. Here are some important notes:

Talk to your insurance representative and ask very specific questions about how their policies apply to the various agritourism practices you’re using at your farm. Then tell them to show you where it is in the policy, or that you need it in writing.
Policies can vary considerably from one company/underwriter to another.
Understand that if you are negligent or if the incident in question is not covered by your insurance, the company may exercise “defense with the reservation of rights”: they will answer the claim, and then could withdraw from the rest of the proceedings.

A couple of terms to know:

“Excess” : If there is more than one policy in effect, then one policy will be primary. If settlement of a claim requires more than what’s available in that policy, the second insurance may kick in. For example:
Auto : If someone’s car is damaged at your farm, auto insurance will probably be primary.
Outside event management : a nonprofit organization or agency like Extension is producing an event at your farm. Their liability insurance should be primary. Hint: ask them to provide a certificate of insurance that extends coverage to you and your farm.
“Endorsements and Exclusion” : Clauses that are amended to the policy are Endorsements. Some of those endorsements stipulate what is covered, some state what is not covered. The latter are Exclusions. Read them all, and then ask questions.

Again, we are talking about liability insurance, not your farm/homeowner policy that protects your property. Often liability will be bundled with your property insurance (and others), but it is separate. At the very basic level, liability insurance:

Provides for compensation to someone who experiences injury or damage on your property
Provides you with legal representation in the event of a claim

There is also a distinction between this kind of liability insurance and the kind that covers your farm products after they leave the farm (the latter is called different names by different companies).

For example, my farm has 1) a farm property policy that covers my buildings and equipment, 2) a liability policy that covers most incidents that may occur when an outside person is on our property, and 3) a product liability policy that covers us for personal injury claims about our beef and garlic after they leave the farm. All this is not cheap.

Then there’s “Event Liability Insurance” and “Special Event Liability”. It’s possible that your farm liability does not cover special one-off events with attendance above a particular threshold (or some other definition of a special event.) Let’s say you have a u-pick operation and glamping, and then you occasionally host weddings. The latter may require additional coverage as an event.

Now, you may also ask clients who do one-off events to provide their own event insurance, sort of like when the nonprofit or agency does an event on your farm. They can get single-use policies, and it’s best to ask them to provide you with proof that their policy extends coverage to you and your property (e.g. if your barn is damaged during the event) and covers personal injury and property damage to the guests. Then, their policy is primary, and yours would cover the excess if needed. Again, talk to your agent about how this would work.

For those of you who have animals/livestock there are additional considerations.

There is another statute that may apply: Minnesota Statute 604A.12 covers certain livestock activity.
On your own farm liability insurance, check if you have coverage for personal injury or property damage caused by your animals. If not, see if you can add it.
If you have an outside group providing the primary insurance for a one-off event, check if they have coverage for injury/damage done by animals.

Infectious Disease from Animals

There are a lot of diseases that animals can spread to humans. Insurance for communicable diseases transmitted by your livestock to guests on your farm can be difficult to acquire, and may not protect you from a guest who seeks to sue for negligence. Doing everything you can to reduce the risks of transmission of these types of diseases on your farm is important and will show, if needed, that you have been proactive about protecting your guests.

So, here’s what I now do at my farm:

Post the signs where people can clearly see them, and then announce that they should read the signs.
I do not let guests get close to the cattle (my only livestock).
I recommend that guests clean their shoes and thoroughly wash their hands.
Provide access to real handwashing stands with running water, soap and single-use paper towels. Hand sanitizer does not replace handwashing. (Note that the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requires all farms covered by this law to make handwashing available to all visitors and employees.)

If you are going to allow your guests to be close to animals, here are resources for you:

UMASH at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health has a lot of signage, resources and information about keeping your customers safe. They have free signs you can order or download.
The Minnesota Department of Health also has lots of downloadable signs and materials here.
UMN Extension

In summary

Navigating liability insurance and understanding the statutory protections are complex, but they deserve our attention as agritourism farmers. Though many of us will go through our entire farming career and never have a claim against us, it only takes one to potentially put us out of business. We are fortunate in Minnesota to have the statutes that protect us, though it does fall to us to be sure we’re compliant with them. And we are wise to remember that the statutes do not necessarily prevent claims against us, and it is our responsibility to research and procure the right insurance for our operations

PaddockTrac Grazing Demonstration June 16

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:30:00 GMT

Organic dairy grazier Angie Walter will demonstrate PaddockTrac at her family farm in Villard on Friday, June 16, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. PaddockTrac is a grazing tool being developed by the University of Missouri. Guests will see how it works in the field and hear about what the Walters have used while using it on their 100-cow organic dairy. There will also be information on NRCS programs.

This pasture walk is free to attend. Registration is requested, and walk ups are welcome. Register by filling out this form.

Read more about the DGA/PaddockTrac project here , and listen to our recent episode of Dirt Rich on the technology here .

This event is hosted in partnership with the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) .

Address: 11034 110th St. Villard, MN 56385

Minnesota Garlic Festival: Chef Stage Really Big Announcement

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Reprinted with permission from the ever-delightful Stinky News. If you would like to subscribe to The Stinky News, please send an email to garlicgrowers@sfa-mn.org saying so.

You know those old romantic movies where the two lovers are running toward each other in slow motion, arms outstretched, across a field of flowers? It’s kind of like that, but it’s a field of garlic.

The festival has wooed and won the magnificent Minnesota Cooks to produce the Chef Demo Stage , with the incomparable Claudine Arndt as Chef Wrangler. It’s been something of a mutual admiration society between the two organizations for a few years, but as Claudine says, “It was hard to get close in a relationship with the festival because of the smell. Then we figured out that if we ate a bunch of baked garlic with aioli topping and a pesto side, we didn’t notice it as much.”

Against our better judgement, we called Festival Director, Jerry Ford, for his comment. This rarely goes well .

Ford : “Whoa, like, comments are done by my Press Agent, dude. I’ll get her on the line for you.”

Then he made a clicking noise, starting humming something that was a pretty good imitation of on-hold music, made another clicking noise, and said in a falsetto voice:

Ford’s “Press Agent “: “This is my Press Agent. What do you need a comment on?”

Stinky News : “You’re not a Press Agent. You’re you.”

Ford : “You who?”

Stinky News : “ You you, that’s who.”

Ford : “Right. I am me and you are you and we are all together. Now, what did you need a comment on?”

Stinky News : “Whatever. Just say something about the new Chef Wrangler.”

Ford : “Yes, well, right. I will now read a formal statement from Director Ford, who is he and not me (dropping out of falsetto voice):

‘Dude! Whoa! We got Minnesota Cooks, baby! Like, they do that calendar thing ey so that you remember when to eat, and there’s that book they wrote that’s got lots of groovy pictures. Yeah, no. And the TV show on that public whatever channel: it’s got all those cute animals and chefs, and, dig this: they used to do this chef stage gig at the State Fair, but now we got ’em. Boom!'”

You can atten d the 2023 Minnesota Garlic Festival at the McLeod County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 12. Learn more and purchase advance tickets at www.mngarlicfest.com .

SFA Welcomes Derek Schmitz

Thu, 25 May 2023 05:47:00 GMT

We are excited to have dairy grazier Derek Schmitz join us as our Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) coordinator!

Derek farms near Cold Spring with his wife Taylor and two (soon to be three) children. They milk 70 grass-based dairy cows, raise hair sheep, custom graze, and direct market beef. You may have been to their farm in the last few years; Derek is a Mentor Grazier in the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) program, and is a Soil Health Academy and DGA pasture walk host.

Derek is passionate about what grass-based livestock can accomplish when regenerative principles are appropriately and intentionally applied to our resources. “I really look forward to sharing my learned experiences with others and to helping fellow farmers improve their operations with regenerative solutions to their problems,” he shared.

Welcome, Derek! If you’d like to connect, you can reach Derek at derek@sfa-mn.org .

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: How are you doing?

Tue, 23 May 2023 17:19:00 GMT

Phone: 833-600-2670
Text: FARMSTRESS to 898211
Email: farmstress@state.mn.us

Ted Matthews and Monica McConkey are two Rural Mental Health Specialists on the other end of the Helpline that work with farmers across the state. It is free to call them, and there is no paperwork involved. You can find their numbers and a list of additional support programs here .

The Helpline website also includes information on assistance with food, heat, electricity, health care, and senior programs, as well as business, financial, and legal problems.

Additionally, 988 is the number to call or text for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, accessible in both English and Spanish. Veterans, press 1.

Our friends at the Women, Food and Agriculture Network just shared an interesting list of additional resources in their newsletter you might find helpful. Thanks to them for compiling this list.

Watch:

Elena Velez , founder of Community Restorative Trainings, led a stress reduction presentation and exercise during the 2022 WFAN Conference.
English presentation
En Español
Cultivating Resiliency for Women in Agriculture Webinars – Presented by University of Minnesota Extension and U-MASH.

Listen:

Check out ‘ Cultivating Resilience ,’ a podcast from Cultivemos , developed to bring together farmers & ranchers through mutual support.
Check out HOP Mentor Caite Palmer and dairy farmer Arlene Hunter’s podcast Barnyard Language , where they talk about what it’s like to run farms and raise families.

Read:

University of Minnesota Extension has a paper and presentation on rural community stress and offers strategies for building resilience.
I-CASH (Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health) has a crisis resource brochure and information for relevant mental health training available on their website .

Find Support:

The SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) offers resources for mental healthcare, and an online guide to help you access care.
The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network is a national network of resources and training to help equip people and organizations with effective mental healthcare delivery.

By Lucinda Winter • Executive Director

Now that it’s finally safe to stop layering before heading outside, I’m hearing from both SFA staff and members that they are hitting it hard to make up for lost time this spring. May is such a busy time for farmers, especially so this year, and that can be stressful. I hope you can take a moment or two during the next few weeks to ask yourself “How am I doing?” and to reach our for help if you need it.

Minnesota has free mental health, stress, and crisis resources specifically for farmers. The Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline is open 24/7 and can be accessed by phone, text, and email. They field about 30,000 calls a year.

Beyond Your Backyard: Bison bison, an ode to a modern day mammoth

Tue, 16 May 2023 17:45:00 GMT

Oh hey I’m a Bison ��
Some people call me a Buffalo
It’s whatever works you know?
I’m a grazer which means I’m a prairie changer

see that lead cow, that’s who we follow
I stomp and I wallow, compacting the soil
Oh look I’ve made a tiny pool
Come on frogs, toads, salamanders, birds, and insects I’ve made you a new habitat niche
I carry seeds in my hide
No, I’m not down for a bison ride
Just plants y’all , helping them find their new home on the prairie once and for all

Walking through that prairie eating a delicious buffet,
I do it pretty much every day chewing that grass, sometimes twice it’s just as nice
When I get full and the bathroom urge comes upon me I respond to those needs
We all do it
Mine’s just called a bison chip
My bathroom breaks fertilize
I see how impressed you are by your eyes
Carbon, nitrogen one little trickle
and I’m changing the cycle

All these things I do
Creating micro habitat for birds, plants, pocket gophers, and the occasional shrew
You see I’m a bison bison
Baking powder of the prairie, Necessary for success
Connecting all the pieces
I make sure all these other organisms keep rising keep rising
Just like that sun on the prairie horizon

Read the final part of the ‘Ode to Nature’ series, Bumble bee Buzz, here .

By Megan Benage

I promised a three-part series and a three part-series ode to nature is what I intend to stand by.

This series features raps about things in nature I find exciting, awe-inspiring, and frankly, worth rapping about. Part 2 could only highlight one of nature’s largest land mammals, the bison. (If you missed Part 1, you can get caught up here! )

These majestic animal relatives are part of our prairies. Someone told me once that you can’t have a true prairie without bison and you can’t have bison without a prairie. Nature is intricately intertwined and connected. All of the parts and pieces working together in ways we don’t fully understand or always pause to appreciate. Let this be a gentle reminder that nature is like a giant puzzle—each piece having a place and purpose. So let’s honor that because nothing, and I mean nothing, is more infuriating than a puzzle with missing pieces. Speaking of puzzle pieces, that brings me right back to our nature star of the day!

Beyond Your Backyard: Rhizome Rap

Fri, 12 May 2023 20:23:00 GMT

By Megan Benage

A while back I was trying to think of fun and engaging ways to get people excited about nature. I remembered when I was working as a naturalist on Cape Cod how we sometimes asked the students to voice their appreciation through song or short plays. And that got me thinking. If songs and short plays are good for kids, surely they’re good for adults too, right?

Enter, my three-part miniseries featuring raps about things in nature I find exciting, awe-inspiring, and frankly, worth rapping about. What better way to kick off this series then with my first rap about rhizomes. Enjoy!

I’m a rhizome part of the soil biome
I grow underground, you know that’s where I can be found
Some people think I’m a root, but I’m really a stem
I’m an adaptation so the plants can keep makin’ little baby prairie plants.
The fire and bison won’t get me because I’m tucked up under the soil so neat
What could be better?
So the prairie can go on forever and ever and ever
I didn’t stutter!

Want to learn more about rhizomes? Visit here and here .

Need more nature raps? Megan also wrote “ Bison bison, an ode to a modern day mammoth .”

The post Beyond Your Backyard: Rhizome Rap appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

A Living Room for Soil Biology? Part II

Wed, 03 May 2023 19:33:00 GMT

Through photosynthesis, the plant takes the energy from the sun and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces carbohydrates, some of which it pumps down into its roots. The roots in turn pump (or exude) this sugary substance called root exudate into the surrounding soil. This root exudate is what the fungi feed on, which in turn brings valuable nutrients to the plant from regions of the soil that the roots of the plant can’t and don’t reach. The formation of carbohydrates in the plant and subsequent “sharing” of a portion of those carbohydrates with soil biology is a critical part of the carbon cycle.

What role do these fungi play (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, to be exact)? This fungus produces a sticky substance called glomalin which binds the soil aggregate together. Aggregation is what creates room for air and water to flow into the soil structure. And, for the subaquatic form of soil biology such as protozoa and nematodes, the ability to move around. Water has often been called the most limiting nutrient of all, and air is essential for living microorganisms.

By Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist

Read Part I of this series here.

So, what does the root system of a living plant accomplish for us?

In short, the root system of a plant is a phenomenal communications, sales and marketing, shipping and handling service all wrapped into one full-service entity. Not many corporations can do this with the efficiency that a plant can.

So, increasing the soil’s ability to take in and hold water and air enables more resilient farms. Our goal as farmers and ranchers should be to build more soil aggregate. This is how we provide that living room for biology. Without that living root, it won’t happen.

While this is a short synopsis of a highly complex subject that we are still uncovering new depths of, hopefully it has shown you the importance of that living root and creating a living room for necessary biology. Without that photosynthetic process feeding the soil biology, we have no life in our soils, and thus the soil doesn’t function as it was designed to. We must create a living room for these microbes to live and work.

The power of a living root

I firmly believe that once we fully understand the power of keeping a living root in our soil for as many days of the year as possible (365 would be great), we will be pulling no-till seed drills planting cover crops behind our combines as we harvest (any engineers reading this?). Can you imagine an agricultural community where we take as much pride in the number of days we have living roots growing in our soil as we do in our equipment line-up or a new pick-up truck? A future where we will all be thinking about what kind of “furniture” our biology needs in their living room.

‘Til next time, what kind of furniture are you going to put in that living room?!

MN Ag Water Quality Certified farmers are more profitable!

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 01:08:00 GMT

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 can be found at AgCentric.org .

This data indicates a positive return on investment for the whole farm conservation management producers implement to become Water Quality Certified.

If you have any questions about how to get your farm certified, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

DGA Mentor Roundtable May 1

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:54:00 GMT

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, as well as how to grow nutrient-dense forages for grazing. Local resident Glen Borgerding of Ag Resource Consulting is the roundtable’s featured speaker.

Advance registration is requested, and walkups are welcome. You do not need to be part of the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program to participate. Register here . A flyer is also available for download here .

Address: Hillcrest Family Restaurant, 1004 Shamrock Ln. Albany, MN 56307

Info: Angie Walter, angie@sfa-mn.org , (320) 815-9293

A Living Room for Soil Biology? Part I

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:30:00 GMT

Above Mirrors Below

I’ve always felt that, as farmers and ranchers, we should be much more concerned about what is happening beneath the soil surface than what is happening above. As a grazier myself, it’s for this reason that I am far more concerned about growing roots than I am about growing grass. Why? Well, if I have a good root system, I have that support network from which my grass can pull nutrients from no matter what the above-ground conditions are like.

This is the type of thinking that helps us address root causes (pun intended!), rather than symptoms. Your above-ground species (whether plants, livestock, or wildlife) will always mirror and tell you what is happening beneath the soil surface. Poor livestock health? Poor soil, or feed grown on poor soil. Crops riddled with insect pressure and damage? This is indicative of a lack of soil biology. Healthy soil biology increases BRIX, deterring those little pests.

A Root-Cause Approach

Modern day agriculture is full of top-down, symptom-addressing thinking. I would argue that we need to start thinking from the bottom-up, or root-cause thinking to make substantial progress. Just page through any typical ag publication and you will be inundated with ads touting the latest innovation to address… what? You got it, symptoms. I maintain that we cause most of those symptoms because we haven’t taken into account the need for a hospitality department for biology, which in turn will build the house (soil aggregate) if we supply them with enough carbon, the currency of the soil.

Does your soil have a living room for its biology? Are we in the hospitality business for the millions of little critters that work so hard beneath our feet to keep our soil functioning?

The start of all of this is a plant’s root system. We’ll get to that part in Part II – what’s a living root got to do with it?

By Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist

Recently, while doing some writing, I was using a voice-to-text application to speed up my work. As I was going back through what I had said, checking for errors and cleaning up the little things that these dictation tools tend to miss, I came across a sentence where I had meant to say “living root.” Instead, the translation came through as “living room.”

As comical as those app errors can be, this one caught my attention and got me thinking. I began to realize that there was something to this mistake. What is the relationship between a living root and a living room, and what connections for soil biology does it have? Hmm, could this voice-to-text error provide some insights to our management of soil? Let’s find out.

Meet the Emerging Farmers Office

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 22:14:00 GMT

By Katie Feterl • Communications Director

In 2022, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) opened the state’s first Emerging Farmers Office . On today’s episode of Dirt Rich, Lillian Otieno and Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey of the MDA Commissioner’s Office share how it came to be, the value it brings to our agricultural landscape, and the impacts they are seeing.

SFA’s Executive Director Lucinda Winter hosts this discussion, exploring the connections with SFA’s work and how individuals can plug in.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with the Emerging Farmers Office or what “emerging farmer” means, this is a great conversation to listen to to get a sense of the Office’s approach to helping Minnesota’s farmers find success.

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, or online here .

Take Time for Wellness this Season

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:33:00 GMT

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: the first fresh lettuce salad of the year, the first tomatoes, sharing your farm’s bounty with your community. These are all motivating factors for us to do what we do. Let’s add one more thing to that list: take time for wellness for you, the farmer!

I’ve seen multiple CSA farms in my region burn out over the past decade; we’re up to something like five CSA farms that have at least stopped their CSA if not quit altogether. This is usually due to a multitude of factors: too much work for too little pay, working too long hours, sacrificing too much time from other important things in your life– whether it’s friends, family, hobbies or all of the above. I recognized the potential for burnout very early in my farming career and I adopted a few strategies to combat burnout that I’ll share with you all here:

1. Work set hours. This has become incredibly important for us now that we have a child. We want to make sure that we’re not the parents that are just always working. We typically work something like 8am-5pm during the growing season.

2. Schedule Vacations. From our first CSA year to this day we take a one-week break during the peak of the season to go on a family vacation. This is scheduled well in advance of the season and our CSA customers know it and support it. In our early years we skipped markets for that week as well, but we now have staff that we can rely on to run markets while we’re gone.

3. Take a weekend, or at least a day. Many of us work farmers markets during the traditional weekend, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a different day off as your weekend. On our farm we take Sunday and Monday off as our weekend. This gives us time for family, hobbies, day trips, and just catching up on stuff around the house.

4. Hire Staff. You’d be surprised at the number of people that want to gain some experience farming or gardening, and many of them are only looking for a couple days per week. This will help your farm grow more and grow in sales. Eventually, when you reach a place where you have full-time seasonal employees you’ll have more flexibility to take the time you need for wellness..

5. Allow Exceptions. We can’t always work within our set hours. Emergencies come up. It’s ok to break your rules occasionally to make sure your farm stays afloat.

One example: it’s late May and you’ve got a lot of planting to do. The weather forecast predicts on and off rain for the next 10 days, and you question whether you’ll be able to plant at all during those 10 days. This would be an example of an exception I would make to our set hours rule.

highly recommend adopting one or more of these strategies this season to help take care of yourself!

Free Livestock Producers Workshop

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 21:14:00 GMT

The Lake of the Woods SWCD is hosting a free Livestock Producer Workshop on Wednesday, March 29th from 12:30 to 4:30 PM at the VFW in Baudette, Minn.

The post Free Livestock Producers Workshop appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

Speakers include Dr. Mouser, a veterinarian who will be presenting on “Preparing for Calving Season.”

Eric Mousel, a University of MN Extension educator from Grand Rapids will present on scours.

SFA staff will finish up the afternoon with a presentation titled “Challenging Current Paradigms in Livestock Production,” a presentation about soil health, animal nutrition, calving season timing, general prevention for livestock health issues, and an introduction to livestock integration on crop ground and grazing cover crops.

Representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Minnesota State Cattleman’s Association, Northwestern Stockman’s Association and others will be present.

Registration: Please RSVP by March 24th by either calling 218-634-1842 ext. 4 or emailing staff@lakeofthewoodsswcd.org

Address: Baudette VFW 204 International Drive Baudette, MN

Scenes from the Summit

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 21:15:00 GMT

It was a nearly full house for our 10th Annual Midwest Soil Health Summit, held last week in Alexandria. Although snow showers threatened us on-and-off over the two-day period, inside we were cozy, dialed in to rich presentations, and swapping stories.

Under the theme “Pioneering the Future: The Soil Health Mavericks,” we brought in a mix of Minnesotan farmers, researchers like Anna Cates, PhD, and pioneers from across the country such as Dr. Elaine Ingham, Gene Goven, and Dave Brandt. Presentations included personal on-farm soil health journeys, research conducted on Minnesota farms, and discussions on nutrient management and soil biology. We really appreciated the time our speakers spent (and sleep they sacrificed to get here!) sharing their wisdom and decades of experience with us.

Highlights included panels of farmers from all corners of Minnesota, as well as discussion table sessions where folks had time to focus in on additional topics and get their questions answered by each of our speakers.

We frequently heard from our guests how valuable it was to hear success stories (as well as failures) from their peers, ask questions of each other, and to simply be encouraged by the dedication and curiosity in the room. It was a constant challenge to round everyone up and quiet the room for the next presenter – testament to the connections and quality conversations happening.

Thanks to all in attendance. We look forward to convening again next year!

Some pearls of wisdom from our speakers

“Mother Nature has a pantry, and you’re looking at it.”

- Dr. Elaine Ingham, referring to the Soil Food Web

- Gene Goven, North Dakota farmer

“From adversity you learn things from a different direction.”

“Feed the soil first. Animals second. The soil feeds the plants.”

-Dave Brandt, Ohio farmer

“I’ve never had more fun than in the last ten years with cover crops.”

New Staff Spotlight: Andrea Lynn

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 21:48:00 GMT

This month we welcomed Andrea Lynn to the team as our new Grant Administrator Specialist. Andrea lives in New Ulm with her three children, fifty-two chickens, and Australian Shepard/Husky mix puppy, Maui. Since 2019 she has owned and operated a regenerative specialty crop, free-range egg, and agritourism farm – Clear Lake Farms.

Andrea has crafted a diverse career spanning two decades, including work in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, where she’s served as a business development consultant, brand and marketing strategist, and economic development director. She currently serves on SFA’s Minnesota River Chapter board of directors as its secretary.

“I’m so excited to utilize this cumulative experience to serve SFA,” Andrea said, “an organization whose mission I am so personally engaged with and passionate about. I look forward to being part of the team.”

Welcome, Andrea!

Local Foods Survey Data Recap!

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:20:00 GMT

By Dan Zimmerli • Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator

Key Takeaway 2: Farmers are not making enough money. In the profile of farmers, the survey results indicated that 72% of farmer respondents were making less than $49,999 in gross sales. This figure does not include costs. This paints a dire picture for me; farmers as much as anyone else deserve a living wage. We are the stewards of the land and providers of sustenance for our communities, not to mention the steps we take as members of SFA to farm using sustainable and regenerative practices.

Lately, I’ve been very interested in farm profitability and cost of production, and if any of you attended my Annual Conference session with Erik Heimark you can get a sense of where I’d like to go with that. We need better cost of production tools for specialty crop growers so that the prices we set reflect the labor, inputs and overhead costs of producing that item.

Key Takeaway 3: Immigrant farmers face significant challenges. Only 10% of immigrant farmers said that they haven’t faced challenges with their businesses compared to 57% of all respondents. SFA’s work on emerging farmers and BIPOC farmers target this segment. Interestingly, farmers who identify as a minority are the most likely to engage with a non-profit for farming advice. We will continue to make sure immigrant/BIPOC/emerging farmers have a seat at the table.

Key Takeaway 4: MN Grown seems to be working for most farmers. Consumers are willing to pay an average of 31.5% more for Minnesota Grown products and more than 75% of consumer respondents have either heard of MN Grown or used things like the online directory or social media to learn more about MN Grown products. Being listed in the MN Grown directory has brought customers to my own farm. We also participated in the cost share program to put the MN Grown logo on our farmers market canopy tents. I would encourage anyone selling directly to consumers to consider joining Minnesota Grown.

Key Takeaway 5: Marketing keywords such as “fresh” and “healthy” have more impact on consumers than “local” despite local being important. I spend a lot of time and energy thinking about marketing these days. As farmers I think we spend a lot of time touting the benefits of buying and supporting local (of which there are many). But, for marketing, it’s important to speak to the values that customers have so that your message is more likely to resonate with them. That’s not to say “local” doesn’t matter — over half of consumer respondents indicated that buying local was important to them.

Wrapping Up: There was a massive amount of data to go through and these takeaways in no way capture the full scope of the data analyzed. We were also told that the data presented was not the full scope of data but rather what was considered to be the most important or relevant. Still, the data presented paints a picture of local foods and specialty crops that somewhat matches the experiences I’ve had as a direct to consumer farmer. The data helps confirm some assumptions and helps to shape my direction moving forward.

Do you have reactions to these takeaways? I’d love to hear them. As always, I’m available at dan@sfa-mn.org for questions and comments.

In February, the Minnesota Department of Ag in partnership with the Statewide Cooperative Partnership hosted a “Data Party Workshop” to go over data gathered from a survey sent out to farmers, consumers, and supply chain folks about local foods. SFA was invited to the table and I was able to attend on SFA’s behalf. I learned a lot, and being a numbers and data geek, the information was fascinating. I thought I’d share my key takeaways from this workshop with our membership and how they will inform SFA’s work in the coming months and years.

Before we get into the takeaways, I should set the stage about the survey so you can get a sense of the context of the data and what it might mean. Separate surveys were sent to farmers, consumers, and businesses to create profiles of each segment. There were 497 farmers who responded and nearly half of respondents had farms sized at 10 acres or smaller. 78% of farmer respondents indicated that they sold directly to consumers so the survey results here lean heavily into small-scale local foodshed farmers. There were 37 businesses that responded to the survey; a relatively small sample size. The respondents were mostly small businesses with over half of respondents having 25 or fewer employees and nearly half grossing less than $500,000 annually. There were 820 consumer respondents to the survey. Respondents represented a range of incomes though most respondents had household incomes of less than $149,000/year.

Key Takeaway 1: Farmers learn from other farmers, a lot! The survey asked where farmers go for advice and 79% of respondents indicated that they asked other farmers for advice. The second highest source of advice for farmers was “Internet, Including YouTube.” For me this really underscored the importance of SFA: we are the farmer-to-farmer network because we already knew that farmers learn best from farmers. Going forward we will continue to lean into the strength that we possess as an organization!

Kernza Ale Taste & Tour

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 17:34:00 GMT

Enjoy a brew and take a tour with your friends at the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network at Finnegans !

Join the TC Growers on a brewery tour featuring Finnegans’ new Buckwheat Honey Brown Kernza Ale on Thursday, March 30, 4:30-7:30 PM.

Minnesota farmers and researchers are at the forefront of developing Kernza, a perennial wheatgrass with deep roots and big benefits for our soils, waters…and culinary palates. Come check it out!

The tour will be led by Finnegans’ David McNicoll. UMN Extension staff, a Kernza specialist, and Mike Mackiewicz of Bone Lake Meadows Apiary will give us the scoop on the ale’s featured local ingredients: Kernza and Buckwheat Honey.

We’ll also raise a glass to Karl Hakanson, who has transitioned out of his role with Extension. He made the TC Growers a reality — we hope you’ll join us in thanking him!

This event is free to attend. A cash bar with beer and nonalcoholic options will also be available. Registration is requested, walkups are welcome.

Download the flyer here.

Parking: There is ample metered parking and multiple pay lots within a block of Finnegans.

This event is partially supported by AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems Coordinated Agricultural Program (SAS-CAP) grant no. 2020-68012-31934 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Thank you to Conservation Minnesota for also supporting this event.

Happy Hour Events: Sharing Funding Opportunities & Programs

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 22:49:00 GMT

The Sustainable Farming Association has teamed with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to bring emerging and established sustainable farmers a variety of opportunities for funding and programs that are available. You won’t want to miss these insightful events! See included flyers for specific event details and locations in March.

The agenda includes:

Sibley County Farm Service Agency
Sibley County Soil Water Conservation District
Southern MN Initiative Foundation
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program
Sustainable Farming Association

The events will begin at 4:30 PM with a free meal. Presentations will begin shortly after the start time. One free drink will be provided per guest.

Registration is required to attend these events.

Join us at EJ’s Bar on Wednesday, March 22 from 4:30-6 PM

Address: 450 Main Ave E Gaylord, MN 55334

Join us at Swany’s Pub on Wednesday, March 29 from 4:30-6 PM

Address: 221 Main St Courtland, MN 56021

$1k for ‘Climate Smart’ Farms

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:50:00 GMT

Angie Walter, Agricultural Water Quality Certification Project Outreach Coordinator

How does an extra $1,000 sound to you? How could that help your farm? What would you spend the $1,000 on? Maybe a new piece of equipment for your farming operation? Maybe a vacation to escape the long MN winter? You can spend it on anything that you want! How do you get this extra $1,000? It’s easy. Let me tell you how!

The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program has a new endorsement that pays farmers $1,000. In order to get this, you have to get certified with the program. If you want more information on this valuable program, find it here.

Once you are on the website, click on ‘Certify Your Farm’. You will be contacted by a certification specialist who will walk you through the easy process of getting your farm certified. Once that is complete, you can ask about doing the Climate Smart Endorsement to get your $1,000.

I can honestly say that this program is a great tool for every farmer. Don’t wait, look it up today!

If you have any questions, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Beyond Your Backyard: Better with Beavers

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:46:00 GMT

By Megan Benage

I recently took a long winter break through January as I recovered from surgery. I wish I could share that I spent that time brushing up on my ecological knowledge and am now ready to share lots of cool and interesting facts about the natural world with all of you. Unfortunately, if I’m being honest, I spent most of that time watching British murder shows and below deck yachting.

Nose and ear valves that shut once the beaver is underwater
Nictitating membranes covering their eyes that act like natural goggles protecting their eyes from irritation
Lips that close behind their front teeth so they can carry a branch while swimming

This last one I had to fact check multiple times because I was struggling to imagine how this works. But it makes sense once you stare at a picture of a beaver. Their lower lips close behind their front incisors to close off the mouth. This gives them their famous Bucky the beaver look and serves as a useful adaptation! Fashion and function, people.

One of the most surprising things about beavers is that they are a keystone species, meaning a lot of other species rely on them for survival. Without the beaver, the ecosystem would drastically change. The dams beavers make create large open pools and wetlands that are home to ducks, geese, frogs, fish, and insects. These ponds serve as a natural carbon sink! Beavers also foster the growth of a complex plant community that provides habitat for moose, other large mammals, and songbirds.

Beaver lodges are well insulated and beavers are pretty good at sharing. Frogs, muskrats, and some small mammals take shelter in beaver lodges during the frigid winter as a way to survive. A few winters back we watched a nature documentary about beavers and I was astonished when they showed the inside of the lodge and there resting peacefully amongst the beaver family was a frog emerging from the water. I had no idea how many other animals took advantage of the beaver’s hard work: building a dam, making a lodge, and storing food all summer for the long winter ahead.

Beavers are a prime example of how connected everything is in nature. Without them, the world really doesn’t make a dam bit of sense (pun intended).

If you want to learn more, I highly recommend the PBS show, Leave it to Beavers, and a few beaver themed articles below.

https://www.encountersnorth.org/beaver-summary/2017/8/2/beaver-natural-history

https://www.nhpr.org/show/something-wild/2021-10-22/something-wild-life-in-a-beaver-lodge?_amp=true

While this may not have been the most soul fulfilling or brain nurturing way to spend my time, it certainly was a much needed rest. Never fear, I did find myself wondering during that time about the natural world (mostly on commercial breaks but it still counts). One of the things that I kept thinking about were beavers. Yes, beavers—nature’s engineer!

Beavers are often thought of as a pesky critter because of their penchant to build dams and back up streams. But I’ve always been fascinated at how we respond to them. After all, other than humans they are one of the only animals that can modify its environment to suit its unique needs. The beaver is the largest rodent in North America, typically weighing 40-50 pounds. They have a thick, wooly brown coat and a paddle-like tail. They have evolved to a semi aquatic life and have some pretty amazing adaptations to aid their survival in this environment!

Dirt Rich: Grazing Tech – Paddock Track

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 23:33:00 GMT

On the latest episode of Dirt Rich, Organic dairy grazier Angie Walter shares her experience using PaddockTrac, a grazing tool being developed by the University of Missouri. Angie’s family runs a 100-cow organic dairy in Villard, Minn., grazing 80-100 acres at any given time. Theirs and 12 other Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship farms are piloting the PaddockTrac through an NRCS cooperative agreement.

The Walters drive their pastures weekly, using their eyes and the data from the grazing wedge to get a fuller picture to base their grazing management decisions from. As organic producers, it also aids in necessary record keeping for quantifying what the cows are eating.

PaddockTrac could hit the market in early 2024. Read more about the DGA/PaddockTrac project here .

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, or at https://dirtrichmn.podbean.com .

Dig Deep at the Midwest Soil Health Summit

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 23:31:00 GMT

Our flagship soil health event in the region, the Midwest Soil Health Summit , is celebrating its 10th year of networking, sharing, and education on all things soil health and regenerative agriculture!

Rounding out the speaker line-up is Anna Cates, PhD from the Minnesota Office of Soil Health, who will share on-farm research about soil health and Gene Goven , a North Dakota farmer who will show how he has used livestock to increase his farms soil health.

Grab your ticket quickly! Registration closes at noon on Monday, March 6. Walk-up registration will not be available. Check out the full program and register here .

Lodging: To book at the Holiday Inn, call them at (320) 763-6577 and request the “Midwest Soil Health Summit” block to get a discounted rate.

Feel free to reach out to Jonathan Kilpatrick with any questions at jonathan@sfa-mn.org .

This year we are bringing internationally acclaimed soil microbiologist Dr. Elaine Ingham , who nearly four decades ago discovered the soil food web, and has pioneered research and education around soil health and restoring nature’s system of soil function.

Dr. Ingham will be joined by Dave Brandt , another pioneer who has implemented soil health practices on his Ohio farm for decades and has increased his family’s profitability and the ecology of his farm.

SFA’s staff and other local farmers will participate in panels, discussion tables, and networking times. Our ever-popular discussion tables will return this year, offering you quality time with speakers and peers to dig deeper into topics like soil health testing, regenerative crop farming, adaptive grazing management, and more.

Annual Conference a Smash

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 20:08:00 GMT

We couldn’t have asked for a nicer February weekend to celebrate our 33rd Annual Conference. We welcomed 250 farmers and supporters to the College of Saint Benedict campus for a day of deep discussion, warm camaraderie, and valuable information exchange.

We also surprised our guests with the first in a series of Soil Health Principles pins. As part of our new web design, each of the Six Soil Health Principles got a sharp new logo designed by Becky Ankeny. Each Conference attendee got to take home a “Context” pin. You’ll find the next pin at the Midwest Soil Health Summit on March 8-9, and others will appear throughout the year at various events. We hope to see you out in the field soon!

“This year’s conference had such an amazing energy to it,” noted Executive Director Lucinda Winter. “With 17 sessions on a wide variety of topics, a number of first-time exhibitors, a book and apple scionwood swap, and a day-long opportunity to catch up with old friends over coffee and banana bread, I’m not sure how we’re going to top it next year.”

We kicked off the day by debuting our brand-new website . We’ve been working on this project under-wraps for the better part of 2022, and are excited for you to explore a much more navigable, accessible, and beautiful site. Highlights include language translation, a one-stop resource library, and farm consult request form (more info on that coming soon). SFA webmaster extraordinaire Laura Borgendale led our staff through this hefty project– a huge shout-out to her for lending her design and project management skills to remaking our site from the ground up.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of sessions on everything from raising bees to small ruminants, from growing your customer base to climate-resilient crops. The dedicated Fruit & Vegetable track of sessions was very well-received, and folks enjoyed swapping fruit tree scionwood and ag-related books on their breaks. The exhibitor hall was jam-packed with vendors and organizations, and you couldn’t really go anywhere without running into another friendly face.

Tune in to the Latest Dirt Rich Podcast Episodes

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:09:00 GMT

You can listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . As always, let me know your thoughts and feedback!

For me, winter is podcast season. It’s when I sit down and really listen and think critically about what other farms are doing, why it works for them (or doesn’t), and if it could fit into my own farm. Podcasts have been a really important part of the development of our farm and have contributed greatly to our success.

I recently sat down with Jared Luhman and talked about my own farm in podcast format. I gotta say, recording podcasts is a ton of fun. I really enjoy sharing about our farm and how the systems we’ve developed on our farm work for us. We have two back-to-back episodes available for you and I think they could be really helpful for your own farm businesses.

In the most recent episode, 63: Business Management at Cedar Crate Farm , Jared and I talk about all things business management on our farm. I talk about how we train and manage our employees, how we keep track of the endless list of tasks on our farm, how we keep records and the importance of doing so–and how when we pull that all together, it yields a better work environment and quality of life.

In December’s episode, 62: From Planting to Pack Shed at Cedar Crate Farm , we talk about production systems on our farm. Everything from packshed layout to seedbed prep, from food safety to how we implement Lean Farming techniques on our farm. Put these two episodes together and you’ve got an in-depth look at how our small-scale, sustainable farm is profitable and affords a quality of life that we’re quite content with.

Beyond Your Backyard: Snow Covered Prairies

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 01:09:00 GMT

It’s magical. When you look outside and everything is covered in snow, it’s exciting. There’s a thrill to seeing the world suddenly changed. And with that fresh coat of glittering white, it suddenly seems that there’s a world of endless possibilities.

Snow recharges our groundwater systems, which is where most of Minnesota’s drinking water comes from.
It helps conserve soil moisture, which is even more important this year as we ended the growing season in a drought across parts of the state.
There’s a reason why so many poems or stories about snow include the word “cloaking” or “ blanketing.” Snow literally is blanketing the Earth by insulating plants and soils, it prevents extreme temperatures from harming plants and limiting how deep the soil freezes, which in turn can protect plant roots.

For southern Minnesota at least it seems winter is truly here. As I watched the snow falling (and inevitably then blowing) outside my window today I was as enchanted as I always am when I’m tucked away in my warm house. Snow always seems to make winter feel more cozy. Its sparkling snowflakes cloak the land in insulating robes of white. I imagine prairie voles carving out tunnels underneath the lodged prairie grasses—seemingly safe with their added cover. As the winds calm and stillness descends, hungry raptors scan the earth for a flicker of movement that signals dinner louder than any bell.

As my mind wanders to the new stories happening on the prairie I also think about the practical benefits of snow. Snow is vitally important and sets the stage for the seasons that follow. Some snow facts:

So, while you’re shoveling and plowing with the inevitable grumble or two, know that it’s all worth it for the benefit of snow shaping the seasons to follow.

Meet the Speaker: Gene Goven

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 23:57:00 GMT

Gene Goven will kick off the Midwest Soil Health Summit on March 8th with a presentation and discussion on “Managing Diversity for Soil Health Enhancement.”

Gene is farmer and rancher in North Dakota who has implemented the soil health principles on his ranch. He will share how he uses livestock as a tool to improve soil and how through grazing management he has increased total grass productivity by 450% and today leaves more grass behind than he used to produce.

Join us at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, Minn. March 8-9 to learn from Gene and several other “soil health mavericks!” Learn more about the Summit, see the full program, and register at www.sfa-mn.org/midwest-soil-health-summit .

Luhman: Overhead

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 20:47:00 GMT

When we talk about reducing overhead, essentially we are talking about doing more with the same labor, equipment and land that we have or doing the same with less labor, equipment and land. This seems simple, and maybe even obvious. I’ve heard in the past people say that this is obvious and that every farmer is always trying to do this. But have you really looked at your equipment lineup and asked “can we make do without something?” Or, “is there work we are doing that we could do a different way to reduce labor?”

I think for most of us, there will always be a way to do that. Others may say that all of their equipment is paid for and they do the work so there isn’t any equipment or labor cost. And you may be right, there is not a cash expense associated with those things. However, we must charge an opportunity cost to our equity as it has the ability to generate income elsewhere.

To illustrate this I want to share an example of some changes we have made on our farm to improve the profitability of our business. In the past couple of years we have sold three tractors and a hay baler that brought an additional $134,000 in cash. This was used to purchase a rental property that generates over $12,000/year in cash flow. By selling the baler, we freed up the tractor that was hooked up to the baler all summer and the labor that sat in that tractor. And because of other changes we have made like grazing cornstalks late into winter, we have vastly reduced our need for hay altogether.

Selling the three tractors hasn’t limited our ability to do our job. We may spend a few more minutes per day switching implements, but we can still get all the work done. So while managing to do the same work, we increased cash flow by $12,000/year–or probably even greater when you consider the repairs, maintenance, and depreciation happening with those pieces of equipment, and even further when you consider the appreciation happening on the house.

Labor is a tough one, but it is important to think about how we can work more efficiently or eliminate work altogether to reduce our labor overheads. For many, hiring things done by custom operators up will eliminate equipment overhead and labor overheads. Another example is to combine herds and run them together rather than many separate herds that each must be checked and moved separately.

The point is that there are often many ways we can reduce overheads in our operation, and these can have a large impact on net profitability!

I’ve written several columns talking about different ways to increase profitability in a grazing enterprise. Many have been focused on changing enterprises or working on adding value to the product you sell. You can check those out in my article archive here . Today I want to talk about overhead and how we can reduce that expense.

First of all, what is overhead? When I talk about overhead, I am referring to expenses that can’t be connected to a specific unit of production. These are also known as fixed costs, but I prefer the term overhead, as fixed costs implies that they can’t be reduced. Examples of overhead would be things like labor, equipment or land rent. They differ from direct costs like winter hay for example. With hay, if you reduce your herd by one animal, the hay costs reduce proportionately. However, if you reduce your herd by one, you don’t get to reduce labor, or sell that same portion of a tractor.

Meet the Speaker: Dr. Elaine Ingham

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 19:23:00 GMT

Dr. Elaine Ingham is just one of the soil health experts presenting at our 10th annual Midwest Soil Health Summit , “Pioneering the Future: The Soil Health Mavericks.” Learn more about Dr. Ingham and her decades of research in her bio below.

The Summit will be held at the Holiday Inn of Alexandria, Minnesota on March 8th and 9th, 2023. This is our biggest soil health event of the year, drawing together local and national experts in the field with attendees for discussion, networking, and education. Farmers, ag resource professionals, agency staff, hungry learners and more– all are welcome to attend and learn together.

There is also still room for sponsors and exhibitors to apply. Find more details and the application here .

Meet Dr. Elaine Ingham

Dr. Ingham uncovered the Soil Food Web nearly four decades ago and has been pioneering research about Soil Food Web ever since. Widely recognized as the world’s foremost soil biologist, she’s passionate about empowering people to bring the soils in their communities back to life.

Dr. Elaine’s™ Soil Food Web Approach has been used to successfully restore the ecological functions of soils on more than five million acres of farmland all over the world. The courses offered by Dr. Elaine’s™ Soil Food Web School have been designed for people with, or without, a science background – making them accessible to individuals who wish to learn and to begin a meaningful and impactful career in an area that will help to secure the survival of humans and other species.

B.A., Biology and Chemistry, St. Olaf College

M.S., Microbiology, Texas A&M University

Ph.D., Microbiology, Colorado State University

Founder and President, Soil Food Web Inc.

Director, Soil Food Web School

From the Executive Director: A New Website in the New Year

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 13:39:00 GMT

My first full year at SFA sped by in a blur of meeting members, attending events and forging relationships with our partners, allies and funders. It was also the year we decided to take on the challenge of designing and a new SFA website, a team effort led by Laura Borgendale, with assistance from Katie Feterl, Jason Walker and Johathan Kirkpatrick. There’s nothing like creating a new website to force you to concisely define your work, and figure out the best way to organize our deep pool of informational resources so visitors can easily access whatever they’re looking for.

P.S. For those of you still searching for the perfect gift for the book lover in your life — or if you’re planning to curl up in front of the fire with an engrossing book yourself during the holidays — I recommend Corban Addison’s Wastelands . It’s a legal thriller that chronicles the real-life courtroom battle between Smithfield Foods and a small North Carolina community seeking justice for the life-altering pollution brought about by the company’s large-scale hog operations.

It’s meticulously researched, but reads like a well-paced and absorbing novel, complete with superheros and one very powerful villain. It’s also a testament to the power of a small group of determined citizens. Spoiler alert: the good guys (and gals) win.

I wish all of you a peaceful and prosperous 2023 and look forward to connecting with many of you at our Feb. 11 Annual Conference or our Soil Health Summit in March.

The process has given me deep appreciation for the incredible body of educational materials developed by SFA’s staff and consultants, on a wide variety of topics, providing real value to the regenerative ag community. The new website is designed to clearly communicate the value of what we do and to make it easy to access educational resources in all their forms. We look forward to hearing your thoughts about the site after it’s launch in early 2023.

Slate of Experts to Convene at 2023 Midwest Soil Health Summit

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 23:51:00 GMT

Dave Brandt, Gene Goven, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and local experts including Anna Cates, PhD and our own Kent Solberg are among the presenters at the 2023 Midwest Soil Health Summit : Pioneering the Future: The Soil Health Mavericks.

SFA’s premier soil health event will be held at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, Minnesota on March 8 and 9, 2023. Join pioneering experts in the soil health world from near and far for our 10th annual Summit! Between sessions, our ever-popular discussion table time offers the opportunity for speakers and attendees to better connect and get questions answered.

Register by January 15, 2023 to take advantage of the Early Bird pricing: $125 for members and $175 for nonmembers. Starting January 16, registration will cost $150 for members and $200 for nonmembers. The Wednesday evening meal and social, Thursday breakfast and lunch are included with registration.

Lodging: SFA has a room block at the Holiday Inn. You may join the block and get a discounted room rate by calling the venue at (320) 763-6577 and requesting the “Midwest Soil Health Summit” block.

Sponsors & Exhibitors: Partner with us and connect with midwestern farmers, graziers, and ag professionals. Find more information and benefit packages here .

There are a limited number of partial scholarships for registration available to students and emerging farmers. Please contact Jared Luhman at jared@sfa-mn.org for more information.

Season 3 Comes to a Close

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 14:23:00 GMT

Somehow we’ve already reached the end of our third season of Dirt Rich. This month we released two episodes with our staff, finishing out the year with some food for thought as folks plan for the next growing season.

Today’s episode, 62: From Planting to Pack Shed at Cedar Crate Farm , features Jared Luhman and Dan Zimmerli in conversation about vegetable production logistics from planting to harvest on Cedar Crate Farm. They discuss equipment, planning tools, pack shed layout, seed bed prep, food safety considerations, Lean Farm techniques and more.

Thanks for listening this year, and we’ll see you back in 2023 with another episode on vegetable production with Dan, conversations on new grazing technology, and other great interviews!

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , YouTube , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

In Episode 61: What’s on your mind? , Jared Luhman, Doug Voss, Kent Solberg, and Jonathan Kilpatrick discuss what’s on their mind in the ag world at this point in the season. As we approach winter in the Midwest, folks are looking ahead and planning for next year. The team highlights the many opportunities for making changes on the farm in the next season guided by the principles of soil health.

Register for Free Wholesale Training in the New Year

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 22:32:00 GMT

Are you a farmer who sells produce? Are you considering selling wholesale? Have you tried selling wholesale and think it could work for you?

Wholesale Readiness Training is a new and free opportunity in 2023! Sign up to join a regional farmer group with in-depth training, coaching, and one-on-one assistance to build skills and develop individual plans to launch or expand a wholesale produce enterprise.

Wholesale isn’t just for large-scale distributors. Sales in your community to schools, restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals– those all count as wholesale sales. Wholesale doesn’t have to mean truckload or even pallet-load quantities. Local food businesses can often buy quantities that are manageable for smaller-scale farmers.

How it works: Regional farmer groups will form in January 2023 and the project will continue through June 2024. Farmers who complete the training, develop written enterprise plans, and connect with buyers will be eligible for $500 mini-grants to support their transition into or expansion of wholesale sales.

More info: To see a timeline of the project, qualification information, and the application, just visit the training webpage. A recording of the introductory webinar to the the program is also available here. The training kicks off in January, so now is the time to apply!

Questions? Please reach out to Jane Jewett at jewet006@umn.edu .

Wholesale Readiness Training is offered by Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and U of MN Extension, and funded by a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Dairy Margin Coverage Deadline Extended

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 21:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) for program year 2023 to Jan. 31, 2023.

Early projections indicate DMC payments are likely to trigger for the first eight months in 2023. Markets fluctuate, sometimes at a moment’s notice and sometimes with no warning at all, so now’s the time to ensure your operation is covered. Please don’t let this second chance slide.

Nearly 18,000 operations that enrolled in DMC for 2022 have received margin payments for August and September for a total of $76.3 million. At $0.15 per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk coverage through DMC is a relatively inexpensive investment.

DMC offers different levels of coverage, even an option that is free to producers, aside from a $100 administrative fee. Limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged, and military veteran farmers and ranchers are exempt from paying the administrative fee, if requested. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the  online dairy decision tool.

Last year, USDA introduced Supplemental DMC, which provided $42.8 million in payments to better help small- and mid-sized dairy operations that had increased production over the years but were not able to enroll the additional production. Supplemental DMC is also available for 2023.

Producers who did not enroll in Supplemental DMC in 2022 can do so now. Producers should complete their Supplemental DMC enrollment before enrolling in 2023 DMC. To enroll, producers will need to provide their 2019 actual milk marketing, which FSA uses to determine established production history.

If you have any questions, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

DMC is a voluntary risk management program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

Consults & Conferences

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 18:09:00 GMT

In this episode of Dirt Rich, Katie Feterl and Jared Luhman discuss SFA’s on-farm consulting offering, Give to the Max and SFA membership , and highlight two big upcoming events: Annual Conference and Midwest Soil Health Summit .

Caring for our Mental Health

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:12:00 GMT

At an event I attended before Thanksgiving, the topic came up about farmers and mental health. This is such an important topic and one that is not talked about enough! It is imperative that all farmers spend time taking care of their physical health and mental health. There has always been a stigma around this that can keep people from seeking care that benefits them. We do preventative care for our body’s physical health, why not also for our mental health?

We are lucky to live in the state of MN where there are many resources for farmers and mental health. Many other states do not have these kinds of resources. Minnesota has a hotline that farmers can call, text, or email 24/7 to talk with someone about any kind of problem they are experiencing.

We also have two counselors available to meet with farmers for no cost: Ted Mathews and Monica McConkey. I have heard both of them speak and I know they do great work with farmers. Ted and Monica have backgrounds that help them understand a farmer’s lifestyle. Minnesota also has farm advocates, free of charge, for farmers who are needing help in a financial crisis.

For more information on these programs go to www.mnfarmstress.com .

Do yourself a favor and reach out to someone to help take care of your mental health! Sometimes it is just good to vent to someone else other than your spouse, your children or your co-workers.

If you have any questions, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Downpayment Assistance for New Farms

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:11:00 GMT

Are you looking to purchase your first farm? If so, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has just announced a new Down Payment Assistance Grant. This grant will offer matching funds up to $15,000 for qualified farmers on the purchase of a farm. Funding is available on a first-come, first served application process. Applications open at 9:00 am on January 4, 2023.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority (RFA) expects to award 30-40 grants in this cycle. The legislature appropriated $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 for these grants. Applications will be accepted until they have 100 applicants or May 15, 2023, whichever comes first. Approved applications will remain valid for purchases closing within 90 days of approval. A second cycle of $750,000 in funding is secured and will begin on July 1, 2023.

If you want to learn more, there will be an informational webinar on Thursday, December 15 from 6-7 pm. The Zoom link and more information can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/down- payment-assistance-grant- program .

If you have any questions about the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship or the MN Ag Water Quality program, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The qualifications to be eligible for this grant include: you must be an individual (LLC’s, partnerships, non-profits and businesses are not eligible), you must be a Minnesota resident, you must earn less than $250,000 annually in gross agricultural sales, you must not own any other farmland, you will provide the majority of labor and management on the farm, and you must farm the land for at least 5 years.

Pioneering the Future: The Soil Health Mavericks

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 23:40:00 GMT

SFA’s premier soil health event, the Midwest Soil Health Summit , will be held at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, Minnesota on March 8 and 9, 2023. Join pioneering experts in the soil health world from near and far for our 10th annual Summit!

Featured speakers include Dave Brandt, Gene Goven, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and local experts including Anna Cates, PhD, and our own Kent Solberg. Returning to the Summit this year are our ever-popular discussion table sessions, allowing speakers and attendees to better connect and get questions answered.

Lodging – SFA has a room block at the Holiday Inn. You may join the block and get a discounted room rate by calling the venue at (320) 763-6577 and requesting the “Midwest Soil Health Summit” block.

Sponsorship and exhibitors bring our event to life! Partner with us to support our biggest soil health event of the year. More information and application here .

There are a limited number of partial scholarships for registration available to students and emerging farmers. Please contact Jared Luhman at jared@sfa-mn.org for more information.

We met our match! Thank you!

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 22:43:00 GMT

We are so grateful to the nearly 60 donors who made a gift to SFA during our Give to the Max campaign this month. We not only met our $5,000 match, but as we tally all of the donations, membership renewals and checks that are coming in, we’re rounding the bend on our $15,000 goal. Thank you!

These generous gifts will be used to establish a fund for on-farm consults, so your contributions will translate directly into boots-on-the ground mentoring services for your fellow members. As this program grows, we look forward to sharing their stories.

Thanks again to everyone in our generous SFA community and Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. A big shout out to AMS Digital Productions for their in-kind gift of three campaign videos featuring SFA members. We appreciate you Jackie and Steve.

Beyond Your Backyard: Prairies do that

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:51:00 GMT

This is where I started to get ideas, but I went on reading. One of the main points of the article was to show that grasslands are superior carbon sinks because they store most of their carbon in their roots instead of storing it above ground in leaves, stems, or shoots. So even when a prairie burns, the majority of the carbon it has stored is still held safely underground. One article estimated that if you combined all native prairie in the country you could store 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide per year! In 2018, the 29US generated 7 billion metric tons. So if you think about it, despite much of our prairies being drastically reduced ( it’s estimated that we’ve lost 82-99% of the tallgrass prairie depending on where you are in the country. In Minnesota prairies used to cover 1/3 of the state and now we have just over 1% remaining), they are still able to mitigate 1/7 of our carbon output. Color me impressed.

Now the wheels were really turning and I really had ideas. While we know there is no substitute for native prairie and even prairie reconstructions are not as good as remnants at storing carbon, I still can’t help but think that if we can connect more prairie, keep it as diverse as possible, that we may just have a chance. And that not only gives me hope—it strengthens my purpose.

One of the most difficult things about climate change is feeling helpless in the face of it. But right here is something in our power to do and make a real difference. So if you happen to be one of the lucky ones that has a remnant prairie on your property, consider protecting it. Then think about connecting it to other grasslands. And if you don’t happen to have a prairie, this is the perfect opportunity to practice a little prairie restoration by planting prairie plants! Every little patch of grassland matters at this point.

Protection, connection, and restoration of the prairie is how we save ourselves. What are you waiting for? Hope is in your hands and what better way to head into winter than with dreams of spring, soil under your fingertips, and freshly planted prairie seedlings steadily putting down their lifesaving roots.

UW Mad Science: Grasslands among the best landscapes to curb climate change

I feel like I blinked and suddenly it’s November! I’m always impressed with how quickly time can move and how slow it can seem under other circumstances (ahem is it 4:30 yet on a work day?). I’ve spent the summer how I spend most summers—immersed in the prairies and fens of southern Minnesota. Now that the field season has wound down I’ve begun reading more. Something I find almost impossible to do when the weather is warm and the outdoors are beckoning.

I read several articles the other day that fascinated me. They were about prairies ability to cool the earth. And not just any prairie, healthy intact, highly diverse prairies. In other words, those that have never been broken by a plow (remnant prairies) and remain connected across the landscape. After all, diversity and connection are the two pillars of health. One of the articles said that as prairies expanded over the last 20-30 million years ago that some scientists believe they were responsible for driving the cooling of the planet because of an albedo effect. Essentially grasslands are lighter in color than forests so they reflect more sunlight.

Dirt Rich: Wintering Cattle Roundtable

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 22:38:00 GMT

Back in November 2020, they gathered to share the ways that they’ve found to reduce the cost and labor of wintering cattle on their unique operations. All five live in different parts of Minnesota and run pasture-based farms, some raising organic dairy, some grass-fed or grass-finished beef.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all management style to wintering livestock, the team discusses a variety of practices that have worked for them, including bale grazing, stockpiling perennial pasture to extend the grazing season, and the timing of calving. They’ve also found benefits extending beyond the cost savings of quality winter feed. For example, Doug Voss finds that by bale grazing, he also saves on labor and improves the health of his herd. And farmers certainly don’t need to outwinter their cattle 100% of the time to start seeing the benefits–just making a few changes can show cost savings, a boost to herd health, and improvements in soil biology.

Supporting Farmers and Giving to the Max

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:37:00 GMT

We’ve been the farmer-to-farmer network for over 30 years, and we know farmers learn best from other farmers.

We also know that context is key. It can be challenging to return home from a workshop and figure out how to implement what you just learned!

That’s why it’s important to us to be able to offer individualized, on-farm consulting to those seeking additional guidance in implementing soil health and other regenerative practices. Our Give to the Max Day goal is to raise $15,000 for our farmer-to-farmer consulting program . The first $5,000 in gifts will be matched by community leaders!

Make a gift to SFA in support of farmers helping other farmers succeed! You can donate or renew your membership through the SFA website, or give through our Give to the Max page . All are eligible for the match. And if it isn’t a good time to give, you can always help us out by sharing this message and social media posts with your networks.

Mark Anema of Prime Avenue Farm shares how this work has been beneficial to getting his farm going in the video below:

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Seeing the farm with fresh eyes

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 21:23:00 GMT

A wonderful aspect of our farmer-to-farmer network is the energy and idea generation that happens when we’re together. Sometimes getting a new set of eyes on a challenge that you’re experiencing can spur a sustainable solution.

Beyond our group field days and workshops, SFA has a team of farmers that offer individualized, on-farm consulting to those seeking additional guidance in implementing soil health and other regenerative practices. Over 100 farmers just this year have benefitted from these consults!

Our Give to the Max Day goal is to raise $15,000 for our farmer-to-farmer consulting program . The first $5,000 in gifts will be matched by community leaders! Take it from farmer members Dawn and Mark Madison below, this service is a valuable extension of the SFA community.

“Jared helped us to look at our operation with fresh eyes. Barns and items we felt were a burden we now see as having potential. We had gotten caught in a tunnel type vision seeing each farm as its own operation instead of the contiguous acres that they are.

Jared also helped us to see that we are further into the soil health journey as we had ever given ourselves credit for. It is humbling to see your operation through another’s lens. I really appreciate having that person to bounce ideas off of and who always challenges us to continue to grow our thinking.

I love the life I see and hear becoming more abundant as we modify our systems. We went from historically range grazing our pastures with our dairy herd and then our cow calf herd to incorporating more grazing management. When we move the cows the barn swallows and other birds swoop and swarm above the cattle in the new paddock, grabbing insects in a frenzy much like you see in ocean films when whales swallow up large schools of fish. The pastures and crop fields covered in cover crops and diversity have a choir of buzzing, chirps and noises.

A journey may begin with a desire or passion and be carried forward when you enjoy what you are doing, but you won’t have continuance or staying power until you have an understanding of the process and real profitability. Working with nature, applying the principles, but also being realistic about how it fits our operation I feel is key to our success, and we appreciate any assistance with this that SFA provides.”

How to give

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Support farmers like Kate, Amy, and Dayle

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 20:12:00 GMT

This Give to the Max season, our goal is to raise $15,000 for our on-farm consulting work. Community leaders have generously posted a $5,000 matching grant! Can you help us meet it? Give here !

Upon request, one or two of our farmer consultants spend several hours walking your farm to get the literal lay of the land, discussing your goals, and making a plan with you to accomplish them. We know farmers learn best from each other, and individualized consulting is an important complement to our workshops, field days, and online resources. Take it from these members in the Central Chapter!

Kate Mudge & Amy Freund, Ashby Minn.

After attending a goat grazing farm tour hosted by SFA at a nearby farm, I learned about SFA’s consulting program and immediately signed up! Jonathan and Tyler spent hours with us walking the land, discussing soil health, windbreaks, what animals made the most sense for grazing options and answering all of our questions. After three hours I felt so much more confident in our plan and was armed with a number of resources for funding our project too!

For anyone who is looking for professional advice on how to improve the diversity of their operation and find profitability in restoring their land, SFA is an exceptional resource that we’re incredibly lucky to have here in Minnesota.”

Dayle Reinke, Cloverleaf Grass Farm, Wadena, Minn.

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Where do you want to see our Fruit & Vegetable efforts go?

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:24:00 GMT

In the past, SFA’s work on fruit and vegetables has largely centered around garlic and asparagus (for good reason). Both garlic and asparagus have significant demand from local food shoppers and also help us, as farmers, follow the six principles of soil health. However, this is just a small piece of the collection of specialty crops that are grown by our members.

As a refresher for this audience, I am the owner, along with my wife, of Cedar Crate Farm where we produce vegetables on about three acres of land and have a flock of laying hens on two acres of pasture southeast of Mankato. We started our farm in 2015 and since then we have grown from an 8- to a 90-member CSA and have seen our farmers market sales increase eightfold while also picking up profitable wholesale accounts along the way. We don’t have everything figured out, but we have the experience and the results to help others.

What are your ideas for areas where more work needs to be done? Some ideas could include guidance on integrating cover crops, marketing, financial planning, weed management, pest management, irrigation, supply sourcing, crop planning, crop rotations, enterprise analysis, a mentorship program and so much more.

I would love to hear from you either via email, Zoom or phone call. Reach out to me at dan@sfa-mn.org to share your ideas or to schedule a call!

SFA would like to broaden our work to include more specialty crop growers and I am leading the charge on this front. We are interested in offering what isn’t already offered by others. We are also interested in partnering with fellow organizations to help specialty crop growers be more sustainable with respect to both soil health and economics.

Farmer-to-Farmer: Rustic Roots Farm

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 19:41:00 GMT

Have you heard? Generous community leaders have stepped up to offer a $5,000 matching grant for our Give to the Max campaign!

This is particularly exciting because this year, your gifts will support our farmer-to-farmer consulting program. All memberships and donations to SFA will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000. Early giving is officially underway and gifts are starting to come in.

Why farmer consulting?

Nearly 100 farmers have benefited this year from our on-farm consults. Our team of farmer consultants spend several hours walking the farm to get the literal lay of the land, discuss the farmer’s goals, and make a plan for accomplishing them. This service is a direct extension of SFA’s farmer-to-farmer network, our bedrock. It’s an important complement to our workshops, field days, and online resources.

Julie Olberding shares how SFA’s farmer-to-farmer approach has helped her family’s Rustic Roots Farm grow in the video below. You can hear more farmers’ stories on our Give to the Max page .

How to give

Sometimes farm consults aren’t funded by a specific grant or covered by member dues, but we never refuse a request for on-farm technical assistance. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to give our team the freedom and flexibility to take on more farmer requests for help and know the cost of their time is covered.

Make a gift to SFA in support of farmers helping other farmers succeed! You can donate or renew your membership through the SFA website or give through our Give to the Max page . All are eligible for the match. And if it isn’t a good time to give, you can always help us out by sharing our social media posts.

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Dirt Rich: Enchanted Meadows – In Transition

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:34:00 GMT

That route has certainly gone well for him. He was told many times that he couldn’t find success in farming because he didn’t grow up on one. But today he and his wife Melissa farm in southeast Minnesota as part of Enchanted Meadows Farms.

Enchanted Meadows is an organic, pasture-based dairy in La Crescent. The Crowleys were hired by owners Art and Jean Thicke in the early 2000’s. After prior experience working at a high-production dairy, the grazing dairy model allowed for the lifestyle that Chad and Melissa were looking for. They stayed on for several years, and the Thickes began gifting them calves to “build sweat equity” in the farm business. If they ever left Enchanted Meadows, their growing herd could move on with them.

Twelve years in, the Thickes concretely initiated a farm transition. They sold the Crowleys one of the farms and splitting ownership of the herd. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it,” says Chad. The four continue farming together, and good communication and planning has helped the partners through inevitable disagreements.

Listen in as Chad Crowley offers a candid conversation on getting into farming and non-family farm transitions in today’s episode with Jared Luhman.

Dirt Rich: Old Farm, New Visions

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 12:49:00 GMT

A new episode of Dirt Rich features farmer and SFA board member Scott Haase of Blue Earth, Minnesota. Haase grows crops with his brother Brent and raises pasture and woodland pork on Blue Dirt Farm . Their German ancestors “walked here from Wisconsin back in the 1860’s,” and they still farm some of the land where those ancestors homesteaded.

In his conversation with host Jared Luhman, Scott discusses the challenges and joys of raising Mangalitsa pigs on pasture. He speaks on his experience with pasture rotation, marketing, inventory management, processing, and fencing technology. He has long range goals for the land, and is mindful of the risk of burnout. “It’s very hard and you need support from customers and the community at large” he says, reflecting on the value of farmer-to-farmer relationships and knowledge that he’s built through SFA and other networks.

Scott Haase

His passion and self-admitted stubbornness keep him moving forward: “I really want to make an impact on more land than just my own farm…I’ve really gotten excited about finding things that work on the land and sharing those with people and providing really high-quality products.”

Like most in the area, the Haase family farm is still a fairly conventional corn and soybeans farm. They have made some changes, including going completely no-till on their soybeans and reducing tillage overall, and adding cover crops to their management. The soil in the region feels difficult to manage for most, but Scott thinks “tillage here just begets more tillage” and the transition has been worth it.

PaddockTrac Draws a Crowd

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 02:13:00 GMT

We hosted a pasture walk with the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) and NRCS Cooperative Agreement at Walter Organic Family Farms on September 22. This event featured the PaddockTrac technology that was developed at the University of Missouri and is being tested on DGA farms around the country.

Once the farmer has the measurements uploaded, he can log in to the program online and pull up a grazing wedge. This tool will help the farmer know approximate amounts of dry matter on paddocks. The grazing wedge also helps the farmer make educated decisions about where to graze their herd next in the rotation. The numerous benefits of PaddockTrac include time savings of measuring dry matter with traditional methods, improved utilization of available feed, a greater ability to be proactive instead of reactive, and accurately knowing how much your cows are eating.

Walter Organic Family Farm will keep using the PaddockTrac on their farm and will be hosting another event next year to explain how it has benefitted us and how it can benefit you. Keep an eye open for that event next year!

If you have any questions the DGA program, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The PaddockTrac is a unit that mounts onto a UTV or ATV and it is used to measure forage, monitor forage changes, and help graziers manage their grasses. The device is connected to an app on the farmer’s phone and tracks the location of the measurements it takes using GPS.

Coming Soon to Vergas: a Seed House

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:42:00 GMT

Earlier this year, Zachary Paige of North Circle Seeds and the Lake Agassiz Chapter got a lead from a friend on a grant opportunity from Ceres Trust . The deadline was coming up quickly, but he took a crack at a proposal. $25,000 could get the seed collective pretty close to covering the construction of a much needed seed cleaning, storage, and community space.

In addition to being a place for day-to-day operations, the new seed house will be a gathering space for “Seed Saving School” events and seed packing parties. Paige plans to “provide sustainable farmers in Minnesota the opportunity to attend hands-on seed saving workshops and classes” and to explore “the how-to of how North Circle cleans, packages, and stores over 70 varieties of seed and sustains a of regionally adapted organic seed collective.” North Circle Seeds already hosts such events, but bringing them into the seed house is expected in late summer or fall 2023.

If you’d like to learn more about North Circle Seeds and the work of their collective, visit northcircleseeds.com or send an email to zachary@northcircleseeds.com . And, consider checking out the numerous funding opportunities at the bottom of this issue of Connect (under “Also Noted”). An idea just might turn into a big boost for your farm.

That lead ended up turning into a dream scenario of being granted $30,000. Now the wheels of the project are turning. Paige says they are looking to have the building up by December and put it to use right away for seed cleaning, winnowing, and packing. These processes are currently scattered about the farm in outbuildings and in Paige’s home, and the seed house will unify the operation under one roof. Not to mention giving Paige a little more work/life balance—seeds are overtaking the house.

Paige says that having this space is supporting both “the collective work and the e-commerce business model” of North Circle Seeds. The company employs anywhere from 4-10 seed producers growing organic, regionally adapted seeds, and the seed house will be open for any of these growers to utilize. Paige also notes that seed cleaning will be more efficient in the seed house, a gain for both the growers and the sustainability of North Circle Seeds.

Organic Pioneer: Carmen Fernholz

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:10:00 GMT

Carmen Fernholz, a pillar of Minnesota’s farming community, was recently honored with the Rodale Institute’s 2022 Organic Pioneer Award . Recognized for his leadership in “changing the landscape of regenerative organic agriculture for the better,” he is one of four recipients this year.

Fernholz has long been a member of SFA, and even laid groundwork for the organization during his service on our original board of directors. You can read his bio and about the other winners here .

Fernholz also spoke at Cornell University on September 22. His presentation, “Living the Tuition of Organic Agriculture,” was recorded is available to watch on YouTube . The abstract is below.

Congratulations, Carmen!

Abstract: Organic agriculture has been a part of my life even before I realized it. It started when I was a young boy growing up on a farm in western Minnesota and hearing my parents and other adults discuss and comment about articles they were reading in a monthly publication Organic Gardening and Farming, a magazine published by the Rodale Institute and often found lying on the kitchen table in our farmhouse in the 1950’s From then until the early 1970’s the ideas and thoughts generated by those conversations lay dormant in my mind. It was in 1972 when I bought a farm and began farming that these memories began to surface once more because now I was making the decisions that directly impacted me and my family and the land I was farming. The thoughts and ideas became the principles on which I was going to operate the newly purchase land. These early influences continued to impact my farming career more and more with each passing season. Major milestones started with the farm being first certified organic in 1975 to serving as board chair for Organic Growers and Buyers Association (OGBA) an early certification agency centered in Minnesota. From there it was on to serving as board chair for The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) and a one-year Endowed Chair position in Sustainable Ag Systems at the University of Minnesota. This experience lead to a part time staff position at the University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Center at Lamberton, MN focused on defining organic research agendas across the University. This position also introduced me to the Forever Green Initiative (FGI) coming together at the University and the opportunity to collaborate both on farm and at the University on crops being developed based on the concept of a continuous living cover across the landscape. New crops, in order to be successful need markets and so my next endeavor was to organize and establish a farmer marketing coop; Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative (PPGC) which is now operating to help farmers seek out markets for the perennial wheat Kernza as well as other crops being researched and developed across the FGI platform. To complete the circle, I was just recently honored with the Organic Pioneer Award for 2022 by the Rodale Institute. This seminar will be a sharing of the journey that has brought me here to Cornell. The knowledge gained and the consequences of the decisions made from this knowledge and experience are what I wish to share with you today.

Tour Plum Creek Garlic in New Video

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 21:58:00 GMT

Check out our new video that chronicles a garlic field day of one of our stalwart members!

We visited Plum Creek Garlic near St. Cloud, Minnesota on June, 2022. Now in their 14th year of growing garlic, they are active members of the Sustainable Farming Association and follow best practices including rotation and building soil capacity over time. They harvest approximately 5,500 head each year, with five varieties for sale on their website: plumcreekgarlic.com .

Plum Creek Garlic has been a featured garlic grower at Minnesota Garlic Festival since 2008. Their mission is to build community while growing great garlic using sustainable means.

How profitable are your enterprises?

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:20:00 GMT

On my farm, I’ve always had an intuition that certain crops were more profitable than others just due to the labor involved and the varying price points and demand that we have for our products. I never had solid data to back up my intuition, so this year I set out to see if my intuition matched up with reality.

I put together a simple spreadsheet in Google Sheets with four tabs; one with instructions and one for each crop’s labor I was tracking. My staff and I would input our time spent doing various tasks related to the crops production (bed prep, weeding, harvesting, etc). Then I would tally up the total amount of time producing each crop and divide that into each crop’s total sales.

Our season isn’t over – far from it – but we’re far enough into the season that the results are starting to show up. What I’ve found on my farm is that both lettuce and sweet corn are roughly equivalent in terms of dollars/hour of labor and that green beans, while less profitable, are still profitable to grow though they are half the dollars/hour of labor that sweet corn and lettuce is.

A few things my data doesn’t take into account are the square footage required to grow said crops, the cost of any specialized equipment used to produce the crops, and other overhead costs. Most of the additional overhead costs I figure to be roughly equivalent and most of our equipment is used on more than one crop so it was a little fuzzy to calculate those costs. As for land, well, we’re lucky and we have access to as much land as we need and there are plenty of scenarios.

Want to learn more or have questions on how this might work on your farm? Let me know at dan@sfa-mn.org .

It would be very daunting for me and my farm staff members to keep track of labor for every single crop that we grow, so I instead chose three crops that I thought would sort of run the gamut of profitability: lettuce, sweet corn, and green beans. I assumed that lettuce was the most profitable, sweet corn was somewhere in the middle and green beans were at the bottom.

Funding for ‘Climate Smart’ Farms

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:16:00 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) received a $100,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation to help farmers develop climate-smart farming practices that can mitigate climate change and build farm resiliency while cultivating a new income stream. The money will be used for the new Climate Smart Farms Project, part of the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) .

These payments will provide producers support as they work with local representatives to explore and prepare for evolving climate marketplaces and public programs. This project will also help producers access new and reliable income streams for the environmental benefits they are providing our state and nation.

Grant recipients will also receive the forthcoming Farmers Guide to Climate Markets , a farmer-focused analysis of private carbon market contracts. The guide is being produced by agricultural law attorneys and a 12-member review panel of Minnesota farmers to provide insights on the actual terms contained in the contracts that more than a dozen companies are offering Minnesota farms.

Applications are open as of July 15. Funding is limited. Eligibility is verified by the MAWQCP certifying agent and approved by the MDA staff. Contact your Certification Specialist if you have any questions or are interested in obtaining the Climate Smart Farm Endorsement.

If you have any questions about MAWQCP, you can also contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The Climate Smart Farms project delivers individualized services to farmers in the program through piloting an opportunity to receive annual payments of $1,000, with the potential to continue annual participation up to 5 years. A farmer must first be certified or actively seeking certification as an Ag Water Quality Certified farm before receiving MAWQCP endorsements. “Climate Smart” is is the newest endorsement of four.

Dirt Rich: Fundamentals of Adaptive Grazing

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 18:36:00 GMT

In the latest episode of Dirt Rich, you’ll hear a presentation that our Soil Health Specialist Jonathan Kilpatrick gave on adaptive grazing at a recent field day. He’ll bring you through the fundamentals, always keeping in mind the importance of context in grazing management. Jonathan believes that grazing is one of the most powerful forces we can have to regenerate our soils. A topic overview:

Jonathan’s experience with various farming enterprises makes him a great resource for SFA members. Jonathan will be doing work with soil health, grazing livestock, Kernza, and more. Get in touch with him at jonathan@sfa-mn.org or 1.844.922.5573 Ext. 712.

Why we adaptively graze
How adaptive grazing plays a role in building soil health and resilience in our eco-systems
Stocking density
Measuring forage stand density and dry matter/acre
Calculating herd needs
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Dirt Rich: Get to Know Jonathan Kilpatrick

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:35:00 GMT

In the latest episode of our podcast series, Dirt Rich, Jared Luhman sits down with our new Soil Health Specialist, Jonathan Kilpatrick.

His experience with various farming enterprises makes him a great resource for SFA members. Jonathan will be doing work with soil health, grazing livestock, Kernza, and more. Get in touch with him at jonathan@sfa-mn.org or 1.844.922.5573 Ext. 712. If you haven’t connected with the Sustainable Farming Association yet, know you are always welcome to reach out!

Jonathan comes to Minnesota after several years in several states, where he built a diverse background in agricultural work. He grew up farming with his family, eventually building up a 250-300 member CSA vegetable operation with his brothers. Time in other parts of the country has been spent as an intern and apprentice at Polyface Farm, a manager of a nonprofit farm in Vermont, a grazier in Oklahoma, and more.

Luhman: Value Added Marketing

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 21:58:00 GMT

The beauty of this system is that in our northern environment, on most years we have a pretty consistent rainfall providing a regular abundance of high quality grass. We also don’t have the extreme heat and humidity stress on our livestock that much of the south and southeastern US have. This makes for a great livestock grazing environment during the spring, summer and fall which we can take full advantage of with a seasonal grazing enterprise. In this environment we also have a winter that presents wind, cold, snow and ice, and with a seasonal grazing enterprise we can eliminate all the expenses that are associated with bringing livestock through the winter. Imagine just the overhead reduction of not needing a haybine, rake, baler, tractors, hay wagons, TMR mixer, feeders, etc… It can be a savings in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars, or tens of thousands annually–not even mentioning the cost of the feed itself.

Let’s look briefly at the value of a seasonal enterprise. If you can find a livestock owner who is willing to pay close to the actual cost of the alternative for their livestock it can be a real win for you. I’ve heard costs for custom dairy heifer development in feedlots from $2.65 to $3.25 per head per day. Costs for cow-calf pairs in a dry lot of $2.50 or more per day. Steer costs at over $1 per pound of gain. On grass we can afford to offer a lower fee and still generate very solid profits to our bottom line. Raising a dairy heifer on one acre at $2/day for 150 days can generate $300/acre with very little overhead or direct costs associated. These numbers may vary based on your specific region, or farm. The point is that we do not need to own or keep livestock on the farm year round to be a profitable grazier!

In a future Connect I will look at how value added marketing can be another viable option to improve profitability in your livestock operations!

In a past Connect I discussed how in this region, according to University of Minnesota FINBIN data, the average cow/calf producer in Minnesota lost $275 in 2021. We talked briefly about some of the ways that you can reduce your cost to raise a calf, but for some, perhaps the question ought to be “should I be raising a cow at all?” In a later Connect we then discussed the opportunity that sheep and goats have to produce significantly higher profits on the same acres in the same amount of time as cattle.

Today we’ll discuss the option of having livestock on the farm only when your environment provides the ability to graze. We call this a “seasonal grazing enterprise.” Examples of this might be custom grazing somebody else’s cows, heifers, or steers for the grazing season and then sending them back in the fall. It could also include purchasing in a class of livestock that you plan to sell before winter, either steers or heifers you plan to breed and sell as bred females.

Dirt Rich: Soil lab tests for regenerative ag

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 13:25:00 GMT

Why do do a lab soil test? Which one? How often? What do you do with the results? In this episode, we learn about a handful of different tests and the scenarios they may be useful in. The farm’s unique context is important, and recommendations are informed by a farmer’s goals and resource concerns. In particular, Gunderson does a deep dive into the chemistry and biology (his forte) of the Haney Test and why it is so useful for farms working with or transitioning to regenerative practices.

Dirt Rich: Designing Cover Crops for Late Season Grazing

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:40:00 GMT

It’s about that time to plant for late season grazing. Take a listen back to our episode on the topic from 2020–one of Dirt Rich’s earliest episodes!

As we know, things can change rather quickly, and remaining adaptable and having a “plan B” is always helpful. Sharing experiences with other producers in your area can help give you ideas and learn what might work best (or not at all!) on your farm. After all, the sixth principle of soil health is context .

Listen to Episode 7 and Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , YouTube , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

Kent Solberg and Doug Voss discuss the biological benefits of grazing complex cover crops (nicknamed “biological primers”), and will walk you through the process of designing a seed mix that will fit the unique context of your farm.

Beyond Your Backyard: Meet the camouflaged looper

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 12:29:00 GMT

I recently read a blog post by Chris Helzer about the camouflaged looper caterpillar (Synchlora aerata) and I am obsessed! I cannot believe that nature just got even cooler!

For those of you who don’t know, I am competitive. And I mean super competitive. There are no participation trophies over here. So because I’m determined to win and win hard, I’ve done what any reasonable ecologist would do: research. Loopers eat a variety of plants so as they move from flower to flower they change their camouflage to blend in with their new surroundings. They overwinter as a larva and complete their life cycle the following year when they do their ‘hungry hungry caterpillar’ routine, eventually pupate, and emerge as a wavy lined emerald moth. They mate, lay eggs, and start the cycle all over again. Best I can tell based on the flowers people have seen them on (and a consult to my entomologist friend—no that is NOT cheating, it’s using your resources), I should be able to have a fairly decent chance of finding them as a caterpillar in mid-late summer.

Other than that there isn’t a great deal that is known about these curious caterpillars. Which isn’t really surprising considering we expect there are millions of species we haven’t yet discovered yet and invertebrates, like these loopers, is the group we know the least about. The best way to help, is to keep those eyes peeled (as my mom would say) and start looking for insects.

There are all kinds of stories playing out right under our noses if we take a little time to explore and discover. Who knows? You may even beat your friend in a little prairie competition and get a pack of cupcakes out of it like I’m hoping to do when I trounce Mike.

Learn more about the looper and see pictures of them incognito:

Bug of the Week

The Caterpillar Lab

Butterflies and Moths

Camouflaged loopers are caterpillars that decorate themselves with bits of flowers and pieces of plants to disguise themselves while they’re foraging on flowers in the prairie! They do this so well that they end up looking like an extension of the flower. This unique behavior sparked a friendly, nerdy camouflaged looper competition. My biologist friend, Mike, and I are determined to find one this summer.

TC Growers Visit St. Paul; Minneapolis

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:44:00 GMT

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network was busy in June, fitting in two farm visits in a week!

A small but mighty group of growers and local foods supporters gathered to explore Prairie Smoke Gardens in St. Paul on June 3. Katie and Madrone Kubovcik led us through the “neighborhood supported agriculture” operation on a beautiful afternoon. Katie is also a Farm Education Consultant, working with Big River Farms and Renewing the Countryside as a technical assistance provider, FSA/NRCS Connector and Land Access Navigator.

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network is a collaboration between SFA and University of Minnesota Extension.

The Kubovcik produce and eggs help feed 10 families in their neighborhood, and the whole farm is rooted in good community relationships. Says Katie, “because they want us here and support what we are doing, we don’t have all the obstacles to navigate that are common in urban areas. We rent land from our neighbors, they are our customers and their engagement supports not only our production, but the larger goal of building community around food and increasing people’s access and interest in local food production.”

The following Friday, a large group of gardeners, farmers, MDA and other agency staff met up in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis to visit Bullthistle Gardens . David Gray and his family (formerly active in the Cannon River chapter) now grow in a high tunnel atop a parking lot leased through the Minneapolis Garden Lease program. David shared his experience with high tunnel construction, urban growing, and more. He intends to use the high tunnel (pictured above) as a farm stand in the winter with other local growers.

Staff from the Farm Service Agency were also in attendance, and discussed the growing resources for urban and suburban growers in FSA. The Twin Cities are home to an urban FSA County Committee , which David also serves on.

Bullthistle is conveniently located next to Arbeiter Brewing Company, where a few visitors wandered over to to cool off after the tour.

If you live in the Metro (or are willing to drive in), we’d love to see you at a TC Growers event this summer! Stay tuned for more announcements to come. Coordinator Karl Hakanson is always open to ideas for tours and events: khakanso@umn.edu .

Goats at Work in Theodore Wirth Park

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 12:39:00 GMT

Enjoy this clip of the herd resting after what must have been an *exhausting* morning of eating.

Diversity Landworks and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are working together to restore ecological health to neglected, graze-obligate lands with livestock. The Ecological Service Livestock Network (ESLN) paid a visit to Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis for a tour of the grazing site on a sunny (if not steamy) day before the long weekend.

About twenty of us met Kyle Johnson of Diversity Landworks, James Schaffer of the Park Board, and Karl Hakanson, coordinator of the ESLN in a shady, peaceful clearing. In attendance were curious farmers, landscapers, Extension educators, agency staff, and other members of the public that fueled thoughtful discussion.

As a browser, a goat’s preference is to go for the leafy brush like buckthorn rather than any native ground-level species. Careful grazing management ensures timely moves and minimal pressure on the species that aren’t intended to be grazed. The herd has been instrumental in beating back buckthorn at Theodore Wirth Park and are helping the Park Board meet other ecological goals. “This has been a pretty darn eloquent solution,” Johnson said.

July 11 update: The goats have concluded their work at Theodore Wirth for the season, but if you would like to see the progress they made, look for the dirt trail marked with a sign to the south of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden parking lot. It’s a short hike.

Learn more about how you can attend events like this with the ESLN on the network’s webpage .

We learned that the visiting herd are Kiko goats, a breed of meat goat that originated in New Zealand. As Kyle Johnson told the group, they work well for this kind of work in part because they are parasite resistant and are good mothers. Though they are pretty self-sufficient, there is always a staff member on site to manage the goats and move their fencing enclosure as they finish grazing an area.

Dirt Rich: What’s a REKO Ring?

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 14:36:00 GMT

Finnish farmer Thomas Snellman coined the concept of REKO Rings in 2013, and in the last few years they’ve begun to sprout in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This unique model of a local food market is connecting thousands of eaters directly to their local farmers using regional Facebook groups for each ring.

The way REKO works is relatively simple. Each week, participating growers post to the ring’s Facebook group what they have to offer and customers comment to initiate an ordering process. All payment happens in advance of the weekly pick-up day, where everyone meets at the same time and place to receive their orders from the farmers. The efficiency can save all parties time and money, while still allowing for authentic relationship building between farmers and eaters.

It’s a straightforward foundation. But as you’ll hear from each guest, keeping a REKO Ring rolling for the long haul is not without its challenges. They established open lines of communication with their producers and consumers in order to adapt their Rings to better suit the needs of their communities, and attribute that in part to their success. How did they do it? How could you set up your own REKO Ring in your community? Listen to the full episode!

To explain how REKO works and how to go about starting one in your own community, three REKO Ring founders join the podcast: Mehgan Blair of the SFA Lake Superior Chapter and Twin Ports REKO Ring , Vanessa Wallock of the Ozaukee Area REKO Ring , and Thelma Heidel-Baker of the West Bend REKO Ring . All three also farm with their families in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Dirt Rich: Endorsed for Water Quality

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 12:11:00 GMT

“I went in thinking I wouldn’t have to do a darn thing.” Farmer Dale Buendorf was well on his way to becoming certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program at the outset, having implemented no-till and strip-till on his acres of corn and soybeans. While working with his certifier, Herman Bartsch, they discovered that there were just a few tweaks to make, including adjusting his nutrient management plan. Now, Dale says they are more responsible with where they apply nutrients and when, keeping it out of the groundwater. And, fewer passes on the fields has turned into a lot of savings in fuel costs. Dale was certified within six months, and also received endorsements in Soil Health and Integrated Pest Management!

Caroline D’Huyvetter (Minnesota Department of Agriculture), Herman, and Dale share their experience with the certification program in this conversation, how it can work with landlords, and the five different endorsements that farmers can receive in addition to getting certified: Climate Smart Farm, Soil Health, Integrated Pest Management, Wildlife, and Irrigation Water Management. There’s more to those than the additional recognition: bridge payments for those with the Climate Smart endorsement are in the works.

“As the boots on the ground on these lands that we’re part of, I think it’s important that we do these things and be responsible and protect these resources that we’ve got.” Dale’s attitude is shared by many of the 1,200+ farmers who are certified. It is important to them to be good land stewards, and the recognition and resources they receive through certification is appreciated.

Sheep and Goats

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 22:10:00 GMT

In my last Connect I talked about how in this region, according to University of Minnesota FINBIN data, the average cow/calf producer in Minnesota lost $275 in 2021. We talked briefly about some of the ways that you can reduce your cost to raise a calf, but for some, perhaps the question ought to be “ Should I be raising a cow at all? “.

Cows are most efficient and profitable when they are doing the work of feeding themselves rather than when we are required to haul them feed. Especially considering that many producers feed 6-7 months of the year. But if we cannot find a way to significantly improve profitability of cow/calf, perhaps we should be looking at other enterprises entirely.

Right now especially, and for a long time, sheep and goats have looked very good on paper compared to cow/calf! Especially when you consider they may be able to consume forages that your cattle were never even utilizing. But even in a grass production system, the conversation that opened my eyes was when somebody walked through the production capability of a 1,400 pound cow compared to 1,400 pounds of ewes. 1400 pounds of cow may produce around 600 pounds of calf. However, 1400 lbs of ewes can produce close to their own body weight in lamb by fall. And the price per pound of lamb even in past years is often times greater than the price per pound of beef!

This simple explanation finally knocked me out of a “never sheep, always cattle” paradigm that I had been in for a long time! Other producers are doing similar things with goats, and some use goats and sheep to perform services such as vegetation management under solar arrays or brush clearing in woodlands. Throw in a service charge for grazing and you can significantly improve enterprise profitability! If you want to learn more about sheep and goat production, check out this goat production video and this sheep production video we recorded this past winter with some successful Minnesota farmers.

In a future Connect I will discuss the possibility of seasonal grazing enterprises to reduce winter feed costs as well as direct marketing to significantly improve the price we receive for our products.

Match Made in Heaven: Livestock + Crops

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 12:06:00 GMT

Green Lands Blue Waters recently released a new infographic depicting the integration of livestock and crops at a glance. This image was developed by and for farmers and service providers, in collaboration with the design firm Background Stories as part of the SARE grant project “ Match Made In Heaven: Livestock + Crops .” SFA’s Jared Luhman was one of the collaborators.

The benefits of this “match” listed in the graphic encompass the “three-legged stool of sustainability”: environment, economy, and community. For example, crop enterprises can save on fertilizer costs, break pest and disease cycles, add soil organic matter, market their cover crop as forages, and potentially receive ecosystem service credits; while livestock enterprises can use cover crops and crop aftermath to stretch the grazing season into winter.

The infographic and a written narrative of the imagery is available for download here . SFA is one of over 50 participating organizations in the multi-year “Match Made In Heaven: Livestock + Crops” project. To learn more about the project and how you can participate, click here .

Study Confirms Higher Profits for Ag Water Quality Certified Farms

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 10:41:00 GMT

For the third year in a row, a study done by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence has shown that farms certified in the MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) have higher profits than farms that are not certified. As a farmer myself, this makes me glad that our farm is certified and makes me wonder why any farmer would not want to get certified in the program!

Farmers who are certified in the MN Ag Water Quality program have major environmental benefits as they work through their certification with a local Soil and Water Conservation District. After being certified, each farm is deemed in compliance with new water quality laws and regulations for 10 years. A grant up to $5,000 is available yearly to continue to make improvements on the farm that are considered best management practices to improve water quality. In addition, there are 4 endorsements that can be earned after certification. Another perk of being certified is that farmers who are certified in the MNAWQCP can receive a scholarship for tuition for enrolling or continuing to enroll in a Farm Business Management program.

Since the program’s statewide launch in 2016, 1,197 farms totaling over 845,000 acres have been certified across Minnesota. Farms have added 2,414 new conservation practices that protect Minnesota’s waters. Those new practices help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 44,000 metric tons each year. If you are a farmer of any kind, I would highly suggest you get your farm Ag Water Quality Certified soon!

Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com .

Any questions about the program can also contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The “Influence of Intensified Environmental Practices on Farm Profitability” study examined financial and crop production information from farmers enrolled in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management education program. The 94 MAWQCP farms in the study saw 2021 profits that were an average of more than $16,000 or 6% higher (median of almost $32,000 higher) than non-certified farms. Looking at three years of data, the average income was more than $25,000 higher for MAWQCP farms, or $16,000 higher for median income. Other key financial metrics are also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP, such as debt-to-asset ratios and operating expense ratios. To find details on the economic study, click here .

Restoring Oak Savanna

Thu, 26 May 2022 13:30:00 GMT

As we approach our big field day at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge that will demonstrate targeted grazing to restore oak savanna, we thought it would be a good time to revisit this episode with Tyler Carlson and Stephen Thomforde we released last February.

According to Thomforde, “restoration is restoring the processes that maintain the desirable vegetation.” He dives into a variety of techniques used to do so including spraying, mowing, burning, baling, and grazing. Knowing what to take and what to leave is key in changing the trajectory of an ecosystem.

Thomforde and Carlson also get into a popular question: do we really need fire? What is necessary to maintain the savanna once you have it where you want it? To parse out an answer to that question, Thomforde walks us through historical and ecological perspectives. Considering the relationship between burning and grazing, the pair land on grazing as a primary tool and burning as a secondary tool to maintain savanna grassland; grazing reduces the necessity of burning.

The opportunity of farming and restoring oak savanna simultaneously is exciting, and Thomforde looks forward to the growing cooperation between farmers and conservationists to build understanding and successful restoration work. He imagines the potential that could stem from bringing grazers back into the picture on more of the landscape, even in urban areas: a stronger local food economy, more meaningful jobs. The possibilities just might be as diverse as the ecosystem itself.

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

Tyler and Stephen pick up their conversation on oak savanna from Episode 23 — How do we restore oak savanna? What does it take? Where have we been and what’s been missed in prior restoration attempts?

Beyond Your Backyard: the Barred Owl

Tue, 17 May 2022 22:10:00 GMT

Last night I was woken up by an owl hooting outside my window. Ok, let’s be real, I was actually woken up by my cat wiping her fluffy tail across my face (gross, I know). But after I awoke, I heard the hooting so it’s six in one, half dozen in another.

I live in town so I got to wondering, as I listened to the riotous mating calls , what exactly were these owls doing here and what made them decide to be town owls instead of country owls? Of course, I’m an ecologist so I have some ideas.

One, there is no doubt as we’ve converted forests, meadows, and prairies to other uses that there is limited space for the owls and their habitat. It’s quite probable that they didn’t in fact choose to be in town, but rather are here out of necessity. Despite such a sad thought, I found myself feeling super happy and excited that I was awake to listen to the date night happening in the trees around me. I started wondering where they may be perched and if they would nest in any of our older trees, which got me wondering do they even like a particular kind of tree?

You’re in luck and I did a little owl research and found out that barred owls (or bard owls as I thought they were called when I was little because I thought they were the storytellers of the forest) do in fact like large, mature trees, but don’t necessarily have a preference for a particular kind of tree. They like mixed forests near water. So, it makes sense that they would venture into the city of New Ulm since much of the outskirts is a mix of floodplain forest along the Minnesota and Cottonwood rivers.

I also learned that barred owls eat many small rodents including rabbits, which makes me wonder what I can do to keep these beneficial friends around to help me deal with my rabbit problem and hopefully actually see some of my flowers bloom instead of their withered stalks chopped off and discarded in my yard. But I digress, rabbits aside, barred owls hunt, like most owls, from a perch—observing all that’s happening around them. But unlike some other owls, they may actually wade into water to spear fish or crayfish. Seriously, if you ever see an owl wading, I’m going to need a photo because that is now on my bucket list of ‘must see nature moments.’

They nest in natural cavities in mature trees, lay 1-5 eggs, and remain on the nest for generally 28-35 days. This means that if all the activity I heard last night works out, I get to start searching for owlets in about a month. I can just imagine how excited my neighbors are going to be when I place a ladder next to their mature trees so I can peer into the cavities. Don’t mind me, I’m on an owlet hunt.

All joking aside, if you happen to find yourself awakened in the middle of the night, I encourage you to enjoy the moment, keep your ears open, and be ready for the next exciting nature discovery!

Ready to learn more right now about barred owls? Check out these links:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/overview

https://www.audubon.org/news/10-fun-facts-about-barred-owl

#neature #owls

I have to tell you that barred owl song of “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” followed by loud cackling calls conjures up such vivid memories for me. It immediately transports me to camping in the woods, twilight walks at an Audubon sanctuary searching for owl pellets so we could find out what they’d been eating, and flashlight tag at dusk with a nature-provided symphony. There’s something inherently exciting about hearing an owl. I don’t know if that excitement comes from the sheer childhood thrill of knowing you’re out after dark or the mystery and stories that we’ve heard so often about owls.

Moving Silvopasture Forward, Locally

Sat, 07 May 2022 10:00:00 GMT

This year SFA will be offering a number of field days, workshops and podcasts for anyone interested in learning more about silvopasture . My aim over the next couple of years is for this work to bring together farmers and landowners, foresters, ecologists, and technical resource personnel across the state to identify the issues and barriers limiting adoption of silvopasture. I’m hoping that by working together we can generate and implement viable solutions.

Watch for upcoming announcements about field days and workshops in future issues of Connect (like our June 2nd event at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge) and consider joining the Silvopasture Learning Network to stay informed.

Minnesota is a diverse state, home to a number of different ecosystems, temperature and precipitation patterns, and soils. This adds a lot of complexity that affects system design and management, the relative suitability of silvopasture as a positive economic and ecological practice, and start-up financing and labor requirements. The opportunities for and challenges to adopting silvopasture are highly local and those efforts should be led by local experts and practitioners. SFA’s farmer-to-farmer, chapter-based network lends itself very well to working at this hyper-local level and we hope to organize regional working groups within the Silvopasture Learning Network to help accelerate adoption of silvopasture.

Three Conversations on Farm Succession

Wed, 04 May 2022 22:45:00 GMT

Today we released the final part of Dirt Rich’s Farm Succession Miniseries. Over the last three weeks, the podcast series has featured guests with varying experiences in farm transitions, succession, and estate planning: Megan Roberts, farmer and Executive Director of the Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence ; Jerry Ford, SFA and Living Song Farm; and today’s guest, Jim Molenaar, a longtime Farm Business Management educator and “farm boy.” Jared Luhman is an apt host for these episodes, bringing questions and reflections from his own experience in the midst of a family farm transition.

In keeping with the sentiments of his fellow guests, Molenaar sums up the top three essentials for farm succession planning well: “communication, communication, and more communication.” To help you frame up your own succession conversations, Roberts, Ford, and Molenaar share several scenarios and practical tools across the three episodes. Even from different standpoints, none believe that the process is easy (though there is good support available), and all agree that it is important to start sooner rather than later.

Queue up Dirt Rich Episodes 49-51 while you’re in the field or in the truck, and stay tuned for more episodes after a brief break!

Episode 49 : Family Farm Succession Planning with Megan Roberts

Episode 50 : Transferring a Land Ethic Legacy Farm with Jerry Ford

Episode 51 : Framing Succession Planning with Jim Molenaar, Farm Business Management Educator at the Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

Minnesota Now Features Local Farm Incubator

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 15:08:00 GMT

Moses Momanyi was recently featured on MPR’s Minnesota Now. Listen to him talk with Cathy Wurzer about Kilimo Minnesota , his family’s farm incubator in Cambridge serving fellow farmers of African descent here . Momanyi is a Conservation Connector and a member of SFA’s East Central Chapter.

Dirt Rich: Transferring a Land Ethic Legacy Farm

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 13:09:00 GMT

Jerry Ford and Mariénne Kreitlow are the fourth generation on a farm with a legacy in conservation. Living Song Farm sits on highly erodible land near Minnesota’s Crow River, but the practices introduced in the 1940’s by Mariénne’s father, Willard Kreitlow , have generated topsoil for decades. Jerry and Mariénne share Willard’s land ethic, and have worked for several years to find a non-family fifth generation that will continue this legacy even before the farm was officially transferred to them in their 60’s.

Our Farm Succession Miniseries will conclude next week, May 4. Stay tuned!

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

In this second part of our Farm Succession Miniseries, Jerry Ford describes their goals for succession (including living on the farm even after retirement), financial situation, and his experience with the family and non-family transitions that have occurred in tandem. He also details the legal realities of a tangle of life estates, Transfer on Death Deeds, long-term care insurance, and other policies that have shaped their unique experience: “Don’t try this at home, kids. Have a lawyer.”

So You Wanna Be a Cowboy

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 13:11:00 GMT

Most of us who are interested in making a living off of our land by grazing look first at cow/calf pairs. It’s not surprising, cows are enjoyable, easy to manage, hardy, and I think there is a little bit of all of us that like the idea of being cowboys or cattlewomen. But we do need to ask ourselves, are we in this grazing business as a hobby or to be a productive and profitable business? If it’s a hobby, great! There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, if your intention is to be a business, it’s important to consider the costs associated with cow/calf and some of the alternative grazing enterprises that may allow us to meet our goals of managing our land well as graziers while also achieving higher levels of profitability.

First question: what are the costs and how can we reduce them? Well, there are many costs including summer grazing, winter feed, depreciation, vet expenses, breeding, and many more. The University of Minnesota’s FINBIN data after surveying 102 farmers showed a net loss after labor and management costs of $275/cow (see figure below). There are ways to improve this number that would be too complicated to go into in this column, but in short, improved grazing management, grazing cover crops and crop residues, improved stockmanship and other changes can all help reduce your cost to raise a calf. When we move more towards a system that mimics nature and away from a high input system, we have the potential to improve profitability.

Next in the Queue: Part 2 of our Farm Succession Miniseries

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 13:11:00 GMT

This week on Dirt Rich : Part 2 of our Farm Succession Miniseries. On April 27, look for our episode with Jerry Ford on transferring a farm with a legacy in conservation. Ford will describe his and his wife’s goals for succession (including living on the farm even after retirement) and his experience with both family and non-family transitions that have occurred in tandem. He will also detail the legal realities of a tangle of life estates, Transfer on Death Deeds, long-term care insurance, and other policies that have shaped their unique situation: “Don’t try this at home, kids. Have a lawyer.”

You can s ubscribe & listen anywhere you get your podcasts, or at dirtrichmn.podbean.com .

From the Executive Director: A Climate Hero, Farm Kid

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 11:50:00 GMT

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I’d share an article from the New Yorker magazine written in 2009. “The Climate Expert Who Delivered News No One Wanted To Hear” is a profile of James Hansen, a NASA scientist who created one of the world’s first climate models, nicknamed Model Zero, 43 years ago.

What struck me about Hansen after reading the article is that the driving force behind his incredible body of work as a scientist, climatologist and activist has always been curiosity and concern — he says he’s a conservative who wants to preserve the world. The other thing the article brought home to me was just how long people like Hansen have been out there trying to get our attention — observing planetary changes, researching the ‘why’ behind those changes, and creating predictive models for life on Earth if we don’t make some significant changes. James Hansen is 81 now, directing the Program on Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. I hope you find his profile as thought-provoking as I did.

Hansen grew up in a small town in western Iowa, one of seven children born to a tenant farmer who moonlighted as a bartender after the Second World War.

Dirt Rich: Farm Succession Miniseries Launches

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:22:00 GMT

Today we released the first of a three-part miniseries on farm succession. This first episode features a conversation with Megan Roberts, Executive Director of the Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence .

Listen in for more of Roberts’ conversation with Dirt Rich host Jared Luhman, who is in the midst of a family farm transition himself, on other things to consider in succession: finances, estate planning and grief, maintaining relationships, security for the elder generation, and more.

Look for Part 2 on April 27, when we’ll release an episode with Jerry Ford on a non-family farm transition with a conservation legacy.

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

Roberts has experienced many farm transitions: as a non-farm heir to her family dairy farm, as an in-law in a family farm transition, and as an educator. Drawing on over a decade in personal and professional experience in farm succession and estate planning, in this episode she shares several points of consideration for families navigating tough conversations and the complex process of succession.

Did you haul feed or livestock to graze during the drought? Check out ELAP.

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 12:37:00 GMT

Due to the persistent drought conditions in the Great Plains and West, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering additional relief through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres. This policy enhancement complements previously announced ELAP compensation for hauling feed to livestock. ELAP livestock and feed hauling assistance is retroactive for 2021 and will be available for losses in 2022 and subsequent years.

The deadline to request ELAP assistance for hauling livestock to forage in 2021 is June 30, 2022. The deadline to request all ELAP assistance for 2022 calendar year losses will be Jan. 31, 2023. Producers apply through their local Farm Service Agency office. Learn more and find a payment estimate tool on the program webpage .

Quick Cover Crops Guide

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 12:48:00 GMT

Last month, Dan Zimmerli wrote about incorporating cover crops on market farms and the benefits he’s seen in his own operation. You might consider using the Quick Cover Crops Guide for ideas as you plan for the growing season ahead. Dan also welcomes questions at dan@sfa-mn.org .

Two Years In, Strides Made in Silvopasture

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 12:42:00 GMT

Every once in a while, I stop and realize how incredible the level of support and interest in silvopasture is here in Minnesota and across the country. Just a few years ago I don’t think there were more than a few dozen people in the state who knew enough about it to not give me a funny look when I would mention it.

We will be hosting a capstone field day at the Refuge on June 2nd to show the research project sites, discuss the results gathered from data collected during the study, talk about oak savanna restoration and management, and see some of the other impacts of adaptive grazing work over the past two years. There will also be some hands-on training and lunch will be provided. If your calendar isn’t already full, please consider joining us for the event. Registration is required, get signed up here . And, watch for upcoming announcements about field days and workshops in future issues of Connect and consider joining the Silvopasture Learning Network to stay informed.

We’ve accomplished a lot in the past two years. The SFA website is full of resources from fact sheets and manuals to podcasts and webinars. In spite of the pandemic and a serious drought, we’ve been able to deliver workshops, panel presentations, two sessions at the Midwest Soil Health Summit, and numerous field days across the state. Last fall, SFA and Great River Greening co-hosted two volunteer events on farms doing oak savanna restoration work. With our UMN research partners, we’ve been actively involved in an innovative research study at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge studying the effects of targeted animal impact and adaptive grazing management for oak savanna restoration. You can learn more about this research in the latest episode of Dirt Rich .

Dirt Rich: Grazing Cattle to Restore Oak Savanna in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 20:28:00 GMT

Using livestock to restore landscapes may seem like a contradiction, but oak savannas thrive with disturbance. Grazier Doug Voss and PhD candidate Austin Yantes are involved in a project at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge , studying the results of carefully managed cattle grazing, tree thinning, and burning in striving to meet Sherburne’s ecological goals.

Yantes says that it’s worth restoring the oak savanna because of the landscape’s uniqueness. The dynamic patterns of disturbance can support a higher diversity of plant species, which provides good habitat for animals and insect species. By layering the tools of intensely managed cattle grazing, thinning trees, and controlled burning, the research project hopes to illuminate the most effective management practices to meet the refuge’s goals. “One of my favorite things about this project is it’s such a cool way to manage landscapes that integrates both livestock production but also ecological restoration and conservation goals,” says Yantes.

Hear how the research has been conducted and some of the initial results on this episode! Later on this year, we’ll reconnect with Austin and Doug to hear updates and more results as the season progresses. And, stay tuned to the SFA Silvopasture & Agroforestry webpage for upcoming field days at the refuge.

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

The Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located near Zimmerman, Minnesota on the Anoka Sand Plain. Prior to European settlement, the refuge was dominated by oak savanna. At that time, the disturbances the landscape was dependent on would have been indigenous fire management, dry soils, and elk and bison grazing. Since European settlement, 90% of the oak savanna is estimated to have been lost.

Beyond Your Backyard: The First Signs of Spring

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:47:00 GMT

I always know it’s time for spring when the first fuzzy pasqueflowers emerge. For a wildflower—something we often think of as delicate—they are anything but. They continue to grow undeterred by wide weather fluctuations between 60 degrees and then 30. Their shoots and buds armored in a dense winter coat of fuzz. Doggedly determined to be the first herald of spring.

Pasqueflowers are so named because they typically bloom around the Easter holiday. In Minnesota that means we often see them blooming on snow. These 3-18″ spring wonders have several adaptations to do this. In addition to the aforementioned dense coat of hairs, they grow close to the ground which helps them insulate against late winter winds. They also lead with flowers first—sending their flower stalks up before putting any leaves out. They’re an essential spring bloomer that provides vital pollen and nectar for the first bumble bee queens of the season. Some might say pasqueflowers and bumble bees go together like PB and J.

Either way, seeing their fuzzy buds reminds me of the promise of spring. A promise that blooms joy in my heart for warmer days, the return of vibrant hues, and the fresh, earthy smell of life reawakening.

#grownative #nativeplants #pasqueflower #spring

Dirt Rich: Managing Spring Grazing

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 13:33:00 GMT

With springtime around the corner, we’re revisiting our 2021 episode on managing spring grazing.

Waiting for the third leaf stage, starting in a new paddock each spring, increasing plant diversity, and grazing about 30-50% of the plant height are all beneficial towards animal performance and forage production in the long term. Kent and Jared also discuss some tips for management once you start your grazing season. Of course, it always depends on the context of the land and your goals. This is adaptive management, after all. Listen in for more sage advice from two of SFA’s resident grazing experts!

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

When is the best time to turn the cows out? Kent Solberg and Jared Luhman dig into this decision that sets you up for the rest of the grazing season. It can be awful tempting to get started as soon as we see green, but Kent illustrates how letting the pasture mature a bit more can extend the grazing season by one to two months.

The 1000 Farms Initiative

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 12:21:00 GMT

On Thursday March 10, we hosted a soil health event in Ivanhoe, MN highlighting the research and work done by Dr. Jonathan Lundgren and his team at Ecdysis , as well as Grant and Dawn Breitkreutz and their inspiring story of success with soil health on their crop and livestock farm near Redwood Falls. If you aren’t familiar with either of their stories, they are well worth checking out.

During his talk, Dr. Lundgren shared their impressive 1000 Farms Initiative where by 2023 they plan to perform full farm inventories on 1000 farms assessing the status of key agronomic, ecological and economic factors to demonstrate the power of regenerative agriculture. This on-farm assessment provided free to the farmer has a value of $7500. They plan to work with a diverse array of farmers, farm types, and regions of the country, aiming to establish a powerful tool to provide practical recommendations to farmers and policy makers that promotes soil health and regenerative agriculture on local and national scales!

This level of project to my knowledge has never been done and I’m super excited about what this can mean for our industry! If you would like to participate, check out the website linked above and sign up to be considered as a partnering farm.

Incorporate cover crops on your market farm this year!

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:18:00 GMT

More hours of sunlight and warmer temperatures mean spring is on its way! If you are a produce farmer there’s a good chance you’ve already started your first seeds of the season or will do so in the very near future. It’s an exciting time of year! While we’re busy considering which cash crops to plant and when, we should also take some time to consider a cover crop plan for the season.

Our primary mixes are Albert Lea Seed’s SummerMax mix which includes a wide variety of species including soybean, sunhemp, millet, sudangrass and more. We also use a custom fall mix of either winter rye or oats, field peas, and phacelia. All of our mixes are broadcast seeded and lightly incorporated into the soil. We have always tried to focus on crops that take up a large amount of land as targets for cover crops since we would see the most benefit. Crops like sweet corn and potatoes are great places to target a cover crop as they take up a lot of space and also have a growing window that allows you to plant a cover crop and get its maximum benefits.

If you haven’t dabbled in cover cropping yet make 2022 the year you start! Do you have cover crop strategies that work on your small farm? Share them with us at dan@sfa-mn.org .

On our farm, we have several cover crop mixes we use that have shown many benefits for the land. From improved soil quality to reduced weed pressure to pollinator habitat and more, cover crops have helped our farm to be more profitable and more sustainable.

A View from the Summit, Part 2

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:09:00 GMT

Read Part 1 here.

Recently, I shared some moments from the first day of our Midwest Soil Health Summit . Our second day was more tailored to crop and livestock farmers, and it was a delight to see over half of our guests attend both days, regardless of their focus. There’s always something to learn.

A whirlwind of informative breakout sessions followed. Here are some gold nuggets from a handful of them:

Alternative Grazing Enterprises — “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth measuring.” Farmer and SFA Grazing Consultant Doug Voss recommends taking photos of sites before and after you integrate livestock so that you can clearly see how much and how quickly you are seeing the changes and benefits of grazing.

Economics of Silvopasture — Graduate Student Kalvin Moschkau demoed a new digital tool he is building out to help potential and existing silvopasture practitioners make decisions around labor, fencing, finances, environmental benefits, and much more. Stay tuned—we’ll be sure to let you know when the tool officially launches.

Progress on Developing Kernza® Perennial Grain as a Soil Health Solution — As Ben Penner, VP of the Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative , said in his presentation, “Minnesota is blessed with good soil, good people, and a world-class research institution.” A robust network of people with remarkably diverse backgrounds and expertise has been growing around this perennial for years, and the momentum is palpable in Minnesota.

Soil Health Research in Minnesota: Learning from Local Data — PhD Candidate Hava Blair presented the results of a multi-year study of soil health data from Minnesota farms. The findings back up the Soil Health principles, while showing that regional context matters. Further research is needed to explore the variables at play.

If you’re interested in exploring these topics, some of the speakers have shared their slides with us. Find them on our Summit homepage .

TL;DR — check out this video recap of the Summit from AMS Digital Productions below.

Featured speaker Rick Clark, a fifth-generation farmer from Indiana, started the day by presenting on the soil health practices that he and his family implement on 7,000 acres. They grow a “cash crop rotation of corn, soybeans, and wheat” and some alfalfa. Planting diverse cover crops is just one key tool they use towards their goal of being both organic and no-till.

A View from the Summit, Part 1

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 16:09:00 GMT

What a simple joy it was to come together again for the Midwest Soil Health Summit !

Fruit, vegetable, and perennial presentations kicked the Summit off on Tuesday, March 8. After a welcome from Commissioner Thom Petersen, Sarah Lindblom presented the opening plenary, encouraging attendees to apply a systems thinking approach to soil health.

Lindblom also conducted a simple slake test, using four different soil samples with a range of tillage and chemical application history. The slake test simulated an extreme rain event and how varying soil structures may or may not retain their integrity. You can perform this same test and three others at home too! You’ll find video, podcast, and written soil test resources here .

Breakout session topics included the delightfully titled “Keep the Poop Off the Food” (food safety and integrating livestock), financial and technical assistance programs, farm management and quality of life, and new perennial fruit and nut crops. “There’s always something new to learn,” shared longtime Summit attendee Tom Barthel, known for his soil health expertise and oak savanna restoration with livestock at Snake River Farm.

Les Macare closed out the day by sharing how Racing Heart Farm implements each of the five principles of soil health in vegetable production. Macare shared numerous practical tools they use on the farm to make life easier, including occultation with landscaping fabric and the “magical” Japanese paperpot transplanter (which directly translates as the “little farming buddy”).

“Things have only gotten easier, more efficient, better” since the farm went no-till, Macare said emphatically. Audience members paid rapt attention. “We always learn something at the Soil Health Summit.” Kathy Bushman said. “We picked up some really innovative practices from Les today that we’re going to try out on our farm this year.”

Les Macare and Natalie Hoidal

And it wouldn’t be an SFA event without good grub! Caterer Elbows Allowed sourced locally grown foods for a mouthwatering taco bar, and Minnesota Farmers Union kept us caffeinated throughout the day.

A big shout-out to the 150+ people who attended, to our wonderful venue hosts at Oliver Kelley Farm , and to our stellar speakers for sharing practical tips and practices that make their operations successful along with new ways to think about soil health. Some of the slide presentations are available for viewing and download on our Summit homepage .

Thank you to our sponsors MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Department of Ag Marketing and Development Division, Renewing the Countryside, Compeer Financial, NRCS, Albert Lea Seed, High Island, CROPP Cooperative, and to conference support funding from NCR-SARE.

Photos by the talented Crystal Liepa .

Read about Day 2 of the Summit here.

From the Executive Director: Back in a Big Way

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 22:27:00 GMT

The month of March has been action-packed for SFA, and a great start to our 2022 programming year. Our Midwest Soil Health Summit at Oliver Kelley Farm was well attended and featured a solid line-up of practical soil health education specifically tailored for fruit and vegetable growers on day one, and crop and livestock farmers on day two – the first time we’ve held the event this way. If you were among those who joined us at the Summit, we welcome your feedback and suggestions for future presentation topics.

As SFA has grown, so has the need for an accounting lead to keep us organized and financially on track with our many vendors and partners. Please join me in welcoming Lauren Barry, our new Finance and Grants Administrator to SFA. Lauren and her partner operate Dancing Gnome Farm in Wabasha, where they grow organic vegetables for market through their CSA. Lauren has a B.A. in Ecology and solid nonprofit accounting experience, working most recently at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha. If you’d like to send her a note of welcome, her email is lauren@sfa-mn.org .

I’m looking forward to meeting many of you during the coming spring and summer months. If you want to connect with me directly, send me an email at lucinda@sfa-mn.org .

The Summit was followed by our Annual Conference, a sold-out showcase to the power of farmer-led education and of reconnecting in-person with friends and colleagues. Looking back on these two major SFA events, I am so impressed by the professionalism of the presentations I attended, the practical value of the information being shared, and the positive energy and enthusiasm I felt coming my way from everyone I met. We really are back, and in a big way.

Four DIY Soil Health Tests

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 12:15:00 GMT

Sarah Lindblom returned to our Dirt Rich podcast this month to share four soil health tests that you can do at home to gain insight on the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological function. These tests can be valuable to gardeners and farmers at any scale, and can be done using simple materials from your recycling bin:

Directions for each of these tests and a “ Soil Health Report Card ” to help you track your results are available on the SFA website . See Sarah demonstrate the tests in this video for a visual walkthrough (also below).

Sarah also gives an overview of how the physical, chemical, and biological components of soil health and function are interconnected, and briefly discusses approaching soil health using systems thinking. The Venn diagram graphic she uses to illustrate is here .

Sarah Lindblom operates Solar Fresh Produce in Buffalo, MN and is entering her eighth growing season. She has run a CSA and a farm store and primarily grows produce, herbs, flowers, and raises bees and chickens. She is also the president of the Crow River Chapter of SFA .

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

The post Four DIY Soil Health Tests appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

Infiltration test – simulates a 1 inch rain event, demonstrates soil structure and indicates biological activity
Slake test – simulates an extreme rain event, demonstrates soil structure and indicates biological activity
Earthworm test – indicates soil biological activity
pH test – helps you track soil acidity

Managing Land with Solar Grazing

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 18:24:00 GMT

Audrey Lomax manages the grazing enterprises of MNL , a Minnesota-based land management and restoration company that provides ecological products and services. One of the neat parts of her job is that she manages thousands of acres under solar arrays with their flock of 2500 Katahdin sheep. This service provides vegetation management and pollinator habitat in a regenerative way that otherwise would have been done mechanically or chemically.

Listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

We talk about the logistics of managing this type of an operation and discuss how other farmers can participate the same way. The potential of solar grazing for beginning farmers to build a land base is exciting and if you are interested in doing it, you won’t want to miss this conversation. If you want to reach out to Audrey, you can reach her at Audrey.Lomax@mnlcorp.com .

Luhman: Connect with Your Cohort

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 23:20:00 GMT

I have heard more than once from farmers that it’s tough to find networks or resources related to the livestock that they raise. We wanted to create an opportunity for people to connect with others who are raising the same livestock in similar ways, and to ask questions and share ideas and information.

If you want to further engage and stay connected with other like-minded producers, we have started an email listserv for the sheep, goats, chickens and pork cohorts! Just email me at jared@sfa-mn.org and I’ll add you to whichever groups you wish to participate in.

To do this, we just wrapped up a five-week livestock production webinar series on pastured hogs, sheep, bison, goats and chickens. Hopefully you were able to attend one of them, but if you were not they are all available on our SFA YouTube channel , and gathered in this playlist .

Podcast: Local Meats and Processing in Southeast Minnesota

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 22:40:00 GMT

Meat processing has long been a challenge for local food producers in Minnesota. In the latest episode of Dirt Rich, we discuss meat production and processing in the southeast part of the state with Eric Klein of Hidden Stream Farm and Dover Processing .

Most recently, Klein and his family saw a need for more USDA processing in their region and started Dover Processing, employing local families. They process beef, pork and lamb for local farmers.

We discuss his farm business, the journey to starting their own processing facility, and all the challenges that come along with it. If you have considered doing any of this, this episode is a must listen! According to Klein, now is a fantastic time to start a meat plant, the demand is high and there are dollars available to assist from both state and federal sources.

You can listen to this interview on Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

Klein’s diverse array of businesses compliment each other, both improving soil health and supporting local foods and communities. He raises grass fed beef, hogs, pastured chicken and organic crops on Hidden Stream Farm. The farm markets products direct-to-consumer and has wholesale accounts throughout Rochester and the Twin Cities. They also distribute products from other farmers in their region, strengthening shared markets and providing more options to their customers.

Spring calving in May keeps some challenges at bay

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:48:00 GMT

As many farmers are beginning what they call their “spring calving” here in January and early February, I am grateful that we have set our calving season back to true spring calving in May.

When a cow calves in January, she needs a much higher quality diet through the winter to provide for that calf. By calving later, her nutritional requirements are significantly lower and allows us to keep her grazing. In fact, our cows are still grazing corn stalks and will until the snow gets too deep or ices over. Every day this reduces our winter feed costs by between $1.50-2.50 per cow per day. Talk about savings!

For the crop farmer, think about this as an opportunity to add value to the corn field. Or if you are a farmer who has the desire to plant cover crops to help jumpstart the biology in your soil but are unsure how to monetize it, grazing cattle on it in the winter can be a prime way to capture value while leaving all of the nutrients on the land in the form of manure and trampled forage.

If you want to learn more about both grazing livestock and integrating covers with cropland be sure to check out our Midwest Soil Health Summit , specifically Day 2 on March 9, where farmers from across the state will come together to network and learn!

I am writing this after coming in from morning chores of breaking ice off a tire tank for our heifer calves because it was -14 this morning. The obvious benefit of calving in May is that we are not fighting cold weather in January or mud in March, our calves are born easier and we have fewer health issues, and not to mention for myself as the farmer, life is pretty easy this time of year. However, there are other benefits many may not consider, that largely revolve around our ability to graze longer by utilizing cover crops and crop residue to reduce our winter feed costs.

Dirt Rich Returns!

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:40:00 GMT

Dirt Rich is back, kicking off our third season with pasture-raised chickens by one of our own!

Grants from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and SARE supported upgrading their chicken tractor, feeding and watering infrastructure, and studying various outcomes of corn- and soy-free birds with birds eating corn- and soy-based feed. As their final report comes together, the Luhmans share the results of the project: some nutritional analysis of the butchered birds, profitability, general observations of bird health and customer response, and more. For those considering adding this kind of enterprise to their farm, they have lots of recommendations for resources and considerations as you plan.

When Jared and Valerie Luhmans’ customers started requesting soy- and corn-free chicken, they decided to try making some changes to the way they raised their flock on pasture in order to see how they might sustainably meet this demand at a larger scale.

Heirloom Apples & Craft Cider

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 11:56:00 GMT

Mehgan Blair (Lake Superior Chapter) and Nate Watters (Cannon River Chapter) are two orchardists and hyper-local craft cidermakers in different Minnesota landscapes. Blair and her family steward a historic dairy farm with an heirloom orchard in Duluth: Canosia Grove . Icelandic sheep are their “land managers,” grazing and conditioning the soil to expand their orchard.

The two prioritize community partnerships, sustainability of land and people, and growing the heirloom apple and cider markets to financial sustainability–the major challenge of note.

Watters and his family started their now 6-acre orchard from scratch, planting over 6,000 apple trees of many varieties near Dundas. They bottle their cider as Keepsake Cidery , also offering a cozy tasting room experience with noshes from nearby cheesemakers and other food producers.

Wulf: SFA’s Annual Conference Can Jumpstart Your Farm

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 12:52:00 GMT

Whether you’re a farmer, ag professional, grower, homesteader, or local foods supporter, we hope you’ll join us on February 12 at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph. Sessions will include :

Elderberry and Hazelnut Development, Production and Marketing
Drying Down: Gleaning Wisdom after Debilitating Drought
Winter Feeding Opportunities, Bale Grazing and Grazing Stockpiled Forage…and many more!

Early bird registration runs through this Friday, December 31 , so sign up early . Members, be sure to login to receive the discount. Like last year, emerging farmers may register for free. There is also a Kid’s Program available for ages 5-12, $10 per participating child. Please review the Conference COVID policy here .

Thank you to our several sponsors for making the Annual Conference possible: Lakewinds Food Co-op, Compeer Financial, Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program, Minnesota Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside, Albert Lea Seed, Mississippi Market Co-op, High Island, Solar Farm, and Beaver Island Brewing Company, and to NCR-SARE for conference support funding. Want to join them? More info here .

The post Wulf: SFA’s Annual Conference Can Jumpstart Your Farm appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

Why attend our 2022 Annual Conference ? Take it from Lake Agassiz member Kelsey Wulf of West Mill Farm! Attending the Conference and networking with other farmers helped her family farm get going– check out her video .

Beyond Your Backyard: A time for reflection

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 17:27:00 GMT

We were driving home from Mankato the other day and a Christmas song came on the radio. As the music played, one key verse stuck out to me:
“A weary world rejoices…”

Because you see, busyness doesn’t feed my soul or offer me the time to be present with my friends, my family, and my coworkers. It doesn’t allow me the time to treasure beautiful moments or learn from heartbreaking ones. It just casts my life in an endless wave of “doing” without appreciating.

Snow covered prairie grasses guarded by bur oaks at Flandrau State Park.

So, as we close out another year I am going to take some key lessons from the prairie: to focus on moments, moments that make my life and this world better. The prairie faces so much adversity. A crushing amount if we’re being honest. It stands against climate change; pesticides threatening the microbes and insects that are responsible for its healthy soil foundation and that ultimately feed the daily symphony of grassland birds and other wildlife; habitat loss as its borders are carved away when people find something more useful for the land to be than the very thing that gives us life by providing clean water, air, function, and connection.

And yet, when the wind blows it down, the prairie rises back up. She continues to store tons of carbon, clean our drinking water and air, build healthy soil, and filter runoff whether anyone is watching or not—whether anyone is thankful or not. Her story provides me with hopeful and humble moments. If the prairie can stand against all that and still be brave enough to continue and send her various children free into the world in the form of butterflies, beetles, snakes, badgers, birds, and bison, knowing the dangers they will face because they are hers—then it seems like I can endeavor to do just about anything.

Have you ever experienced a moment of quiet peace? Mine often happen early in the morning before anyone else is awake. When the house is quiet and the heat first kicks on. I’m picking up small messes from the day before and turning the hot water on for tea and coffee. As I softly pad through the house, I can hear the sounds of my family sleeping. And suddenly, I find myself filled with gratitude. Gratitude for a small moment of peace. I wonder if the prairie’s life is a collection of small, grateful moments. The sun comes up, the grasses and flowers shed their dew, the voles and mice busy themselves collecting seeds, stopping occasionally to listen for hawks and snakes, the snake suns itself on a rock left behind by receding glaciers, the bison walk together, making new habitat spaces as they graze and wallow, the sun sets while the cicadas serenade the world into sleep. A collection of small moments, connected to one another by the land they call home.

Small moments of connection and present hope make the whole—That’s the lesson I’m going to carry with me into the New Year.

If I had to describe 2021 in one word, it would be “busy.” I felt pulled in a thousand different directions, disconnected, and with a plate overly full of tasks not turkey. As I reflect back on the year, I find myself thinking that that word is a word I want to avoid in the New Year. Because “busy” and “overwhelmed” is not how I want to live my life. I wonder now why I was so busy and busy doing what and for whom?

Conventional to Kernza®: A Soil Health Journey

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:01:00 GMT

Kaleb Anderson is the third generation of his family farm in Goodhue, Minnesota, and grew up with a conventional ag background. Living in the Driftless region, soil degradation and erosion were always a big concern. Since moving back onto the farm in 2006, Anderson has adjusted practices and diversified the business. He would say that he’s still very much on his ‘soil health journey’ over a decade in: “the more I’ve peeled the onion back, the more I realize how much I need to learn.”

Perennial-based agriculture had always intrigued Anderson, and when he caught wind of the developing crop Kernza®, he wanted to give it a try. Anderson later connected with Alan Kraus of Clean River Partners , who had also been intrigued by the perennial wheatgrass. Kraus’ own prior dairy grazing experience fueled his interest in measuring the success and profitability of grazing Kernza®.

What followed was an in-depth study on Anderson’s farm. In this episode, Kraus and Anderson go through the findings, and the promise and uncertainties of Kernza® as markets develop. Spoiler: the study found that Kernza® was profitable for forage and grain production, farmer and public interest are growing into well-attended field days, and festivals are coming!

Anderson describes the operation now as “still conventionally based,” and grows corn, Kernza®, and small grains like oats and rye. Grass-finished beef is the centerpiece, and he’s always looking for new crops to grow and ways to stack the cattle with other enterprises. Enter, Kernza®.

From the Executive Director: Celebrating World Soil Health

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:28:00 GMT

World Soil Day has been observed annually on December 5th since 2014, when the United Nations General Assembly designated that date as the official first. Every year since, this annual observation has been designed to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.

Back in 1981, the first World Soil Charter was conceived, formulated, negotiated and adopted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture member countries. It listed 13 soil health principles. In the 30 years since, the soil health challenges faced by the world have become more evident and severe, especially with respect to new issues such as soil pollution and its consequences for the environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation and urban sprawl impacts on soil availability and functions. This led to the production in 2015 of a revised World Soil Charter with updated soil health principles.

To me, the value of global celebrations like Earth Day or World Soil Day is that they provide an opportunity to step back and consider for a moment the depth of our commitment to making the world more sustainable – whatever that may mean to you. I hope you take a moment this week to celebrate your contribution to improving Minnesota’s soil health – on your farm, in your kitchen, at your restaurant, co-op or shop. It all matters and makes you part of a global movement.

Reading stories this week describing 2021 World Soil Day celebrations and educational events around the global gave me a deeper appreciation for SFA’s boots-on-the-ground soil health work, and for our community of members, staff, consultants and supporters who are improving Minnesota’s soil health one farm at a time.

Payments for Hauling Water and Feed to Pasture

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 18:10:00 GMT

Attention to livestock producers with pasture: as a result of the drought we had this summer, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) has edited the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish program (ELAP) and it will now give producers payments for hauling water and feed to livestock on pasture. The payments are easy to get and worth the time it takes. The updated ELAP policy includes places where:

An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation costs caused by drought. Download the tool here . If you have questions, a demonstration video and instructions are available.

Producers can apply to receive ELAP assistance at local FSA service centers. The ELAP application period ends Dec. 31 of each calendar year. In addition to submitting an application for payment, producers who suffered losses must submit a notice of loss to the local FSA service center that maintains the farm records for their business.

If you have questions regarding the MN Ag Water Quality Certification program or if you are interested in becoming a Mentor Grazier or Apprentice in the DGA program, or know someone who would be, please contact me: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

•Drought intensity is D2 for eight consecutive weeks as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor;
•Drought intensity is D3 or greater; or
•USDA has determined a shortage of local or regional feed availability.

Luhman: What do you want to know about livestock?

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:38:00 GMT

Agriculture is so incredibly broad and diverse! Within crop farming there are so many crops and grains that a farmer can produce. As a livestock farmer you can produce a handful of species options, either grazed, or in more conventional feedlot methods. You can market directly to consumers, or on a commodity market, or in some premium branded program. The options to be involved in agriculture are endless. But even within the relatively small sector of grazing livestock, you can raise beef, sheep, dairy cattle, goats or so much more! And every livestock species is going to come with it’s own unique challenges.

What livestock species do you want to learn about? What questions do you have? Send me an email at jared@sfa-mn.org so that we can be sure to provide as much value to you as possible!

How you produce and market each livestock species will be different and that’s why this winter we are planning a series of specific livestock species webinars. Each weekly webinar will highlight a specific livestock species and have a farmer expert or two sharing the unique aspects related to the production, marketing and profitability of that species. There will be adequate time for your questions and conversations after each speaker.

Dirt Rich: (Pastured) Turkey Talk

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 19:49:00 GMT

This week on Dirt Rich, we’re revisiting our episode on the bird of the hour: turkeys!

Zeman built her farm business on her values. She’s certified organic, and raises a heritage breed in part to keep the genetic diversity going. They’re “spendy,” but her customers are willing to pay for that fresher turkey flavor and the value of the environmental stewardship that the birds provide. “I always tell people when they buy from us, they’re really protecting these 20 acres. These little 20 acres on this planet are going to be no soil erosion, no water pollution, we’re not building antibiotic-resisting bacteria. That’s what they’re supporting.”

Host Jared Luhman’s conversation with Zeman naturally branches out from pastured turkey production and into thoughts about farm/land/life sustainability, pricing and food access, and the need for more BIPOC voices at the agricultural table. Listen in for comical stories, seasoned advice, and reflections on topics that are top-of-mind for many growers these days.

You can listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.

Kathy Zeman pasture-raises a veritable menagerie: goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys, broilers, hens, meat rabbits, and honeybees graze her twenty acres at Simple Harvest Farm Organics. The array of animals she raises now ensures she never has to buy fertilizer–the manure production keeps pastures lush, and is a piece of her vision of resiliency and being self-sustaining. In fact, Zeman says that the grass actually grows back thicker and healthier behind a well-paced turkey tractor.

Build farm resilience when you Give to the Max

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:18:00 GMT

My name is Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead for the Sustainable Farming Association, SFA member, and grazier in southeast Minnesota.

With Covid increasing the demand for local meat along with shortages of processing and possibly the worst drought in decades, we were challenged. The thing that stood out to me during my travels and work across the state is that the farmers who focused on building sustainable and resilient farms and businesses fared better than many others during the many struggles the past 18 months have brought. Notice, I didn’t say they were immune, and this is not to say that 100 percent of the time their situation improved, but overall they were more resilient to many of these challenges.

On our farm, which has been practicing regenerative grazing management for decades, during what is usually a spring flush, grass grew at rates we typically see in the slower late summer months. However, it still grew when many neighboring pastures did not. Using management practices we teach at SFA’s many farm field days, pasture walks, and one-on-one consultations, we slowed our rotation down, allowing grass to get more mature and put down deeper roots.

We also timed rotations to leave more residue on the soil. When the rains did come, our pastures were ready to take advantage of every drop. They responded immediately, growing as fast as on an average spring flush. Now we have thick, dense stands of diverse pasture mixes which will give us plenty of feed going into fall and winter.

SFA held two dozen educational events in 2021, reaching over 400 farmers.

This is not a unique story. I have seen similar results on farms across the state that I’ve had the opportunity to visit. Two farmers who had learned about bale grazing through an SFA field day or farm consult saw fantastic results, realizing that some of the only green and growing grass on their farm this summer was where the bale grazing had been. Another farm wanted to implement the soil health principle of increasing diversity by adding a small grain into their cropping rotation underseeded with clover. This clover was additional feed in the fall of a year when extra feed was an extremely valuable commodity. These are just a couple of the examples of SFA’s work resulting in farm resilience despite severe weather challenges.

SFA has also worked to develop alternatives to the status quo commodity food system. We’ve had the opportunity to work with individuals on building direct-marketing enterprises, adding value to products they are already producing. Members of our staff sit on a committee working to increase rural Minnesota’s processing capacity and to generate opportunities for new people to come into this space. By generating new and diverse marketing streams for our members we are helping them build a more resilient business model that’s less susceptible to disruptions caused by changes in the commodity market.

The work SFA does to change the agricultural industry is essential! We provide education, networking, and one-on-one consulting opportunities, working with farms of all shapes and sizes and any level of experience, with the goal of building regenerative and resilient farms and businesses across the state. Your Give to the Max gift will support this work, and enable us to reach even more farmers in 2022.

Please consider giving today to help us reach our goal of $10,000 by the end of Give to the Max Day (Thursday)! You can give on our GiveMN page or on our website . All donations will be honored with an annual membership to SFA.

Dirt Rich: Studying Soil Health

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:39:00 GMT

On this week’s episode of Dirt Rich, Dr. Anna Cates, the State Soil Health Specialist for the Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH), discusses the roles and interplay of both scientific research and anecdotes in soil health education and implementation with host Jared Luhman. In her opinion, both are quite valuable in making the case for using soil health techniques on the farm.

Interested in participating in soil health research? Farmers can fill out a 10-minute survey on soil health, field workability, and quality of life from MOSH.

Dr. Cates also shares the research she is doing with MOSH in several farmer’s fields. Tracking pairs of neighboring conventional and “soil health fields,” MOSH is looking at soil aggregates before and after rainfall. Listen in to her conversation with Jared for an inside look at the soil health research happening here in Minnesota!

Dirt Rich: Field Notes

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 13:36:00 GMT

We’re shaking things up! My cohost and colleague Jared Luhman and I are playing the roles of both guests and hosts (ghosts?) in today’s episode. Join us for some “field notes” as we reflect on the past year: drought challenges and lessons, in-field experiences across the state, hopeful moments, and observations from different spaces in the regenerative ag world.

Luhman: Lightening the Load

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:31:00 GMT

So often people fear that in order to improve their soil health and regenerate their soil it will come at the expense of their profitability and the success of their farming business. And while it is true that adopting regenerative farming practices can be a learning experience, and sometimes that comes with yield hits or disappointing results, when regenerative agriculture is done right with mentorship of experienced farmers there is no reason why you can’t have improved soil health as well as improved profitability!

If you want to implement soil health principles on your farm, don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody doing what you want to try, or reach out to us at the Sustainable Farming Association. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we do have an amazing network of hundreds of farmers working towards the same goals of improving lifestyle, farm profitability and soil health! So there is a good chance we know somebody with the answer to your questions! If you are ready to take the leap into something new don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jared@sfa-mn.org .

Many individuals in the regenerative agriculture world were forced to figure a lot of this out themselves with trial and error. However, we don’t have to do it alone! There are countless resources including YouTube , podcasts, books, conferences and conventions where a wealth of knowledge and experience can be accessed for free or very reasonable costs.

From the Executive Director: Our Strength is in Our Staff

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:18:00 GMT

In the two months since I joined the SFA staff as incoming Executive Director, I’ve taken every opportunity I can to attend field days, workshops, chapter meetings and events. One of my top priorities is to observe and understand the work we do alongside our partners and get to know some members. The events I’ve been to have been well attended, with a wide variety of growers, producers and sustainable ag advocates who’ve come together to learn, ask questions and exchange ideas — and to enjoy locally grown food. There’s been a real sense of joy in being able to gather again in person and be on the land together.

I’m looking forward to meeting many of you in the months ahead. I plan to be in conversation with Chapter leadership, with our state Board of Directors and with you to share ideas about ways we can increase the value of your membership in the coming year. If you’d like to reach out to me directly, my email is lucinda@sfa-mn.org .

Now that I’ve had a chance to observe our team of consultants, connectors and staff in action, I’m beginning to understand SFA’s strength. What I’ve seen is a highly committed and extremely knowledgeable group of farmers and ranchers with a real passion for regenerative practices and for mentoring other farmers who want to adopt those practices on their own farms. As a new member myself, I’m feeling really good about the depth of experience in soil health, agroforestry, adaptive grazing and silvopasture represented by members of our staff. These people are available to help you address challenges you may be facing in adopting regenerative practices on your farm. I hope you reach out to them for a consult, or attend a workshop or field day as we all begin to feel free to move about the state again.

“Virtual Roundtables” are a Great Place to Learn

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:21:00 GMT

Did you know that if you are a Mentor or Apprentice in the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program that you have access to our monthly webinars called Virtual Roundtables? The webinars are on the first Monday of each month at 11:30 and last for one hour. Each month has a new topic to learn about. The webinars are structured to have someone who has experience with the topic give a presentation and then it is opened up to questions or comments from others who may have experienced something similar. I learn something every month during the webinars, usually from other farmers like myself. If you are busy and miss a webinar, you can go back to your DGA account and find recordings of all of them under “Virtual Roundtables.”

If you are interested in becoming a Mentor Grazier or Apprentice in our program or know someone who would be, please contact me: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The next Virtual Roundtable will be on November 1st. The topic is “Options for raising calves Part 1: The Madre Method”. This is a 2-part series with the other one taking place in December on the topic of nurse cows. If you have webinar topic suggestions or ideas, contact Altfrid@dga-national.org . If your topic is selected, you will receive a free hat!

Beyond Your Backyard: Liking the Lichen

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 22:10:00 GMT

Wondering how you can possibly top last years costume of being one of the clam fam and dressing as a Minnesota mollusk? Well I’ve got just the thing for you this Halloween. But first, a persuasive introduction…

Who would’ve thought that these sometimes brittle little beings that provide a satisfying crunch if you should happen to sit on a rock they’re inhabiting play such a vital role in our world? So what are these curious beasties and what exactly are they doing?

When an alga and fungus come together to form a lichen, they sort of get superpowers. This relationship allows the water-loving algae to live in any environment (even in hot, dry climates). The fungus protects the algae and in return the algae photosynthesizes and provides food for the fungus. (Is anyone else hearing Spice Girls “2 become 1” playing in the background?)
Lichens act like fancy rock sponges, absorbing air, water and nutrients. They also absorb pollutants, which scientists can extract and get a measure of air quality and other toxins in our environment. Lichens are literally helping us understand how safe (or unsafe) our world is.
Lichens are helpers all around. They offer food, shelter, and shelter-building material for wildlife like elk, deer, birds, and insects.
Some lichens are edible and have been used by Native Americans when food was scarce.
People have used lichens for dyes, clothing, and decoration. Fancy lichen hat anyone?
Lichens are used in all kinds of commercial products like toothpaste, deodorant, perfume, and even paint. One species of lichen has antibiotic properties and is being researched for the development of prescription drugs! Who knew?!

After reading this list, I can’t think of one thing not to like about lichens. That’s why I’m convinced the only costume choice this year is a two for 1 double costume of none other than a lichen. It only seems right that after a year of separation we should come together this Halloween with our favorite buddy and link arms to trick or treat our way into every Minnesotans heart—who doesn’t like a lichen?

Lichen along the shore of Lake Superior in Gooseberry State Park, Katie Feterl.

#ilikelichens #lichen #neature

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/index.shtml

I’ve been listening to Braiding Sweetgrass on the recommendation of your very own Katie Feterl. It’s been on my reading list for quite some time and what better excuse to finally start “reading” than when you’re home concussed (reading in quotes because I’m listening to it on audiobooks). I was struck by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s description of the relationship between an alga and a fungus and how in times of stress they form a symbiotic relationship—the result of which are lichens. Joined species so intermingled that it is difficult to tell them apart.

Dirt Rich: Building Relationships and Telling Your Story

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 12:10:00 GMT

Connecting with others and meeting new people has always been important to John Beaton, and it’s this flair for relationship building that is at the heart of his farm story.

A series of meet cutes and handshakes paved the way for the Beatons to buy a farm and grow their business in new directions. They were also privileged to have steady off-farm employment and financial support from family. John and Emily currently run a 50-member CSA on just shy of an acre of production, and grow plant starts for their local co-op and several other accounts in the region. These enterprises, too, grew out of personal connections and intention.

After receiving so much support from others in purchasing a farm and getting started, John wants to do the same for other emerging farmers. Utilizing his firsthand experience with the process of finding and purchasing farmland, he serves as a Farmland Access Navigator through Renewing the Countryside’s Farmland Access Hub . Through this grant-funded program, he provides detailed, free guidance for land-seekers. He also serves as a Conservation Connector , helping connect historically underserved farmers with conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP (both of which his farm has applied for and received) that can provide some financial support.

John intends to keep paying it forward. “We need more farms here, and whatever I can do to help people achieve that…that’s my goal.” This ethos is baked into Fairhaven Farm itself. He and Emily are looking to expand their gathering space centered around their pizza oven, building up a regional farm store and event space.

To build relationships with others, John encourages fellow farmers to put themselves out there and tell their story. “Every bit of good fortune in one’s life comes from other people,” he says. And in connecting with others and authentically sharing one’s story, it creates opportunities to help each other out.

John and Emily Beaton operate Fairhaven Farm just north of Duluth, Minnesota, and are members of SFA’s Lake Superior Chapter . John got his start on a local CSA vegetable farm, where his mentor, Rick, eventually gave him space to plant his own field to start his farm business–something Rick’s own mentor had also done for him when he was starting out.

Luhman: A Soil Health Survey

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 12:54:00 GMT

Below is a message from the Minnesota Office for Soil Health about a new survey on how soil health impacts farmers’ ability to get in the field sooner and manage crops.

We often hear anecdotes about farmers who no-till and plant cover crops getting into the field faster than neighbors waiting for a compacted area to dry out. In a new research project, we’re trying to address that question with field studies exploring how row crop management systems change soil response to rain, and farmer access to fields after rain. We’ll be monitoring pairs of farms using contrasting management for soil structure and moisture for two growing seasons. We are also looking at how field workability impacts farmers’ quality of life and stress levels.

While we are busy gathering field data from our cooperator farms and the Southern Research and Outreach Center, we are also looking to gather information from Minnesota farmers. Any crop farmer in Minnesota is invited to participate in our farmer survey. This survey will collect information including farm characteristics, how farming practices impact your workable field days, and the impact this has on farmer stress and overall quality of life. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and can be completed online at https://z.umn.edu/FieldworkSur vey . Prior to beginning the survey, all respondents will be asked to sign a document, consenting to participation in the research study.

Participation in the survey is completely voluntary and individual data gathered will be kept private. In any sort of report we might publish, we will not include any information that will make it possible to identify an individual subject. Research records will be stored securely and only researchers will have access to the records.

The research team for this project includes Anna Cates , Jeffrey Vetsch , Gregg Johnson , Bill Lazarus , and Emily Krekelberg . Questions about the survey can be directed to Anna Cates (612-625-3135) or Emily Krekelberg (612-756-3977).

Timing is everything for farmers working in Minnesota’s short growing season. Getting into the field during a window of good weather to plant, spray, or harvest can make the difference between profitability and loss. It can also mean the difference between a frantic, sleepless night and a relaxing evening with the family, and those stressful seasons can add up to long-term differences in quality of life.

Beyond Your Backyard: Tiny green torpedoes

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:26:00 GMT

I recently crashed a motorized mini bike at my grandma’s farm and suffered a concussion. My cousin’s response was to congratulate me on passing the “test” and becoming a true Indiana redneck. I’m not sure about that, but it did make me chuckle.

Did you know?

There are 100’s of different kinds of Hummingbirds, but only one species, the Ruby-throated, occurs in eastern North America
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can beat their wings more than 50 times per second!
This wing-action comes in handy for the birds who migrate over 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico in a roughly 22-hour sustained flight!
Not all Ruby-throated Hummingbirds directly cross the gulf. Some travel along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines to make their way to Mexico. Some birds stay in North America, overwintering along that same coastline, southern Florida, and islands in the Caribbean.
Migratory flights are unguided—meaning juvenile hummingbirds are making the trip without parental guidance or navigation tricks. Whichever path they choose to Mexico and Central America is the one they continue using on future flights!
Luckily, temperature is not the only thing that signals it’s time to migrate. Hummingbirds take their cues from a decline in blooming flowers and insects as well as their internal biological clock. Cooling weather does play a role and scientists are studying how this may affect many migrating birds receiving the right signals to migrate.
For Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, these signals are especially important because of their size, weighing in at less than a nickel, they need to eat 25-40% of their body weight to refuel during the long migration. If they don’t receive the cues, flowers and insects could already be scarce further south, which would be disastrous for these tiny migrators. Missing a meal might mean being trapped in cooler climates where they simply cannot survive through a cold winter.

While I ponder all of these neat hummingbird facts, I find myself asking the age old question of an ecologist—how do hummingbirds fit into the bigger fabric of the ecosystem? I would certainly miss them and the thrill I get when they zip into view if they were gone, but what exactly is their ecological role? It only took me a moment to find an attribute that every Minnesotan can appreciate. Under food, main insect prey: mosquitos and gnats. So, what are you waiting for? Be sure to clean those feeders and give a friendly wave to your new summer BFF, the Ruby-throat as they make their way down to Mexico and beyond for the winter ahead.

More on hummingbirds:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/lifehistory

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/ruby-throated-hummingbird

To pass the time in recovery, I’ve been observing three male hummingbirds vie for control of my neighbor’s hummingbird feeder. Who will reign supreme?! I can’t tell them apart so I’m not sure who’s winning, but it is entertaining to see them jockey back and forth. Tiny green torpedoes zipping from feeder to the branches of nearby trees and back again. As the temperature volleys between 90 and 60 degrees during the day—in its own war between summer and fall, this got me thinking and invariably, worrying about how these pint sized beasties will make it through migration. Surely, temperature jumps like these are messing with the urgency of nature’s signal to migrate. To ease my mind, I broke my doctor’s orders and did a little research.

Jerry Ford on “Grow with KARE”

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 14:34:00 GMT

Our own Jerry Ford was featured on Kare 11’s “Grow with KARE” over the weekend. He talked about garlic, of course! Watch the clip for three foundational tips on growing your own garlic this season: “the right stuff, at the right place, at the right time.”

And if you’d like to learn more, find further garlic resources on our Minnesota Premium Garlic Project page or listen to our garlic planting episode of Dirt Rich , featuring Jerry Ford and Sunny Ruthchild.

Jerry is your go-to guy for all things garlic, and can be reached at jerry@sfa-mn.org .

Dirt Rich: Planting Minnesota Garlic

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 12:41:00 GMT

It’s that time of year again! Garlic growers in Minnesota are preparing for planting. We’re bringing this episode of Dirt Rich back into your feed to help you get ready to plant with advice from two seasoned garlic growers: Jerry Ford and Sunny Ruthchild.

Site Selection
Soil Prep
Timing of planting
Seed garlic and varietal selection
First-time growers & gardeners
Dip treatments
Their agriculture philosophies
Mulching
Being adaptable to change in markets and climate

Garlic is a high-value, premium crop here in Minnesota. As Sunny says, “the truth is, Minnesota can grow garlic. And the other truth is, people in Minnesota love good garlic, don’t let anybody tell you anything else.”

Jerry and Sunny are longtime friends in Minnesota garlic and organic farming. Sunny runs Merryweather Gardens near Walnut Grove, raising garlic, poultry, vegetables, and pigs who are happy to be the clean-up crew for her orchard. Jerry raises replacement dairy heifers, grass-fed beef, and garlic with his family at Living Song Farm near Howard Lake.

Before they get back out there to plant next year’s garlic crop, they’re taking some time to compare notes and philosophies as they prepare for the next season and climate unknowns. They get into:

Esperanza in Agriculture

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:55:00 GMT

Every year from September 15th to October 15th the nation celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s theme, Esperanza, invites us to celebrate Hispanic heritage and encourages us to reflect on the contributions Hispanic and Latinx people have made in the past and will continue to make in the future.

Often, their work is not adequately compensated for or recognized, even with the efforts of the United Farm Workers of America and other unions and organizations. For example, last year’s COVID19 meat processing plant disruptions found essential workers required back on the line without a parallel requirement of necessary Personal Protective Equipment, testing, spacing and line slow downs. While some plant owners took steps to protect workers, others did not. Examples abound of similar injustices.

But our food system is changing as more Hispanic people begin their own farms. The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) helps Hispanic farmers locate land to buy or rent and navigate the Farm Service Agency and other entities to start their farming enterprises. Sharing Our Roots (formerly the Mainstreet Project) demonstrates a regenerative model of poultry production: offering clean, safe, affordable chicken and eggs and alternative job opportunities to Hispanic families and the larger community.

The investment by the MN Department of Agriculture and USDA in local meat processing, to expand and upgrade facilities, is another bright spot. New programs at Central Lakes College in Staples and Ridgewater in Willmar will start next fall to teach meatprocessing and aspects of owning local businesses. It would be great to see today’s meatprocessing workers become tomorrow’s local butcher shop owners as central fixtures in our mainstreet economies.

Ultimately, a paradigm shift is needed to truly bring justice to agriculture and honor the contribution of Hispanic people. Regenerative agriculture requires embracing diversity and breaking down the barriers to farming, during National Hispanic Heritage month, and year round.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, milk and dairy and the array of food on our grocery shelves comes in large part from the labor of Hispanic people who raise food for their communities and in food and meat processing plants. Here in Minnesota, many food brands have thrived due to the contributions of Hispanic workers. Over the last thirty years, consolidation in our food system, notably meat processing and dairy production, has resulted in an incredible reliance on Hispanic people to tend, harvest, and process meat and produce.

Dirt Rich: Getting Water Quality Certified

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 13:09:00 GMT

“It’s hard to find a Minnesotan that’s not proud of the fact that we’ve got so many wonderful lakes in our region and we’re the source for the Mississippi River…We have a lot of pride for our natural resources in this state and we have a lot of pride for our operations.” –Jennifer Wagner-Lahr

Farmers Jennifer and Larry Lahr laud the financial assistance and the guidance from their certifier, Mark Lefebvre, for helping “make the leap” in implementing some new practices into their crop and livestock operations comfortable. In this episode, the three guests share their experiences with getting certified under MAWQCP, some of the nuts and bolts behind the program and other opportunities for support, and the changes that they’ve seen on-farm as a result of implementing conservation and soil health building practices– even in the face of drought conditions.

The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a statewide opportunity for farmers to be recognized for their efforts to protect water quality. The certification also provides regulatory certainty for 10 years, and the process opens up opportunities for technical and financial assistance to help achieve certification.

Greetings from a Very New Executive Director

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 16:01:00 GMT

Today marks one week since I started in my role as your new executive director, and what a week it’s been! I’ve begun getting to know SFA staff and partners, and have spent lots of time both virtually and in person with current ED Theresa Keaveny. I also had the opportunity to attend two excellent chapter events — a Climate Land Leaders conference at Sharing our Roots Farm in Northfield and Lake Superior SFA Chapter’s Harvest Fest in Duluth. Both events were fun, informative and inspiring, and a great opportunity to begin making connections with SFA chapter leaders, partners and members.

My husband grew up in Blue Earth and still has family there. Over the years we’ve seen firsthand a range of rural community challenges. Past video work with Associated Milk Producers, Universal Cooperatives (remember them?) and other agricultural clients took me to farms and processing facilities around the state. And as a foodie, I have always been a huge proponent of supporting local growers. I’d be embarrassed to tell you how old my Wedge Community Co-op membership card is.

My path to this organization was forged by video and virtual events assignments I produced during COVID for the Forever Green Initiative, the Plant Protein Innovation Center and for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture – MISA. Meeting with farmers, researchers and supply chain professionals whose life’s work is focused on regenerative agriculture sparked a deep interest in applying my skills and experience to supporting the success of their efforts.

My short-term plan is to take full advantage of the time I have with Theresa to learn the ropes of running this complex organization and to meet with the many funders, supporters, chapter leaders and funders with whom SFA enjoys solid relationships. I’m just beginning to realize the breadth of SFA’s work and I’m excited to learn more, but I’m realistic too — it’s like peeling an onion and will take a while.

I’m looking forward to meeting many of you in the coming months at SFA events and chapter annual meetings. Please reach out to me at lucinda@sfa-mn.org if you’d like to connect directly.

This column was originally published in the September 15, 2021 edition of Connect. Lucinda began working with SFA on September 7. You can read the official announcement of her hiring on our website .

Many of you may be wondering what drew a former Executive Director for the nonprofit Minnesota Film and TV to seek a leadership role in sustainable farming. Fair question.

DGA Update: Ag Water Certified Farms Show Higher Profits

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 12:37:00 GMT

A new study by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence shows that farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) had higher profits than non-certified farms. The MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program is a voluntary program for farmers and landowners that protects the state’s water resources by putting farmers in touch with local conservation district experts to identify and mitigate any risks their farm poses to water quality.

This program is a win-win for farmers and for the environment! I highly encourage you to take a look at getting certified .

If you have any questions about DGA or the MN Ag Water Quality program , you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The “Influence of Intensified Environmental Practices on Farm Profitability” study examined financial and crop production information from farmers enrolled in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management education program. The 64 MAWQCP farms in the study saw 2020 profits that were an average of $40,000 or 18% higher (median of $11,000) than non-certified farms. The 2019 data showed an average of $19,000 or 20% in higher profits (median of $7,000) for certified producers. Other key financial metrics are also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP, such as debt-to-asset ratios and operating expense ratios.

Luhman: Dealing with Drought

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 19:31:00 GMT

It is time for Minnesota livestock producers to get creative with how we are going to feed our cow herds through the winter. Below are a few things that we can consider.

We often talk in regards to soil health that leaving hay residual is not “waste” but merely feeding biology. In years like this where feed is extremely expensive if you can find it at all, we may want to consider ways that we can maximize utilization of hay to get every bit of feed we can out of our money. If you unroll hay, unroll no more than can be consumed by your animals in a day or it will become bedding. When feeding just what they need and rolling it out in a way that gives all animals acces, the utilization can be quite high. If you have access to bale rings, this can be a way of increasing utilization as well!

Look around and determine what is available in your area as far as alternative feeds. Wheat straw or cornstalk bales, cull potatoes, distillers, sweet corn silage, etc… You might be surprised what you find when you begin looking for alternative feed sources. Be sure to consult with a professional about how each of these may affect the nutrition of the animal and what needs to be done to balance the ration.

If you depend on water from streams or ponds and this limited your ability to graze this year, perhaps installing water infrastructure would be advantageous in the future. Water infrastructure also allows us to be better grazing managers and have more adaptability in our operations. There are several funding options to assist with this, MDA offers funding assistance through their Livestock Investment Grant as well as the Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program , and NRCS has funding available through their EQIP program. Don’t let infrastructure be the reason you can’t manage your land in the best way possible!

There is not much more that we can do for this year, however, looking ahead we must consider how we can be more prepared for future droughts. Every farm with livestock should have a plan that lays out how to react during times of drought. It should have the inventory of animals laid out and clearly identify which animals leave first and at what time. This leaves less room for emotional reaction as we are just following the plan. I hope to offer more information on proper drought planning in future editions of Connect, but this is an opportunity for all of us who were caught off-guard, myself included, to learn and be better prepared in the future!

If you are a crop farmer who has never considered bringing livestock onto the farm, there are livestock producers who need your help. Grazing crop residue can be a value to your cropping enterprise, adding $20 or more per acre to the bottom line and drastically changing the game for a livestock producer in need of feed. If you have crop residue, cover crops, or extra pasture, consider posting on the Midwest Grazing Exchange . Livestock producers could also reach out to local farmers to discuss with them the option of grazing crop residue.

SFA Announces New Executive Director

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:00:00 GMT

The Board of Directors of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is pleased to announce that Lucinda Winter will be the organization’s next Executive Director.

“Lucinda’s nonprofit leadership experience, well-honed networking skills, innate curiosity, and most importantly, her commitment to soil health, sustainable agriculture, and resilient Minnesota communities were the key qualities the search committee was looking for and found in Lucinda,” said Constance Carlson, State SFA Board of Directors President. “The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota will be forever grateful for outgoing Executive Director Theresa Keaveny’s steady leadership and unwavering vision for expanding SFA’s role in Minnesota as a leader in soil health and sustainable farming practices. I’m eager to continue building on Theresa’s work and have every confidence Lucinda Winter will do so and much more in the coming years.”

Winter has twelve years of experience serving as Executive Director of the nonprofit Minnesota Film and TV, a public-private partnership charged with advancing Minnesota’s economy and enhancing its rich cultural heritage by attracting film, television, and commercial production to the state. Winter founded a consultancy for nonprofits in 2017, continuing her work in marketing, engagement, and development for Minnesota nonprofits, much of it in the form of digital storytelling. Through several recent sustainable agriculture video projects, she engaged with farmers, culinary professionals, researchers, and supply chain professionals and became interested in the work being done to encourage and support land stewardship and regenerative agriculture.

“Much of my work at Minnesota Film and TV centered on helping Minnesota film, TV and documentary makers connect and learn from each other through networking and mentoring.” Winter said. “I championed their projects and promoted the state of Minnesota as a vibrant marketplace, connecting talented production professionals with potential buyers and distributors around the world. I look forward to applying those skills and experiences to leading SFA and its members toward a future of increased economic resilience, stronger and more diverse communities, and wider adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.”

Winter began her work with SFA this week. “I’m grateful that the SFA board crafted a transition plan that includes plenty of time for current Executive Director Theresa Keaveny to provide me with a thorough grounding in current operations, funding, key relationships and strategic vision,” Winter said. Retiring Executive Director Keaveny will take the lead in onboarding Winter to ensure a smooth transition. Keaveny will depart her position on October 26th.

In recent years, SFA has launched several new state-wide projects and partnerships, including specialty crop programs for garlic with the University of Minnesota Extension, a Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project, “Soil Health for Fruit & Vegetable Growers” field days and support for emerging farmers, and a podcast series, Dirt Rich. Now able to return in-person field days and workshops following state health guidance this year, the organization looks forward to again hosting the SFA Annual Conference in St. Joseph and Midwest Soil Health Summit in Elk River in early 2022.

“I’m fortunate to be taking on this new role at a time when SFA is financially sound, with a high-performing staff, a supportive board, and engaged and motivated chapters,” Winter said. “My focus in the coming months will be getting out to meet chapter members and SFA partners. I look forward to experiencing first-hand the important work SFA is doing across Minnesota.”

Winter lives with her husband in Edina. She is a current board member of the animal welfare nonprofit Pet Haven of Minnesota.

Dirt Rich: Wisdom of the Prairie

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 12:51:00 GMT

Megan Benage, a Regional Ecologist for the Minnesota DNR, brings her passion for the prairie to 32 counties in southern Minnesota–and to thousands of listeners on the Prairie Pod , which she hosts with fellow scientists. And today, she brings it to Dirt Rich!

There’s a lot to be learned from the prairie, especially in a changing climate. Megan distills it down to diversity, connection, and community. “When we put our natural resources first, we are putting ourselves first, because we all need the same basic things to live.”

Once covering a full third of the state, Minnesota’s tallgrass prairie is now 235,000 acres of remnant reference prairie. Megan shares what the day in the life of an ecologist is like, and how her work intersects with agriculture. In fact, she describes the balanced prairie ecosystem function that she works towards as incredibly relevant to the farmer: “Every regenerative agriculture model that we have is based on how a prairie is just living its life.”

Beyond Your Backyard: The wildlands are waiting

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:38:00 GMT

It’s been a hard summer field season. My body is sore and tired. Most evenings I’m exhausted from the long drives and hikes into the wildlands. The temperatures have been unforgiving with highs in the 90’s reigning supreme. Smoke from Canadian wildfires lingers and my lungs burn when I return home—reminding me that there is much to be done here to save our planet and save ourselves.

The days are long, but I can feel them shrinking. The afternoon light casts shadows earlier, reminding me this time is fleeting. And while my body is weary, my soul is blooming, recharged with the rekindled connection of greeting familiar friends. My hikes here are numbered and I am grateful for the steamy days, misty mornings, and calm afternoons spent here in the wildlands.

#publiclands #discovertheprairie #exploremn #calcareousfens #rarestwetlandintheworld

And yet, the work has a familiar, comfortable rhythm to it. The Land is teaching me as it is want to do. I recognize her flowers, sedges, and grasses and greet them as if they are friends. Hello to a softstem bulrush lightly crunched under my fingertips to verify its ID, hello to a kalm’s lobelia reaching out from under much taller cattails to find the sun, and hello to liatris, a brilliant firework blooming just a little later than usual this year. The fen’s upwelling, cold groundwater greets my footsteps, steady in the face of drought. Frogs hop frantically in front of me—their stable Eden disrupted by my presence.

Quick Cover Crops Guide and other New Soil Health Resources

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 17:12:00 GMT

A few new soil health resources for growers have been added to our website in the past few months, created by Conservation Connector Sarah Lindblom. The newest is a Quick Cover Crops Guide that can help you identify your needs in the context of the land you’re working with, and the cover crops that may best help you meet your goals.

If you would like to get better acquainted with your soil, you can do some simple tests at home to gain insight into soil structure and biological properties. See the Soil Health Toolkit for directions on how to do four soil health tests and then use the Soil Health Report Card to record the data and see your progress over time. You can even see each of these soil health tests demonstrated by Sarah in this video created by Mitch Kezar of Kezar Media .

Sarah, John Beaton, and Moses Momanyi are all farmers and Conservation Connectors. The Conservation Connections program links historically underserved farmers to conservation programs and resources within the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Learn more about the program and how it may assist you here .

Luhman: Drought Resources

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 18:59:00 GMT

Many counties have opened CRP land for emergency haying and/or grazing. To see which counties have opened for grazing/haying, check out the USDA’s emergency haying and grazing website here .

To get in touch with staff responsible for the management of Wildlife Management Areas, you can check the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s conservation grazing map found here .

To see if there are producers in your region or elsewhere with pasture or cover crops available for grazing, you can check out both of the grazing exchanges available for this region. You can access the Minnesota Cropland Grazing Exchange or the Midwest Grazing Exchange . There’s a recorded webinar walking through the Midwest Grazing Exchange from August 6 that is now available to view here . If you are a producer with an excess of grass right now, consider posting a listing to one or both of these grazing exchanges so that producers in need can find you!

Cornstalks can be a good source of feed and with the dry weather we are having, the risk of compaction from livestock on wet soil is reduced. It can add income to you as a crop producer and reduce feed expenses to the livestock owner. If you are unable to find crop residue to graze in your area, Nebraska has a cropland residue grazing exchange similar to the ones listed about that may be an option to find crop residue in Nebraska. This website can be found here .

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Drought Resources page compiles numerous additional resources.

Also, if you’re able, come to our September 21 field day at my colleague Doug Voss’ farm in Paynesville, MN where we’ll discuss grazing management, and touch a bit on how we can graze specifically in drought conditions. Improving grazing and soil health does not make us drought proof but it can at least help us be a little bit more resilient and capture what little moisture we do get when we get it. You can RSVP for the free field day here !

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me at jared@sfa-mn.org .

Many counties have opened CRP land for emergency haying and/or grazing. To see which counties have opened for grazing/haying, check out the USDA’s emergency haying and grazing website here .

DGA Update: Fair Season Celebrates Farmers

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:48:00 GMT

It’s fair season in MN! Next week is the start of the Minnesota State Fair. The first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859 near what became downtown Minneapolis. This was a year after Minnesota was granted statehood. During the fair’s early years, the site of the exposition changed annually with stops in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Red Wing, Winona and Owatonna. In the 1870s and early 1880s, civic groups from both St. Paul and Minneapolis worked relentlessly to provide a permanent home for the fair in their respective cities, but could not agree on anything. The State Fair finally found a permanent home at its present location when Ramsey County donated its 210-acre poor farm to the state for exclusive use by the Agricultural Society, the governing body of the State Fair. The fairgrounds has blossomed to its current 322 acres. Since its inception, the fair has been held every year with only six exceptions: in 1861 and 1862 due to the Civil War and U.S.-Dakota War, in 1893 because of scheduling conflicts with the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in 1945 due to federal government travel restrictions during World War II, in 1946 due to a polio epidemic, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

County fairs have been going on since June. Our family was so excited to be back showing dairy cows at our county fair a couple weeks ago after missing last year. County fairs are going on all over MN and I hope you will take the time to stop at one and visit with a farmer or two. The county fair is something that my family and I take great pride in being involved in. It is a time for people in agriculture to shine and to visit with consumers about what we are doing on our farms every day. It is so important that the love of agriculture continues on to the next generation. The root of all fairs is the competition for the best agricultural and domestic products of the county and/or community (or region or state) and it is an annual celebration for the community to come together, to share and to learn about agriculture.

Reminder of my next DGA pasture walk to be held on August 24 at Seven Pines Farm and Fence in Verndale, MN. It will be from 11am-2:00pm. If you can register beforehand that would be preferred but it is not required!

If you have any questions about DGA or the MN Ag Water Quality program , you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Podcast: Growing Grazing Dairy Farmers

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 16:16:00 GMT

The Walters and Ryan share their experiences in the DGA program from both the master and apprentice perspectives–it was a positive and valuable learning experience for all!

Angie also highlights the value of networking events, such as pasture walks, to dairy farmers of all experience levels. There are two pasture walks remaining this season, one on August 24 in Verndale, MN, and one on September 9 in Brandon, MN. Both are free, they include lunch! More information and registration can be found on SFA’s DGA page .

Beyond Your Backyard: We’re going deep–underground, that is

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 12:30:00 GMT

When you look at a prairie, most people are distracted by the majestic grasses and beautiful blooming wildflowers. You can spend hours watching bees busily collecting pollen and monarchs glide through the prairie. It’s mesmerizing and soothing watching all this wildlife work. And while all this work is going on aboveground, there’s an incredible amount happening right under our feet in what we lovingly call the soil biome.

Roots, baby! — Prairies are known for their dense and diverse root systems that can provide habitat for microorganisms, trap and filter nutrients, sediment, and water and sustain prairie systems through climate extremes like flooding and drought. Some roots are more than twice as tall as an NBA basketball player (6’7 x 2=13.4’)!
Soil biota —Prairie soils have vast underground ecosystems. It may be strange to think about, but healthy soils are alive! There are more microbes in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on earth (7 billion). These soil communities function similarly to aboveground communities where the ultimate source of energy comes from carbon in the atmosphere and the sun. Plants convert that energy into roots that go belowground, so now there’s a new source of carbon. When plants die or roots break off, bacteria and fungi decompose them. Our prairies have literally tons and tons of different kinds of bacteria and fungi that have built unique relationships with one another. An example is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (say that 10x fast) otherwise known as AMF, that colonizes prairie roots. This class of fungi are important symbiotic partners with prairie plants and help the plant function by fulfilling different roles like helping the plant uptake and transport phosphorus (P) and other relatively immobile soil nutrients, promote plant growth and even enhance their stress tolerance. AMF can also provide prairie plants with some resistance to pathogens. They operate like a vaccine protecting the plant from diseases and pests. Pretty neat.
Water storage and infiltration —Prairie soils have the ability to absorb an 8 inch rainfall. They act as a sponge and the layers of vegetation catch the rain, slowing absorption and runoff.
Carbon storage— Remnant prairies have thousands of years of biomass production and decomposition creating huge carbon storage banks. These storage banks are enhanced by the community of microorganisms that are building soil organic carbon by breaking down prairie roots and helping them decompose into rich organic matter. Even prairie restorations have an incredible ability to take carbon from the atmosphere and store it in biomass under- and aboveground.

Wow! Who knew all that was happening? And even as we learn more there’s still more to discover. I leave you with a prairie mystery. We used to believe that prairie roots go so deep because they’re tapping into moisture reserves in the soil in times of drought or stress. Not so, my friends. We now know prairie grasses and wildflowers pull most of their water from the top 10”-30” of the soil. They are so efficient at it that different plant groups pull water from different zones with grasses accessing water in the top 10” and forbs in the depths below that to 30”. You can learn more about how this all works in the prairie ecologist blog post “A deep-rooted prairie myth.” So, that just leaves us with one question: why are you growing so deep, prairie roots? My theory: because they can and no one told them they couldn’t.

#discovertheprairie

Digging Deep Reveals the Intricate World of Roots, National Geographic

Let’s uncover what’s happening underground:

Dirt Rich: Pastured Pork & an Incubator Farm

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:29:00 GMT

Dayna Burtness discusses her “pastured pig-centric farm,” marketing enterprise, and incubator farm near Spring Grove, in the Driftless region of Minnesota. Dayna is the sixth generation in her family to farm in Houston County, and she and her husband Nick Nguyen are finishing 75 mixed breed heritage pigs on pasture this season at Nettle Valley Farm .

In her conversation with Jared Luhman, Dayna shares how her production system has evolved over time, her focus on soil health, her intentionality in the incubator farm, and her philosophy on marketing, pricing, and running a farm business. She also offers sage advice to those pursuing similar ventures, and plenty of examples of ‘failed’ and successful on-farm experiments.

Nettle Valley Farm will be one of the featured farms at the Methods of Pastured Pork and Poultry Production field day on August 21st. Learn more and register on our Soil Health page .

You can listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean. You can also listen on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Leave us a review or drop us a line .

DGA Update: The Pasture Productivity Pail

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:23:00 GMT

During the field day we were able to look at everything in the pail and try things out. I have used some of the tools before, but some I had not. I think this pail would be a very useful tool to have as a grazing farmer. I am hoping to put together my own pail for DGA and have available to use at all pasture walks in the future. A list of all the contents, where to purchase them, and a booklet that describes the use of each tool can be found at the SARE site for the PPP. You can construct your own pail and customize it if you choose. The approximate cost to put together a pail is around $400.

If you have any questions, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org . Our next DGA Pasture Walk will be in Verndale on August 24th at Seven Pines Farm. See our webpage for more details and registration.

I attended a field day last week about the Pasture Productivity Pail (PPP). This pail contains a set of tools used to make informed decisions on pasture management and improvement. It is modeled after and complements the NRCS Soil Health Bucket. The PPP provides additional information on many above-ground factors that influence pasture productivity. It comes with instructions, is mobile, user-friendly, and provides quantifiable measures to use in decision-making. The pail was developed with funding from the USDA SARE program.

Luhman: Drought

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 22:00:00 GMT

I wanted to take a moment to share a little bit of information that may be helpful during this drought we are experiencing in 2021. Forage and hay is in short supply and when it can be found it is expensive. If you are in need of forage, there are a few places that you can go to look for it. I’ll share a list of those below:

To get in touch with staff responsible for the management of Wildlife Management Areas, you can check the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s conservation grazing map found here .

To see if there are producers in your region or elsewhere with pasture or cover crops available for grazing, you can check out both of the grazing exchanges available for this region. You can access the Minnesota Cropland Grazing Exchange or the Midwest Grazing Exchange . There will actually be a webinar walking through the Midwest Grazing Exchange this Friday, August 6 at 1pm, you can register for it at https://z.umn.edu/ MidwestGrazingExchange .
If you are a producer with an excess of grass right now, consider posting a listing to one or both of these grazing exchanges so that producers in need can find you!

There will be a Grazing and Drought Support call on Monday, August 9. See here for more information .

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Drought Resources page compiles numerous additional resources.

Also, if you’re able, come to our field day in Menahga, MN on August 17 where we’ll discuss grazing management, and touch a bit on how we can graze specifically in drought conditions. Improving grazing and soil health does not make us drought proof but it can at least help us be a little bit more resilient and capture what little moisture we do get when we get it. You can RSVP for the free field day here !

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me at jared@sfa-mn.org .

Many counties have opened CRP land for emergency haying and/or grazing. To see which counties have opened for grazing/haying, check out the USDA’s emergency haying and grazing website here .

From the Executive Director: Field Day Series Previews Soil Data Project Findings

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:21:00 GMT

The first three in a series of five field days to discuss soil health research featured farmer-led programs at the Michael Larson Farm in Stephen, Doubting Thomas Farm near Moorhead with Noreen Thomas, the Pfarr farm near Lamberton with Brain and Bill Pfarr and Grant & Dawn Breitkreutz’s Stoney Creek Farm near Redwood Falls. The field days provided a picture of soil health practices across varied types of soils and regions and offered excellent discussion and networking with our farmer hosts, SFA’s Kent Solberg and Zach Paige, and U. of M. researchers Hava Blair, Ann Marcelle Lewandowski and Nic Jelinski.

The goal of the project, led by the Minnesota Office for Soil Health in partnership with SFA, several county Soil Water Conservation Districts, NRCS and the Center for Integrated Agricultural Resource Management, is to compile a regional dataset of soil health tests from working farms across Minnesota, comparing various fields and practices. Samples were collected from 27 farms in Northwest Minnesota, the Red River Valley, Central Minnesota (Stearns County), the Minnesota River area, and Southeastern Minnesota (Mower County). A range of soil physical, chemical and biological properties were measured and evaluated.
The project was funded by a Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA. Information on each of the regions can be found at z.umn.edu/SoilHealthCIG . Findings are not yet prepared but will be issued late this year or in early 2022. The next field day is 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wed., Sept. 1, Wednesday, in Stearns County, with a Mower County field day slated for October. Details and registration here .

Many thanks to the participating farmers who took time, shared expertise and welcomed researchers, other farmers and ag professionals to their farms so we can learn more about the benefits and costs of soil health practices. Photos above by Lewandowski.

Dirt Rich: Silvopasture Library Revisited

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 10:37:00 GMT

In anticipation of our trio of silvopasture field days and workshops next week, we wanted to highlight the five episodes we’ve made that cover this management approach with ecological and indigenous origins:

Episode 10 is back in the podcast feed today. You can listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean. You can also listen on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line .

Episode 9: “Silvopasture in Minnesota” with SFA’s Tyler Carlson and Jared Luhman.
Episode 10: “Implementing Silvopasture” with SFA’s Tyler Carlson and Jared Luhman.
Episode 23: “ Origins of Oak Savanna ” with Stephen Thomforde and Tyler Carlson.
Episode 24: “ Restoring Oak Savanna ” with Stephen Thomforde and Tyler Carlson.
Episode 25: “ Home on the Tree-Range ” with Tony Wells and Jared Luhman.

Dirt Rich: The Potential of Perennial Crops & Kernza

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 13:40:00 GMT

“I’m so heartened by the work that our farmers are doing, that our researchers are doing, to create these really sustainable crops–they’re actually regenerative crops–that are not only delicious on the plate, but really good for the land.” Beth Dooley shares the excitement for Minnesota perennial crops and Kernza that she, Jacob Jungers, and Peter and Anne Schwagerl all bring to this episode of Dirt Rich.

The two SFA Western Chapter members have 40 acres of Kernza seeded on their organic farm this season. Says Peter, “it also offers a good way for us to tackle some of the very nitty gritty challenges that we face on a farm, particularly us as organic farmers. It really feeds a lot of needs for us from an agronomic standpoint.” They’re able to keep living roots in the soil, reduce tillage, improve pest and weed management, and break up soil compaction.

The Schwagerls intend to eventually incorporate that fifth principle of soil health, Integrating Livestock, and graze the forage that Kernza provides as well. As Jacob Jungers explains, grazing Kernza results in four potential income streams for the crop: grazing forage in early May, harvesting the grain, using the leftover straw for bedding or rations, and grazing again in the late fall.

Additionally , Kernza® CAP has announced several field days for July and August. Visit here for more information.

Research by a variety of stakeholders has been focused on the economic and environmental impacts of perennials like alfalfa, hazelnuts, pennycress, and the intermediate wheatgrass Kernza®. They’ve found that fewer pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are needed to grow perennial crops, and farmers such as Anne and Peter Schwagerl reap the benefits.

DGA Update: Take the lead in protecting water

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:57:00 GMT

The MAWQCP is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Certified producers are deemed to be in compliance with any new water quality rules or laws for 10 years. They also receive recognition and signs to promote that their business is in the program and is protecting our state waters. Priority is given to Ag Water certified farmers for financial and technical assistance to implement practices that promote better water quality.

To apply to get certified, you would contact your local Soil & Water Conservation District or area certification specialist. If you do not know who that is, feel free to contact me and I can help you. After you complete the program application, a Certifying Agent will work with you on the assessment process, which includes an online assessment tool and on-farm field verification. Lastly, compliance with existing laws and rules needs to be complete when the certification agreement is signed.

The MAWQCP has four Endorsements available to water quality certified producers: Climate Smart Farm, Soil Health, Integrated Pest Management, and Wildlife. Many conservation practices targeting water quality have benefits for other conservation goals and the Endorsements provide additional recognition to water quality certified producers who are going above and beyond to implement conservation on their farms. Endorsements are available to producers who are already Ag water quality certified. Those who achieve an Endorsement will receive an additional sign for their farm and recognition for their conservation excellence.

For more information feel free to go to the website or contact me at 320-815-9293, angie@sfa-mn.org with any questions. Our farm has gone through the process and is Ag Water Quality certified with all four endorsements as well.

The post DGA Update: Take the lead in protecting water appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

Beyond Your Backyard: A historic day on the prairie

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 19:05:00 GMT

I know I promised to uncover the amazing underground world of prairie soils for this next one, but I can’t help but share a historic moment from the prairie!

What’s a skipper anyway? No, it’s not Barbie’s flat footed sister who can’t wear any of the cool shoes—it’s an adorable big-eyed butterfly. There are lots of different kinds of prairie skippers and they get their name because they appear to skip through the prairie as they dash from flower to flower like miniature fighter jets. Dakota skippers were once common on the prairie landscape, but now only occur in a single small native prairie in northern Minnesota. Their decline and ultimate loss from much of the Minnesota prairie is likely due to a combination of things including habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.

This year is a unique year because it’s suspected that prairie management will play a critical role in recovering skippers. Balancing grazing and fire on site will be a challenge because the skipper and the prairie need these disturbances to persist, but they also have the potential to destroy the skipper—a delicate balance indeed.

Scientists from the grazing community, invertebrate ecologists, ecologists, biologist and land managers have been working together to help decipher this prairie puzzler. The hope is to learn as much as possible about the skipper’s decline, their specific needs, and general biology to ensure that these dainty skippers that use narrow-leaved purple coneflower as landing pads, air strips, and display perches are forever flying on the Minnesota prairie—making the whole stronger because of their presence.

Have you thanked a prairie lately for that fresh air you’re breathing, clean water it’s filtering, and carbon it’s storing to mitigate climate change? It’s not too late to discover the prairie and all of its fascinating pieces that work together to make the whole.

Photo: Megan Benage

More on the Dakota Skipper:

https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/dask/index.html

In June, Federally threatened, Dakota skippers, a rare prairie butterfly were released back onto the Minnesota prairie as part of a huge partnership effort to make sure we don’t lose any of these vital prairie pieces that help keep the prairie whole and resilient so it can function at its best.

Zimmerli: First MN River Chapter Farm Gathering a Success!

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 11:01:00 GMT

The first MN River Chapter Farm Gathering was held at Under the Sun Herbs by owners Bil Carda and Alise Torgusen and was a huge success. Farmers from the chapter got an overview of Bil and Alise’s operation including the tools they use, caterpillar tunnel end wall designs, raised beds overview, and converting conventional corn and soybean land to pasture.

The Minnesota river Chapter is looking forward to the next farm gathering! Stay tuned for details.

These events are great opportunities for local foods producers to learn from each other, network, and talk about the trials and tribulations of being a local foods producer. A conversation about different types of wheel hoes may lead to a new innovation on your own farm. Or you may learn about opportunities to collaborate and cross promote each other’s products. Or you might see something that sparks a question and solves a problem on your own farm.

Twin Cities Metro Growers Network Tours Holistic Health Farms

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 11:03:00 GMT

The heat didn’t stop Twin Cities Metro Growers Network from enjoying our very first live, in-person event of 2021! About 20 metro growers gathered for a tour at Holistic Health Farms in St. Paul to learn about creative crop cultivation in small spaces. Tim Page and Cherry Flowers showed us the ginger, garlic, turmeric, tomatoes, galangal, herb spiral and more that they have growing in their yard and hoop house.

Photo: Karl Hakanson

We also got to learn about the value-added products they make, and see a new pollinator garden planted by UMN grad student Julia B. and a couple of Tim and Cherry’s neighbors. We can’t wait to visit more farms this year! Check out more photos from the evening here .

Additionally, the “Natural Landscaping for Your Yard & Garden” meeting is now available to revisit on the SFA YouTube channel. Audio and chat transcripts are also posted here . Our three speakers all provided very valuable information and tools to create people- and planet-friendly spaces for you and your community! Be sure to check out the Metro Blooms and University of Minnesota Extension websites for more resources on plants, pollinators, and community centered landscapes.

Dirt Rich: Growing a CSA from 8 to 80

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 11:58:00 GMT

Get to know our SFA Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, Dan Zimmerli, in today’s episode of Dirt Rich!

Technology, making processes more efficient, training employees well, and adding infrastructure have all played a role in growing their business while not spreading themselves too thin. You can listen to their farm story on Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean. You can also listen on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line .

Dan farms full time with his wife at Cedar Crate Farm southeast of Mankato, growing produce for their CSA members. They started out with 8 members in their first season in 2015, and six seasons later they’ve grown it to 80–always with a goal of lifestyle balance in mind.

Luhman: New Soil Health for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Resources

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:14:00 GMT

Soil Health is an incredible concept but can be difficult to implement because how we create soil health can be different on every single farm. A practice that works in one area may not work in another, and practices that work in one type of production system may not work in another production system. The important thing is to implement principles rather than practices. Principles can be applied in different ways within unique contexts and in case you aren’t familiar with the soil health principles, I’ve listed them below:

Recognizing that how each of these principles are applied within a unique production system, we decided to create a new page on the SFA website highlighting many of the resources and links relevant specifically to soil health for fruit and vegetable production, because applying soil health principles on these operations may look different than it does on a dairy, beef or crop farm. Check out the soil health for fruit and vegetable growers page here!

Sarah Lindblom demonstrates four soil health tests you can do at home! Download her “Soil Health Report Card” and track the progress on your land or in your garden.

Keep the soil covered
Minimize soil disturbance
Increase crop diversity
Keep living roots in the soil
Integrate livestock

Beyond your backyard: Getting back to your roots

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 19:05:00 GMT

This is the first June I can remember living in Minnesota that my grass is already brown and dead in the boulevard (yes, I am one of those people who refuses to water unless you’re a newly planted native plant—then you get VIP treatment). I’m not one bit mad about it because mowing is high on my list of least favorite chores—I really hate mowing. Dead turfgrass is a win!! But you know what isn’t dead? Those beautiful native prairie plants that can only be described as thriving! We recently visited an amazing native prairie at the Klossner cemetery and it was alive with color of blooming wildflowers and brilliant green grasses and sedges. When it comes to drought and heat, prairies do it best. And it’s no wonder, this is what they’re designed to do: be resilient to weather extremes.

For an incredible look at prairie roots check out Jim Richardson’s photography in this National Geographic piece: Digging deep reveals the intricate world of roots .

Photos: Megan Benage, Klossner Cemetery

Here’s a fun competition for you, if you’re up for it, go out to your yard and dig up just a tiny bit of sod. Now if you’re really playing this game to win, go try to dig up a big bluestem (preferably in a planting or restoration NOT in a native prairie). My guess is that patch of sod would be rolled up before you are even able to find the lower rooting depth of the bluestem! Prairies will win this competition every time! They know their roots. And of course they do, when they’re the originals at soil health, flood control, water infiltration, water storage, and trapping sediment and nutrients so they don’t run off!

What’s their secret? Big, beautiful, biota-full underground soil ecosystems complete with prairie roots. When we talk about getting back to our roots, prairies do it better than anyone else. With rooting depths of 14’ or greater (that’s almost 3 Megan’s tall) and a huge amount of biomass creating horizontal and vertical structure in the soil there’s a lot going on underground (more on that next time)!

That’s why so many regenerative agriculture models are based off of the prairie—how it’s built, how it functions, and its amazing ability to be resilient. There’s a lot you can learn from the prairie. How will you apply those lessons at home and on the farm?

Zimmerli: The Scoop on Minnesota Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:35:00 GMT

Farmers MUST register with the Dept. of Agriculture and receive authorization to accept FMNP checks. To learn more about how to become authorized check out the MDAs website .

Participants in this program may only buy fresh fruits, vegetables and cut herbs. No other items may be purchased with this program including (but not limited to) meats, honey, eggs, jams, baked goods and things like carving pumpkins which are not commonly consumed.

The MDA occasionally does compliance checks to make sure farmers are following the guidelines and that approved markets are open during their posted hours.

Once your farm is authorized to take FMNP checks, you must display signage that’s provided for free by the MDA at your market stand. This lets customers know that you are an authorized farmer.

This program is different from SNAP/EBT and different rules apply to SNAP/EBT.

I can say from my own experience at the Mankato Farmers Market that participation in this program is definitely worth it. Not only are you accessing a new customer base but you are also providing fresh nutritious produce to Women, Infants and Children (commonly referred to as WIC) and low-income seniors. Signing up is pretty easy and once you get through the initial training you can easily renew for subsequent years with minimal work.

Dirt Rich: A Chat with Gabe Brown

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 21:21:00 GMT

On the latest episode of Dirt Rich, Gabe Brown shares his ranch story and his 25+ years of learning about regenerative agriculture practices with host Jared Luhman.

And it’s been worth it: healthy soil has made Brown’s Ranch both more resilient and more profitable than it used to be. For example, 2020 was the second driest year on record for Bismarck, yet it didn’t dent ranch operations. But he didn’t do it alone, Gabe is blunt about the valuable role of connecting with and learning from others in his own success: “Gabe Brown’s not very smart, but I know a lot of smart people.”

Throughout their conversation, Gabe and Jared discuss how building healthy soils and stacking enterprises can boost farm profitability, and challenge the “feed the world mentality” as a promotion for high-yield, monocrop agriculture. Gabe also shares the ethos behind his “200-year plan” for Brown Ranch: “We don’t own the land that we farm and operate, we’re only borrowing it from our children and future generations.”

Now retired from the ranch, Gabe helps other farmers work within their farm’s individual context to implement soil health principles and benefit their triple bottom line. He co-owns Understanding Ag , a for-profit consulting company that is currently consulting on over 22 million acres across the country. An active presenter, Gabe Brown spoke at SFA’s virtual 2021 Midwest Soil Health Summit. His session recording is available on SFA’s Youtube channel .

You can listen to Dirt Rich on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and wherever else you get your podcasts. You can also listen on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line .

Before “soil health” concepts entered the mainstream, a few hail storms in the ‘90s, financial challenges, connections made with soil experts, and some serendipity prodded Gabe to try things that were rather unconventional in commercial ag; he stopped tilling, he started planting some cover crops, he grazed, and he ran side-by-side trials with and without chemical nutrient inputs. He’d never seen earthworms in the soil there before, but soon they were appearing. He noticed soil aggregate and improvements in water infiltration–which, by the way, has increased from a half inch per hour to 30 inches per hour.

Zimmerli: MarketLink can help you accept SNAP payments

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:13:00 GMT

Are you a local foods producer or farmers market manager who’d like to participate in the SNAP program administered by the USDA? With the MarketLink grant program farmers and farmers markets can easily apply to take SNAP payments for their farm or market, and the best part is that you can do it from your phone using app based processing software.

If you’ve participated in the MarketLink program I would love to hear about your experience. Send me a note about how it went at dan@sfa-mn.org .

The grant covers the cost of the processing equipment and the first year of processing costs, and is a great way to test out an alternate payment method and help to make sure all have access to fresh, local food. To find out more about MarketLink please check out their website .

Luhman: Tree seeds for the future

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 19:02:00 GMT

Are you interested in learning how to collect climate-forward tree seeds? The Forest Assisted Migration Project (FAMP) is developing a network of farmers and community members in central and southern Minnesota who will collect tree seeds and sell them directly to northern tree growers. Anyone can participate! This is a great opportunity to earn extra income while protecting Minnesota’s distinctive forest.

To receive the training Zoom link or to ask questions about FAMP, please email David Abazs ( dwabazs@umn.edu ) or Joel Bransky ( bran1351@umn.edu ).

The first tree seed collection training will be on Thursday, July 15th at 7:00pm on Zoom. Scott Rogers, manager of the U.S. Forest Service Oconto River Seed Orchard, will be our trainer. He will cover tree identification and fundamental seed collection techniques. The training is free, open to all, and will be recorded and posted on FAMP’s website .

Spring Grazing Management on ‘Dirt Rich’

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:44:00 GMT

When is the best time to turn the cows out? On Episode 31 of Dirt Rich, Kent Solberg and Jared Luhman dig into this decision that sets you up for the rest of the grazing season. It can be awful tempting to get started as soon as we see green, but Kent illustrates how letting the pasture mature a bit more can extend your grazing season by one to two months.

Listen to Dirt Rich on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and wherever else you get your podcasts. You can also listen on the SFA website . Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line .

Luhman: Importance of Recording Observations

Mon, 24 May 2021 12:34:00 GMT

This is why I recommend recording observations and recording management decisions when you do them so that you have something to base future decisions off of. How you record these can be entirely up to you, maybe it’s a journal you keep in your side-by-side, or photos taken on your smart phone that you organize into different folders. Whatever it is, keeping accurate and detailed records is key when you reflect on how past management has impacted a given paddock or animal.

Here’s a brief list of things to make observations of as often as possible:

What species are livestock eating
What are they not eating
How much are they consuming
Condition of cattle
Amount of cover left on soil
Insect and wildlife presence
Brix reading if you own a brix refractometer
Stock density (pounds of animal/acre)

As you continue to make observations and adapt to them your grazing management skills will improve as well as your soils, and business! If you want to learn more about grazing management, check out the Pasture Project Youtube channel ! They have a great video series on grazing management and fencing techniques! If you have any questions, reach out to me at jared@sfa-mn.org .

Beyond Your Backyard: Brood X

Wed, 12 May 2021 00:24:00 GMT

If you’ve been watching the news lately there’s a new celebrity everyone’s talking about.

There are over 3,000 different kinds of cicadas and within all those species there are three different kinds of life cycles: annual, periodical, and protoperiodical. It’s the middle category that makes these cyclical populations that emerge at the same time in certain areas after 13 or 17 years. Of course, the timing of this varies depending on the last hatch, the species, and environmental cues. Annual cicadas emerge every year at different times throughout the summer. These cicadas can take one to nine years to complete their life cycles, but because nymphs hatch at different times and intervals (asynchronous), we see cicadas each year. Protoperiodicals have a boom and bust cycle of emergence where they emerge in large groups and in other years are rare.

Ok so how on earth do the cicadas know it’s time? Their tiny cicada alarm clocks of course. I’m only half kidding. Cicadas like most species use a series of cues to mark the passage of time. Their specific cues are unique to where they’re waiting. Periodical cicadas, like most cicadas, are waiting underground as nymphs, feeding on the sap from tree roots. Scientists have found that when trees leaf out the sap (xylem) changes (cue number 1) signifying the passage of another season. There’s still some mysteries here, but more of the puzzle is coming together. Actual emergence is likely triggered by ground temperature in combination with the passage of time marked by trees losing and growing new leaves.

In Minnesota, we don’t have periodical cicadas so we won’t see the booming emergence of epic proportions. But, thanks to annual and protoperiodical cicadas, we will still be serenaded by these amazing winged celebrities.

If you are so lucky to see an epic horde of cicadas don’t panic and no need to reach for the insecticide. They aren’t harmful and even though cicadas lay their eggs in tree and shrub stems, mature trees are well equipped to handle this slight disturbance. Young trees can have their growth stunted so an easy way to protect them is by covering them with mesh netting. This emergence of epic proportions is also a super important buffet for all kinds of wildlife including foxes, squirrels, birds, bats, spiders, and wasps to name a few. People have even been known to eat cicadas as a rich and nutritious food source.

As an aside, I actually happen to know what they taste like! When I was still in college I was back home in Indiana during one of these epic booms of cicadas and they were everywhere on our farm. It just so happened that my mom had organized a mini Olympics for the family. Well the competitive spirit carried into the rest of the day long after the winners were crowned and my cousin and I found ourselves in the middle of a debate about what cicadas taste like as they were flying all around us. Naturally, there’s an easy way to solve this argument: put one in your mouth and eat it! Some people say they taste like shrimp or almonds. We didn’t fry or cook them, just snatched one off a tree and ate them raw. If you can get past what you’ve just done, they aren’t bad and have a nutty flavor—a lot like peanut butter. I highly recommend removing the wings before eating. I also recommend if you’re competing with a family member that you make them eat it first or at the same time because I found I was the only one who ended up going through with the cicada snack dare—life lessons.

Who knew cicadas were so interesting? Ready to learn more? Check out these excellent resources for all things cicada:

https://entomologytoday.org/2016/03/22/how-do-cicadas-know-when-to-emerge-from-the-ground/

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cicadas

Big bulging eyes, long body in a variety of colors, sturdy wings, and a distinctive call that heralds warmer weather just as surely as its evening costar, the firefly does. This daytime celebrity is none other than the cicada. They’ve been capturing everyone’s attention because 2021 happens to be when brood x hatches out—a population boom of biblical proportions where trillions of cicadas that have been underground for 17 years are getting ready to emerge .

Check this out! Garlic on PBS

Sat, 08 May 2021 11:57:00 GMT

Our own Jerry Ford was featured on Pioneer PBS’ Prairie Yard & Garden on Earth Day! The topic? Growing garlic, of course. You can catch the episode here.

If that makes you hungry for more, you can find garlic cooking demos on the Minnesota Garlic Festival channel , more garlic growing resources on our website , and even subscribe to “The Stinky News” by emailing garlicgrowers@sfa-mn.org .

Podcast: Getting Ready for a Seed Saving Season

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 13:12:00 GMT

Zachary Paige returns to Dirt Rich in Episode 28 for a conversation on planning ahead for seed saving! You may remember him from Episode 21 at the top of the season.

Tune in for some recommendations on spacing, trellising, storage, equipment (‘smashing sticks,’ anyone?), and some colorful stories on the delicious foods and new connections that Zach has made because of saved seed.

Zach farms and operates North Circle Seeds in Vergas, Minnesota. North Circle Seeds is a newly certified organic seed company and collective committed to creating an ecologically diverse, equitable, and inclusive food system. As the Minnesota weather warms and gardeners and farmers are beginning to plant, Zach has some pointers for planning your space for seed saving and some vignettes of the process behind saving seeds for arugula, tomatoes, squash, and carrots.

First Local Foods & Farmer Expo a Huge Success

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:06:00 GMT

The newest chapter of SFA has just held its first event: the Local Foods & Farmers Expo over Zoom in late March. It was a huge success despite the challenges of COVID. This event was conceived by the chapter organizing group as a way to raise awareness about local foods and expand markets for local foods producers. We achieved both of these goals and had a great time talking with folks interested in local foods.

This event was picked up by several local media outlets including the New Ulm Journal, the Mankato Freepress, the KNUJ radio station, and even MPR news! We think that in and of itself is a huge success and helps to increase awareness about the awesome products our farmers raise. In addition to the earned media we also had over 15 sponsors including everything from local breweries to the University of Minnesota Extension.

The Minnesota River Chapter already has its eyes on our second annual Local Foods Expo to be held in winter 2022. We hope this event will be in person and think we will have an even stronger impact once we’re able to network and share in person.

To stay in the loop on the Minnesota River Chapter follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @MinnesotaRiverSFA.

The Expo had 15 farmer vendors in attendance that carried such a wide variety of products that during peak growing season a person could source nearly 100% of their groceries directly from their local farmers. Meat, eggs, dairy, veggies, honey, herbs and so much more were featured by our region’s farmers.

Solberg on Soil: Wide-Row Corn for More Income, Soil Health?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Kent Solberg

Some recent thoughts on wide-row corn were recently discussed in Successful Farming Magazine . For producers with beef cattle, sheep or dairy replacement heifers, wide-row corn may be a more profitable way to use corn acres. Wide-row corn could be a means of developing 2-3 income streams from what was single-income acreage while increasing plant diversity, integrating livestock and keeping a living root in the soil longer than a corn crop monoculture.

While not covered in the article, some Minnesota growers have also been conducting trials comparing 40-44″ corn row spacing to 60″. They feel there is less potential for corn yield reduction in the 40-44″ row spacing. Corn hybrid selection can make a large difference, but breeding for wide-row planting is not a high priority for corn breeders at this time. Your seed supplier may be able to provide some guidance. Like with any new practice, conduct your own trials to determine what might work best in your context.

Luhman: A Good time to Share Your Regenerative Story

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 21:24:00 GMT

2020 was an interesting year, presenting countless challenges from not being able to see family and friends to roller-coaster rides of commodity markets. We saw processing plants shut down, leaving store shelves empty and farmyards full of livestock. But one silver lining of all these challenges was that demand went through the roof for local, direct-from-the-farmer meat. This provided unforeseen challenges as well – from local processors not having capacity to farmers unable to meet demand – but it has made the idea of buying local more mainstream than ever.

Back in December, we hosted a webinar on Direct Marketing, you can watch it on our SFA YouTube Channel. Craig Fischer of Sleepy Bison Acres, Rachelle Meyer of Wholesome Family Farms and Dayna Burtness of Nettle Valley Farm shared how they decided what they wanted to raise, how they established their prices, and how they built relationships with consumers that allow them to do what they love, farming.

Have you been a direct marketer for years? Did opportunity in the past year drive you to adding a direct marketing enterprise on your farm? Either way, now is an exciting time to connect people to their food and share the story of regenerating our soils and providing nutrient-dense foods!

Podcast: “Home on the Tree-Range”

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 21:19:00 GMT

In the newest episode of SFA’s ‘Dirt Rich’ podcast, we chat with Tony Wells of Regeneration Farms.

Years before Tony joined the venture, his partners Wil Crombie and Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin were working on developing the system. Regi worked with many breeds, researching which would be most suitable for their design. The breed of chicken they’ve found success with? Aptly, Freedom Rangers.

The goal is for this model to be replicated on other farm sites. “It’s really, really hard for one farm to make it on their own and market their own products,” Tony said. “It’s always going to work better if multiple farms can work together.”

Tony and Reginaldo were also interviewed for SFA’s new Silvopasture Case Study series , which was just published in March 2021.

Tony and a few partners are years into developing a regenerative and resilient poultry production system that provides opportunities for small farm profitability, which they’ve implemented on a 40-acre farm. The model attempts to replicate a forest habitat for poultry, incorporating perennials like hazelnuts and elderberries into a silvopasture system. Not only do the birds enjoy the shade and cover from aerial predators provided by the canopy, but the hazelnuts thrive on the nitrogen-rich chicken manure and offer an additional income stream. Tony says that after 5-7 years, the hazelnuts will make up 30-50 percent of the farm’s revenue.

DGA Update: Study Says Water Quality Certified Farms Show Higher Profits

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 21:33:00 GMT

The “Influence of Intensified Environmental Practices on Farm Profitability” study examined financial and crop production information from farmers enrolled in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management education program. The 64 MAWQCP farms in the study saw 2020 profits that were an average of $40,000 or 18 percent higher (median of $11,000) than non-certified farms. The 2019 data showed an average of $19,000 or 20 percent in higher profits (median of $7,000) for certified producers. Other key financial metrics are also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP, such as debt-to-asset ratios and operating expense ratios.

Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com .

If you have any questions about DGA or would like more information about the MNAWQCP program, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The MAWQCP is a voluntary program for farmers and landowners that protects the state’s water resources by putting farmers in touch with local conservation district experts to identify and mitigate any risks their farm poses to water quality. Producers going through the certification process have priority access to financial assistance to help them the fix or correct any issues on their farm. Since the program’s statewide launch in 2016, 1,038 farms totaling over 734,000 acres have been certified across Minnesota. Farms have added 2,095 new conservation practices, which protect Minnesota’s waters. The program is on target to meet Gov. Tim Walz’s goal of enrolling one million acres by the end of 2022.

Beyond Your Backyard: I’m Ready for Green Things

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 10:27:00 GMT

Photos above by Megan Benage, from left: Virginia bluebells growing in a woodland shade garden. Pasqueflower is one of the first prairie wildflowers to bloom, blooming around Easter; this Queen bumble bee ended up covered in pollen and ready to provision her nest. American plum is important for earth emerging pollinators like queen bumble bees. It also smells nice, too.

While this dance is beautiful, I also get incredibly impatient. WHERE ARE THE GREEN THINGS?! I am ready for the browns and whites to explode in splashes of color, bright red maple and basswood buds along with purple tinged pasqueflower petals standing out against the muted backdrop. And still I want even more color! Tender bright green leaves unfurling and stretching into the sun with shoots of prairie emerging on hillsides to say hello to the open sky.

Because I’m impatient I need something to do while I wait for all of these changes to happen. Luckily, enter the Minnesota prairie. Native prairies have over 500 different kinds of plants. They are all uniquely beautiful and important and now, while we’re all waiting for the show, is the perfect time to plan your native garden or prairie reconstruction! Remember, diversity is the number one indicator of health in any system so try to choose lots of different kinds of native plants and group them in threes or fives if you want a more orderly garden. Or just throw caution to the wind and let nature surprise you by scattering a whole bunch of seeds and seeing what grows first. How many plants will you add that could help a hungry bee or butterfly?

The excitement at seeing color and smelling more smells than our senses can take in is right on the horizon!

#grownative #nativeplants

I spent my college years in Indiana and I always knew it was spring by the peepers calling , their loud, high-pitched trills exciting the marsh and letting everyone know life has awoken anew.

In Minnesota, spring is a more subtle dance. The geese return, arcing quietly through the sky, their spring entrance often feels quieter than their noisy fall exit. As if they’re waiting to be found out as an unexpected surprise only after they touch down in a nearby wetland so when you round the bend there they are, just like that — home. The woodcocks peent and twirl through the sky impressing all the lady woodcocks with their bob and shuffle. Snow comes and disappears in the same week it fell and then winter laughs at the audacity of the month of April to call the flowers forward and sends more.

Podcast: AMPed for Grazing!

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:38:00 GMT

Over the years of establishing and fine-tuning their management systems, grazing has become absolutely key in both Jared Luhman’s and Doug Voss’ cattle and dairy operations. Beyond rotational grazing, Adaptive Multi-Paddock grazing (or AMP) has improved the ecology of their farms–not to mention saved the time, energy, and expense of hauling around feed and other off-farm inputs–by modeling their grazing systems after the natural movement of wildlife across landscapes. “There’s no substitute for what comes out the back of a cow or small ruminant,” Doug jokes.

The number of variables to consider may be daunting, but as Doug reminds us, creating an adaptive grazing plan is more of a journey than a destination. In the interview, he shares some advice for those looking to start to graze as well as those looking to improve their management, covering fencing, watering systems, rest periods, and examples from Voss Farms.

The payoff is worth it. AMP grazing has brought Doug great peace of mind and more predictable income: “I have far fewer challenges where I’m not going to be productive or profitable on an acre of ground than I’ve ever had before.”

Doug hasn’t used any off-farm inputs for years, and yet his yields continue to grow. The adaptive part of AMP is quintessential: not only is a successful grazing plan going to be unique and flexible to the context of a piece of land, but to the conditions that may come to pass during the season, be it a change in rainfall or a family wedding you need a couple days to travel to.

DGA Update: Thousands in apprentice stipends available

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 19:37:00 GMT

Did you know that if you are an Organic Valley farmer, you can qualify for a stipend to get an apprentice on your dairy farm? Organic Valley has partnered with DGA to offer their farmers a total of $8,000 in stipends to offset the cost of hiring an apprentice. This is a great incentive to take advantage of. It’s like getting $8000 of free labor on your farm. If you are an Organic Valley farmer looking for help and willing to teach, please reach out to me!

Are you interested in hiring a veteran to work on your dairy farm? DGA has a USDA AgVets grant that provides a $4,500 Veteran Stipend (paid in three $1,500 installments) to veterans hired as an Apprentice, which can be part of an overall compensation package. If you are a Master Grazier in our program, you can filter your search for “Veterans Only” when you search for an apprentice. If you are (or know of) a veteran that is looking for another career, consider looking at the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship .

If you have any questions about DGA or would like more information about the PPP program (the deadline to apply has been extended to May 31, 2021), you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Luhman: Summit brings national attendance

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:56:00 GMT

On the first night, Gabe Brown talked about the principles of soil health and how they can be applied in any context from crop and livestock farms to vegetable farms. The second night, Sara Keough picked up where Gabe left off and discussed how our farming practices, and soil health, are connected to human health and nutrition. We were fortunate on that night to be joined by special guests Mary Jo Forbord and Dr. Stephan Van Vliet who offered more insight on this important topic. On the third and final night we had a panel of SFA staff discussing practical applications of soil health.

We were pleased to see that even with the conference being virtual we were able to maintain attendance with past years. 171 individuals attended live plus any spouses or family who may have been watching with them!

We also made an exciting announcement during the Summit that there is a discount available to SFA members for the Soil Health Academy online school Regen Ag 101 ! If you want to learn more about soil health, you should check out Regen Ag 101. It’s valuable information put together into a high quality video format and SFA members can receive $100 off now! Just email me at jared@sfa-mn.org and I will confirm your membership and send you the discount code!

The post Luhman: Summit brings national attendance appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association .

Podcast: Integrative Nutrition; Animal Proteins

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:56:00 GMT

Sara Keough MS, CNS, LDN is an Integrative Eco-Nutritionist specializing in clinical nutrition and regenerative agriculture to restore both human and ecological health. “Eating is an agricultural act,” are words from Wendell Berry that have stuck with Keough through her career and help illustrate the nature of her work. Her goal is to teach her patients the importance of their food choices: it’s about individual health, and also about how those choices impact our ecosystems.

Sara Keough is also presenting at the Midwest Soil Health Summit (March 9-11) on March 10. She will be going deeper into nutrient dense foods, animal proteins, and sharing individual case studies. Learn more and register here .

In a culture where discussions on diet and nutrition can often be very number-oriented or granular to the average eater, Sara’s approach stands out not only as holistic, but as tailored to the individual body (bio-individuality), exploratory, and social. She shares her knowledge and experience with nutrient dense foods, the role of animal proteins, farmers as healers, the value of eating seasonally, advice for navigating mixed messages around nutrition, and much more.

Beyond Your Backyard: Now that’s fen-tastic

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:54:00 GMT

Nothing makes my heart fill with awe in winter more than a calcareous fen (ok maybe a snow-covered prairie gets me too). These rare, peat accumulating wetlands are fed by a constant supply of upwelling groundwater and formed after the last glaciers receded. You can find them in western Minnesota with the remains of glacial features, the Minnesota River Valley, or the limestone dominated parts of the southeast (karst anyone)? In addition to aging well (we’re talking beautiful, at a minimum of 4,000 years old in western MN or 10,000 years old in the Minnesota River Valley on the better with age scale), they are also home to rare and uncommon plants.

I always think their open pools with inter grading islands of low vegetation make them look like miniature Minnesota Everglades. Healthy calcareous fens have sustained groundwater flow. Think of it like an uncapped fire hydrant. There’s so much pressure in there the water comes out in a rush. Because fen groundwater upwelling is spread out across the system, the pressure is the same, but it’s not quite as dramatic unless you tried to channel that water into a well (but who would do such a thing?). In winter, the warm groundwater (roughly around 50 degrees) bubbles up and hits the cold winter air causing the water to freeze. All the water underneath is still a balmy 50 degrees so over time, you end up with a frozen, hollow dome with a secret stream hidden underneath.

Fens are important not just because they look neat, but because they’re part of a larger groundwater system and like most wetlands are filtering and cleaning water. They have been one of the most stable points on the landscape and there is nothing in nature that can destroy them short of plate tectonics. Some people even call them the Goldilocks habitat because they need their water supply and chemistry just right in order to exist. When they disappear it’s a dire signal to us that we have disrupted our groundwater supply. The same water supply that gives us clean drinking water, and provides us with showers, and cooking water—not to mention we share that water with our wildlife friends.

Calcareous fens are both strong and fragile. They serve as a beautiful reminder that finding a delicate balance and maintaining connection is critical. Nature is part of us even when making a cup of morning coffee. Now that’s fentastic! #calcareousfens #fentastic

Not only are these plants rare, they’re Minnesota tough. It’s hard to live in a calcareous fen because the pH is so high. Most plants prefer a range of 5.5-6.5 pH (slightly acidic). Whereas most Calcareous fens range around 6.8 or higher. Yikes—that’s a lot of calcium! In fact, it’s so much that if you’re so lucky to visit one of these ancient features, many of the plants are covered in a fine white dust because they are “sweating” calcium or releasing it through transpiration if you want to sound cool around the dinner table. Some plants have developed unique adaptations to handle it, like this tiny nutrush that forms its seed from the extra calcium making it look like an adorable miniature snowball.

Podcast: Restoring Oak Savanna

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:22:00 GMT

Tyler Carlson and Stephen Thomforde pick up their conversation on oak savanna from our last episode : How do we restore oak savanna? What does it take? Where have we been and what’s been missed in prior restoration attempts?

Stephen and Tyler also get into a popular question: do we really need fire? What is necessary to maintain the savanna once you have it where you want it? To parse out an answer to that question, Stephen walks us through historical and ecological perspectives. Considering the relationship between burning and grazing, the pair land on grazing as a primary tool and burning as a secondary tool to maintain savanna grassland; grazing reduces the necessity of burning.

The opportunity of farming and restoring oak savanna simultaneously is exciting, and Stephen looks forward to the growing cooperation between farmers and conservationists to build understanding and successful restoration work. He imagines the potential that could stem from bringing grazers back into the picture on more of the landscape, even in urban areas: a stronger local food economy, more meaningful jobs. The possibilities just might be as diverse as the ecosystem itself.

According to Stephen, “restoration is restoring the processes that maintain the desirable vegetation.” He dives into a variety of techniques used to do so including spraying, mowing, burning, baling, and grazing. Knowing what to take and what to leave is key in changing the trajectory of an ecosystem.

MDA Builds Upon Work to Better Support Emerging Farmers

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:04:00 GMT

Editors note: Following the “Agriculture in the Metro” session at our Annual Conference last week, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey phoned in with some resources he wished to share with emerging farmers.

One of MDA’s newer initiatives has been the Emerging Farmers Working Group , established in May 2020. Its purpose is “To advise the commissioner and legislature regarding the development and implementation of programs and initiatives that support emerging farmers in this state…” Seventeen members from thirteen different counties meet regularly, and the public is invited to attend (check their webpage next month for more information about March’s meeting).

You may also remember last year’s Emerging Farmers in Minnesota Legislative Report being widely shared and discussed. The 2021 Legislative Report is available now and includes a summary of the Emerging Farmers Working Group’s actions and developments since it was established.

This of course is only a peek at what’s going on at MDA. You can connect with Assistant Commissioner Bailey and other members of the Commissioner’s Office here .

The Department of Agriculture was started as the Minnesota State Dairy Commission in 1885 by a department head, a single assistant, and one clerk who doubled as a food chemist. Since 1921, all commissioners, deputy commissioners, and assistant commissioners have been white. It wasn’t until June 2019 that the first African American MDA Assistant Commissioner, Patrice Bailey, was named. He holds a B.S. in Agriculture Education from Prairie View A&M University (Texas) and has a Master’s Degree in Agriculture from Iowa State University. He has served the Twin Cities in several positions focused on bridging underrepresented communities of color to various available resources and advocating for them legislatively at the Capitol.

Land access is a common and prominent barrier for emerging farmers. FarmLink is one of MDA’s existing programs that can be a helping hand. FarmLink is a list of farm properties for sale or rent in Minnesota, which of course is also helpful for retiring, heirless, or otherwise experienced farmers interested in connecting with a budding farmer. Also, the Farmland Access Hub through Renewing the Countryside provides navigator support to people wishing to obtain farm land.

Podcast: “It’s like Tinder for cows.”

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 16:10:00 GMT

“I think the future of farming looks more collaborative. It looks like working together, and it’s about stacking enterprises.” Meghan Filbert of Practical Farmers of Iowa (and a beginning farmer to boot) joins Dirt Rich to talk about an online tool facilitating just that.

The Midwest Grazing Exchange is billed as “a matchmaking website for livestock and land.” Farmers in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin can use the website to connect with folks looking for rural or urban land to graze their livestock on and vice versa. “It’s like Tinder for cows,” Meghan quips.

There isn’t a lot of livestock on the land in Minnesota, so the website creates a great opportunity for beginning farmers and row crop farmers to partner and both reap the economic benefits. For podcast host and farmer Jared Luhman, there’s definitely a draw. “Every day that my cattle are grazing is a day that I’m not feeding hay, and that day that I’m not feeding hay is saving me quite a bit of money. For me as a livestock producer, if I can find somewhere to graze my cattle on somebody else’s land for cheaper than I can feed it at my own farm, then I’m going to do it.” This matchmaking tool can also be an asset to beginning farmers in starting a custom grazing business.

In addition to the soil health benefits that come along with properly managed grazing, there’s even solid potential for an income stream for participating landowners. Meghan adds that “if you plant cover crops as a row crop producer, we know that by grazing those cover crops that is a way that you’re going to benefit economically in the short term. Within the same year…you can turn a profit and then some.”

The Midwest Grazing Exchange website also includes other resources to help farmers make these grazing partnerships, such as templates for leases and agreements. In the episode, Meghan and Jared also have some pointers in figuring out your rate, and Meghan does a basic walkthrough on how to use the website and start finding opportunities in your area. If you’re looking to extend your grazing season, save some money, make some money, or improve your soil health with grazing–give the Midwest Grazing Exchange a gander!

Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) is a nonprofit in Ames, Iowa with a mission to equip farmers to build more resilient farms and communities. They believe that farmers learn best from other farmers, so it’s no surprise that the online platform they helped create brings farmers together.

Luhman: Time to reflect and plan

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:46:00 GMT

For many farmers, winter is a time when we are able to slow down. Here at Dry Creek Farms harvest is over, and we are still several months from planting. Last year’s calves are weaned, many are gone, and calving is months away. It’s really just been a great time for me to reflect on last year and plan for the future. 2020 provided me with tremendous opportunities to learn through on-farm visits and conversations with farmers. Nature also threw some educational opportunities my way when a dry spring and late summer made clear how important proper grazing management is and has me excited to improve on that grazing management in 2021.

Additionally, with many conferences and conventions going virtual, it can be easier than ever to attend educational workshops and seminars. Two conferences I would direct you to is our Annual Conference as well as our Midwest Soil Health Summit. The recording of last week’s kick-off webinar to our Conservation Connections program is also available online . Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from the comfort of your home.

Also, see below for some events and updates for the Forest Assisted Migration Project that I highlighted in a previous column:

January Zoom trainings for Forest Assisted Migration Project (FAMP)

January 21st, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Topic: Container growing and Q&A
Presenter: Charles Eckman, manager at USFS JW Toumey Nursery

January 27th, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Topic: Bareroot growing and panel Q&A
Presenters: Kristina Somes, Bill Sayward, and Mike Fasteland

Everyone is welcome to attend the trainings. For Zoom links to the trainings, please email Joel Bransky at bran1351@umn.edu . There is a new Forest Assisted Migration Project webpage on Arrowhead Grown. It includes project information, recorded trainings, and resources for farmers.

What did you learn in the past year? What are you looking forward to trying in 2021? Perhaps experimenting with a new cover crop mix, or interseeding? Maybe you want to try integrating livestock into your crop operation? Whatever it is, take this time to plan and prepare, reach out to individuals who have done what you want to try. And if you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or another of our SFA staff. We have experienced graziers, silvopasture specialists, dairy farmers, and we want to see you succeed!

Beyond Your Backyard – What will you do for her: ??

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 19:58:00 GMT

When I first was thinking about what I wanted to write to kick off the new year, I was going to write a piece about snow—how important it is to recharge our aquifers, insulate the soil, and provide protection for plants and wildlife to name a few benefits.

It has never been more urgent than now to act to save this planet as we know it. Nineteen of the warmest years on record have occurred since 2000 and the last decade is marked as the warmest decade ever recorded. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) just confirmed that 2020 was the second warmest year ever with Minnesota having the 13th warmest year recorded. These fast changes in climate have led to more severe droughts, floods, fires, and extreme weather events. “In Minnesota, widespread 6” rains are now 4 times more frequent than in the past 30 years” to give an example ( MN DNR, 2020 ).

While the knowledge of our dangerous ecological position is overwhelming and frankly, depressing. There is also hope. Every choice we make to act, to be a positive influence on this world matters. And the best part is, one small action can be paid forward a 1000 times in ways we never quite anticipated. The best example I can give you of this is a story about my Uncle Bob.

When I was a kid I used to visit Cape Cod and hang out at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary —then, it was an old worn-down house with a handful of staff who let my brother and me tag along to learn about sea life, beaches, dunes, owls, scrub brush, and just about anything we could get into. We also used to “help” with turtle necropsy to determine the cause of death for stranded sea turtles. My uncle and aunt were patient, kind, and eager to share their passion. That sharing translated to me taking my first real job at the Sanctuary teaching kids and adults the same things I was taught as a kid.

You see, my uncle has dedicated his whole life to saving sea turtles and sharing the magic of marine life with everyone he meets.

He started with a handful of volunteers and a few pilots willing to fly stranded turtles to the New England Aquarium. Now, the aquarium boasts a state of the art turtle ICU and hundreds of volunteers for the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary walk the beaches in the hopes they will reach the turtles in time.

As the climate warms, more sea turtles are found stranded each year, near death or already gone, because they did not receive the signal to migrate south fast enough and by the time they began the journey, it was too late to make it through the cold, Atlantic seas.

Sea turtles are just one piece of the vast ecological system that supports us all. Oceans are responsible for 50-80% of the earth’s oxygen. Without them and the complex interaction of life that works together to produce the oxygen we all need, to put it simply, we perish.

I couldn’t be more proud of my uncle and aunt who have long been late to our normal Christmas celebrations because they took the holiday shift to walk the beaches in the frigid winter air of Massachusetts. Walking to save an integral part of the ocean for you and me.

What may have seemed like small steps, have been translated into a lifetime of service to this planet for all of us. I can’t even begin to fathom the expanded impact he’s had when I think about how his willingness to share, teach, and serve has been translated into actions by others. Whether it’s calculated as volunteers saving turtles or kids like me who grew up to be scientists following in his footsteps, sharing the passion for the natural world so we all can understand how we’re one part, one piece of connection built within thousands of other connections in this big, beautiful world.

If you’re interested in learning more about his work, he’s featured in Season 1, Episode 5 “Humans” of David Attenborough’s new series: #APerfectPlanet.

So, I leave you for now with just one question: What will you do in 2021 for her: ??

But given the current times, I think it’s important to start this year with a clear accounting of where we’re at ecologically speaking. And what role we’ll play in where we want to go.

To make matters worse, some scientists believe there are a series of tipping points that once crossed set off a cascade of catastrophic events. Once passed, we don’t know if they can ever be reversed. When I learned about climate change in school in the 90’s, I remembered thinking ‘why don’t we do something?’ We seemed to spend so much time speculating on whether or not climate change was real when to me, failure to act spelled out dire consequences. After all, investing in clean air, soil, and water seemed like smart investments regardless if the predictions were right. Fast forward 30 years and 97% of scientists agree climate change is real . And in parts of the world we’ve already surpassed one of the tipping points— a rise in temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius . I say parts because climate change is not equal in terms of its effects. Different parts of the world will experience different impacts with some rolling more swiftly through catastrophic change and others plodding along behind. One thing is certain, we cannot escape the impacts whether on farm or in our daily lives.

Podcast: Dirt Rich Season 2 Starts with Seeds

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 12:59:00 GMT

As we begin a new year and a new season of Dirt Rich, we thought it would be fitting to start with seeds. Zachary Paige farms and operates North Circle Seeds in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. North Circle Seeds is newly certified organic and is committed to creating an ecologically diverse, equitable, and inclusive food system.

Drawing on his experiences and knowledge passed on from Native seed keepers and other Minnesota growers, he started North Circle Seeds as a company and seed collective in 2019. In our conversation, Zachary shares his passion for seed saving: the biology and genetics, the camaraderie, the curiosity and constant learning, the ecological value, and the good food that can come from it. He also offers advice for aspiring seed savers. “It’s a glass half-full kind of thing to get into.”

A deep interest in seeds and seed saving sparked for Zachary about eight years ago after working on farms and noticing that seed saving was not necessarily a part of many operations who otherwise used sustainable practices. He pursued a variety of seed saving and sustainable food production education opportunities, including a master’s degree plant breeding. After arriving in Minnesota, he found a home with fellow growers and seed savers. He also worked with the White Earth Land Recovery Project, an experience that highlighted the value of community and diversity in seed saving. To him, “the magic happens” when folks meet up, sit in a circle, and share what they’re working on and learning.

Conservation Connections: New Program Supports Underserved Farmers

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 13:52:00 GMT

Last week I shared an overview of the new program we are kicking off with Renewing the Countryside and NRCS. Today I want to share a little bit about why this program is so valuable. Here at SFA we continually share about the benefits of implementing soil health management practices on your farm, and if you want to learn more about some of these soil health management practices, check out our latest set of soil health case studies .

If you want to learn more about these resources, there will be several opportunities coming up soon at the Emerging Farmers Conference , our SFA Annual Conference , and local events organized by our SFA and RTC Connectors. On January 13th and 14th we have two webinars, one for Minnesota Farmers and one for Wisconsin farmers. More information and registration can be found here .

However, we also recognize that many of these practices can be challenging, as well as expensive, and figuring out how we implement them within our context can be intimidating. That is why we partnered on this new program, to connect historically underserved farmers with NRCS staff and offices that can provide tremendous support both in technical assistance as well as financial assistance. Conserving and regenerating our land is a priority to all farmers, and we want to make sure that everybody knows the resources that are available to them!

MDI Partnership a Seamless Fit

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 23:57:00 GMT

By Doug Voss, SFA Grazing Lead

SFA has long been an active participant in the Minnesota Dairy Initiative , which has a 20-plus-year history of working with dairy farms throughout Minnesota to improve their farms. Using a team approach with expert farmers and professionals, MDI addresses issues that come with dairy farming.

The MDI Coordinator’s role within SFA is to tap our farmer-to-farmer network for insight into how our dairy farms can, within their context, be more profitable and improve farmer quality of life.

SFA has staff who are passionate about dairy. As dairy farmers themselves, they provide a relatable partner in addressing any number of concerns a dairy farmer might have. It is a pleasure for SFA to work with Minnesota dairy farms in areas that matter to those operating these farms in an environment where the only constant is change. Learning from their own experiences, our staff can help build deliberate resilience while working with natural systems in the environment.

Unfortunately, MDI and all its benefits to the dairy industry is not known by all who could take advantage from what this organization can offer. If you or someone you know could benefit from MDI, feel welcome to contact me at doug@sfa-mn.org to start a constructive conversation toward your bright future in dairy.

Beyond Your Backyard: The lucky one

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 12:46:00 GMT

Oh what a year we’ve had together. It’s easy with all the stress swirling around us to forget what we have right in front of us. Through all the ups and downs, twists and turns, and unexpected events, we are part of a carefully woven fabric. More intricate and complex than any man-made fiber. Woven to include millions of parts and pieces that connect us today just as they have through all the years before us. The natural world is not separate from us, it is our world—our one and only and it’s right here with us every day, offering support, constancy in times of changes, discovery like nothing else, and the promise of the sun rising and setting tomorrow. The Minnesota Prairie is a legacy that connects us. Through the sounds, sights, smells and memories for all who are lucky enough to stop and take notice.

Wishing you a safe holiday season and the hope that you are one of the lucky ones who takes the time to discover the prairie and all it has to offer in this year and the next.

From the Executive Director: Meet the “boots on the ground” of SFA

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 02:50:00 GMT

It’s the last CONNECT of 2020, and a great opportunity to say “thank you” to the amazing team of staff and consultants who make SFA such a solid organization. Here’s who’s wearing the “boots on the ground” at SFA.

Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director, works almost full time and has grown into the position with a flourish. The new podcast series “Dirt Rich” is made possible by her creative efforts and those of Jared Luhman and other contributors. Jason Walker, Deputy Communications Director, works part time and does amazing layout, is our database “go to” person, and keeps event registrations, meetings and activities smooth and professional. Laura Borgendale continues as SFA’s webmaster. This team really keeps our communications, online fundraising and social media programs hopping.

SFA’s Soil Health Team includes Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, whose columns and podcasts now populate our CONNECT columns and PodBean. He works full time and coordinates several projects, a new one featured in this CONNECT. Kent Solberg, Senior Technical Advisor (now working fewer SFA hours), continues to specialize in livestock integration and soil health, and lends his expertise to MN Dairy Initiative (MDI) and Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA). Doug Voss works part time as SFA’s Grazing Specialist, and also serves MDI dairy farmers. Angie Walter rounds out that team as the Central Minnesota Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Educational Coordinator (part time). This is a wonderful group who pull in the same direction and are eager to provide on-farm support, whether to a new farmer or one transitioning from conventional to sustainable practices.

New this year is our Silvopasture Team, led by Tyler Carlson, a farmer and silvopasture practitioner, and assisted by Wayne Monsen, providing a steady hand to our Professional Development Program. Some of you may know Dr. Diomy Zamora, who has been with SFA for several months as a Silvopasture and Agroforestry consultant. This project offers yet another regenerative agriculture practice that hearkens back hundreds of years.

In this edition of CONNECT you are also being introduced to Sarah Lindblom, Moses Momanyi and John Beaton who are coordinators for our new outreach and education project on soil health, conservation and NRCS Programs for underserved communities. We partner with Renewing the Countryside on this project, which you’ll hear more about soon.

The SFA organizing team includes Jerry Ford, Network Coordinator, who is best known as the Garlic Project Director. He works with Greg Schweser of UMN’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (RSDP). Jerry too works part time but it seems like it is round the clock. Dan Zimmerli is the Rural Organizing Leadership Development Project Community Organizer, and is working on new chapter formation as well as an innovative “Local Foods Expo” in the Minnesota River Valley area. Dan and his wife Lara just welcomed new baby Addy Lynne to their family! It is my hope that this team helps build SFA’s membership and leadership capacity in the coming year as our chapters move into a new era post COVID19. Peggy Prall with Mahoney, Ulbrich, Christenson and Ross does SFA’s books and has shown me excellent techniques to keep our financial transactions efficient and in order.

As the year closes, we are saying goodbye to Connie Karstens who ably coordinated the Asparagus Project , scaling back due to reduced funds. Annie Klodd with UMN Extension, Paul Schmidt (Schmidt Farms), Noreen Thomas (Doubting Thomas Farms) and Sarah Swan, RSDP, all did exemplary work creating asparagus workshops, fact sheets, webinars, and even a YouTube video with volunteer Jameson Johnson. On a limited basis, they are available for further workshops.

I can’t tell you how enjoyable it is to work with this crew. They were so adaptable when SFA had to pivot during COVID19 and joyfully launched our podcast. Thank you, staff and consultants, and SFA Board of Directors and chapter leadership, for enabling SFA to be true to its motto agriculture done well heals.

My best to you and your families as we celebrate the holidays and welcome in 2021, a New Year for innovation in soil health and regenerative agriculture!

Conservation Connections: New Program Supports Underserved Farmers

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 02:43:00 GMT

With a goal of supporting historically underserved farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, a new project led by Renewing the Countryside and the Sustainable Farming Association builds connections between these farmers and resource support. Conservation Connections: Linking New & Underserved Farmers with Conservation Resources uniquely utilizes a “boots in the field” team of Farmer Connectors to assist these farmers to tap into information and opportunities that support conservation and soil health, to create a more successful farm business. With funding support from NRCS, this project will provide outreach and support to historically underserved farmers including African American, Asian, Latino, Indigenous, veteran and beginning farmers. Look for a variety of field days, workshops and outreach over the next two years.

Two options are available, based on if you live in Minnesota or Wisconsin, with area farmers sharing their NRCS program experience along with next steps to connect with resources in your state:

Minnesota: Wed. January 13, 2021; 1 pm CST
Wisconsin: Thurs. January 14, 2021; 1 pm CST

We are fortunate to have on our SFA team an awesome group of coordinators who are themselves farmers with varying degrees of experience with NRCS programs:

Cultivating Connections kicks off in January with online webinars focused on connecting new and beginning farmers to NRCS programs: A Beginning Farmers Guide to Conservation Support, Funding & Resources.

Sarah Lindblom has worked as a soil health educator with SFA before training producers on fruit and vegetable production. She also operates a vegetable CSA of her own called Solar Fresh Produce in Buffalo, MN.

Moses Momanyi grew up on a family farm in Kenya producing and selling produce and livestock at local markets. He arrived in Minnesota in 2004 and is now co-owner of Dawn2Dusk farms, a 20 acre vegetable farm in Cambridge, MN. He also runs Kilimo Minnesota, a nonprofit, farmer incubator training emerging and African Immigrants to farm in Minnesota, and teaches farming classes at Big River Farms, volunteers for local charities, and mentors kids in the Twin Cities on gardening.

John Beaton farms along with his wife, Emily, and together they raise vegetables for a CSA program and operate a greenhouse that they sell starter plants from in the spring. John has a strong commitment to run a successful farm business and he is always excited to provide help and resources for beginning and established farmers in North Eastern Minnesota. He also has experience in both the EQIP and CSP program with NRCS.

DGA Update: Congratulations, Graduate!

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:01:00 GMT

The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship has a new graduate in MN! Jack Schouweiler has completed the program. It’s so exciting to help someone through the apprenticeship and see them graduate. I am excited to see what the future holds for Jack. Watching someone else’s dream come true is the most amazing gift I have received through DGA.

Jack met his Master Grazier, Ben, at the local county fair and started talking about his goals of becoming a farmer. He didn’t grow up on a farm but he knew that was what he always had wanted to do when he grew up. Ben was looking for some help and thought he would give Jack a chance. The two of them now have plans for Jack to purchase the farm over time in increments as Ben phases out of farming and Jack comes in. Jack purchased a farm site just down the road, which happened to be Ben’s brother’s place. He is building a parlor and received some EQIP funds to put in pasture fence, lanes, and watering systems. Jack purchased Ben’s cattle in June of 2020.

Jack will continue in the DGA program as a Journey worker and hopefully someday he will decide to become a Master Grazier as well. Maybe when he gets older, he will decide to get an apprentice on his farm and make another person’s dream come true.

If you have any questions about DGA or would like more information about the program, you can contact me by phone or email: Angie Walter at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Jack started with DGA in the spring of 2018. He had been working with a farmer for a couple years when he heard about DGA and he thought, “why not go through the program?” He knew that the program would benefit him by allowing him to qualify for FSA loan programs. In addition, the DGA program also provides a more structured learning environment with support and networking.

Put ‘Lake Superior Roots & Recipes’ on Your Table

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:16:00 GMT

Earlier this year, the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association (LSSFA) launched a new website called ‘ Lake Superior Roots & Recipes ,’ featuring recipes, cooking tips, and information about our local food system. In the midst of the holiday season, you may find some ideas to add to your own table!

Purchasing and eating locally-grown foods supports our local economy and is a fun way to eat healthier and build community. And while eating local tomatoes in the summertime is a good place to start, there are myriad ways to eat local throughout the year. Produce can be purchased in bulk during the growing season and preserved by storage, canning, freezing, or drying for the winter months. The website features recipes by season, helping you make use of the abundance of summer vegetables and suggesting ways to stay local, creative, and healthy even in the winter months. Recipes highlight seasonal ingredients and point people towards where they can buy local foods online and in person. LSSFA knows that not everyone has time to cook from scratch at every meal, and hopes to offer creative ideas for every size household and for home cooks with differing levels of experience. If you’d like to share a recipe or advice on eating local, please email lakesuperior@sfa-mn.org .

Since the Coronavirus pandemic began, more people find themselves cooking and eating at home more than ever, whether they love it or not. The website hopes to inspire simple yet creative cooking using our locally-produced bounty. Recipes highlight locally grown ingredients and are largely contributed by area farmers.

You can also check out the LSSFA webpage for a list of farmers, and Arrowhead Grown and Minnesota Grown for lists of farmers markets in the Lake Superior region.

Luhman: Soil Health Practices Benefit Communities

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:32:00 GMT

A recent project by Green Lands Blue Waters and the Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group sought to address the damage done by surface water runoff, and they developed the attached graphic . Surface water runoff can be quite destructive to both private and public infrastructure. Did you know that the cost to repair a culvert can cost between $5,200 and $32,200? Resurfacing half a mile of road can cost between $8,000 and $50,000 and bridge replacement or repair can cost as much as $184,000. While increased capacity and strength of infrastructure is a potential solution to the symptom (damaged infrastructure), addressing the root problem (too much surface water runoff) offers a more long term sustainable solution.

We can do these things through increasing the acres we have in perennial forages such as pasture and hay. In cropland, we can implement diverse cropping rotations and integrate cover crops before, during and after the cash crop growing season. The point of sharing this is not to point blame on any group or industry, but to share how exciting it is that we as farmers have the ability to impact our farms and communities! If you have questions about how you can implement soil health principles on your farm please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 507-271-5968 or send an email to jared@sfa-mn.org .

How can we infiltrate more water into our soil to reduce surface water runoff? Keeping our soil covered serves the purpose of protecting the soil from the impact of rainfall as well as slowing the flow of water across the land allowing for more time for it to infiltrate. Living plants and roots in the soil for as much of the year as possible feeds soil biology and builds soil structure and aggregates allowing for more water holding capacity and infiltration. Reduced disturbance of the soil keeps pore space and soil structure intact.

Podcast: Family Dairies & Apprenticeships

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:21:00 GMT

“My hope for dairy in the future…is trying to keep these small family farms alive.”

DGA is actually the first formal agricultural apprenticeship in the US, and there are real benefits for both masters and apprentices who participate. Masters get the value of having skilled, invested labor on their farm, and build a relationship with someone who could be a candidate for potential farm transfer. Apprentices get to develop day-to-day skills and learn from a practicing farmer who can share their past experiences and work through challenges together in real time.

The DGA program can be a hands-on, on-the-job complement to a college program, but is certainly not limited to students. An internship or apprenticeship can be valuable for those considering a career change, and DGA offers a program for veterans.

The “grazing” piece of DGA is not to be ignored. DGA believes that grazing is essential because of the health benefits to the animals, farmer, and soils. Grazing also reduces the amount of off-farm inputs, builds farm profitability, and is beneficial to water resources. The Walters concur–their family farm has been grazed since the 1980s.

Before officially working for DGA, Angie and her husband joined the program as master graziers. They consider their first apprentice a lifelong friend, and continue to keep in touch after he finished his apprenticeship. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but they all learned from their time together–the apprentice introduced new projects to the Walter’s farm, too.

Angie didn’t grow up farming, and finds that many DGA apprentices didn’t either. Regardless, they can still find success with the skills and relationships they develop through their apprenticeships: “It’s really exciting just to see these dreams come true for people, it’s amazing to be a part of it.” This farmer-to-farmer format builds support within the farming community, not only in terms of education and networking, but also emotionally. “A lot of times we think of farming just as physically, but there’s a very big emotional piece there too. You need to have support from people around you,” she says.

Dairy has been a rewarding career for Angie: the family farm lifestyle, seeing a calf grow, and helping new dairy farmers achieve their goals. She hopes to see more women find their place in agriculture, and to see more family farms prosper in the future. “It’s really good to give back. It’s just a good feeling in knowing that we can help someone else who didn’t have the same opportunity.”

Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen on the SFA website . Episode topic suggestions, comments? Drop us a line .

Angie Walter runs an organic, grazing dairy farm with her family in central Minnesota. The family of four raise 100 Norwegian Red, Red Holstein, and Guernsey crosses on 370 acres. Angie is also the Central Minnesota Education Coordinator for the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA), which links current and aspiring dairy farmers to support the transfer of knowledge and skills (and sometimes even farms) to the budding generation of dairy farmers. In today’s episode, she shares her experiences in dairy, as a woman in agriculture, and with apprentices.

Launching the Local Producer Sustainability Project

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:05:00 GMT

My name is James Harren and I’m excited to announce the launch of the Local Producer Sustainability Project. I’ll be working on the project for this next year as a VISTA, or Volunteer in Service to America, hosted by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). SMIF has developed the project in partnership with the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association, Renewing the Countryside, and Sustainable Farming Association. The goal of the project is to develop business support systems for small food businesses in SMIF’s 20-county region in Southern Minnesota. I’m kicking this three-year project off hoping to interview farmers, cottage food makers, and other local producers to see how they can be better supported. I hope this work will further develop a robust local foods economy in the region and will allow for collaboration statewide to support a lively local foods economy throughout Minnesota. Click here for more information on this project.

I’m excited for this project to move forward and make a difference in the region and beyond!

If you are interested in getting involved, we are still recruiting for the project. I am recruiting an Advisory Committee. Members of the Committee should be participants or experts of the local food system in Southern Minnesota who will advise the project and offer their knowledge to me and other project leaders. We are also looking for another VISTA to join the project, focusing on developing capacity for farmers’ markets in the region. If you are an expert in local food, are interested in learning more about the other VISTA position, or have any questions do not hesitate to reach out – jamesh@smifoundation.org or at 507.214.2014.

Beyond Your Backyard: Winter Wellness Walks on the Prairie

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:47:00 GMT

Think back to when you were a kid. You’re running. You can feel the wind on your cheeks. You’re running so fast, the world is a blur. You’re not worried if you’ll make it or if you can do it. Down the hill, past the trees, towards the endless waves of grass. You’re just running outside in nature— For the pure joy of it.

There have been many scientific studies that show we are deeply connected to nature. It can elevate our mood, stop the cycling of negative thoughts, reduce stress and anxiety, help fight depression, restore mental fatigue, boost creativity, and improve brain function. Who doesn’t want a better functioning brain?!

I know, I know, you’re struggling to put on pants and I just told you to get pants, shoes, AND a jacket and head outside. Here’s the good news, if you can’t get out, even time spent listening to nature sounds or looking at pictures can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones.

While this might seem like magic and don’t get me wrong nature IS magical, it’s all because our brains are deeply connected to nature. We maybe have changed where we live and there’s certainly more of us and more concrete than there was when Laura Ingalls Wilder was on the prairie, but our brains haven’t changed that much. We still need time outside immersed in natural areas to be well.

Go on, what are you waiting for? The prairie beckons. Can you smell the crisp freshness in the air? The satisfying crunch of frozen ground underfoot, the quiet calm blanketing the earth broken only by a rustling mouse hurrying to its home, hunched mounds of prairie grasses and flowers braced for the winter ahead, resting, laying down their sweet heads. Your eyes calmed by the muted canvas, cheeks reddened by the wind, and the mind restored. Outside in nature again —for the pure joy of it.

Want to learn more? Check out these great articles on our connection to nature and it’s brain boosting benefits:

“Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety” (American Heart Association)

“Sour mood getting you down? Get back to nature.” (Harvard Health Publishing)

“Stressed? Take a 20-minute ‘nature pill'” (Science Daily)

“Spending time in nature reduces stress and anxiety” (Cornell University)

Fast forward to now. You might be stressed, anxious, depressed or overwhelmed. And that seems pretty normal to me given all that has changed in 2020. But here’s a gentle reminder, the prairies, woods, wetlands, and sloughs are waiting for you.

Luhman: FAMP Helps Minnesota’s Northwoods Adapt

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 13:50:00 GMT

This week I wanted to share an opportunity for SFA farmers to transition the northwoods. Below is an article about the Forest Assisted Migration Project, authored by Joel Bransky, David Abazs, Gabrea Francis, and Leah Karmaker. -Jared

Minnesotans are stepping up to help the forests adapt. The Forest Assisted Migration Project (FAMP) is a collaboration between the University of Minnesota, The Nature Conservancy, and Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) farmers. The project’s primary goal is to transition the northwoods using broader genetics that can withstand unpredictable weather patterns, while channeling money spent on reforestation back into the local economy.

The second part is developing a growers network. Beginning in 2021, northern nurseries and farmers will plant the tree seeds and grow them into one-year-old seedlings. As the demand for climate-forward tree seedlings increases, more farmers will be needed.

The third part is increased partnerships between the growers network and regional reforestation agencies. In spring 2022, the growers network is committed to selling 40,000 seedlings to the Nature Conservancy, who will plant the seedlings on land in northeastern Minnesota. Over the next 50-100 years, these seedlings will grow into the new forest canopy.

Starting in December, forestry and tree nursery experts will train growers in areas such as business planning, growing methods, and seed collection. The first training, on December 17th at 7:00pm, will cover business planning, and other trainings will follow every two to three weeks. If you would like to attend, please send an email to one of the project staff below. We welcome anyone with an interest in this project, even if you don’t plan to grow tree seedlings.

We hope you’ll join the team!

Contacts: Northeast RSDP staff David Abazs ( dwabazs@umn.edu ) and Joel Bransky ( bran1351@umn.edu ), or Greater Mille Lacs SFA staff Gabrea Anderson ( gabreaf@yahoo.com ).

12/11/20 Update: Experts from the University of Minnesota’s Cloquet Forestry Center will be presenting on FAMP on December 17, 2020 at 7 PM. To join the Zoom meeting, email Joel Bransky ( bran1351@umn.edu ) or David Abazs ( dwabazs@umn.edu ) and they will send you the link.

The northwoods of Minnesota are steadily disappearing. Researchers predict the forests in northeastern Minnesota will continue to decline as grasslands move in and dominate the landscape. This would change our way of life, cost us forest-related jobs, and reduce northwoods wildlife — unless we do something.

Podcast: Beginning Farmer Finance

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 13:45:00 GMT

“Agriculture is a capital intensive industry, regardless of the margins,” says Paul Peterson, farmer and Farm Loan Manager for the Farm Service Agency. For a farmer just starting out, financing a business can be daunting, especially for young folks. Today, Jared Luhman discusses financing options for other young and beginning farmers like himself with Paul Peterson and Chris Fitzloff, a Financial Officer for Compeer Financial.

Wherever you’re starting from, both Paul and Chris emphasize the importance of being organized, coming with a plan, and demonstrating a willingness to learn when approaching lenders. Don’t hesitate to reach out, either. Even if you don’t initially qualify, you’ll be advised on what you need to do to get there. As Paul says, “If farming’s your dream, we want to help you accomplish that.”

Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen on the SFA website . Check out SFA’s Beginning Farmer Resources or this recent TC Growers meeting for more information! Episode topic suggestions, comments? Drop us a line .

A lack of net worth, collateral cash, and experience are common barriers for beginning farmers in financing an agribusiness. Paul and Chris share some recommendations for overcoming these challenges, including bartering labor for equipment sharing with established farmers, doing custom work to reduce purchase costs, and getting organized and knowledgeable on your financials and business plan. There are also programs specifically available to beginning farmers, such as Compeer’s “Groundbreaker Program” and loans focused on character, rather than a stellar credit score.

Luhman: ‘Field Days’ on Your Own Schedule

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:57:00 GMT

If you’re like me, it can be really difficult to find time to get off the farm and get to some of these field days and workshops that are always being hosted all over the place. This is why we have created different options for you to continue to learn and grow. The first option and probably the most flexible is our new podcast series called “Dirt Rich.” On this podcast we have discussions with SFA staff as well as guests on a variety of topics related to regenerative farming and food systems!

We also have numerous videos and webinars on our Youtube channel ! We have videos of expert presentations at past Annual Conferences and Midwest Soil Health Summits. If you missed a webinar, chances are it’s on our Youtube channel. Webinars on AGRI Value Added Grants , silvopasture , garlic and many more are listed and available any time. Subscribe to the Sustainable Farming Association’s channel on Youtube to get updates and see whenever we post something new!

Recent episodes have been about pasture-based livestock farming with Kathy Zeman, Silvopasture with Tyler Carlson, numerous pasture-based episodes with Doug Voss and Kent Solberg, and many more. Podcasts are wonderful because you can download and listen to them anywhere: in your car on the way to work, in the tractor, or in ear buds while doing chores or working in the fields. Just subscribe to our podcast “Dirt Rich” on whatever podcast platform you use to start listening today!

‘More than Meaningful & Inspiring Workshops and Resources’

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:12:00 GMT

SFA does so much more for sustainable and organic farmers than provide meaningful and inspiring workshops and educational resources. This is an organization that at its heart cultivates a farmer-to-farmer network. Even though I wasn’t originally planning to stay, eight years later I still find myself here in Minnesota. I have met some of my best friends through this network, and owe my farming knowledge to the many hours of mentorship from these amazing, humble farming heroes who have found an organization to help cultivate the training of the next generation of farmers.

Attending the SFA annual conferences over the years, I met seed savers such as Greg Reynolds of Riverbend Farm, Andy Hayner of Lost Farm, Kathy Connell of Redfern Gardens and many more who have shared seed they have been saving, selecting and adapting to our short season. These individuals and so many more have become essential in the formation of the vegetable seed company I manage, North Circle Seeds. The word “Circle” in our name refers to not only the regenerative life cycle of plants. It also represents the circle of our sustainable farming community and how we sit in a circle when we gather, listening to all ideas from a diverse crowd of individuals and communities.

One of the biggest needs in the US right now is to pass on farmer skill to the next generation. Our farmers are getting older without an inspired youth to “buy the farm” or even know how to manage it. SFA is mentoring younger farmers in the most meaningful and inspiring way and setting us up for both holistic and economic success. Two years ago I purchased a 46-acre farm, and this year am offering over 50 varieties of Open Pollinated certified organic seed adapted to our climate’s challenges. This is in no small way due to the thoughtfulness of this wonderful organization. Please consider donating to the Sustainable Farming Association for Give to the Max and make a real difference in supporting our local food economy!

Beyond Your Backyard: For the prairie, woods, wetlands, and sloughs

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:54:00 GMT

A work friend reminded me it’s national gratitude month. And while it goes without saying that this year has changed so many things, it has not changed the fact that I have much to be thankful for.

Photo: meadow blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis) blooming in a prairie reconstruction at Jeffers Petroglyphs in Cottonwood County, MN

Ok it might be a little smaller, but still.

And I am thankful. Thankful for a moment of quiet peace between me, the night sky and a handful of seeds.

For the prairies, woods, wetlands, and sloughs. There is much to be thankful for, I hope you feel it too.

#discovertheprairie

Last night in the second snow of the year, I seeded native wildflowers and sedges into my tiny patch of habitat in my neighborhood. Last fall I began converting anything that remotely resembled a hill in my yard into a bee meadow. The snow stung my eyes and numbed my fingers as I tucked the seeds underneath the freshly fallen sparkling blanket. And I know every frozen finger and toe is worth it. Right now it doesn’t look like much, but come spring/summer I imagine it will look like this:

Podcast: Wintering Livestock Roundtable

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:44:00 GMT

Winter can be the most expensive time to own a cow in the Midwest. As the season changes, five of our staff who also raise beef and dairy cows gathered to share the ways that they’ve found to reduce the cost (and labor) of wintering cattle on their unique operations. All five live in different parts of Minnesota and run pasture-based farms, some raising organic dairy, some grass-fed or grass-finished beef.

Listen to the full scoop on Dirt Rich’s “Wintering Cattle Roundtable” with Angie Walter, Jared Luhman, Doug Voss, Tyler Carlson, and Kent Solberg on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, subscribe, rate and review to help us bring more people into the farmer-to-farmer network! Topic suggestions, comments? Drop us a line .

While there’s no one-size-fits-all management style to wintering livestock, the team discusses a variety of practices that have worked for them, including bale grazing, stockpiling perennial pasture to extend the grazing season, and the timing of calving. They’ve also found benefits extending beyond the cost savings of quality winter feed: Doug Voss finds that by bale grazing, he also saves on labor and improves the health of his herd. And farmers certainly don’t need to outwinter their cattle 100% of the time to start seeing the benefits–just making a few changes can show cost savings, a boost to herd health, and improvements in soil biology.

Luhman: New Midwest Grazing Exchange Website Aims to Connect Livestock Farmers with Landowners

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:28:00 GMT

Finding ways to integrate livestock back on the landscape has the potential to significantly benefit farmers, the environment and rural communities. From creating opportunities for beginning farmers, to improving the soil, to helping make cover crops profitable, livestock are often a missing piece in Midwestern agricultural systems, where the grazing of vast herds of bison and elk were vital parts of the historical ecosystem.

The Midwest Grazing Exchange is a free matchmaking service that aims to connect graziers and landowners who live in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. Graziers can search for forage to graze and landowners can search for livestock to graze their land.

search listings, including through an interactive map with filters for criteria like season, land or livestock type
create listings of what land or livestock they have to offer
create a free account to save listings of interest, add new listings, see contact details and message other users
browse a curated list of grazing resources, including examples of grazing lease agreements and contracts
explore the benefits regenerative grazing for both landowners and livestock owners

The website also lists grazing specialists and organizations offering grazing support for each state participating in the exchange. “Integrating livestock on the landscape is a win-win-win for soil, animals and profitability,” says Meghan Filbert, livestock program manager at PFI who helped lead development of the new website.

“The Midwest Grazing Exchange is unique because it serves multiple states in the Upper Midwest and expands beyond cover crop grazing. All grazing scenarios, including woodland and urban grazing, are represented. We want to unlock the plethora of benefits that come with well-managed grazing, and created a space to do so.”

Farmers and landowners are encouraged to explore the site, and create an account to add livestock or land they have to offer. For questions about the website, contact Meghan at (515) 232-5661 or meghan@practicalfarmers.org or reach out to me at jared@sfa-mn.org or 507-271-5968.

But accessing land to graze, or finding livestock farmers to partner with, can be a barrier to expanding integrated crop-livestock systems. A new website by the Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group – a network of grazing educators in the Upper Midwest that includes Practical Farmers of Iowa – seeks to address this challenge.

Beyond Your Backyard: The Marvelous Moth

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 14:08:00 GMT

I attended a talk at the Pollinator Summit last year where one of the speakers said something that really stuck in my head as a high drama moment: “It makes no sense. We rake up all of our leaves, bag them up, put them on the sidewalk, or throw them away, and then spend hundreds of dollars on mulch come spring when we just threw away FREE mulch!” There isn’t anything I like better than FREE. Free library books, I’m there. Free table of stuff at Menard’s, sign me up, I’m sure I can use these light bulbs somewhere (stocking stuffer anyone?). Free cat? Sure, it’s snuggle season soon. It struck me how much wisdom there is in taking a moment to think about what we’re doing—especially when we might be buying something that nature is giving to us for free. Turns out, not only are we throwing away free mulch, but we’re also tossing out carefully camouflaged moth eggs, larvae, cocoons, and even disrupting some adults overwintering in and under our leaves.

So, what are all these moths doing hiding in our leaves? Why waiting to emerge and become a beautiful– er uh moth of course!

Some moth morsels to help you as you explain to others how marvelous they are:

Some moths have large and broad feathered antennae. These are super neat to see, check out some magical moth pics at this photo gallery .
Moths are typically nocturnal or crepuscular (not only is this a super fun word to say, but it also means active at dawn or dusk, see if you can use it in a sentence this week—your friends will definitely be impressed), but some species are out during the day.
Moths go through metamorphosis just like butterflies, but instead of a chrysalis, which is the hardened skin of the caterpillar, they encase themselves in a cocoon, which is made from plants or their own body hair (rad). Check out this video of a moth changing in Africa. If you want to see how this is different than butterfly metamorphosis, well there’s a video for that too!
Moth larvae rely on host plants. Some need specific species and others are generalists and most any plant or groups of plants will work.
Some male moths can detect a female up to 7 miles away and they aren’t even using noses to do it, they’re using their antennae equipped with scent receptors. That au de moth musk is strong!
Most adult moths nectar on a diversity of blooming flowers for food. But some don’t even have mouth parts or digestive tracts, their sole job is to find a date, mate, and move on to the great moth beyond.
Moths play a critical role in the ecosystem as pollinators, food for birds, bats and other wildlife, and even as food for people in some countries.

So while you’re out raking, take a peek under those leaves, and see what moth mysteries you can uncover. The more native plants species you have at home, the more different kinds of moths you’ll be able to find! Don’t let what you have now limit your future mystery moments, there’s no better time than right now to plan what you’re going to plant come spring!

All moth photos by Kyle Johnson, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources.

To learn more about moths visit: Moths are cool too! By the Xerces Society. #marvelousmoths #grownative

Now don’t panic, not all moths put holes in your favorite sweater (in fact, according to the Xerces Society, less than 1% of our moths eat fabric). And it’s no wonder, with 11,000 different kinds of moths in North America—they don’t have time to eat sweaters, because they’re busy being unique and interesting!

Luhman: It All Starts with the Soil

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:47:00 GMT

We are very excited about the partnership we have formed with Kiss the Ground, an organization based out of California that shares our passion for soil regeneration! Their Farmland scholarship provides soil health training, soil testing and consulting to farmers here in Minnesota. The Sustainable Farming Association is acting as their Minnesota boots-on-the-ground to help these farmers build regenerative soils and sustainable businesses!

At his farm, Wil is regenerating the land by integrating chickens and perennial hazelnut trees. The chickens graze under and around the hazelnuts fertilizing both the trees and the pasture and producing high quality chicken and nuts for his consumers. He hopes to integrate other ruminant livestock to graze forages where he is not able to integrate chickens providing additional meat products off his land and allowing for additional photosynthesis to occur on that grassland. By stacking complimentary enterprises in this way he hopes to minimize inputs, maximize soil building, and provide multiple revenue streams making his 60 acre family farm more resilient to both weather and market-related challenges!

Stay tuned as we hope over the next several months to highlight some of these farmers and the practices they are implementing on their farms! Below is a video produced by Farmland scholarship recipient and professional videographer Wil Crombie, owner of Man Alone Media and his farm, Organic Compound .

Pastured Turkeys on a Values-Driven Farm

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:02:00 GMT

Kathy Zeman pasture-raises a veritable menagerie: goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys, broilers, hens, meat rabbits, and honeybees graze her twenty acres at Simple Harvest Farm Organics. She grew up farming, and first got started on poultry with her brother for a 4-H project. “Nick’s Eggs” continues today, available at the Just Food Co-op in Northfield.

Kathy built her farm business on her values. She’s certified organic, and raises a heritage breed in part to keep the genetic diversity going. They’re “spendy,” but her customers are willing to pay for that fresher turkey flavor and the value of the environmental stewardship that the birds provide. “I always tell people when they buy from us, they’re really protecting these 20 acres. These little 20 acres on this planet are going to be no soil erosion, no water pollution, we’re not building antibiotic-resisting bacteria. That’s what they’re supporting.”

Host Jared Luhman’s conversation with Kathy Zeman naturally branches out from pastured turkey production and into thoughts about farm/land/life sustainability, pricing and food access, and the need for more BIPOC voices at the agricultural table. Listen in for comical stories, seasoned advice, and reflections on topics that are top-of-mind for many growers these days.

You can listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, subscribe, rate and review to help us bring more people into the farmer-to-farmer network! Topic suggestions, comments? Drop us a line .

The array of animals she raises now ensures she never has to buy fertilizer–the manure production keeps pastures lush, and is a piece of her vision of resiliency and being self-sustaining. In fact, Kathy says that the grass actually grows back thicker and healthier behind a well-paced turkey tractor. Her Bourbon Red and Broad Breasted White turkeys happily graze in cattle panel hoop tractors, enjoying fresh grass once or twice a day safe from predators.

Dirt Rich: The Value of Pasture Plant Diversity

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 14:51:00 GMT

“We want a vast array of solar collectors out there.” Kent Solberg and Doug Voss are striving to get as much plant diversity in their pastures as possible. The benefits for animal performance, soil microbes, profitability, resiliency, and the function of the ecosystem as a whole are exponential. In fact, “increase diversity” is the third principle of soil health . The latest episode of Dirt Rich, “ The Value of Plant Diversity ,” illustrates how making relatively small changes in the landscape can build health and resiliency in a number of ways on the farm.

Kent & Doug also remind us that grazing management, too, is a key part of encouraging plant diversity. Adjusting rest periods and stock density can produce the results you’re looking for without dropping a lot of money. Kent also describes in the episode how frost (or stomp) seeding and no-till techniques can help expand the diversity of the pasture. Doug notes that grazing is not only instinctive, it is a learned behavior as well. If animals haven’t grazed before, that will need to be factored into the management plan.

Listen in to Dirt Rich for the myriad ripple benefits that come with diversifying pasture plants: improved water quality downstream and for animals, reduced risk of nutrient runoff, fewer vet visits, more nutrient-dense food, financial resiliency, and more. Ready to make a change or two? Kent & Doug have pointers to help you get going.

Watch TC Growers Spotlight with Lakisha Witter

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 13:54:00 GMT

Lakisha Witter of Live Organically , Oak Grove, shared her farm journey in the TC Grower’s most recent “Grower Spotlight.” Witter, who purchased her farm in 2018, detailed the challenges and successes of her first two seasons, as well as her plans for the future including soil health and organic matter building, expanding markets, and a hydroponics system. Watch the recording on SFA’s Youtube Channel or here with Zoom’s (fairly rough) audio transcription. Witter and other folks on the Zoom meeting shared dozens of funding and educational resources that emerging farmers in particular may find useful. You can find those rounded up here .

Questions or ideas for meeting topics? Reach out to Karl Hakanson at khakanso@umn.edu . The Twin Cities Growers Network is a collaboration between UMN Extension and SFA.

All are welcome to join TC Growers meetings and connect with others. We were delighted to have growers from outside the Metro join in at our last meeting to hear Lakisha Witter’s story and come away with information and resources they could apply in other parts of the state. Stay tuned for announcements on future meetings!

Pasture Renovation Ideas from Kent & Doug

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:15:00 GMT

When Kent Solberg and his wife first got started where they farm today, the soil biology had been so degraded that there were corn stalks on the ground from six years before, unable to decompose. You might say he has a bit of first-hand experience with land renovation!

To get started Kent and Doug recommend “looking at the entire context” of the particular pasture, including physical characteristics like soil type, slope, and aspect, as well as the history of the land that shaped it into what you’re seeing today like rainfall events, cattle class, and grazing duration. Once what you want to work on is identified, using the resources you already have and targeting the “low-hanging fruit” is a great place to start. Oftentimes, changing management practices such as stock density and grazing periods is the cheapest way to improve pasture performance, and you can see changes relatively quickly.

The two graziers share renovation stories on their own farms and share a shortlist of management tools. They remind us that it’s important to remember that conditions change and there isn’t a silver bullet recipe that will work every time, so being adaptable is critical. Having a long-term vision, understanding carbon cycling and rest & recovery periods, and starting small can make all the difference.

Tune into this Dirt Rich episode on your favorite podcast platforms, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and Google Play. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, subscribe, rate and review to help us bring more people into the farmer-to-farmer network! Topic suggestions, comments? Drop us a line .

Kent and Doug Voss give an overview on “Renovation Ideas for Poorly-Performing Pastures” in the latest episode of Dirt Rich. Both farmers have renovated land on their own farms and helped others do the same. The two believe that with the right tools, vision, and management system, we can almost always make a piece of land more productive–even an old gravel pit.

Beyond Your Backyard: Mussel Mania

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 12:54:00 GMT

As the weather gets crisp, I find myself thinking of Halloween and what great costumes I could make with a bucket of papier-mâché and a will to create. Even though Halloween will likely be different this year as everything has been, that’s no reason not to come up with a stellar costume. And what better thing to dress up as than… a mollusk. That’s right. A Minnesota mussel, a bivalve, a clam. It’s the clear winner of every Halloween costume contest—even virtual ones. We call it an open and shut case. Not convinced? Here’s some mussel morsels that will make you realize clearly it is the only costume option this year.

Now that I’ve given you this incredible plan, I can’t wait to see your clam fam costume photos. Not sure what color to paint your costume? Check out this Minnesota mussel poster for some ideas. And while you’re at it, take some time today to thank a mollusk, why dontcha?

Mind blown? Ready for more? To learn more about mussels go here: mndnr.gov/mussels
And check-out the Mussel Mania episode of the Prairie Pod (Season 3, Episode 1) .

Did you know mussels are incredibly long-lived? They can live for decades and some can even live over a century!
Mussels are essentially immobile, but can move with their muscular “foot,” which they use to anchor themselves in the substrate.
Most mussels need host fish to reproduce. Some need specific species and others are generalists and most any fish will do.
Most mussels use lures to attract fish. Watch this video from Missouri to check it out. It is weird and wonderful.
Many different species of mussels live together in beds.
Their role in the ecosystem:
When they feed, they filter water and then expel organic matter, which becomes food for other organisms.
Their shells provide habitat for algae, insect larvae, and other organisms.
Their empty shells are used as egg-laying sites or hiding places for fish and other animals.
They anchor the substrate in the lake, river, or stream and can make it less vulnerable to scouring.
They are good indicators of system health because they filter water, they are also vulnerable to pollution, which means when they decline, it is a signal to us that something is not working right.
They are critically important in the aquatic food web and are eaten by many fish, mammal, and bird species.

Luhman: Ways to Keep Your Soil Covered

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 22:51:00 GMT

In a past Connect Newsletter, I shared how important it is to keep your soil covered in hot times. Sunshine and heat can kill your soil biology fast, not to mention the erosion that can come when your soil is not protected. Today I will share a few simple ideas for how to keep your soil covered all season long.

In cropping situations, keeping the soil covered all year long can be more difficult. But many farmers have found success with the utilization of cover crops or through relay cropping. The most popular and easy way to implement a cover crop is rye drilled immediately following the harvest of a fall grain crop. Depending on the fall, the rye may or may not get much growth during the fall. However, it is doing something for your soil, and come the following spring, you will have root and plant growth as soon as the ground thaws out and photosynthesis and carbon sequestration begins. There have also been successful experiments done interseeding covers into a standing grain crop so when the grain is harvested, there is already a green and growing plant to continue protecting and pumping carbon into the soil.

Whatever your situation, keep in mind the importance of keeping your soil protected. If you have questions or are interested in trying something new, don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, or any one of our experienced staff here at SFA.

Jared Luhman: jared@sfa-mn.org

Keeping your soil covered in pasture is as simple as moving your cows sooner and leaving more grass uneaten. The largest challenge is convincing yourself that by leaving 50-70% of your grass, that you are not in fact wasting it. Leaving that grass shades and protects your soil biology from sunshine, keeping it cool even in the hottest of days. It also minimizes the delay in root development and keeps plenty of leaves available to begin photosynthesis and plant regrowth. A study by Noble Research Institute found that when less than 30% of the plant is taken, root development is barely affected, and when over 50% is taken, nearly 100% of root development is delayed.

From the Executive Director: ‘Agriculture, done well, heals’ at the Heart of Membership

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 21:58:00 GMT

This afternoon I ran an errand to Mankato and was amazed at the bountiful crops ready to be harvested, and the abundant farmers market offerings. This, coupled with glorious fall colors, buoyed my spirits. What really keeps me optimistic is the innovative work being done in local food production and processing by SFA members, and the commitment to a just and regenerative food and fiber system that is displayed every day by our members and partner groups.

Free or low cost admission to our array of field days, workshops, pasture walks, webinars and events. Of note, we’ve set registration for all of our activities as “free to members” or $40 to non-members, to help during this harsh economic time.
Access to coaching, support and mentorship from our professional soil health and silvopasture staff. This is an incredible benefit, a boots on the ground approach to sustainable agriculture.
An information-rich website, opening up opportunities such as our new podcast series “ Dirt Rich “, with timely, not-to-be-missed topics and features.
Soon, details of SFA’s 31st Annual Conference will be released. SFA members are able to attend our signature event at no cost this year. If you aren’t a member, registration to the AC is $40. That’s another reason to renew or join today.
Members may choose to join one of nine chapters , which offer rich and diverse programming in communities throughout Minnesota. Pick the chapter of your choice, or be an at large member.
The CONNECT e-newsletter is another benefit of membership, chock full of information and offerings within and outside of Minnesota.

Membership in SFA gives you the confidence in knowing that you are part of an organization working to shift the paradigm of agriculture to provide a safe, affordable food supply, protection of our air, land and water, and resilient, inclusive communities.
Please renew your SFA membership today. If a one time payment doesn’t fit the bill, consider becoming a monthly supporter at just $5 per month. This is an easy, sustainable way to support SFA and receive the benefits of membership, while helping us lighten our carbon footprint.

Thank you for considering this request!

“Agriculture done well heals.” That’s SFA’s motto and it speaks to why membership in SFA is so important. This week, many of you will be receiving a membership renewal appeal, or an invitation to join if you have been to an SFA gathering in the last year but aren’t a member. An SFA membership offers many benefits including:

Zimmerli: Grants Help Farms Become More Profitable, Sustainable

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:47:00 GMT

SFA is working with several partners to host webinars on how to effectively apply for some of the various grants that are out there. Grants can be an excellent way to inject a little extra cash into an initiative on your farm that can help you to be more profitable, sustainable or both.

On my own farm, we successfully applied for and received the MN AGRI Value Added Grant for the construction of a new pack shed. This grant took this project from “I don’t know if we can afford this” to “yes, we can definitely afford this” and played a significant role in our ability to build our pack shed.

Join us on Monday, October 5th from noon-1:15 and we’ll talk about the ins and outs of grant writing. I’ll be sharing my own personal experience along with other successful grant recipients. Register for this webinar sponsored by SFA, the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Minnesota SARE, and Minnesota Farmers Union here .

Additionally, there will also be a webinar on Wednesday, October 7th on Farmer-Rancher grants, again from noon-1:15. Presenters from University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota SARE, and some farmers with experience applying for grants, will describe the details of these grant programs and offer tips and insights into what makes a good grant application. Register here . You can contact Jane Jewett at jewet006@umn.edu for more information. This webinar is offered by Minnesota SARE, SFA, U of MN Extension, Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association, Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, and Minnesota Farmers Union.

Both of these webinars are free! We hope to see you there. Check out the links below for more information on particular grants:

MDA AGRI Value-Added Grant Program

NCR-SARE Farmer-Rancher Grants

MDA Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grants

NCR-SARE Partnership Grants

Planting Minnesota Garlic on Dirt Rich

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:43:00 GMT

“Minnesotans don’t like that garlic. They don’t eat that spicy stuff, dontcha know?” Jerry and Sunny and their sold-out-by-August harvest beg to differ! It’s just about time to get next year’s crop in the ground. Our resident garlic guru, Jerry Ford, takes some time to compare notes and philosophies with fellow organic garlic grower Sunny Ruthchild as they prepare for the next season and climate unknowns. Their farms have dramatically different soils and topographies, and they both make it work for garlic. In their conversation, they get into:

Dirt Rich episodes are available to listen on your favorite podcast platforms, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and Google Play. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, subscribe, rate and review to help us bring more people into the farmer-to-farmer network!

For more garlic information, visit the Minnesota Premium Garlic Project , the Minnesota Garlic Festival & Virtual Directory , and a playlist of SFA Garlic Videos .

Site Selection
Soil Prep
Timing of planting
Seed garlic and varietal selection
Advice for first-time growers & gardeners
Dip treatments
Their agriculture philosophies
Mulching
Being adaptable to change in markets and climate

Meet the Regenerative Grazier: Tyler Carlson

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 18:24:00 GMT

This interview with Tyler Carlson originally appeared in the Silvopasture Learning Network’s first e-newsletter. The Silvopasture Learning Network is a project to research effective silvopasture practices and innovations, and educate farmers, agricultural and natural resource professionals and conservationists throughout the state on silvopasture and oak savanna restoration principles and practices. SLN is a partnership among SFA, University of MN Extension, and Great River Greening. Learn more on SLN’s website , Facebook , or by joining the email list . You can also see SFA’s upcoming Silvopasture events on this page .

Tyler Carlson is the Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead for the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. In this interview, learn how he became interested in silvopasture, why he’s passionate about it, and how he advises newcomers to the practice.

How did you become interested in silvopasture?

In 2008 I completed a permaculture design course that introduced me to the concepts of complex polycultures and mimicking natural systems in human food production. In my studies at the University of Minnesota I took a course on agroforestry which included silvopasture.

Agroforestry and especially silvopasture combined my interests in sustainable agriculture, restoration ecology, and livestock and large herbivore impact on ecosystem form and function. I knew pretty quickly that this was something I wanted to experiment with on my own farm.

How did you become involved in the Silvopasture Learning Network?

In January 2020 I was contracted by the Sustainable Farming Association to lead the organization’s efforts on Silvopasture training and adoption in Minnesota. One of the key elements of my work is to help bring together a diverse group of farmers, resource managers, foresters, and ecologists to create a community of practice to advance the knowledge of, increase adoption of, and improve the outcomes of silvopasture in Minnesota. This is the Silvopasture Learning Network.

What makes you passionate about silvopasture?

The hopeful promise of grass-based livestock agriculture is that we can restore grazing animals to their appropriate ecological context, improve grassland plant diversity, wildlife and pollinator habitat, stop erosion and build soil, infiltrate and store water, and sequester excess carbon in the soil. All of this can be part of our food system, not just separate from it.

Silvopasture takes the power of diversity and adaptively-managed livestock impact to the next level by directing it toward the restoration of savanna and woodlands. Silvopasture has the potential to sequester enormous amounts of carbon while improving the form and function of the landscape. The prospect of sequestering carbon, restoring oak-savanna and oak-woodland habitat, and creating an attractive, comfortable environment for livestock, wildlife, and humans while generating income is very attractive.

I am also passionate about silvopasture because of the community of interest in it. The diversity of species, habitats, ecosystem services, and human uses associated with the savanna seems to attract a similar diversity of people to our events. Farmers, hunters, ecologists, resource professionals and government agencies, foragers, birders, nature lovers, and consumers are all turning out to learn and contribute. Silvopasture has something for everyone.

What can modern producers learn from indigenous silvopastoral practices?

Minnesota’s landscape prior to European settlement was probably more heavily influenced by indigenous Americans than many prior ecological histories have suggested. I think there is a general, over-simplified narrative that the tall-grass prairie and oak savannas were formed by the grazing impact of the bison and random acts of fire set by lightning and that their distribution was determined by climate, soil, aspect, etc. This narrative ignores what was likely an intentional, targeted use of fire by indigenous peoples to direct and attract large and small game, create highly diverse habitat for roots, nuts, leaves, and fruit for harvesting, and create a generally comfortable landscape with sufficient shade and ease of movement and defense.

Fire can serve as a tool to stress and eliminate shrub and tree saplings, and the lush green-up of the grasses and forbs following burns would have attracted many large herbivores to the area who then provide a follow-up impact on any surviving brush and sapling trees through grazing and trampling.

If we overlook how indigenous peoples and practices shaped and maintained our ecosystems, any efforts to conserve and restore native landscapes will fall short. We can’t simply reestablish native plant communities without accounting for the historical disturbance regimes that they evolved with, including a sometimes heavy human hand. Today, of course, the large, roaming, wild herds of bison and elk, and the extinct megafauna are gone. And extensive use of fire on the current, highly-developed landscape of Minnesota is unlikely and climate imperatives present a new reality where fire may be counter to the need to sequester carbon.

So we need to find new ways to manage livestock impact and other tools of disturbance to restore some of this form and function to the landscape. Will we perfectly re-create the vast prairies and savannas and woodlands that were here hundreds of years ago? Probably not. But I think we can create something similar and perhaps just as resilient and beautiful. Something that can restore humanity’s connection to the earth’s ecosystems as a generative force and restore our relationship to livestock as sacred partners in our co-creation of a just and habitable world, instead of casting them as a burden in a changing climate or a technology to exploit.

What advice would you give to producers considering silvopasture?

Start small and adapt as you go. Learn to manage livestock adaptively with modern fencing equipment first and then start introducing them to your wooded areas a little at a time. Learn to observe the impacts. Do more of what works and adapt to what doesn’t. Be creative. No one is a master on this, yet, and everyone’s experience will contribute greatly to our collective advancement in this area. Oh, and take pictures and share your insights by joining the Silvopasture Learning Network!

TC Growers to Spotlight Lakisha Witter

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 13:32:00 GMT

Join the the TC Growers online on October 1st (5:30-6 PM) to hear from organic farmer Lakisha Witter, the woman, the farmer, the owner, and inspiration behind Live Organically ! Witter is an adjunct instructor in Bethel’s graduate program in special education and a Special Education Director overseeing numerous charter schools in the twin cities. She will be sharing her story of how and why she decided to farm despite having absolutely no farming experience and how she manages to balance her life and mental health in the midst of life demands. Sounds crazy? Well, tune in to hear how it all unfolds!
This presentation will be of interest to all emerging farmers. The TC Growers will continue to explore the daunting task of getting a start in farming through examples of those that are making it happen! Lakisha will share her story and her experiences making a start as a farmer in Minnesota –insights to all who want to become successful growers. Bring your questions and experiences and register for the Zoom meeting here .

The Twin Cities Growers Network is a collaboration between UMN Extension and SFA.

Beyond Your Backyard: Savoring the Season

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 21:10:00 GMT

If you’ve ever had the honor of being a dog’s person, you know they are always ready for adventure. Wherever you’re headed, whatever you’re doing, they’re excited to go with you. As the summer comes to an end I’ve been thinking more and more about my 15.5-year-old coonhound-lab mix, Savannah, and all the adventures we’ve had together.

In Minnesota we have over 1,300 miles of state-managed trails and over 12 million acres of state, federal and county managed lands all in your public ownership. That’s roughly 2.14 acres a person. Get out there and explore them. You just might see me and Savannah enjoying this last bit of joy together, her long hound ears flapping in the wind, legs trotting faithfully forward, heart racing, blazing a trail past the golden- and blue-tipped grasses, enjoying her piece of public land all made possible because someone like you understood the value of having space to savor the season.

#exploremn #discovertheprairie #publiclands #publiclandowner

Fall is my favorite time to adventure. Maybe it’s something about how her black-bronze coat, now feathered with so much gray, blends with the golden and rich, deep purple of prairie grasses illuminated by the sun on these increasingly shorter days. You know the days I mean, where the bright blue of the Minnesota sky seems to go on forever, broken only where it meets the hazy edges of the gently waving grasses below it. As the nights cool off and the air gets crisper with the spicy smell of leaves ready to change, I am grateful for the days where summer is able to stretch her long arms into fall to warm the daylight hours.

This season of change is for savoring. Savoring the warmth in the moments we spend outside before the calm, cold cloak of winter surrounds us.

Watch TC Growers’ “Spotlight” on Naima Dhore

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:06:00 GMT

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network convened online last month for a “Growers Spotlight” on Naima Dhore, a certified organic Somali-American farmer and founder of the Somali American Farmers Association. Learn more about SAFA and about her farming experience, including pursuing an FSA loan to purchase farmland, on the Youtube video .

The next virtual meeting will spotlight Lakisha Witter on Thursday, October 1, from 5-6:30 PM. Zoom registration required, sign up here . The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network is a partnership between SFA and University of Minnesota Extension.

Bolstering Farm-to-Table with Food Safety

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:46:00 GMT

Sarah Lindblom and Josh Reinitz join Dirt Rich to talk about how they’ve been growing food for their communities with food safety in mind–through the pandemic, and always. With more of an eye on health this growing season, farmers have been “bringing their food safety A-game” to ensure that they continue to keep their customers safe. For Josh and Sarah, that has meant maintaining safe COVID habits among themselves, staff, and buyers, as well as adding focus to their usual food safety practices during day-to-day tasks.

“I can safely say that there’s not a thing I can grow right now that I can’t sell,” says Josh. Sarah sold out of her CSA shares this season sooner than ever before. There’s momentum in buying local, and the two agree that small-scale farmers continuing to prioritize food safety practices will build trust in the broader local foods movement.

Listen in for how they weave food safety into their daily tasks, how their practices are part of wholesale account relationships, and some training resources. Dirt Rich episodes are available to listen on your favorite podcast platforms, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and Google Play. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, rate and review, and drop us a line with feedback and suggestions.

And it’s working! As they see sales pick up, they also see the public perception of the health and safety of locally grown foods continuing to trend towards trust in smaller-scale operations. Providing a high-quality and clean-looking product has been valuable in that it catches customers’ attention and opens the door for conversation. Even noting “triple-washed” on salad greens suggests the amount of work that went in before it reached the hands of the eater.

Luhman: If You are Hot, Your Soil Probably Is, Too

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 00:41:00 GMT

The last couple months have been some hot ones, as temperatures have often been in the 90s with heat indexes over 100 degrees. Weather like this is hard on everybody, and I have been grateful for this job and an excuse to spend a more time in the air-conditioned office.

Like people, soil prefers a temperature right around 70 degrees so it can use 100 percent of moisture for plant growth. At 100 degrees I will do whatever I can to get back into the AC as quickly as possible. Soil is the same, and at 100 degrees soil can only use 15 percent of moisture for plant growth – the rest is lost to evaporation.

Now, if it’s 130 degrees, all moisture in the soil would be lost, leaving zero moisture for plant growth. And, at 140 degrees, soil biology is killed and people probably would be pretty close to dead as well.

Further, soil temperature can actually be quite higher than air temperature, and this is why cover on the soil is so incredibly important. Soil left uncovered will be baked by the sun and its biology will die.

Soil biology should be thought of as our livestock below the ground and it is just as important as the livestock above ground. It is the key to healthy functioning soils that can infiltrate and store water, cycle carbon and other nutrients, and produce nutrient-dense forage for our livestock above the ground.

I will share creative ways to keep soil covered in the next Connect newsletter. But for today, remember that when you are struggling in the heat, your soil biology probably is, too.

Weather like this is also extremely hard on livestock and soil biology. Many of you may move your cattle to a pasture with trees for shade, or perhaps you have a portable shade tool to reduce stress on your cattle. But how often do you think about offering shade to your soil biology?

Beyond Your Backyard: The Magic Lights of Summer

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 11:41:00 GMT

These are the neighbor chats we ecologists have. Outdoor lights can interfere with female fireflies being able to see the male signal (and flash back depending on the species). If they can’t couple up, there’s no baby fireflies. No baby fireflies means no adult fireflies. I can’t think of anything sadder than that.

“Oh hey, can you please turn your outdoor lights off at night? I’ve got some fireflies trying to mate in my backyard and you’re ruining their date night.”

I was shocked to learn there are over 170 different species of fireflies in the U.S. and Canada! Surprisingly, not all of them flash at night, either. Some glow and some put out pheromones during the day and are called dark fireflies. Even though their name suggests they are a fly, they are actually a beetle — the wonders never cease over here. Turns out they are a very helpful beetle that eats slugs and snails and other soft-bodied invertebrates. They are also prey for many species, thus making them an important part of the food web.

Think about how you can make your yard a haven for fireflies. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation , “They thrive in moist habitats with abundant native vegetation, dense leaf litter, and true nighttime darkness.”

Well, what are you waiting for? Plant native plants, leave the leaves, shut those lights off , turn on the Barry White, and let your yard get busy producing the magic lights of summer.

Fireflies are one of those magic pieces of summer. Catching them in a jar, chasing them while laughing so hard you can barely breathe, and watching them come to life while you play flashlight tag are memories that stick with us through life.

New Dirt Rich Episode: Herbalism for Everybody!

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 12:30:00 GMT

Basil, parsley, cilantro–Sarah Lindblom started out growing these classic favorites for her CSA shares at Solar Fresh Produce. An SFA workshop with herbalist Connie Karstens soon sparked an interest in medicinal herbs. She began cultivating holy basil, marshmallow, calendula, and lemon balm–just to name a few.

Now Sarah sells both fresh and dried herbs at the farmers market, as well as herbal tea blends, creating a unique value-added offering in the marketplace and through the winter. She’s also integrated herbs into her soil health practices, using them to attract pollinators, keep a living root in the soil, and build plant diversity. On today’s episode of Dirt Rich: “Herbalism for Everybody!”, she shares how she ensures she grows a quality product, the benefits of cultivating herbs that continue to unfold on her farm, and how simple it is to start growing your own herbs–whether it’s in your windowsill or tucked into a row.

Luhman: The Benefits of an August Breeding Season

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 11:31:00 GMT

For us at Dry Creek Red Angus, it’s breeding season! To many of our neighbors, and maybe to many of you, it may seem like an odd time to turn out our bulls. Most people in our area have already finished breeding season and perhaps even begun to preg check. Why do we breed so late?

For our cow herd, winter is the most expensive time to feed a cow and we wanted to reduce this cost. An option to do that is to graze dormant stockpiled grasses and cover crops as well as to graze corn residue. These feed options are not high enough quality for a cow late in gestation or a cow with a young calf at side. So rather than change our feeding plan to a more expensive option, we chose to change our calving window to May where ample high-quality feed is available allowing us to cheaply graze corn stalks and dormant cover crops well into winter. Last winter we were able to graze corn stalks until Feb. 1 with no additional supplement, saving over $2/day per animal compared to feeding hay.

In addition to the cost savings, calving in May is a huge time and labor saver. When we used to calve in March, I would spend hours per day feeding and bedding cows. I would check regularly for calves to pull them out of the group and put them in a pen with their mom to bond. I always joked that I would lose all my winter weight in about two weeks of calving because it was so much work.

Now, calving on grass, cows have the ability to walk away from the herd to calve and bond by themselves. I check twice a day for new calves, once in the morning and once at night. So yes, turning bulls out in August may seem odd, but to us it makes a lot of sense. I would encourage you to consider the context of your farm and determine if there are any ways you can mimic nature that will improve profitability, work/life balance, or your soil.

Our goal is to mimic nature and minimize our costs to keep a cow and produce a calf for a year. When we look at nature before settlement of the West, wild animals like deer, elk and bison were not fed silage or baleage all fall and winter; they were forced to eat what nature provided. Since an animal’s highest feed requirement is when they have offspring, they gave birth when nature provided the highest quality feed, which in Goodhue, Minn., is in the late spring.

Immigrant Farmer to Share Her Journey at TC Growers Meeting

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 11:48:00 GMT

Hear the story of Somali-American organic farmer Naima Dhore and her journey toward owning her own farm as SFA’s Twin Cities Growers Network hosts its next virtual gathering from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fri., Aug. 14.

Open to all; questions welcome. This meeting will be conducted via Zoom . REGISTER .

Related TC Growers resources include this compendium of new farmer resources and this Advice for Beginning Farmers fact sheet .

The TC Growers Network is a partnership between SFA and U. of M. Extension. Info: khakanso@umn.edu .

Watch the last two TC Growers Network meetings, archived here:

Her story provides inspiration to those seeking to farm and provides a real example of how one hardworking family is making it happen. This presentation will be of interest to emerging farmers, especially BIPOC growers who face additional challenges to an already daunting task. Naima and her husband are currently pursuing a Farm Service Agency loan to purchase 20 acres of farmland; she is also founder of the Somali American Farmers Association to support Somali and immigrant farmers who focus on culturally specific and organic produce and indigenous African farming practices.

Beyond Your Backyard: Good or Bad?

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:33:00 GMT

Good or bad? I’ve been asked this question a lot in my career. Is haying good or bad? Is grazing good or bad? Is fire good or bad for the prairie? The answer is always the same: a question. What time of year? How short are you haying? How often? How many animals? What kind? What’s your rotation? What season are you burning? How frequently? Are you leaving refugia? What’s your fire return interval?

A prairie does not become a prairie by simply planting grass and grazing, burning, or haying. There’s nuance and multiple tools and approaches that can be used. My friend Henry recently told me he’s convinced the “P” in prairie actually stands for patience, which may be the most beneficial tool of all—allowing nature to do its thing on its own timeline.

It’s these questions and complexity that led DNR Invertebrate Ecologist Jessica Petersen and myself to start the Prairie Pod (a science podcast that’s fun, we promise). We wanted to dive deep and have conversations about what makes the prairie special: its unique parts and pieces, how it has shaped our world, and how our choices can help it to survive or die. We wanted to showcase the prairie partnership in Minnesota made up of landowners, land managers, scientists, and enthusiasts who are working to ensure this land isn’t just a piece of our rich natural heritage, but an emblem of our future.

We hope each episode helps people from the best prairie ecologists to my Aunt Becky discover the prairie and experience its many wonders. Science as it should be: for everyone. There’s jokes, random outbursts of song (sometimes I can’t help myself) and solid knowledge being dropped on every episode. DNR Nongame Biologist Mike Worland joined the charge last year as my new cohost. We have a brother-sister type camaraderie that makes the podcast fun and at times ridiculous in the best possible way. I learn new things every episode and I hope you will too!

I leave you for this week with these parting thoughts: we’re taught at an early age the value of a tree. How it helps us breathe, stores carbon and provides us with useful products like paper and wood. I wonder if the prairie ever gets jealous? Knowing it as I do, I imagine it doesn’t. But rather being the wise soul that it is, acknowledges there is no competition — we need both forests and prairies if we are to live in a healthy and whole Minnesota.

Even so, if we can do a little to help people understand that the prairie is storing 0.30 to 1.7 metric tons (661 to 3,748 pounds) of carbon per acre per year in its extensive roots, absorbing roughly nine inches of rainfall per hour without runoff, filtering and cleaning that same water, and also giving us clean air to breathe — well, that’s credit I’m sure the trees and forests won’t mind sharing. Those swaying grasses and wildflowers are doing far more than just existing – they are living so we can live in return.

Ready to learn more? Add to your Dirt Rich summer soundtrack with episodes of the Prairie Pod airing every Tuesday through July and August.

#prairietuesday #discovertheprairie

Nature is not so easily put into a box and rarely is there an answer that is black or white. There’s a complexity to it that is both frustrating and fascinating. One thing remains the same: each of these are tools. They are neither good nor bad. They have utility, but they also can be overused and cause unintended damage if not used cautiously with a well-thought-out approach that allows for adaptive management if something isn’t working or responding how we anticipated.

Luhman: The Inherent Value of Livestock Integration Into a Crop Farm

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 15:24:00 GMT

One of the most undervalued tools in a farmers toolbox is integrating livestock on the land.

There are options to reduce or even eliminate the burden of livestock. One example is to buy or custom raise a seasonal class of livestock like stockers. Or perhaps custom graze a group of heifers or cows from another operator for a few weeks or months. If you don’t want to manage livestock at all, you can work with a producer who has livestock. Cover crops with corn residue is a fantastic feed and valuable resource that allows the cattle producer to extend the grazing season and reduce winter feed costs. Talk to local livestock producers about working together or explore the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture’s Cropland Grazing Exchange , a map tool designed to match farmers with extra pasture or corn residue to farmers with livestock who are looking for that resource.

While we can make advances in regenerative agriculture without them, I have found that livestock can rapidly increase the rate at which positive change can happen, not to mention add substantial profit to your bottom line! If you’re considering expanding or adding the use of livestock on your farm, and don’t know what kind of infrastructure you need, check out one of our four ‘Dirt Rich’ fencing workshops. For any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at jared@sfa-mn.org or 507-271-5968.

Dirt Rich Heads to Pasture

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 18:26:00 GMT

The latest two episodes of Dirt Rich are focused on grazing. Kent Solberg and Doug Voss return for some timely perspective on “ Designing Cover Crops for Late Season Grazing .” They discuss the biological benefits of grazing complex cover crops (nicknamed “biological primers”), and walk us through the process of designing a seed mix that will fit a farm’s unique context.

For more coverage on grazing topics, stay tuned for two upcoming episodes with Jared Luhman and Tyler Carlson on Silvopasture. Listeners may also be hungry for more in-person field days–check out our upcoming hands-on fencing workshops and silvopasture field days . Each are free for SFA members, and $40 for non-members. (And individual SFA memberships are $40, so if you aren’t a member already, it’s a great time to become one.)

Dirt Rich is available to listen on your favorite podcast platforms, including Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and Google Play. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, subscribe, rate and review to help us bring more people into the farmer-to-farmer network!

Kent also highlights “ Energized Fencing Essentials ” in last week’s episode. Energized fences are psychological, rather than physical, barriers. Their ability to be easily modified and expanded, as well as their relatively low-cost, make these systems a great option for some farmers. In the podcast he lays the foundation for using energized fencing in your pasture, detailing key considerations, the various components needed, and how to ensure that the system will work properly.

Beyond Your Backyard: A Place to Be Broken

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 20:46:00 GMT

When I was a little girl and I would get in trouble, I often ran to the forest. My brother and I had a grapevine that hung across the creek that ran by our house. We’d hook it around a tree stump on one side, stretching it out so that when you unhooked it and held on, you’d be sling-shotted across the creek. This is where I would go when my world turned upside down.

It’s normal to feel a sense of wrongness when you’ve been scolded or something doesn’t work the way you wanted it to. As a strong-willed little girl, I found correction difficult. I’m sure my mother found doing the correcting equally difficult faced with such a bull-headed adversary. As an adult, I am equally strong-willed, but thanks to my mother’s patience and guidance have the gift of thoughtful introspection.

When I am broken, I turn inward, clasping my knees to my chest, holding myself close and tucking my head into my arms, armoring against the world. The prairie brings me back. As you sit, the quietness that suddenly fell brought on by your abrupt arrival melts away into a chorus of birdsong as life resumes on the prairie. A beetle lumbers by, unhindered by the brief interruption, intent on his journey. Voles scurry in the grass and the wind blows across your face, drying your tears. Reminding me that while I may be broken, I am still whole. Each piece of me is strong. Just like each piece of the prairie is strong and necessary for the whole.

We all need that place, a place where we can be broken. Letting go completely so our soul can be washed clean in the place that holds our secrets, our fears, and our sorrow. So that tomorrow we can feel the joy and hope that our time on the prairie promised.

Where is your place to be broken?

My world still turns upside down from time to time and when it does, I often turn to my new love in the tallgrass prairie. The prairie is a place of connection, complexity, and discovery. It still holds so many secrets of how the world works. And now, so many secrets of mine. It’s much more than a stand of grass. It’s a place to be broken. Sitting under the swaying golden and blue grasses, as you contemplate what brought you here.

Survey: Lack of Local Meat Processing Limits Farm Businesses; Sustained Investment Needed

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 19:56:00 GMT

A recent survey of livestock producers shows that Minnesota has a growing local livestock industry, but a persistent challenge for small and mid-sized livestock producers is limited small-scale meat and poultry processing.

A group of organizations including Minnesota Farmers Union, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota and Land Stewardship Project sent a survey to livestock producers in mid-May to learn about how producers were affected by COVID-19 and plant closures.

Survey results, largely from farmers who ‘direct-market’ their livestock to consumers, restaurants and food cooperatives, confirm what ag groups and others have known for a long time: Family farmers are experiencing a shortage of local livestock processing – made worse by COVID-19 plant closures – and this is limiting their farm businesses. The survey was conducted May 15-26 and was sent to participating groups’ members.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT HERE.

Well over half of the 111 survey respondents reported that there were too few livestock processing operations to meet farmer needs for local meat processing, while only 17 percent reported that they did have adequate access. Some 64 percent said processing was inadequate for their business even before the pandemic. And a majority of respondents, 54 percent, indicated they would raise more livestock if more processing was available.

“Increasingly, consumers want fresh, locally grown and processed meat, because of its great taste and nutritional value,” said Theresa Keaveny, Executive Director, Sustainable Farming Association. “COVID-19 has made meat supplies from large plants less reliable due to plant closures. Minnesota has an excellent opportunity to help farmers, rural communities and consumers by expanding our local meat processing facilities.

“This was a problem before, and the COVID-19 pandemic-related plant disruptions have made the problem more acute,” she said. “It’s time for a bold, public investment in local meat processing.”

The majority of respondents direct-market or sell at sale barns or auctions and reported that processors of all types – USDA, “equal to” and Custom-Exempt – are booked out for months. Said one respondent, “We were lucky to have already booked fall appointments. But due to soaring demand for processing, I’m already booked for fall 2021 which would have been unthinkable in years past.”

The survey also revealed that 65 percent of respondents have seen an increase in demand for their products. “Consumers are more aware of how important buying and supporting local (food) really is,” said one farmer. Notably, only 9.5 percent have experienced an increase in sale price, though some who were surveyed reported market disruption causing cash flow problems this summer.

The lack of competitive markets and concentration in the meatpacking industry has been a decades-long problem, one laid bare when workers became ill with COVID-19, forcing shutdowns of major plants and heightening community spread. The resulting backups created more demand at local processors and reduced available slaughter dates for producers who regularly rely on these plants.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has provided resources for producers and small-scale processors, recognizing that the pandemic and large packing plant closures have put pressure on small plants and the farmers they serve, including by expediting approvals for new equal to’ state-inspected plants , moving them up from ‘Custom Exempt,’ and fast-tracking grant funding to increase slaughter capacity at small grants.

”We recommend a continuation of these MDA programs even after the pandemic subsides,” Keaveny said.

The survey results also suggested a need for greater investment in meat inspection and expanded opportunities for workforce development training. In addition, the survey respondents encouraged livestock producers to build proactive relationships with local processors.

DOWNLOAD A SURVEY PRESS RELEASE HERE.

Dirt Rich Episode 6: “Harvesting Minnesota Garlic”

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 12:37:00 GMT

‘Tis the season for harvesting garlic in our state, so before Jerry got into the thick of it on his farm, we recorded this week’s episode of Dirt Rich.

Listeners will also enjoy a brief conservation history of the fourth-generation Living Song Farm. Though it’s on what is considered to be highly erodible land, early adoption of soil and water conservation practices and decades of stewardship have made it possible for them to build topsoil every year.

For years, garlic has been a growing premium product in Minnesota markets and pantries. In fact, over 50 varieties are grown here alone, and growers typically sell out relatively quickly after harvest. Many of us know Jerry Ford as a longtime local champion of garlic, directing both the Minnesota Premium Garlic Project and the Minnesota Garlic Festival (which is going “virtual” this year, stay tuned to the webpage for updates ). As he says, everyone harvests a little differently, and he shares his own harvest, cleaning, and storage processes on the podcast.

Beyond your Backyard: July is Grassland Month in Minnesota

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 20:10:00 GMT

Holy wow! We just finished celebrating Pollinator Week and now we slide right into Grassland Month for all of July! The cake just doesn’t stop over here.

Think about it like this: we’re essentially building a Lego set after our dog ate half the instructions and some of the pieces. So, now we have to put our heads together, fill in those gaps and better match what was built perfectly the first time.

One more analogy: you wouldn’t expect to plant a tree seedling and have an old-growth forest the next year. The same is true for prairie reconstructions. They take time. LOTS of time. And patience.

As Nature Conservancy Prairie Ecologist Chris Helzer says, “A climax prairie, just like a climax forest, consists of thousands of different organisms, plants, animals, inverts, bacteria and soil fungi that rely on complex interactions of nutrient, moisture and energy flows to create and provide them with the food, water and shelter that they need to survive.”

While we work on rebuilding and restoring the prairie landscape, it’s helpful to have a plan. Enter The MN Prairie Conservation Plan . This plan is not just dusty pages sitting on a shelf. It’s a living partnership of people united from different agencies, organizations, and landowners who have come together to help preserve prairie. Isn’t it nice when we work together toward a common goal?

And what better common goal than making sure that a Monarch emerging from a chrysalis, a bee carrying orangey-red pollen from a purple prairie clover, and endless prairie horizons of golden-tipped grasses and splashes of color from blooming wildflowers are not just an intriguing part of our past but a rich part of our future.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go frolic in a prairie why dontcha!

Mind blown? Ready for more? To learn more about our amazing prairies and the wildlife that live there go here: mndnr.gov/prairiepod

#discovertheprairie #morebeesplease

Did you know that prairies are incredibly complex systems? They are powerhouses at production. In fact, those rich deep soils are why much of this area has been converted to agriculture and now serves as the “breadbasket” for the U.S. But when we are trying to recreate prairie, that very complexity is what makes it incredibly difficult to restore some of what has been lost.

Dirt Rich Episode 5: To Clip, or Not to Clip?

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 18:32:00 GMT

The latest episode of Dirt Rich gets into clipping: a pasture management tool with a lot of potential so long as it is used in the right context, as members of our Soil Health Team remind us. Kent Solberg and Doug Voss discuss a variety of factors to take into consideration as you decide whether or not to clip including timing, your goals for that pasture, how high to clip, and challenges you’re working with in that area.

Dirt Rich is available to listen on your favorite podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , and Google Play. You can also listen on the SFA website . Share with your friends, subscribe, rate and review to help us bring more people into the farmer-to-farmer network!

Questions on pasture management? Get in touch with Kent, Doug, or our other staff here .

They also share the benefits that clipping–in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason–can provide to your pasture’s ecological system, animal performance, and forage production. It’s one of many tools in the toolbox that can help you build resilience.

Beyond Your Backyard: Little Things That Make the World Go ‘Round

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:52:00 GMT

June 22-28 is National Pollinator week. One week to celebrate the little things that make the world go round. What’s all the buzz? Pollinators are a huge group of insects with species that have different life histories, biologies, and needs. They boggle the mind at all that they’re doing right under our noses and we don’t even know a quarter of what that is.

Over 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants need a pollinator.

Bees are arguably the most important pollinator because they are the only group that actively collects pollen and nectar and they do something known as floral constancy, which is to pollinate individuals from the same species at once. So if it’s purple prairie clover pollinating time (say that 10x fast) they go from purple prairie clover to purple prairie clover instead of throwing a black-eyed Susan in the mix. This means they are efficient and are actually pollinating by ensuring the pollen they carry matches the next flower they visit.

There are over 450 different kinds of bees in Minnesota – all with a unique role to play. Check out some of these images from USGS Wildlife Biologist’ Sam Droege. They show bees to be truly wild and wonderful.

Globally, a compiled index of all invertebrate population declines over the past 40 years shows an overall 45 percent decline . There’s strong variation depending on the group of insects with some showing nearly 100 percent declines and others remaining stable. Nothing illustrates the loss better for me than my own childhood memories of stopping at gas stations and fighting with my brother over who got to squeegee the bugs off the windshield. Now, I can’t remember the last time I needed to squeegee anything off the windshield, let alone fight about it.

Habitat loss, pesticide use, pathogens and introduced species, and climate change are the main causes of decline .

Many insect pollinators are food for other wildlife. They are one of the bases of the wild food pyramid. When they decline, we are seeing links with other groups higher up the chain that depend on them also declining.

Most of the interesting and delicious things we eat are because of a pollinator. To name just a few: pizza (tomato sauce: tomatoes pollinated by bumble bees), chocolate (cacao pollinated by a fly, the chocolate midge), your morning cup of coffee (pollinated by bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and moths) and breakfast blueberry muffin (pollinated by bumble bees and solitary bees).

So what does this mean other than a lot of really overtired, hangry people without bees and other pollinators? It means summers as we know them with watermelon slices at picnics, s’mores at campfires, and Friday pizza night will be forever changed if we don’t figure out a way to slow and, hopefully, stop these declines. The good news is there are things we can do to help: plant a diversity of native flowers that bloom all season long, reduce or eliminate pesticide use, leave open bare ground for nesting sites, and talk to others about what the bees (and other pollinators) need.

Pollinators aren’t just insignificant bugs. They are literally shaping our lives and experiences by connecting us to the things we eat and the world around us. They help us track the seasons and provide us with iconic symbols of change: strawberries for spring, s’mores for summer, and pumpkins for fall. And all the while they are painting us a world filled with color – every flower, every tree, every fruit, every plant they touch fills the canvas with vibrant sensations and wonder. A world without them is truly a world without color.

Like many of our holidays, celebrating during the week or day is wonderful, but I would hope the thankfulness of Thanksgiving, the mischief of Halloween, the love of Valentines Day, the excitement at a New Year, and the joy of discovery that’s found in observing a bee dusted with pollen, a caterpillar change to a butterfly, or a beetle lumber from flower to flower during pollinator week sticks with us throughout the year. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go plant some more native wildflowers to help them out.

#discovertheprairie #pollinatorweek

Here’s what we do know:

Get Growing this Summer

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Even mid-way through June, it’s not too late to start growing some of your own food this season. Growing a garden in your yard, your windowsill, or at any other scale can be empowering. And it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming venture! Episode 3 of Dirt Rich is a bite-sized listen to help get you started in a manageable, enjoyable way.

You don’t need to buy a lot of fancy equipment, or even have a lot of space to start growing something.
Plant food that you like to eat.
Keep it simple, start small and manageable.
Grow a few things well.
Start a compost pile.

Not sure what to grow? It’s wonderful to have a plethora of options, but that can also be a little paralyzing. In the episode, Kent makes some suggestions based on the space required, ease of storage, seed save-ability, and versatility:

Potatoes (especially russets): You can grow potatoes in old garbage cans or feed sacks. Easy to grow a lot in a small space, and easy to store. All you need is a cool, dry space.
Beans (particularly dry beans): Depending on the variety, you can eat fresh or let them mature and store them in a jar. Beans climb trellises and are a great option for vertical growing and container gardening.
Butternut squash (open pollinated variety): Can be trellised, grown or started in a container. Like potatoes, you can simply store them in a cool, dark place. Seeds can be saved for next year from an open pollinated variety.
Sweet corn or field corn (open pollinated variety): You don’t need a combine! You should have at least four rows wide to allow for pollination. Sweet corn can be eaten fresh or dried to save seed for next year. Field corn can be dried and later ground for corn meal in a coffee grinder (think of the corn bread!). Plenty of other vegetables or cover crops can be grown in between the rows, you could even grow the Three Sisters.

Tune in or download the podcast on your favorite platform, or on the SFA website . We’d love to hear from you, rate and review or contact us at katie@sfa-mn.org.

Take Action in Wake of Timely Report Illustrating Challenges to BIPOC Farmers

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 19:14:00 GMT

Our friends at Green Lands Blue Waters shared “Leveling the Fields: Creating Farm Opportunities for Black People, Indigenous People, and Other People of Color,” a new report being issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists and HEAL Food Alliance. I encourage you to read the report then take action in observation of Juneteenth, tomorrow’s holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told by Union soldiers that, two years earlier, President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Highlights of the report: Farming offers a powerful path to build community wealth and resilience to challenges such as water pollution, droughts and floods, and lack of access to healthy food. However, U.S. agriculture — particularly the pursuit of sustainable agriculture — is rife with obstacles for Black people, indigenous people, and other people of color (BIPOC), including immigrants, migrants, and refugees. These obstacles include difficulty securing capital, credit, land, infrastructure, and information. For these groups, such challenges are compounded by longstanding structural and institutional racism. The report outlines opportunities for governments, the private sector, philanthropies and others to contribute to simultaneously building socioeconomic equity and sustainability in U.S. food systems. To begin overcoming the history of racist policies and exclusion, it is their primary recommendation that solutions be developed by and with — rather than for — BIPOC communities.

This report resonates loudly right here. “Emerging Farmers In Minnesota” summarizes input and suggestions from several town hall meetings held throughout our state and shines a spotlight on the unique challenges faced by BIPOC farmers. The report was presented to the legislature in February, which then authorized a 15-person Emerging Farmers Working Group that will be launched later this summer. Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey will be issuing application/nomination information by July 1 for service on the Working Group. One way to take action is to help recruit a qualified person(s) to serve. Another is to figure out which barriers to sustainable farming experienced by BIPOC communities you are best equipped to help confront.

Still another way to take action is to contribute directly to address food justice by supporting the Local Emergency Assistance Farm Fund , hosted by the Good Acre with support of several groups, including SFA . The LEAFF fund supports farmers who are experiencing market disruption due to COVID-19 and the George Floyd murders by purchasing locally grown produce at fair market value prices and distributing to those most in need.

Thank you for your support of SFA and equity in our farm and food system.

Today, 155 years later, barriers and injustices in the U.S. food and farming system have been planted, grown and compounded. To build a regenerative system of agriculture, these barriers cannot stand.

A Growing Culture of Soil Health

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 18:42:00 GMT

On the latest episode of our Dirt Rich podcast series , Theresa Keaveny calls up Troy Daniell, NRCS State Conservationist. Personally, I really enjoyed listening to their conversation unfold on soil health work in Minnesota, the role livestock play, and land healing and resilience. An ecologist by training and passion, he says “we’ve always got to be in a healing mode, because there’s always something that’s going to break it down. That’s just ecology.”

Throughout the growing season, we hope Dirt Rich will help provide timely information, spark new ideas, and give you a stronger sense of connection and encouragement in a time of rapid change. You can listen, download, or subscribe to Dirt Rich on your favorite podcast platform.

Listeners will also get to hear Troy share a bit about his cattle operation back home in Texas, and how on earth he found himself in Minnesota.

Beyond Your Backyard: Diversity and Connection

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 22:03:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: Megan Benage of New Ulm is an ecologist who works to conserve and restore prairies, grasslands, and savannas with a focus on diversity, pollinators, and working collaboratively with agriculture producers to integrate conservation across the landscape. This will be a recurring feature. Hear more from Megan at the Prairie Pod.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about diversity. As an ecologist who observes and analyzes the prairie landscape, it’s the backbone of my job. Maintaining species diversity will ensure the prairie sustains us just as it has sustained native peoples and settlers through time.

But diversity also serves as the guiding principle for what makes society work. Diverse ideas, approaches, people, and values make this big wide world interesting, fun, and arguably so much better.

Why is diversity so important? Let’s say I’m baking a cake but forget the baking powder, a critical ingredient. My cake is now flat and dense. Let’s be honest, I’m still eating this cake because, for one, it’s chocolate and for two, as my grandmother said, “waste not, want not.” But how much better would that cake have been with the baking powder? Fluffy, light, melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Different species in our prairie systems are the baking powder! They are critical to making the system work. All the ingredients matter, but some species play a critical connection role and without them, the system collapses just like my cake.

Bison bathroom breaks fertilize the soil and their behavior actually changes the nutrient cycling of the system including the amount of available nitrogen. All of this action creates micro-sites where only certain plant species can grow, and changes the overall structure of the prairie habitat creating niches for a variety of wildlife species.

Bison are a mighty effective dose of “baking powder” and a prime example of why we need all of these pieces so our prairies and soil health systems can thrive and survive.

Over the years, there is no doubt there will be differences in soil conditions and climate like extreme drought or rainfall. The more diverse our systems are, the better chance they have at meeting challenges and change and persisting through time.

Diversity. How many times has my understanding been improved by hearing a different perspective? One I couldn’t have because of my background and life experiences? That’s what’s so great about SFA. You’re building a connection – a place to share ideas and experiences about what is an isn’t working on your farms. Lots of different views and choices that help us understand and build the whole.

The lesson is ever-present. It would serve us well to learn from the prairie to see just as diversity serves it and allows it to thrive it also allows our lives, our communities, and each other to thrive when we learn to embrace it. #Discovertheprairie #diversitymakestheworldgoround

Need more convincing? Bison are baking powder animals. As bison make their way through the prairie eating the delicious buffet it provides, their hide catches seeds and transports them to new locations while their hooves aerate the soil in some places and compact it in others. Wallowing displaces topsoil and encourages compaction which in turn creates pools where water is held, providing habitat for frogs, toads, salamanders, birds, invertebrates, and other wildlife.

New SFA Feature: ‘Beyond Your Backyard’ With Megan Benage

Wed, 27 May 2020 14:44:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: Megan Benage of New Ulm is the Regional Ecologist for the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, where she works to conserve and restore prairies, grasslands, and savannas with a focus on diversity, pollinators, and working collaboratively with agriculture producers to integrate conservation across the landscape. This will be a recurring feature.

We got on the water at Swan Lake, the sun was just setting and the reflection of the sky was in front of me with every stroke. A pink, orange, white and blue canvas painted on the water with a symphony of calling yellow-headed blackbirds, Canada geese, marsh wrens, and too many ducks to count in the background. All this and I had a front-row seat and a free ticket to explore a 10,000-acre wetland nestled between Courtland and Nicollet in southern Minnesota.

Swan Lake is one of the largest prairie potholes in the U.S. While pothole may not sound all that glamorous, it is really referring to the shallow nature of the lake, which actually isn’t a lake at all; it’s one of the many wetland “potholes” left after the glaciers receded. Glamorous or not, we are lucky to have them: wetlands are a critical link in the infrastructure of our landscape.

Prairies and wetlands woven together in southern Minnesota support each other just as they support us. The wetland thread in the weave provides flood control by slowing and holding water; a clean water supply by filtering and recharging groundwater (which is the water most of us drink); improved water quality by trapping sediment and nutrients; erosion control by slowing or stopping that same sediment from running into our lakes, rivers, and streams; sustained flow in the river even during dry periods; wildlife habitat; and offers us countless opportunities for adventure. This is one kind of pothole I didn’t mind getting stuck in and I’m betting you wouldn’t either.

To be able to even stand up, paddle a few strokes, and enjoy a place just 15 minutes from my house is the great gift of the State of Minnesota — public lands where anyone can find the peace in nature that’s so desperately needed now. I slowly paddled around until the sun sank below the clouds and the pending darkness called me back to shore. I wasn’t fast, but I was steady and I made it. What a great way to end the day. And all that after we got to see the bison right next to our car at Minneopa State Park! More on bison next time. Two different adventures, one day—just a small sample of what Minnesota has to offer.

Mind blown? Ready for more? Learn more about wetlands here .

To learn more about Swan Lake visit:

https://www.pbs.org/video/prairie-sportsman-fowl-air-fire-gound-swan-lake/

https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/swan-lake-iba

#Swanlake #publiclands #exploremn #adventure #sup #mndnr

Dirt Rich Hits the Airwaves

Sat, 23 May 2020 13:00:00 GMT

We’re excited to announce the debut of SFA’s new podcast series: Dirt Rich. Each episode will bring you a seasonal conversation on food and farming, and highlight the regenerative agriculture work in Minnesota. As you know, there’s a wealth of knowledge in the farmer-to-farmer network, and plenty of people willing to share their experiences. Farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, and foodies alike will hear food for thought and technical tips from fellow growers.

Our first episode features our own Kent Solberg: farmer, grazier, and resident soil health expert. Kent reflects on the “reset” nature of the pandemic, the challenges farmers and our agricultural system face, and the opportunities to move forward.

As the busy season ramps up, we hope Dirt Rich will help provide timely information, spark new ideas, and give you a stronger sense of connection and encouragement in a time of rapid change. You can listen, download, or subscribe to Dirt Rich on the SFA website , Spotify, Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Podbean , or Google Play so you don’t miss the next episode.

One Farm’s Spring Update: Herbs, Laying Hens, and Bed-Building

Mon, 18 May 2020 11:42:00 GMT

A few weeks ago I asked for you to share what you’ve been doing on your farms with me and I wanted to share this short story of what Bil and Alise of Under The Sun Herbs have been up to on their farm. Below follows their account of their farm projects this spring.

I’ve been dreaming of incorporating our laying hens into our field rotations for a year now, and just last week I completed our mobile coop, the Chickshaw, and got electric netting to get them out of the run and on pasture. The goal is to put them to work scratching the ground, eating weeds, seeds, and bugs, and leaving their fertile manure without lifting a shovel or pushing a wheelbarrow. Bonus, we also get eggs!

We will then form our permanent raised beds. The lower walkways will be covered with cardboard and mulch. This allows the beds to drain easily and gives us a clean path, even after (or during) rain. Next we will use a giant thick plastic tarp to cover the area for up to a few months, which will kill any weeds the chickens didn’t get.

After the tarp is removed, we will plant a cover crop mix to suppress any persistent weeds, build organic matter and fertility, and grow deep roots to break up and feed the soil and microorganisms. Sequestering carbon from the air to fight climate change is the cherry on top.

If we decide not to harvest cover crop seed, we will terminate by crimping or cutting at flowering stage, allowing it to become mulch, which protects from wind and rain erosion, holds moisture and cools soil during drought, and creates the perfect habitat for soil life to thrive.

If all goes as planned, we will have a clean, fertile bed to plant next year’s herb crop into – without much labor for prep – and plenty of added benefits to keep the circle of life spinning in our little corner of paradise.

Have a story to share? Email me at dan@sfa-mn.org .

It’s really starting to feel like we’re connecting the dots on our farm. In our second season on 10 acres near Madelia, we are taking a regenerative approach to our herb-growing operation. It’s like putting puzzle pieces together to achieve our goals of a more sustainable livelihood.

DGA Update: Develop, Improve Skills With Our New Borrower Training Program

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:27:00 GMT

The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship has some exciting news to share! DGA has been approved as a national vendor for FSA’s Borrower Training Program. Farm Service Agency, which requires financial management training for its beginning farmer loan agreements, has approved DGA to provide that training nationwide.

The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship was approved in 2012 as an FSA vendor for Wisconsin. DGA has since registered as a National Apprenticeship under the U.S. Department of Labor, expanded into 12 additional states, and opened its own online school, Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC), which offers classes to apprentices and the public.

In the 12-week Farm Business Management class, students are introduced to business planning techniques, record-keeping practices, and tools for charting progress toward personal and business goals. Farm Business Management may be taken as a stand-alone course or as part of the “Managed Grazing Dairy” certificate, which is core curriculum for Apprentices and now available to everyone. The class is offered both Fall Semester and Spring Semester.

DGA and MGIC are supported in part by a 2017 Educational Enhancement Team (EET) grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and by other funding partners, industry sponsors, and individuals.

If you would like more information on taking the class or joining the Apprenticeship program, please contact me at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

FSA works with local and national vendors to help borrowers develop and improve skills needed to run a successful farming operation. Financial management training by an approved vendor is required for FSA’s beginning farmer loan agreements.

New SFA Leadership Development Program Aims to Help Members Equip & Enhance Skills

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 10:22:00 GMT

By Dan Zimmerli • SFA Community Organizer & Outreach Coordinator

This new “Leadership Development” website offers a chance to equip and enhance your skills so that you can be a leader in your community. We’re also including opportunities to be a leader in your community with posting from organizations such as the Farm Service Agency for your respective county and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, which is looking for grant reviewers.

This list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly. If there’s an event that you think is missing from this list please email me at dan@sfa-mn.org and I’ll be happy to add it if it fits the criteria.

This list is exclusive to current SFA members. If you’re not a member, sign up today ! This is just one benefit of being a member of SFA.

Developing skills and learning new ones is crucial to not only being a good farmer but also being a good leader. With that in mind, SFA has begun working on curating a list of events, trainings, workshops, and webinars that are excellent resources to develop your skills and network.

DGA Update: Data Show Resilient Dairy Farms Typically Smaller, High-Quality & Well-Planned

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 11:54:00 GMT

Recently I attended the Women in Ag Conference in Willmar, where I attended several sessions on farm topics. There was one that really hit home with me. It was called, “Building Resilient Dairy Farms.”

This study looked to identify the characteristics of resilient farms that impact farm financial health. The data was taken from FINBIN (financial data) and DHIA (cow records) from 2012-2018. The data show that there were 24 out of 87 farms in MN that were considered resilient. The average farm size was 84 cows showing that small herds were the most resilient. The average age of the resilient farmer was 41 which is about 10 years younger than the state average. Resilient farms produced 17 percent less milk per cow but had a $0.52 increase in milk price which was mainly from components. Resilient farms were more focused on producing quality milk instead of quantity.

The main takeaways from this study are that resilient farms in MN are mostly smaller family dairy farms. They value milk quality premiums over volume. They have a plan and they stick to their plan regardless of what milk prices are doing. The resilient farmers are generally younger and value educational opportunities to help them succeed.

I believe the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship relates to this because it is a tool for farmers to get more education and get skilled labor on their farm. We need to keep our small dairy farms thriving and create opportunities for young farmers to get started. For more information or questions on the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program, contact me at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

Agricultural resilience is about equipping farmers to absorb and recover from shocks and stresses to their agricultural production and livelihoods. Right now, the trend in dairy is less herds and more milk production per cow. With the price volatility, what makes one farm more resilient than another?

DGA Update: MDA Report Illustrates Issues Facing Emerging Farmers

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:44:00 GMT

The demographic of farmers is changing as more women and minority groups are getting involved in agriculture. The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture has been busy making a plan to help these emerging farmers; Patrice Bailey, MDA assistant commissioner, started by hosting six listening sessions around the state to discover how we can help advance the success and sustainability of farmers who face barriers in building profitable agricultural businesses, especially women, veterans, persons with disabilities, indigenous farmers, and farmers of color. I attended a session in Marshall, and it was great to see so many people come out and voice their opinions.

Click here to view the report. I challenge you to read it and find out what emerging farmers are facing today.

For more information or questions about the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program, contact me at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

The main themes across the state were similar: racism, school loans, predatory lending, healthcare and finances. MDA took results from its survey and listening session input and the findings spoke loudly for the creating of a new “Emerging Farmers Working Group,” with more details to be released in the coming weeks.

DGA Update: Grazing Innovation Center Now Open to the Public

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 12:21:00 GMT

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship has its own course offering that has been traditionally for apprentices going through the DGA program, the Managed Grazing Innovation Center. It is also now available to Masters, Interns, and the public for the first time!

The courses cost just $250 each. For more information, go to www.dga-national.org or contact me at 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

DGA’s next virtual webinar will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 3. The topic will be “To Cross or not to Cross” and will feature special guest Brad Heins from U. of M. Morris. Please feel free to call in with any discussion on the topic of breeding dairy cattle and any experience you have. To register, or to join the webinar, visit the Zoom link . Call in # is 929-436-2866; Meeting ID is 686-230-401.

The MGIC currently has seven different offerings. In the fall, you can take Dairy Cattle Health and Wellness, Soil and Water Resources Management, Managed Grazing Systems for Dairy Cattle and Farm Business Management. In the spring, you can take Farm Business Management, Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Feed and Feeding, and Milk Quality. The Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Feed and Feeding and Milk Quality courses are also offered in the Summer. There is a Holistic Farming and Systems Approach that varies between different semesters.

DGA Update: Hiring Support Another Benefit Provided to Master Graziers

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 12:41:00 GMT

Farmers are busy people who often don’t have extra time in their day. If you are a Master Grazier in the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program, DGA will advertise a job opening for you! This is one of the many advantages of being involved with DGA as a Master Grazier.

Contact me if you are interested in learning more about becoming a Master Grazier in the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program: 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org .

DGA wants to help you find the right employee for a successful Apprenticeship on your farm. All you have to do is let them know the type of candidate, compensation range, preferred method of contact, and advertising strategies that you want to use. DGA will place and manage advertising and cover the cost for $200 per year in ads for any approved Master who is looking to hire an Apprentice. You can also choose to have your farm and job position featured on DGA website at no additional cost. This service package is estimated at a $400 value — free to you!

Solberg on Soil: Wide-Row Corn Can Generate Two Income Streams

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 12:42:00 GMT

There has been considerable buzz about 60-inch corn rows, and several Minnesota producers are dabbling with this idea. Here’s an article summarizing what some Iowa innovators are learning. If you grow crops and have beef or dairy replacements you would like to graze on corn stubble, wide-row corn with interseeded cover crops may generate two income streams from the same acres.

Additionally , farmer Ben Dwire discusses grazing and his regenerative techniques in this report from Fox 9 TV. A hopeful story, indeed.

Solberg on Soil: Let Progress Affect Your Farm Goals: Measure & Monitor for Regenerative Success

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 12:02:00 GMT

“Are we there yet?” is the all-too-familiar phrase heard from the back seat of the car during a family road trip. Similar questions have arisen from farmers who have started down a journey of soil regeneration wondering about their progress. I don’t recall who stated it first, but “You can’t manage what you can’t measure” comes to mind when we work to regenerate our soils.

Setting up monitoring protocols help illuminate progress on our soil health path. There are a number of monitoring tools that can offer helpful insights – but monitoring tools need to be selected and established in light of our goals. Using areas on or near the farm that have had less disturbance for a number of years (fence row, road ditch, field corner) can help provide benchmarks to compare in-field observations.

Historically, the main metric used in farming has been yield – bushels/acre or pounds of milk per cow. Like our bodies, soils are complex biological systems. When you are sick, the doctor uses a variety of tests and clues to diagnose what might be wrong. Similarly, there is no one metric that will tell us everything about our soils. Unfortunately, under chemical-based agronomy we have come to expect that there could be one test that will tell us how much X, Y and Z to use to meet our goals. As we move into regenerating our soils we need to add more tests and hone our observational and diagnostic skills to assess our progress.

As stated in this article , it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day farm needs constantly screaming for attention. We need to carve out time to work on the business, not just in the business. Otherwise, as Dave Pratt says, we are simply employees and not managers of that business. If we are truly working to get a positive Return On Investment (R.O.I.) from implementing soil regeneration practices, monitoring and assessment of those efforts is a key component of “working on the business.”

Solberg on Soil: The Basics of Creating Wildlife Habitat

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 11:17:00 GMT

Creating wildlife habitat is often cited among landowners and farmers as a reason to alter management on their land, including moving to a focus on soil health. For some species generalists such as deer, downy woodpeckers and Canada geese, this is easy as they can thrive in suburban areas, golf courses and parks as well as on farms and in wilderness areas. However, species like sharp-tailed grouse, canvasbacks and bobolinks have more specific habitat requirements and are often those in the greatest need of our help.

So, what is “wildlife habitat?” Is there “one-size-fits-all”? This blog from Practical Farmers of Iowa provides an introductory overview of habitat needs and what farmers and landowners can offer on their property.

New producers come to SFA all the time with a growing interest in small ruminant production, and the two big management hurdles to successfully raising small ruminants are internal parasites and predators. This article can help with the parasite issue.
Take a deeper dig into Dr. David Hooker’s economic assessment of including small grains in the corn-soybean rotation in this article.
More evidence that matching the animal to the environment helps profitability is here.
An excellent visual on the impact of continuous vs. managed grazing – in time lapse video.

Solberg on Soil: Small Grains Can Work in Crop Rotation

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 11:45:00 GMT

Corn and soybean farmers question the financial ability of adding small grains, namely wheat, into their crop rotation. Dr. David Hooker presents some interesting work on calculating returns when adding wheat inter-seeded with red clover to the corn and soybean rotation. While the video is a few years old, he stands by the thought process presented here:

Ecological Services Livestock Networking Group and SFA members in the “news” here regarding buckthorn control.

Increase crop plant diversity to increase soil carbon input. The whole soil system just works better when we focus on building soil aggregate structure.

Details here on managing old alfalfa stands in the rotation and protecting soil resources.

Dana Didrikson has spoken at several SFA events including Forage Council events as well as the SFA program at the Society for Range Management national conference in February 2019. He and brother Thor are profiled here.

New Minnesota-Grown Company to Provide Alternative Seed Source for Farmers

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 11:58:00 GMT

This summer, a new seed company, North Circle Seeds, is breaking ground with its circle of seed growers and farmer partners, to provide regionally-adapted seed grown using chemical-free, organic practices. Zachary Paige, the company’s founder, designed the business around a need for greater seed diversity at a time when over 65 percent of the world’s agricultural plant genetic resources are owned by just three global companies (State of Organic Seed Report 2016).

In the Upper Midwest, the number of businesses selling seed adapted to our northern climate is limited, none of which is located in Northern Minnesota.

“We are honoring seed and seed growers in Minnesota by offering the most reliable and flavorful varieties that have been carefully bred and selected to thrive in our Northern Climate,” Paige said.

North Circle Seeds is committed to creating an ecologically diverse, equitable, and inclusive food system. Not only are they working with growers to develop seed that may be culturally significant in their home country, such as eggplant varieties from Africa and blue corn from Mexico, but they are sharing this knowledge with others through public seed saving events and a podcast focusing on the origin stories of their seeds.

This summer, growers and seed purchasers will have the chance to contribute to the company’s efforts by participating in their customer survey. Results from the survey will help support growers by identifying which plant varieties have the highest demand for regionally adapted seed, content for seed saving workshops, and interest among farmers to participate in the seed collective. All participants, in exchange for their time, will receive a code to use at checkout online for three free seed packets, as well as be entered to win a free t-shirt.

Learn more by checking out North Circle’s Seed Stories Podcast , visiting its website or following it on Facebook .

Columnist: Why We’re Missing the Mark With Clean Water

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:42:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: Scott Haase is a member of the SFA Board of Directors. He wrote this article for the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance. Contact Scott at scott@bluedirtfarm.com .

For years, I’ve been watching the Blue Earth River wildly fluctuating in terms of its flow. It can be nearly dried up and then a week or two later it’s rushing and flooding over its banks. Too often, the river becomes a torrent of muddy brown water, forcefully making its way from Northern Iowa all the way to Mankato where it joins with the Minnesota River. That water passing by my backyard carries soil, fertilizer, and other more nefarious manmade chemicals as it moves toward St. Paul before turning south and making its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico.

Along the way, especially in the deeply carved valleys where the Blue Earth approaches the Minnesota, there’s relentless scouring of the river banks when levels are high, picking up even more sediment. In other places, like Lake Pepin, some of these materials settle and are left behind.

The unpredictable, muddy, sediment-laden flow is a result of the way the land is being managed throughout its watershed – soil health is now so impaired that the situation is getting worse. Natural processes will always be working to move material down a watershed, driven by gravity, the sun, and life itself. But not like this.

So what’s going on? Should we blame increased rainfall and more frequent intense storms? Are farmers to blame? They’re mostly good people just trying to earn a living doing the best they can. Is it a food system that values cheap commodities without examining how they impact the rest of the system upstream and downstream, figuratively and literally? Don’t get me started on that one! Maybe it’s the drainage tile.

To begin to solve our problems, the soil, and more importantly the microbes that make it alive and functional, need to be the foundation. Here’s why:

Healthy soil holds more water than degraded soil. For every one percent increase in the organic matter content of the top six inches of soil, there is an increase in water-holding capacity of around 20,000 gallons per acre. Organic matter is the portion of the soil that’s a mix of carbon-containing compounds, some being very complex, derived from living material. It’s also the material, or organisms rather, that are alive and too small to be easily separated out: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and others.

But there’s way more that’s happening here; not only does the soil hold more, it infiltrates more. In other words, when rain falls more of it goes into the soil and slowly percolates through its layers. Contrast this with running off, gathering velocity and picking up things that should best stay put. I’ve personally seen soil’s ability to infiltrate water increase in a dramatic and measurable way after just a couple seasons of making some relatively minor changes in management. It seemed quite magical.

The way water interacts with soil is a complex subject. But what seems to be a key function is that microbes make a gooey substance called glomalin, a sort of biological glue that surrounds tiny chunks of soil called aggregates. In this aggregate form, the soil is protected from disintegrating and washing away when impacted by wind or rain. The spaces between the aggregates hold air, water, and provide critical habitat for even greater levels and diversity of soil life. A principle of biology is that life creates the conditions necessary for more life to happen.

By infiltrating and holding more water, more of that water, potentially a lot more, stays put. The landscape as a whole becomes better at buffering between droughts and floods, more like the prairie and savanna ecosystems once did, thereby helping our sediment problems.

Over millennia, soil life has arisen for the mutual benefit of both plants and the soil microbes themselves.
Plants are amazing. Go to your favorite wild area and you’ll notice the diversity and abundance of plant life, especially here in the Midwest where water is relatively abundant. Plants in these wild areas are doing all right with what nature provides. Now, we could argue that some of the “fertility” that accumulates in almost every nook and cranny of the landscape as a result of current land use has an impact, but no one fertilized the prairies and we still ended up with thick, black topsoil. Previously mentioned was the lack of diversity that comes with planting mainly two warm-season crops on the vast majority of the landscape. Contrast this with a natural system where dozens if not hundreds of species grow in relative harmony from early spring to late fall.

Even when no one’s weeding or applying fertilizer, nature protects plants through compounds that repel pests and environmental stressors, promote growth, and eventually create seed. Soil microbes play a critical role here. Descriptions of the complex relationships between the fungi and bacteria that associate with plant roots can fill books, and soil scientists only understand a small portion of what’s going on. Soil scientist Dr. Kris Nichols remarked that when she started grad school, scientists thought they had identified 10 percent of soil microbe species and by the time she finished this number had been revised to 0.1 percent.

The biological system around plant roots is complex. Mycorrhizal fungi feed on root exudates, sugary substances that the fungi like to eat, from these roots. In turn, through their tube-like structures called hyphae, the fungi deliver whatever nutrients the plant lacks. These fungi are incredibly adaptive and masters at producing the right chemistry to extract and transform an array of materials. Entire books have been written about this fascinating subject and what it means for everything from cleaning up chemical spills to producing new medicines. And one important detail: different plants produce different exudates, feeding different fungi, which is an important reason why plant diversity is essential.

We know that plants and microbes all work together to get what they need. The plant eats, the fungi eats, and bacteria often play a role. When there’s enough diversity in the soil and plant life, this arrangement works very well and the fertilizer and pesticides normally used in agriculture can be significantly reduced (mycorrhizal networks in soil also act like an “internet” for plants to communicate with each other, even across species, but we’ll let that be a subject for another time).

What happens if we put the first two concepts together? First, we have less water leaving an area where soil health has been prioritized. Here, the water that does flow out tends to be slow and steady, its kinetic energy absorbed through the soil profiles. There’s little, if any, runoff. Now, add the second concept: the quantities of fertilizers and pesticides can, and should, be reduced once soil microbes perform their designed functions. Farm inputs that kill life or are used as an attempt to directly supply plants with nutrients usually aren’t good for soil life. Consider this example: if the mycorrhizal fungi described above aren’t providing a needed function for the plant, the plant won’t feed and support them and the web of life begins to collapse and degrade.

By putting these concepts to use we have less water leaving with less “stuff” in it that’s detrimental downstream. Win-win! But wait, there’s one more thing: Healthy communities of soil microorganisms can actually break down toxic pesticides more effectively. Less used, more is rendered harmless, and less runs off. Win-win-win! Once we start to understand and put together the principles farmers and anyone working on the land can employ to build healthy soil it becomes apparent just how impactful it can be.

I am hopeful that, someday soon, the river that runs through my backyard will flow a little clearer, carrying less of Minnesota’s valuable topsoil to the Gulf.

Solberg on Soil: Managed Grazing for Replacement Heifers

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 14:44:00 GMT

Dairy farmers are struggling with low milk prices. A large cost for dairy producers is rearing replacement heifers. Depending upon whose numbers you look at it costs between $1,700-$2,400 to raise a heifer to first lactation. This is not financially competitive given current heifer market values ($800-$1,000/head).

Managed grazing can be an effective means to reduce the cost of raising replacement heifers. Most Midwest pastures are dominated by cool-season grasses that greatly reduce growth rates when summer temperature soar.

Also, adding a few acres of warm-season native grasses can offset cool season pasture forage slump during the summer and offer quality feed at a very competitive cost.

Solberg on Soil: Videos, Tighty Whities, Soil as Biology & More

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 11:37:00 GMT

Dr. Mike Lehmann, who spoke at the 2016 Midwest Soil Health Summit, is featured in this three-video series that explores how a diversity of microbes in healthy soil can accelerate decomposition. Spoiler alert: the cotton undies decomposed faster in the more diverse crop rotation. View the videos on our Soil Health Videos page (to order your very own “soil your undies” kit from Land Stewardship Project, click here ).

From Grainews, this article talks to repeat MSHS speaker Jay Fuhrer of NRCS in Bismarck, N.D., about why adding carbon to soil can make farming more fun and profitable.

In a recent article from AgDaily, soil writer Jon Sitka says the perception of soil is moving from an input-heavy focus to a more healthy biological one. He writes, “By understanding how the soil functions as a biological system, we are beginning to come to our senses about how to manage the soil in a restorative, rather than extractive, way.” Read it here.

And finally, in this video, microbiologist Robert Kremer says farmers need to choose their cover crop termination methods wisely:

Savanna Restoration: A Multiyear Project

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 01:51:00 GMT

By Tom Barthel • Snake River Farm

Editor’s Note: Tom Barthel is a longtime SFA member and owner/operator at Snake River Farm in Becker, Minn. A stalwart sustainable farmer and soil health expert, Tom writes often for his farm website and has shared the following article with SFA. You can get in touch with Tom by emailing him at snakeriverfarmer@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page.

On the assumption that it will be helpful, I have repeated some introductory information from previous writings. To see the previous articles, click the links at right.

In this article I will report on ongoing work and progress, using text and photos. The goal of this work is to restore savanna areas to our Snake River Farm in the Anoka Sand Plain of Central Minnesota.

The purpose of savanna restoration is to improve the general health of the biome, including soil, water, microorganisms, insects, wildlife, plants and farm animals. The method of restoring these overgrown woodlands includes:

Severe, selective thinning.
Winter bale grazing with bison, cattle and sometimes sheep.
Rotational grazing during the growing season.
Inter-seeding as needed (especially with legumes) to achieve a healthy and vigorous sward.

A savanna is a grassy terrain with spaced trees and shrubs. The trees and shrubs are spaced such that at least 10 percent but not more than 50 percent of the ground is shaded. In the north central U.S., the dominant savanna trees are white oaks. The most common savanna shrubs are fruit-bearing trees such as wild cherries and crab apples.

This combination of acorn-producing oaks, fruit-producing shrubs, underlying grasses and forbs is one of the most productive natural systems on earth. A productive savanna provides food and habitat for a great variety of birds, animals, insects and soil-building microbes. Worldwide, savannas are one of the most common and most productive natural landscapes.

Savannas are pleasing to humans also. In fact, most parks and playgrounds are actually savannas. In nature, savannas are produced primarily by free roaming, grazing animals in temperate climates. Prehistorically, bison and elk herds produced a broad swath of savannas from Texas to Canada.

Until the 1970s, the small farms of mid-America maintained savannas as pastures. Most of those small farms have disappeared over the past fifty years. Since then, many Minnesota savannas have been cleared and converted to continuous cropland. Many other savannas have become overgrown with brush and weedy trees.

You can easily spot thousands of small savannas if you know what to look for. You can identify an overgrown savanna by looking for “open grown” white oaks. Those white oaks are now crowded by younger trees and bushes. An “open grown” oak has horizontal or lateral branches. Those branches, which are now shaded, grew when the oak was standing in the open.

The photo above shows the bison herd wintering in an area that we have severely thinned. The history of this part of the woods is somewhat different. It has never been grazed. But it was an oak savanna 100 years ago. I know that because the huge open-grown, savanna white oaks came down in a wind storm in the early 1980s. Those oaks were around 150 years old. That windstorm opened the area for the thick understory of younger trees. The resultant forest that stood before this thinning was a combination of white and red oaks. Those trees grew up straight with few lateral limbs. Trees grow straight and tall, as in a pine planation, when they are surrounded by similar trees. We thinned this space over the past three years. We left a few white oaks, young maples and cherry trees. We cut an incredible amount of timber to produce this potential savanna of several acres. To get to this stage we removed 95 percent of the trees. Less than one in 20 remain. There are a few stumps in the photo, but literally hundreds of stumps are cut to the ground.

In this photo I have set round bales for the bison. Bale rings or feeders of any kind do not do well with bison. The destruction of such devices is a recreational activity for them. That is not really a problem however. Bison are extremely conservative with feed and water. They will clean up bales before they move on the next with almost zero waste. I set bales on end, with the wrap on. I can set out enough bales for several weeks and they waste nothing. The bale strings are easy to pick up in the spring if it is done soon enough.

In the area shown above, I set bales in this area three times. The final pattern of bales was no more than 20 feet from one bale center to another. That is pretty close. It leaves an almost solid covering of manure and inedible hay. More manure than hay. Bison will pick through the remainder of a hay bale much more thoroughly than cattle.

The right-hand photo shows what the bison and cattle do to oak sprouts. Fewer and fewer sprouts will emerge for several years, and then the stumps will be dead. In addition to the physical effects of grazing, the saliva of ruminants appears to have a toxic effect on these shoots. The great majority of stumps have been cut down to ground level so that I could get a farm tractor with a grapple in to remove limbs and logs.

There are at least thirty stumps, mostly box elder, in a 30 by 30-foot section of this clear-cut space. It will be luscious green pasture in two years.

Grazing and browsing animals are necessary tools for savanna restoration or development.  We are fortunate to have several species of grazing/browsing animals on our farm. Each species is a different tool to use in pasture and soil restoration. I believe bison have some advantages in restoration work but properly managed cattle can do a perfectly adequate job.

I use bale rings for cattle. Without rings, cattle tend to lie on the hay. Once they do that they will not eat from that pile. I move the bale rings each time I refill them. That prevents the development of thick manure-hay mats. Thick mats can smother the grass for a year or two.  On the other hand, thick mats seem to be great organism incubators. Microorganisms, worms and insects spread outward from mats for years.

This photo shows some of our sheep in their winter pasture. They have debarked a small elm seedling. Brush clearing is something that sheep and goats are very good at, winter or summer. We use the sheep to de-brush smaller areas of the farm. That is particularly convenient using moveable, electrified, mesh fencing. Sheep can be a very useful tool, but left too long. Overgrazing by sheep can damage savannas and pastures. They can both kill too many woody plants. Sheep graze very short. Left too long in a rotation, they can kill grasses and legumes.

Since I am on the topic of grazing animals, I will mention horses. Horses are not a good tool for pasture or savanna restoration. Fundamentally, that is a result of their small stomachs and natural need to run from danger. Horses are relatively fussy eaters. We keep a herd of ten horses. I rotate the cattle and sheep through the horse pastures to manage those pastures correctly.

Pasture improvement is relatively easy. Savanna restoration is a lot of work. It might be less costly to buy additional land than to restore what we have. But that is not the point. We should improve the land we care for.

I intend to write an update next year.

From the Executive Director: Silvopasture is Next-Level Soil Health

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 12:32:00 GMT

Minnesota has over 650,000 acres of unmanaged farm woodlands that are being grazed by livestock but are yielding limited economic and environmental benefits. Without active management of livestock, forage and trees, this practice produces limited forage, lower weight gain, environmental challenges and little to no soil health benefits.

That statistic was shared at SFA’s Greater Mille Lacs Chapter annual meeting on Sunday by Diomy Zamora, Extension Educator/Professor with the University of Minnesota Extension, who presented the basics of “Silvopasture in Minnesota.”

According to the U. of M. , “As an agroforestry practice, silvopasture intentionally integrates livestock, forage production and trees into an intensively managed system. The forage, trees and livestock in silvopasture complement each other to increase productivity. This provides annual income from livestock while fostering long-term economic benefits from trees including timber, fence posts, firewood, fruit and nuts.”

SFA Secretary Joe Gans and daughter Sarah shared their silvopasture story at Wellspring Farms, where several acres of dense woods was selectively harvested and opened up. They reported that the forest floor had an amazingly abundant seed bed, rich with grasses and forbs. Additional seeding hasn’t been required. This land is now available for managed grazing as part of their overall farming operation.

SFA is a partner with the University of Minnesota and others on a silvopasture project that, if funded (funding is so far confirmed), will support the creation of a Silvopasture Network. The goal is to reach out to farmers and landowners throughout the state to educate on silvopasturing principles and practices and foster greater adoption. Regenerating our landscape through silvopasturing will be another chapter in SFA’s soil health story. Stay tuned.

Related: SFA member and expert farmer Tom Barthel writes occasional blog posts for his Snake River Farm that he graciously allows us to publish on SFA’s website. Three have recently been added, including “Restoring Savannas With Bison” that describes principles similar to silvopasture. Find them all and much more on our Soil Health Resources page .

With input from SFA President Jim Chamberlin, Diomy described various types of silvopasture operations in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, using a variety of trees, livestock and foreage. Silvopasture is built around the premise that either a forest is thinned or modified to allow more sunlight for plants, grasses and forbs to grow and livestock to be added; or a pasture is changed by planting various types of trees, either in rows, clusters or dispersed. The result, if managed, is a savanna that boasts healthy soil and greater soil organic matter, more forage, managed grazing opportunities and improved income.

Rumination, Various Coats Help Differing Species Survive Winter

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:39:00 GMT

By Tom Barthel • Snake River Farm

Bison, cattle and horses are designed to withstand cold weather. They grow excellent winter coats, and their legs and hooves are much less susceptible to cold than our hands and feet. But, best of all, their digestive process (rumination) creates heat as a significant byproduct.

Bill, our herd bull, is virtually impervious to the cold.

Virtually all northern animals grow winter coats, but you might be amazed at how different the coats of each species are. Cattle grow long, thick coats each winter and shed them for short coats in the spring. Their winter coats have a hair density of about 5,000 hairs per square inch. In general, the greater the hair density the better the insulation.

Horses have a layered coat. The outer coat is coarser and has around 1,200 hairs per square inch. The inner coat is finer with about 2,000 hairs per inch. Horses also shed in the spring.

Bison coats are much more complex. Some experts say that bison have 26 different sizes (length and diameter) of hair. Bison winter coats are of different length on different parts of their bodies. They have “capes” on their shoulders, “bonnets” on their heads, “beards” under their jaws, very fine hairs called “down,” etc.

The hair density on some parts of their bodies is 20,000 hairs per square inch. Bison take months to shed their winter coat. They were sometimes called “big shaggies.”

In all species, when their winter coat is right, snow and frost will accumulate, unmelted, on the exterior. That snow or frost simply acts as an additional insulating layer.

Rumination in animals, primarily bovines, is a complex digestive process and is crucial in order to get high food value from forages. The chemical and biological activity in rumination produces a lot of excess heat. That heat is important in the ability of many large animals to prosper in northern latitudes.

Bison and cattle are great ruminators. Horses are not true ruminants but their digestive process does give them some of the same benefits.

Because the animals need the heat of rumination in cold weather, it is important to have suitable forage, generally high fiber hay, available at all times.

See this photo of the cattle standing broad side to the sun. If you have ever camped out in the winter, you know that you get coldest at sunrise, just before the sun begins to warm the day. These cattle spent the night lying together in an area protected from the wind. I took the photo just after they positioned themselves in the morning sun. Some of them are chilled. You can see that by the way their backs are hunched much like you might hunch your body together at a windy bus stop.

The calf in the upper center is especially chilly. They seem uncommonly cold on this particular morning. The weather had been relatively pleasant and switched quickly to bitter cold. That fast change may have been difficult for them.

Within a half hour after I took this photo, the cattle were running and kicking up their heels. They just needed to get out of bed and moving.

Above is a second photo that shows horses warming themselves on the same morning. The smaller palomino that is lying down in the photo is Buckwheat, a 20-year-old Shetland. He seems to be more comfortable at cold temperatures than the full-size Mustangs.

Bison, with their superior coats, are quite indifferent to cold. Above you saw Bill, our herd bull. Notice the complexity of his super winter coat. Bill could not be more comfortable.

Restoring Savannas With Bison

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:34:00 GMT

By Tom Barthel • Snake River Farm

A year ago, I posted an article about winter bale grazing, a hay feeding technique that improves pastures, and I mentioned I was working on savanna restoration at our Snake River Farm.

A savanna is a grassy terrain with spaced trees and shrubs. By definition, the trees and shrubs are spaced such that at least 10 percent but not more than 50 percent of the ground is shaded. In the north central United States, the dominant savanna trees are white oaks. The most common savanna shrubs are fruit-bearing trees such as wild cherries and crab apples.

This is an area where the savanna is being restored by “thinning.” Hundreds of trees and bushes have been removed to free the two open grown white oaks. Sixty years ago, before grazing was stopped, these two trees stood and grew in a beautiful savanna pasture.

This combination of acorn-producing oaks and fruit-producing shrubs, with underlying grasses and forbs, is one of the most productive natural systems on earth. A productive savanna provides food and habitat for a great variety of birds, animals, insects and soil building microbes.

Savannas are pleasing to humans also. In fact, most parks and playgrounds are actually savannas.
In nature, savannas are produced primarily by free-roaming grazing animals. Prehistorically, bison and elk herds produced a broad swath of savannas from Texas to Canada.

Notice the flat side on this cow’s horn? She does that during savanna management. Bison, like most creatures, actively manipulate their habitat.

When I was a boy, the small farms of mid-America maintained savannas as pastures. Those small farms have disappeared rapidly over the past fifty years. Since then, many Minnesota savannas have been cleared and converted to continuous cropland. But many other savannas have become overgrown with brush and weedy trees.

An “open grown” oak has horizontal or lateral branches. Those branches, which are now shaded, grew when the oak was standing alone.

The top photo shows the liberated oaks in an area that we thinned last year. Notice the old spreading oaks. We cut hundreds of red oaks that ranged from six to 30 inches in diameter to free these few savanna trees. Unthinned woodland is shown on the right in the photo and in the background.

Notice the open grown white oak in the center of the landscape. To get this photo, I have removed a hundred trees large and small. There is still a lot of work to do. When complete, this majestic oak will again be free, with only a small number of understory trees and perhaps a young oak or maple for the future.

The photo at right shows a single open grown white oak that is still surrounded. It was much more crowded than the photo shows. In order to get a good view for this demonstration photo we cut away at least fifty trees and shrubs.

The tall, grey trunked tree in the foreground is a black cherry. When finished, only the old oak, a few cherry trees and a juvenile oak or two will remain.

The next time you drive in central Minnesota from Little Falls to Rochester, check out the wooded areas. That includes the suburbs. Look at the trunks of the trees. You will see countless trees of small diameter and straight upward stems. Look deeply into the woods for open grown oaks. The oaks were there long before the majority of the other trees. The weedy trees germinated and took over since the farmers’ cattle disappeared.

Oaks live long and grow slowly. White oaks grow much slower than red oaks. Most weedy trees like box elder, poplar or some elms grow rapidly.

I have been on this farm for fifty years. Cattle left most of the wooded pastures sixty years ago. I resumed grazing about 20 years ago. My herds have done a good job of naturally restoring wet meadows and lowland pastures but the overgrown savanna areas have been tougher to restore. Many excess trees, primarily red oak, have become well established. Red oaks are inferior to white oaks in numerous ways. Unrestrained, the reds grow faster than white oaks and tend to crowd them out.

Savanna restoration on our farm means thinning wooded areas and restoring the ground surface to pasture. Thinning is a very labor-intensive operation. Of course, it is best to do selective thinning that leaves the desirable trees and shrubs undamaged. I try to achieve the 10 to 50 percent savanna shading ratio by leaving the open grown white oaks and the fruit-bearing trees, primarily cherries.

I also try to save birch trees whenever I can. We have both white birch and the less common yellow birch. There are also many young maples. Both the red maple and the silver maple species are desirable.

I only rarely spare elms. American elms are short lived because of Dutch Elm Disease. Siberian elms are an invasive weedy species.

Unfortunately, wood is of little commercial value, but we use as much wood as we can for winter heating. A neighbor with a portable sawmill cuts all the boards we can use.

My main purpose in writing this article was to explain how winter bale grazing fits in. I am getting to that.

Forest soils are naturally thin and much lower in nutrients than prairie or pasture soils. I use winter bale grazing to jump start the prairie restoration.

I strategically place large round bales under and around the thinned savanna area. By spending time eating the bales the bison improve the savanna in a several ways:

The bison manure and urine enrich the soil and feed the microbes in the soil.
The wasted hay adds a second source of enriching nutrients that are higher in fiber and hence break down more slowly.
The manure and the trampled hay pack are great erosion protection.
The bison hooves trample and plant forage seeds that are in the hay.
Bison naturally rub their coats and sharpen their horns on small trees and shrubs. This helps to control the unwanted regrowth from stumps and brush.

The bison are winter bale grazing under the liberated oaks. Their manure and footprints will help to jumpstart the pasture plants. The bull is violently rubbing the white cedar with his head. That is one of the ways that horned grazing animals “thin” the savanna and keep the trees in check.

The photo at right shows several bison under a freed white oak. This photo is actually a closeup of the first photo. In this third photo the bull near the center is violently rubbing his horns on the white cedar tree. This is one of several ways that horned grazing animals naturally “thin” the savanna. They also do so by rubbing their hides on the trees and shrubs to remove their winter coats. They eat spring buds and fall fruit from small trees by walking the plants down to a handy height.

The fourth photo shows a cow bison’s horn that has been rubbed plat against trees.

The fifth photo below is a test for you.

The photo shows hundreds of trees but only two of those trees belong in the savanna. The first is in the near center-left. Look harder to spot the second white oak, farther in, right of the first oak, about in the center of the photo.

This was a savanna and it will be again. Only three white oaks were in this piece of savanna sixty years ago. One in the foreground, one farther back near the center of the photo and the third is dead on the ground toward right center.

I will remove virtually all of the hundreds of trees and shrubs in this photo to restore a proper savanna.

A savanna is one of nature’s most productive and beneficial landscapes. It is the terrific at converting and sequestering carbon. The trees and ground plants convert huge amounts of carbon annually. But beyond that nothing is better at storing carbon than highly productive prairie soil.

A grazed pasture of deep rooted plants can store unlimited amounts of carbon. That carbon is in the form of organic material and stable soil humus. Fertile soils are extremely important to all life on earth.

Animal Gender and the Taste of Meat

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:20:00 GMT

By Tom Barthel • Snake River Farm

In a letter to customers, I mentioned that one of the pigs we harvested had a hidden testicle. Why is this important?

In pigs, testicles frequently cause an off taste called “boar taint”. Boar taint is most evident when the meat is heated as in cooking. I had our butcher, Quality Meats in Foley, convert the entire hog into summer sausage for our family. Summer sausage is heavily seasoned, mixed with other meats (beef in our case) and served cold. The boar taint is avoided and we get a ton of excellent summer sausage.

Males of many domestic animal species are castrated at an early age. As early as reasonable actually. There are at least two good reasons for early castration. One is that early castration is less stressful for the animal; the other is that early castration minimizes the effects of male hormones. Those hormones affect animal behavior, physical characteristics and meat quality.

Males are frequently more aggressive and more active. They have a greater muscle mass that results in generally a leaner carcass. In some species, male hormones affect taste. Those taste effects are generally negative. Males that have not been castrated are referred to as “intact”. Mother Nature occasionally gets gender messed up in animals just as she does with humans.

I harvest around 100 hogs and 100 beef each year. On average, I get one hog and one beef with mixed sex organs each year. This year I got two hogs and one beef. I may get zero next year; it is just a matter of chance. It seems that every biologically possible anomaly that can occur, does occur. Life is not that precise.

Most recently, one hog had a single testicle just ahead of its left rear leg. Occasionally, the person who castrates pigs misses one, but that was not the case here. A pig with a testicle, or two, can have “boar taint.” About a third of intact male hogs (boars) will have boar taint. Boar taint means that the meat has a strong, unpleasant odor that emerges when the meat is heated.

A castrated male pig is called a barrow. Barrow is an ancient English word referring to castration.

Our herd bull, Bill. A very masculine male.

I normally buy young cattle at auction and prefer heifers, which finish easier on grass and also finish younger and smaller than bulls of steers. Very few farmers raise bulls or intact males of any mammal species for meat.

Bulls and boars are raised for breeding. Some farmers specialize in breeding stock. They then sell breeding males to other farmers and ranchers. A pen or pasture of young males will waste a lot of energy fighting and just generally goofing off. They are also harder to handle than castrated males and females.

I normally buy a trailer load of beef animals at a time. A trailer load of young heifers is eight to ten animals. Those heifers are almost always sold one at a time through the sales ring.

The sale barn people move the animals that I purchase, one at a time, to a holding pen. I only do business at sale barns that have a good veterinarian on hand. After the sale I have the vet check every animal for me. Often, a heifer will need a vaccination or perhaps a pregnancy check. Heifers that are sold as “open,” meaning not pregnant, are in fact pregnant about ten percent of the time. Things happen.

Vaccinations are allowed in the organic regulations. Occasionally the animal will need other care. We use antibiotics or medications only when necessary for the welfare of the animal. Offhand, I cannot recall how many years it has been since an animal has required antibiotics. I buy healthy animals.

At the end of a spring auction I went to “my” pen to walk my animals through the alleys to the vet’s pens. As I looked over my purchases, all of which were sold as heifers, I noticed a masculine face. I did not intentionally buy any males that day.

The penis of male bovines appears on the lower part of their abdomen, midway between the front and back legs. This animal did not have that. However, the vagina and rectum, which are normally immediately adjacent on bovine females, were separated by about six inches.

I asked the vet to check for testicles, and he found one on each side of the animal. They were small and hidden on the insides of the back legs, and subsequently surgically removed. The animal, technically a hermaphrodite, lived the rest of its life as a none bull. The carcass was normal for a heifer when harvested.

Having a testicle has different effects on the meat in different species. In beef animals the first effect is that bulls have a higher ratio of muscle to fat. Bulls that have been breeding sometimes have more “bull” taste than young bulls. I cannot describe bullish taste but most of us do not prefer it.

Young bull carcasses, non-breeders, can be perfectly edible. The meat may be perceived as “tougher” but that is probably just overcooking. They tend to be lean and it is easy to overcook lean meat.

Mature bulls, both beef and dairy types are called “baloney bulls” in the slaughter trade because their final destination is normally some form of ground and cured product, e.g. as in sausage.

The meat of bison bulls however, is indistinguishable from females of the same age. There is no detectable bull taint in bison. Both genders are muscular and relatively lean. To most people, bison meat tastes like excellent beef, only better. I cannot describe that either. The English language has a weak vocabulary when it comes to tastes.

Sheep and goat males can be very challenging to eat. Males intended for meat are routinely castrated. Some cultures, however, favor the meat of male sheep and goats.

In poultry, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese etc. there is little if any difference in the meat of females compared to intact males. Neither texture nor taste is different.

Chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese can be castrated. It was commonly done for chickens when chickens were naturally raised. When I was a boy, a farmer aunt castrated young roosters (cockerels) for her flock and for others. The process is tricky. Bird testicles do not appear externally as in mammals. To castrate a bird requires a small slit on each side of the bird near the spine. The testicles are then surgically removed. The resultant chicken is a capon.Capons grow twice the size of pullets (young female chickens) and are said to be delicious.

In the U.S., chicken production is so automated that the birds reach harvest size in five weeks. They are too young to be affected by sexual development. Caponizing would not make a difference.

New Resources and Lessons Learned in Grazing Cover Crops: Save Money, Build Soil Health

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:37:00 GMT

Wade Dooley is a sixth-generation farmer who operates Glenwood Century Farm in Albion, Iowa. Since 2015, he and seven other cooperating farmers in Iowa and Minnesota have participated in a grazing cover crops trial to dig into the benefits of grazing diverse cover crops with cattle. Wade and the other cooperators wanted to quantify just how much benefit they were getting out of grazing cover crops—and now that the project is complete, the results, and the lessons learned, are in.

Many of us are familiar with the benefits that cover crops can provide, such as reducing soil loss, conserving soil moisture and improving soil health. Livestock impact through grazing can accelerate those positive benefits, while offsetting the cost of winter feed. “It is the best and fastest way to realize an economic return on using cover crops while at the same time improving your soil conditions. You can’t go faster than with cows, as far as showing a net return on a single year cycle. Over 10 years, I think a cover cropper that doesn’t have livestock will still see major benefits, but not in a single year. If they’re worried about a one-year lease or a one-year return, they can show their banker: cows are the way to go,” says Wade.

So how much grazing should you expect to get out of a winter cover crop? Wade says, “Depending on the herd that we’re using, if they’re really easy and calm, easy to handle, and we’ve already got everything fairly quick to set up and tear down, I want a minimum of seven days of grazing.”

The equation may change if you are grazing another farmer’s row cropped land via a grazing lease. In that case, the costs of transporting cattle mean that you’d need more grazing days to break even. Bruce Carney, another project cooperator who operates Carney Family Farms outside of Maxwell, Iowa, says, “You would have to have, I would guess, a minimum of 30 days [of grazing] to haul cattle to somebody else’s farm.” Bruce’s cattle grazed on his neighbor, Rick Kimberley’s, cover crop, and since Bruce’s pasture is adjacent to Rick’s crop fields, the logistics of grazing were easier.

Cooperating farmers in this project grazed an average of about 16 fall days and 8.5 spring days, though several farms surpassed 30 days for the full season. On average, net profits equaled $40 per acre.

Planting early enough to get sufficient growth before the weather turns too cold, particularly in the northern climes, was key to maximizing grazing days. Dr. Allen Williams, who has widely studied and utilizes adaptive grazing on his own ranch and has spoken multiple times at SFA events and conferences, says the secret is often interseeding before the cash crop is harvested, such as planting into corn in the V4-V6 stage. Allen says there are a number of planting options: “We can broadcast seed using a highboy, we can fly it on, or we can retrofit planters so that we can go in and drill in between corn rows.”

But don’t be alarmed if cover crop growth slows when the corn canopy grows over the top of the newly-germinated cover, says Allen. “Many times you may think you have lost that cover crop, but it’s just lying dormant. Once that corn is harvested, if you’ve got proper moisture and soil temperature, then you see very rapid response. It won’t be long until you can get your livestock in on that cover crop.”

Farmers are using other creative ways to stretch the cover crop growing period, too, such as shorter-season corn hybrids, including small grains in their rotations, or even planting and grazing warm season covers in place of cash crops in some years, which can more fully leverage any investment made in fencing or watering systems. Fundamentally, some cooperators said, this requires a shift in thinking about the value of cover crops. “Until you start looking at your cover crop and give it the same importance as you do your cash crop, you’re not going to get the full benefit out of your cover crop. It means flexibility. It means maybe changing hybrids and using shorterseason hybrids to let your cover crop grow longer to get more benefit out of it,” says Bruce.

Overall, Allen says that grazing provides opportunities to further bolster the soil health benefits from cover crops: “You’re actually creating a double benefit. You can not only create more net revenue in that year than your cash crop generated, but you’re putting money in the bank for the future because you are creating soil benefits that last for years and years after that.”

Still, starting small might be a good way to get started and begin seeing results on your own farm. Dan Jenniges, another project cooperator who manages Jenniges Hidden Acres in Pope County, Minnesota, stresses that much of what he learned, he learned from experimenting: “It can be as scary or as comforting as you want. It can be as simple or as complex as you want. Never feel bad about trying one particular cover crop on a small area to get your foot wet.”

You can learn more from the experiences of cooperating farmers in this project, as well as other experts like Dr. Allen Williams, by downloading “Grazing Cover Crops: A How-To Guide” or by viewing our Grazing Cover Crops Video Tutorials .

This project was led by the Pasture Project along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, Sustainable Farming Association, and Land Stewardship Project.

Tiffany Tripp of Graise Farm: SFA Beginning Farmer Training Gave Us Skills to Succeed

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:55:00 GMT

Tiffany Tripp, right, and partner Andy Olson explain their pig paddock system during a Cannon River Chapter field day in 2016.

Editor’s Note: SFA board of directors member Tiffany Tripp wrote the following in the Faribault Daily News, where she writes an occasional column.

We knew little to nothing about raising poultry or pigs when my partner Andy and I started farming three years ago.

A fellow farmer suggested that we attend a local meeting for the Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association. At that meeting, we met several other like-minded farmers. Some had a few years of experience. Others were aspiring farmers like ourselves.

All lived within 45 minutes of us and we all shared common values of wanting to farm with a focus on the environment and healthy humans, animals and soil. We met a few future farmer friends and learned about what other people were doing in our area. We realized that we were not alone in wanting to live a more self-sustainable life and starting to farm at the age of 40.

In the spring of 2015, we had 20 laying hens and 40 chicks housed in an old milking parlor. We also had ordered three piglets from a farmer friend that we had planned to raise over the summer. We had no prior experience raising chickens or pigs and very little knowledge of fencing options beyond metal hog panels for pigs and barbed-wire fences for cattle.

Through our Sustainable Farming Association connection, we learned about a course called Farm Skills 101. At this course we not only could learn about different livestock fencing options, we also learned practical knowledge of proper animal husbandry for selecting and raising healthy animals that thrive on pasture; multi-species grazing systems to improve soil and animal health; and how to process chickens. This beginning farmer training was very influential in how we farm today.

The Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on farmer-to-farmer networking, soil health and new farmer development programs. SFA is a membership-based organization. Our local chapter, Cannon River SFA Chapter, will hold its annual chapter meeting from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. The meeting includes a potluck lunch and is open to the public. For more details visit sfa-mn.org/cannon-river .

SFA also holds its Annual Conference on Feb. 10, 2018, at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph. The one-day conference features several sessions ranging from grazing livestock to selling your product to soil health to farm transitions and more. For more information and to register for the conference visit sfa-mn.org/conference .

Tiffany Tripp is co-owner of Graise Farm, Founder of Faribault Winter Farmers’ Market and admirer of all things local. Reach her at tatrippmn@gmail.com .

In Memoriam: Ralph Lentz

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 15:06:00 GMT

By Audrey Arner

Founding SFA President Ralph Lentz, 88, of Lake City, Minn., passed away Sun., Oct. 1, at Lake City Care Center. Early in his career he taught high school Earth science in Henderson and in 1965 moved to Lake City and bought a farm outside of town. He was an agricultural teacher as well as the advisor to the Future Farmers of America at Lincoln High School for 30 years. Ralph retired from teaching in 1988.

At that point Ralph became very active in establishing the Sustainable Farming Association of Southeastern Minnesota, now known as the Driftless Chapter. The was the first SFA chapter in the state. In 1991, when SFA incorporated as a statewide nonprofit organization, he shouldered the responsibility of chairing the board for several terms.

He affected many SFA members – some beginners, some established farmers – to steer their operations toward stability and perennialization with a keen attention to water quality. He traveled to Russia several times teaching students about progressive sustainable farming practices in the U.S. and hosted annual spring dinners of “Where the Wild Things Are” for Slow Food Minnesota.

Ralph will be remembered as a teacher, father, grass farmer, veteran, grandfather, fisherman, Boundary Waters explorer, canoeist, devoted friend, observer of nature and a continuous learner. He wanted to die with his work boots on.

Ralph is survived by sons Michael Lentz of Red Wing and Kevin Lentz of Ann Arbor, Mich.; daughters Deborah (Richard Andres) Lentz of Chelsea, Mich.; Julie (Steve) Prigge of Lake City; Lisa Lentz of Ann Arbor; grandchildren Nick (Tesla Noreen) and Alex Krause of Lake City; Miles and Corey Lentz of Eugene, Ore.; and Ariana Andres of Chelsea; four great grandchildren; and one sister, Jeanette Degenaar of Eagan. He is preceded in death by his ex-wife, Gerrie Lentz, four sisters and one brother.

Editor’s Note: Audrey Arner is a longtime SFA member and friend of Ralph Lentz. She owns and operates Moonstone Farm in Montevideo with her husband, Richard Handeen, a member of SFA’s Board of Directors.

Solberg on Soil: Cover Crop Videos Worth Watching

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:35:00 GMT

By Kent Solberg • SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist

Innovation in cover crops and crop rotations in this video may be a stretch for much of Minnesota, but something along these lines may hold potential in southern part of the state under right conditions and variety selection. It’s worth watching just to get the creative juices flowing.

Here’s another good one on the values of multi-species cover crop blends. Both videos are less than five minutes long and worth the watch!

From the Executive Director: Soil Health Can Fix Modern Agriculture

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 20:04:00 GMT

Theresa Keaveny

Editor’s Note: This column appeared July 7, 2017, in the Mankato Free Press under the headline, “My View: Farming can be sustainable and profitable.”

Scott Haase works on his family farm in Faribault County, where most farmers grow corn and soybeans using methods they’ve been encouraged to use for decades.

It’s become conventional wisdom: government policies, county extension agents and land-grant universities combine with the agriculture sales industry to create a yield-focused farm paradigm, and farmers, always focused on continued growth and survival in an uncertain world, act in ways that benefit their farm business. Who could blame them?

But the paradigm is shifting. Years of evidence from innovative producers is combining with academic research to prove that soil health, the seemingly obvious fact that healthy soil results in healthy crops, has benefits that can completely transform agriculture, helping both the farmer and the public.

Haase and his family have seen this evidence first-hand. They’ve adopted sustainable, soil health-building practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, and livestock integration. They have installed perennial berms containing hazelnuts, trees and other plantings. The Haase farm is working with nature, not against it, to achieve profits and yields while increasing animal habitat and, importantly, clean water.

“We try to maximize our impact through regenerative solutions across the landscape,” Haase said. “There are solutions that restore natural resources while at the same time enhance farms and communities.

“Modern agriculture has simplified the landscape. Unsimplifying it and reestablishing natural patterns is going to take thoughtful, deliberate action by farmers.”

It’s impossible to understate the critical nature of a healthy watershed. Buffer laws, industrial agriculture, even “calcareous fens” – delicate prairie wetlands protected by law because they harbor rare and endangered plants – have repeatedly thrust farm vs. environmental interests into the spotlight. Farmers feel constricted by regulations on their farm businesses which, they say, rely on the ability to irrigate, spray and achieve maximum production. They feel attacked by the media and the public, and feel like they’re “the enemy.”

The Haases, however, are proof that farm success and environmental protection need not be mutually exclusive, building healthy soil by planting cover crops, keeping cover on the land and adding livestock. The result can be a cash-positive experience – relying less on chemical inputs such as fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide. This creates a seismic shift in a farmer’s balance sheet.

Soil health principles, in fact, are the solution to nearly every problem that modern commodity agriculture is creating and/or facing. Consider:

Healthy soil can handle extreme weather. Soil with high organic matter absorbs and holds vast quantities of water, buffering lengthy droughts or heavy rain events. Evidence shows sudden rain events of over 10 inches become manageable. This is huge for farmers, but imagine how healthy, organic-rich soil in the surrounding watershed could help flood-prone regions.

Healthy soil improves the farm’s bottom line. Farmers who implement soil health practices see competitive yields, lower input costs and a higher return per acre; healthy soil is the “buffer strip.” Fertilizers such as phosphorus remain in the field, thanks to enhanced soil biology.

Healthy soil is hugely beneficial to natural life cycles. Grassland bird species and pollinators benefit from crop diversity and continuous cover. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard a soil health-building farmer brag about how many dung beetles and pheasants they’re seeing.

Healthy soil produces healthy food. A key principle of soil health is adding livestock to the crop fields for part of the year or as part of a diverse crop rotation. It’s been demonstrated that beef, much-maligned as having a negative environmental impact, can create a net positive when managed as part of a biological soil system rather than in concentrated feeding operations. Farmers who don’t want to take on the year-round care of livestock have new tools like the Department of Agriculture’s Cropland Grazing Exchange to help unite crop and livestock farmers to build soil health and each other’s bottom line.

Healthy soil keeps roads safer in winter. Fields with cover capture snow and keep it from blowing across the highways and byways, making travel less treacherous.

Farmers across the Upper Midwest, like Haase, are seeing these results. The Sustainable Farming Association’s work on soil health education helps producers every day, who are excited to see farming and nature working together. Jubilant at options for herbicide resistant weed management, reduced field drown-out areas, and natural buffers. Encouraged that their farm business is an attractive option for their children.

Peace of mind because they are making money.

The solution is soil health. Minnesota’s innovative, hardworking farmers can lead this effort for our farm families, our lakes and rivers, our wildlife, our communities, and our children.

“We know clean water is good; we know the difference between good and bad smells,” Haase said. “We can recognize a beautiful landscape. We don’t need to know exactly what works to see we’re heading in the right direction.”

From the Farm Transitions Network: Dividing Up the Assets Based on Contributions To the Farm

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 10:35:00 GMT

By Teresa Opheim • Senior Fellow, Renewing the Countryside

If you own farmland and have both farming and non-farming heirs, which of the following goals comes first:

1. treating all your heirs financially equally; or

2. allowing your farming heir to continue farming?

Given land prices and other factors, you may not be able to do both.

For the Gilbert family that choice has been clear for generations: They want the farming heir to continue farming.

“Off-farm heirs expectations should be in line with the contributions they’ve made,” John Gilbert says. “These can include assisting with elderly parents’ care, providing services to the farm operation–marketing, legal, accounting–and periodic farm labor and management. Just being a son or daughter shouldn’t automatically entitle you to an equal share.”

To read the Gilbert family’s complete story, click here.

Don’t Have a Farming Heir? Check Out These Resources

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 19:39:00 GMT

By Teresa Opheim • Executive Director, Climate Land Leaders

There is no better way to keep rural communities vibrant than to provide land for a family to farm. At the same time, there is a surge of those wanting to farm, in SFA and elsewhere. If you don’t have a farming heir but want to find a family to work your land, here are some resources to consider. To read our recent, more comprehensive article on this topic, click here.

Minnesota Land Link
Land for Good has a variety of resources for farmland owners without farming heirs.
To read about farmland owners who have provided land for non-related farmers to farm (including Dale Nimrod), click here .
Transferring the Farm Series is an excellent overall resource.
Federal financing for those farming 10 years or less.
Information on a program to use CRP land to help beginning farmers.
Resources for landowners who want to find farmers .
Company that helps young farmers rent or buy farmland .

From the Farm Transitions Network: Don’t Have a Farming Heir?

Tue, 16 May 2017 19:10:00 GMT

By Teresa Opheim • Executive Director, Climate Land Leaders

There is no better way to keep rural communities vibrant than to provide land for a family to farm. At the same time, there is a surge of those wanting to farm, in the Sustainable Farming Association and elsewhere. If you don’t have a farming heir but want to find a family to work your land, here are some tips and strategies for you:

Start with your local contacts then use land matching sites
Decide how flexible you are to working with the tenant or buyer on price
Consider a long-term rental arrangement, option for purchase or contract for deed

Jim French, who farms in Kansas, says that “if a family member wants to continue to farm and meet our conservation goals, then that should happen.” But his two children are lawyers and that may not happen, so he’d like to use his land to help another family farm. “I am not as concerned if my children don’t want to come back to farm,” Jim says. “I’m reinforcing those values in the community I live in. I hope I can have a community where kids can ride their bikes, enjoy nature, have clean water. That’s our vision for rural America.”

How do you find a successor if you don’t have anyone in mind? There may be someone closer than you think. Call old contacts in town, as Northeast Iowa resident Dale Nimrod did when he first decided on a strategy to pay back his community by finding a family to sell his farmland to. Being part of a network, like the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, will introduce you to new farmers more informally. There also are a variety of land linking sites, including Minnesota Farm Link and Cropland Grazing Exchange .

According to the organization Land for Good, transferring a farm to a non-family successor is often different in many ways. For example, with a family transfer situation, both parties have likely known each other most of their lives. That isn’t as likely with a non-family successor. Whether you are leasing or selling, Land for Good recommends solid interviewing of the potential new farmers, to get answers on specific questions like work habits, work ethic, integrity, management skills and growing skills. Also, an introductory period to see if the farm “marriage” works out would be helpful. Perhaps even more than with family farmland transfers, formal arrangements, written out in detail, are critical.

If your land is coming out of the Conservation Reserve Program, consider the Transition Incentives Program, whereby a retiring farmer with expiring CRP land may provide a long-term lease or sell to a beginning farmer who commits to conservation improvements. The program gives the retiring farmer two additional years of CRP payments.

Once you find someone for your land, consider a longer-term rental contract. Lack of secure farmland access is a serious problem for today’s beginning farmers. If you want to encourage your family to continue the relationship with the beginning farmer after you are gone, consider a buy-sell agreement, whereby your chosen farmer has the first option to buy. Or consider a contract for sale with the beginning farmer while you are still living.

Neil Hamilton is an Adams County, Iowa, farmland owner who is using the contract for sale approach. He grew up on and then inherited farmland in southwest Iowa and chose to sell to a beginning farmer on a 15-year land contract.” He believes “Adams County needs young farmers owning a piece of land” more than it needs owners who don’t live in the area. “Historically this nation’s preference was not for tenancy but to convert tenants into owners…. Ownership was the goal for a lot of reasons: For security, for wealth creation and for stewardship. Not many people would choose to always be a tenant if they could own the land.”

There are a variety of partners out there wanting to assist you in helping beginning farmers to succeed, including local banks and the Farm Credit system. The Farm Services Agency offers highly competitive rates for those farming 10 years or less.

An increasing number of outside investors are also working to help those beginners succeed and might be potential partners for you to get a beginning farmer on the land. Iroquois Valley Farms is one of those companies. Scott Friedman has partnered with Iroquois Valley Farms to get access to Illinois farmland.

“Finding farmland is tough,” Scott says. “In 2001, we lost 150 acres that we had been farming when the acres were sold at auction. That was hard.” Then, in 2006, a nonprofit purchased land for Scott, and then sold it to Iroquois Valley Farms. “Right after that, my second opportunity to work with Iroquois Valley Farms came up on land just two miles from the first farm,” Scott says. “My mom grew up on this farm, and my grandpa, dad and now I have farmed this land for about 75 years. The landowner we knew died, and her three children inherited it. One of them met with my mom, dad and me and said ‘we’re going to sell the farm.’ I thought, ‘shoot, I don’t want to lose those 230 acres.’ But I didn’t have the wherewithal to buy it.” Iroquois Valley Farms stepped in, and purchased the land and once again gave Scott a long-term lease.

Editor’s Note: THANK YOU to Practical Farmers of Iowa, for permission to include this material.

New Free Farm Succession Guide Available

Mon, 08 May 2017 11:34:00 GMT

A new guide, “Your Farmland and the Future: Setting Goals, Taking Action” will be available for free at many upcoming SFA events. The guide, full of tips from farmland owners and other experts, is also available to download at this link . Among the tips farmland owners share in the guide:

Write a Farm Legacy Letter to document where your farm has been and your hopes for its future
Join with other farmland owners to talk to and learn from each other
Start early in the legacy planning
Put together a good team to help you with the transition—the process is too complicated to go it alone

Also featured are experts such as Gary Hachfield, Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota and David Baker of the Beginning Farmer Center in Iowa. The guide was written by Teresa Opheim, Executive Director, Climate Land Leaders. It is available free through the generosity of Iowa-based Peoples Company.

Good Food is Colorful

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 02:53:00 GMT

By Tom Barthel • Snake River Farm

Healthy grass fat is golden. Grain fat is white and unhealthy.

I took this un-staged photo in the chilling room at Quality Meats in Foley. I was there with Nick inspecting carcasses. The photo is a striking example of the difference between beef, bison, grass, and grain.

I harvest bovines, beef and bison, each Tuesday from August until December. Before I harvest the animals, I make a tentative decision on the carcass. A decision as to whether it is right for cuts, a little older perhaps but ideal for roasts or a little thinner or older and best for tasty ground meat.

The day after harvest, Nick and I examine the carcasses in the chill room one last time. We want to be certain the beef is right. Nick and Bethany own QM; Nick is teaching me how to evaluate carcasses. By knowing more I can do a better job of evaluating animals on the hoof.

The carcasses hang in a specific pattern. Front quarter, hind quarter, hind quarter, front quarter.

The carcass on the left (four quarters) is from a grass-fed beef and has a moderately thick layer of beautiful golden yellow fat. This color comes from beta-carotene, a vitamin and antioxidant that comes from grass and green forages. This is exactly the same crucial nutrient we can get from healthy foods like carrots, pumpkins and grapefruit.

When we eat foods high in beta-carotene, the vitamin is directly absorbed by our bodies. Egg yolks from free-range chickens are golden yellow for precisely the same reason: grain does not provide beta-carotene or a number of other important nutrients.

Grass-fed meat has seven times more omega 3 fat than grain fat – the same omega 3 that is in salmon. This is a huge health difference.

The carcass in the center is a grass-fed bison. It has the same golden fat but much less of it. Beef animals have been selected for a thousand years to put on fat. Bison have not. Bison meat is higher in protein, lower in overall fat.

The carcass on the right is grain-fed beef. The carcass carries gobs of glistening white fat. No beta-carotene but lots of unhealthy calories. To me it looks as though the grain animal was in confinement. That is normal for grain finishing. The primary objective in grain finishing is to add cheap weight (fat) to meat.

You can learn all you want to know about beta-carotene, omega 3 fats and the high level of nutrients from grass-fed foods on the internet.

Winter Bale Grazing with Tom Barthel of Snake River Farm

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 02:45:00 GMT

By Tom Barthel • Snake River Farm

Winter bale grazing is one of many techniques that farmers have developed recently to jump-start the soil-building process. Such practices go under the headings of Sustainable Farming or Regenerative Agriculture.

Up until a decade or two ago, it was believed by soil scientists and farmers that building topsoil took hundreds if not thousands of years. Farmers have learned that soils can be rapidly restored. We now know that soil building, just like many other things in the natural world, is all about habitat; in this case, habitat for soil-generating organisms. The vast majority of those organisms are microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae and more. There are larger soil-building creatures too, like ants, spiders, slugs, worms, nematodes, bugs of countless types, even snakes and rodents.

Civilizations rise and fall based on the productivity of their soils. We seldom give that much thought, but the examples in history and in pre-history are incredibly consistent. We have known for a long time that we are depleting our soils. Good estimates are that we have reduced the natural fertility of our American soils by 40 percent in just a couple centuries.

The basic mechanisms for soil depletion are erosion and loss of organic material. Erosion is largely mechanical and can be by water or wind. It is very easy to see examples of that erosion in fields when they are opened (plowed) for planting. Billions of tons of that eroded material ends up in the Gulf of Mexico.

An even greater form of soil depletion is the loss of organic material caused by continuous crop farming. The use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides destroy the biological life of the soil. Once that occurs, the soils are in continuous decline. The only variable factor is how fast those soils deteriorate.

Rich soils are high in organic material and they have a fully active biological community. Highly productive soils may have between four and 10 percent organic material.

The organic material in soil is in two forms: undecomposed and decomposed. Undecomposed roots are the normal seasonal outcome of a vigorous above-ground plant community. When plants are grazed, or die back for the winter, some of their roots die off, and that is normal and good. Decomposed material has been consumed and excreted by soil organisms that convert the organic material and other soil particles (minerals) into forms that future plants can thrive on. The excrement of these microorganisms is humus.

Humus is very stable in the soil and can remain available for centuries. Humus makes soils dark or black. Using natural techniques, the best farmers can increase organic material from, say, two percent to six percent in a few years. That is amazing and extremely important.

Winter bale grazing is one way to jumpstart this whole soil-building process (Note: Click here to watch a related video, “Winter Bale Grazing at Cloverleaf Grass Farm.” )

For winter bale grazing, I set bales on the poorest areas in a paddock. The bison eat virtually everything that is palatable in each bale. They will leave a moist, thick mat of hay stems, manure and urine. It looks messy, I know, but that mat will contain thousands of seeds from the hay. Those seeds will germinate gradually over the next two years.

The plants that are buried under the mat will restart vigorously in the spring. That may be counterintuitive, but the foot traffic does little harm. Most plants, and especially good grazing plants, are adapted for that traffic. The positive effect of the added nutrients will give the plants a great boost.

In addition, as early as possible in the spring, we will add thousands more seeds in many varieties of grasses, legumes and forbs (flowering or broad-leaved plants). We will do the interseeding with a disc planter that will cut narrow slits in the mat where the seeds can germinate.

Legumes are particularly beneficial. The bacteria that thrive on legume roots convert the nitrogen from air into a form usable to plants (no chemical nitrogen required). The legumes fertilize the grasses.

For reasons we do not completely understand it is important to use the highest variety of plants possible. Twenty or more types of grasses, legumes and forbs is typical. Each plant type provides habitat for its own varieties of microbes.

Current thinking is that these countless species of soil organisms exist in symbiotic relationships. Some types appear to be catalysts for others. In any case, the results are wonderful.

The ridge in the above photo is actually an ancient sand dune. The soil has been extremely poor for the almost fifty years that I have been here. I have kept it covered with a thin protective grass cover for the past 25 years. It was probably improving but at the thousand-year rate. Now, with a winter or two of bale grazing, I can greatly improve its fertility and productivity. It will change from a thin cover of quack grass and sandburs to a luscious sward.

I know because I have been using this technique for five years. Each winter I identify a different area to target.

This photo includes some of the same paddock but also shows the bale placement in adjacent paddocks. The paddocks to the right are predominately native grass. I allowed the grass to go to seed so the bison could plant those seeds with their hooves. Notice that the big round bales are strategically placed in the poorest areas. In a few weeks those areas will be as matted and manure covered as the ridge. Just beautiful.

This technique works well with horses and cattle also. With cattle, it is necessary to use a bale ring. If the bales are open as in the photo, cattle will lay on them. Cattle will not eat the hay after that.

Both bison and horses are conservative eaters. They will pick through a bale or a hay pile until they have consumed all that is edible.

The woods in the background was once oak savanna but is now overgrown. Savanna, which is an open grassy woods, is one of the most productive and durable landscapes. We are working to restore our 80 acres of overgrown savanna, but that is another story.

Solberg on Soil: New Cropland Grazing Exchange Website Links Producers to Build Soil Health

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 17:46:00 GMT

Kent Solberg

By Kent Solberg • SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist

One of the five tenets of soil health is incorporation of livestock, and recent data underlines the value of managed livestock integration into cropping systems. After hearing multiple requests from both livestock and crop producers interested in a method of connecting with other producers to incorporate livestock onto croplands, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture along with the NRCS and SFA have developed the Cropland Grazing Exchange (CGE) website.

This website will serve to help connect livestock producers with crop farmers interested in using livestock to build soil health. The website creators recognize that each situation is different; the website was created to begin a conversation between producers, not to provide all pertinent information. Further discussions will be essential to workout details of any arrangement.

Templates for grazing agreements are provided to aid producer discussions. Producers are encouraged to review pesticide application history on the proposed fields for any potential residue conflicts with forages or grazing. Current points on the map are for instructional purposes. You can add actual field points beginning March 1, 2017.

Check it out here: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/cge .

Solberg on Soil: Barn Raising for Pastured Poultry

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 11:14:00 GMT

Lori Benson (from left) Jim and Audra Chamberlin, Kent and Linda Solberg, and Mat Nix.

SFA members and friends Lori Benson and Jim and Audra Chamberlin came together under the initiative of Mat Nix to help Linda and I remodel our winter chicken coop on Oct. 22.

Pastured poultry have a number of benefits for pasture-based livestock operations (if you can manage the predators). A few benefits of poultry include the high-nitrogen manure readily utilized by pasture plants; aid in cattle manure cycling; and preying upon herbivorous insects, such as grasshoppers, that compete with ruminant livestock for forage.

Many thanks to our “barn raising” crew!

The finished poultry barn.

A View From the Field: ‘Everything Is Probably Going To Be All Right’

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 19:26:00 GMT

By Kasandra Brown

Editor’s Note: Kasandra Brown attended SFA’s “Dirt Rich: Building Soil Health Experts” events held Aug. 16-17 in Redwood Falls and Marshall, Minn. She submitted this column in reaction to her experiences at those SFA events.

Kasandra Brown

Standing on the sweltering edge of a nearly full grown corn field, sweat bees relentlessly buzzing against my bare legs, I’m surrounded on this tropical August day by a few of western Minnesota’s most interesting cash crop farmers and cattle ranchers. I’m two hours west of Minneapolis and you can tell by my shorts and sandals that I don’t really belong here. To these guys, if remembered at all, I’ll probably be ‘that quiet city girl who tagged along on all the talks that day.’

We’re part of a soil health class put on by the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) with special guest Dr. Allen Williams, visiting us from Mississippi. In the corn field, I’m not saying much despite my brain’s constant flow of questions, thoughts, and follow-ups because these guys, well, they have a lot to say!

I grew up in the Midwest, but before today, I’ve never actually set foot beneath the picturesque corn canopy. I’ve driven alongside thousands of miles of corn along the interstate, admired it as a kid and lamented its destructive habits as a college graduate with a degree related to sustainable agriculture. I’ve internally chided the farmers along I-94 – especially the one with the giant “Make America Great Again, Go Trump!” billboard in his field – for their bare soils, monocultures, visual erosion and flooding, and confined animal operations. Nowadays, instead of looking at my home state with the eyes of a bucolic poet, I see only environmental degradation and I am angry at the irresponsible farmers killing the land, the people consuming their products, and themselves. I’ve never actually talked with any of these large-scale farmers, only watched them drive across their fields atop their heavy machinery. I’ve never walked around their farms or – like I said – swam beneath the floppy leaves of an August corn stand.

Here I am, though, sweating and shooing away the buzzing flies, completely engaged in the conversation steadily heating up among several farmers with similar operations. Most here grow corn and wheat, a few raise cattle. As far as I know, none represents the state’s large population of soy, poultry, or swine producers. A couple of the guys are manure haulers and a few are either seed company reps or ag consultants.

Prior to today’s conversation, I’ve only ever attended conferences and classes in or very near the city. All of those events were predominantly attended by small-scale organic farmers, young people just getting into farming, or other diverse local producers. I’ve never been at the table, or around the corn, with large-scale producers of major cash crops who aren’t afraid to talk about their herbicide schedules.

It may be obvious, but I started out pretty intimated. Maybe I had signed up for the wrong class? By the time I set foot beneath the golden tassels, though, I was right at home. You see, these farmers are the real deal. They’ve shook off the predatory companies and commission-based scientists and reclaimed a vital skill of our ancestors: the power of observation.They’ve started (some recently, some for decades already) paying attention to the soil, the animals, and themselves. They’re working with cover crops to eliminate bare soil, boost microbe populations, fix nitrogen, and grow natural forage for their cattle. They are interseeding to put more roots in the ground in order to enhance soil biology. They’re not tilling (or at least tilling much less than they used to) in order to protect the underground mat of fungal hyphae, which provides an amazing partner for their crops by hunting for nutrients and supplying the plants with a rich diet.

They are also practicing intensive rotational grazing to raise high-quality beef in a very sustainable way. They’re doing all of these great things and they are watching closely. After very little time, they are seeing the return of earthworms, dung beetles, birds, and good insects. They’re seeing their own fields easily drink ten inches of rain while their neighbors’ flood. They’re buying and applying less fertilizer and antibiotics and they are seeing their crops and cattle grow strong and healthy. Best of all: they are happy.

Closeup of soil at the Grant Breitkreutz farm. Photo by Karl Hakanson.

These farmers – a group that most of the urban people in this country stereotype as unchanging, conservative, traditional, and even unintelligent – are some of the smartest, most adaptable, and innovative guys I’ve ever met. Sure, they are definitely money motivated and not at all afraid to admit it. Dollar signs drive a lot of the farming business and this is one reason that big ag has so effectively been able to corral farmers into their clutches. Promising better returns with more and more inputs, farmers have been pulled away from their own knowledge of the land and its needs by corporate pirates seeing only gold in the green fields.

I don’t want to romanticize it: These guys will be the first to admit that low commodity crop prices are one of the things really driving this shift in better soil management. Low corn prices are pushing farmers to look for other income sources. Integrating livestock into their mix with an intensive grazing schedule on a good cover crop blend is one of the ways to find it. Essentially, their bottom line is the bottom line. It’s an incredible thing though, when what’s good for the farmer is also what’s good for the planet. It’s even better when these guys recognize that and appreciate it.

Not only are they trying to work more respectfully with nature at the soil level, but they are also watching the animals for clues regarding other practices. Every guy standing in this circle has a story about animals refusing to eat their corn when it grew from genetically modified seed. Raccoons and deer that would pull ear after ear after ear off the stalk and leave it uneaten on the ground: constantly searching for one that actually resembled food. Mice that found their way into the silos and only ate the non–GMO stuff … “If mice don’t eat it, should we?” They ask.

I am so inspired by their conversation because for the first time in my life, I realize that everything is probably going to be all right. I’ve spent my short 25 years, or at least the conscious ones, worrying. Worrying about where we’re at in history, worrying about the loss of topsoil and the extinction of species at unprecedented rates, worrying about climate change, poverty, hunger, cancer, you name it. I worry about the land the most. We’re dumping so many toxic substances into it and we are raping it constantly with our plows and industrialized agricultural systems. The land is our provider, our only provider … yet we’re destroying it almost without a second thought. I’ve felt paralyzed by these worries and wondered desperately how I can solve all the problems and create a better world.

My short time with Dr. Allen Williams and this congregation of Minnesota farmers helped me take a deep breath. Nothing is done alone. These farmers are brilliant and they share a common culture with other farmers, word spreads … they are the change makers. They have the land and they are making the changes that need to be made if we are to survive into the next decade. We just have to trust and support them. These farmers are leading by example; they’re experimenting, analyzing the results, and sharing the truths. I have so much hope because they are doing a holistic science, not just dissecting one tiny piece isolated from the whole but looking at the entire picture: they are taking into account their finances, their health, our health and even our pleasure in eating, the animals wild and domestic, the microbes in the soil, the plants, the rivers and the Gulf of Mexico, everything. I finally have hope and I believe that everything is probably going to be all right because we have millions of people on Earth like these farmers.

We are at a unique point in time when things can either get really bad, or they can come around and get really good. Before I walked into the corn field, I feared the first. Now, I believe that we’re leaning more toward the latter.

Sure, this was a very small sample size. Seventy percent of farmers and probably the ones owning the most land are still ignoring the sweet beckon of mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial nematodes, covered earth, and healthy livestock, but I have hope that the call will soon be loud enough for all to hear.

Cover Crops a Tool With Huge Potential – When Used Properly

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 00:58:00 GMT

Kent Solberg

By Kent Solberg • SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist

It’s encouraging that the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s largest news outlet, is plastering cover crops across the front page of the business section like in this recent article . Cover crops are a tremendous tool to move agriculture toward healthy soils. However, cover crops are simply that – a tool. They are not a silver bullet.

Cover crops work best in concert with the Five Principles of Soil Health: keep the soil covered, minimize soil disturbance, increase crop diversity, keep a living root in the soil year around, and integrate livestock. This has been the underlying message at our Midwest Soil Health Summit for the past two years and will continue in 2016.

The huge danger here, and has been, that many farmers may try using covers in corn and soybeans in a similar manner and may not achieve the desired results – arriving at the conclusion that cover crops don’t work in Minnesota and thus condemning an extremely valuable soil health tool. And, in general, they will be right – but only for that particular application.

If the goal is soil health, corn and soybean producers will likely need to rethink their production model. No-till is a soil conservation tool that came on the scene about 25 years ago. Many producers tried it in their corn and soybean production model and found it “doesn’t work here.” However, like cover crops, when farmers no-till in combination with other soil health tools it works just fine. Like cover crops, no-till is a soil health tool and not the silver bullet.

And when used in the context of the Five Principles, they have the potential to be a transformative force in agriculture and on the health of our land.

Farm Skills 101 Diary: Birth, Butchering, and Bearings

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 00:05:00 GMT

Cassi Dutcher learns to drive a tractor.

By Cassi Dutcher • Farm Skills 101 Student

Holly Pearson removes a wheel bearing seal.

The third and final weekend of Farm Skills 101 was abundant with varied activities. At Seven Pines Farm in Verndale, Minn., we spent a significant amount of time handling dairy cattle. We learned how to put cattle in a head gate, assess health, administer medication and put in ear tags. We also practiced how to utilize the cattle’s natural flight zones to direct their movements in a way that caused the least amount of stress to the animal.

Students were involved in the full-life spectrum: helping a newborn calf acclimate to its new pen and butchering a lamb. And, of course, more fencing, which by this weekend was much easier than in Week One. For many of us, we had our first experience on a tractor and learned to drive, both forward and backward. We also hitched up a manure spreader and learned how to safely hook up the PTO.

Amy Fenn (left) and Cassi Dutcher build a gate for an animal pen.

Back at Paradox Farm, we learned how to assess and grease wheel bearings on a farm trailer – we completely dismantled the hub, cleaned and lubricated the bearings, and re-assembled it. While groups of two worked on bearings, the other students designed and built pens for the goats’ winter housing using some of the carpentry skills learned in Week One. Additionally, we examined how trailers can be used as appropriate moveable housing for livestock.

During the three weekends, we were introduced to a wide variety of farm skills. What I learned built well upon my already established familiarity with fencing and butchering, and now I have a much greater degree of competence with the skills.

However, my skill set was most profoundly impacted by those skills that I was introduced to for the first time. Both my pride and my typical human desire to not be too much of an imposition would have prevented me from seeking out help or offering to help with tasks such as driving a tractor or working on machinery. Having these skills introduced in such a supportive and fun environment now allows me to pursue more opportunities for greater knowledge with confidence and excitement.

It is sad to be done with Farm Skills 101, but the very intentional energy put into establishing a community that goes beyond the end of the class session will benefit us all. With SFA I enter a community that serves as a support and pool of knowledge from which to draw as my farm grows and evolves.

Farm Skills 101 Diary: Fencing as Practical Art Form

Mon, 12 Oct 2015 18:38:00 GMT

Farm Skills 101 students Kathryn Henning (from left) Cassi Dutcher and Sarah Mogilevsky dig a trench for a cable that will electrify two fence lines.

By Cassi Dutcher • Farm Skills 101 Student

Deep Roots alumnus Andy Hayner, owner of a mobile poultry processing business, teaches students how to pluck turkeys. Shown from left are Hayner, Sarah Mogilevsky, Holly Pearson, Cassi Dutcher and Andy Gricevich.

We did so much fencing in Farm Skills 101 Week Two that for two nights I dreamed of nothing but fencing and high-tensile wire.

When creating systems for forage based livestock, appropriate fencing is critical. For the vast majority of the history of agriculture, ruminants were not confined by any fences while grazing, but rather grazed on common lands. One distinct advantage of this is that it allowed for the farmer to determine with great subtlety when to move the heard for optimal pasture and herd health.

Modern agriculture has struggled to find a way to graze ruminants on individual plots of land that allows for the same degree of control. Week two at Farm Skills 101 we learned how to put up a strong, electrified semi-permanent perimeter fence. Within the perimeter fence, moveable fencing can be placed to section off smaller bits of pasture as needed for the herd.

Farm Skills 101 student Cassi Dutcher ties a New Zealand fence knot as instructor Kent Solberg advises her on technique.

The most skill- and labor-intensive part of the fence was not in placing the majority of the fence posts (as I expected), or even the wire, but rather in the corner bracing systems, called H-braces. There the convergence of wires bordered on art form, and it was wonderful to have opportunity after opportunity to learn the techniques of working with the wire and the wood to ensure a stable structure.

Farm Skills 101 Diary: Practical Knowledge Already Absorbed

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 19:20:00 GMT

By Cassi Dutcher • Farm Skills 101 Student

The Fall 2015 Farm Skills 101 students with their completed sawhorses: Holly Pearson (from left), Sarah Mogilevsky, Cathryn Henning, Andy Gricevich, Cassi Dutcher and Amy Fenn.

The first weekend of this fall’s semester of Deep Roots Farm Skills 101 was stacked with practical skills. We spent time building fences out of the most efficient materials for rotational and multi-species grazing as well as removed outdated fencing.

Our carpentry skills portion of the weekend was designed to be useful for those of us who have virtually no skills, and was still appropriate for students well-versed in woodworking. As a bonus we were able to build and take a home a sawhorse.

We extensively discussed and observed classes of animals, and learned how to choose animals to achieve our farming goals. The considerable time we spent handling the animals allowed us to become familiar with animal husbandry techniques such as hoof-trimming and temperature-taking, among others.

In addition to the list of tangible skillsets necessary for farming, we enjoyed outright encouragement to farm, which is an experience always relished by a beginning farmer. The socializing that takes place during all of the learning makes for a dynamic and fun environment that makes me very excited to return in a week!

SFA Deep Roots Graduate Making Positive Impact with Native Seed Initiative

Tue, 05 May 2015 15:22:00 GMT

By Jason Walker • SFA Communications & Membership Coordinator

Zachary Paige, a recent graduate of SFA’s Deep Roots Farmer Development Program, is proof that Deep Roots is training the next generation of farmers and community leaders.

It didn’t take long for Zachary Paige to become a positive force in Minnesota’s Native American community, helping to devise a project that culminated late last year in a significant grant to create an indigenous seed keeping network.

As a recent graduate of SFA’s Deep Roots Farmer Development Program, Paige, 30, is also proof that Deep Roots is training the next generation of farmers and community leaders. Paige, of Ponsford, Minn, took the program then known as Sustainable Food Production in 2012-13, and said he gained a holistic vision of sustainable food systems by looking at the issue from many different angles.

“I had no experience farming until after graduating college,” he said. “I taught music and worked on farms for two summers in the off-season teaching music. I had all sorts of questions brewing in my mind regarding plant cultivation, breeding and why many ‘sustainable’ farms didn’t save their seeds. I really thought that this was something important that would close the gap in the cyclical nature of sustainable food systems.”

While in the program, Paige gained real-world experience, extensive skills training, and the educational background needed to become a sustainable food producer. Further, Deep Roots’ commitment to community development and mentoring boosted Paige’s desire to develop a progressive project that would positively impact the indigenous community.

To continue reading about Zach, click here.

Sustainable Farming Association

From Natural Gas Fields to Pasture: Patrick Toomey Joins SFA’s Staff

Introducing: the Kazoo Action Networking Group

Introducing: NW Minnesota Soil & Water Quality Learning Exchange

Featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Kris Nichols

Four New Board Members Elected

Summit to offer connection, new ideas, and challenge

Dr. Temple Grandin to Keynote the 2026 Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit

SFA at Farm Aid 40

Welcoming Joel Barr

Harvest Festival celebrates with Food, Farmers, Community

We’re hiring!

Apply for $100 per acre/animal unit to implement conservation practices

Mid-year State of the Association Report

New Funding to Support Our Farmer-to-Farmer Mission

Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers

Preparing for Drought in the Pasture

Want to learn more about navigating drought?

Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers Webinar

May 19, 7:00-8:30 PM

Click here to learn more and register.

Five Summer Festivals

Sowing Seeds

Minnesota Garlic Festival

Lake Superior Harvest Festival

Deep Roots Festival

Minnesota Salsa Fest

Farm Day Growers & Makers Markets

Interested in being a vendor?

Learn how to raise your own meat chickens this summer!

Expanding our perspectives, addressing pressing issues at the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit

Beyond the session titles

Learning from those in the trenches

Making it more accessible

Highlights from local speakers

Member Spotlight: Caroline Hegstrom & Growing Organic Farming

Organic Advisory Task Force

Transition to Organic Partnership

New Member Discount with Red Wing Shoes

New year, new dues, and a new member benefit!

New Membership Benefit

Membership Structure and Dues

Frequently Asked Questions

History

Sharing the Wisdom of the Community: The Evolution of a Network

Click here for “A New Dawn of Farming” (SFA history spanning 1990-1998)

Beginning Grazier Handbook

Contents

Introduction

Training and Technical Assistance

®

Production Resources

Farm Business Planning

Additional Education Resources

Funding: Loans and Grants

NRCS Programs (see above)

AGRI Livestock Investment Grant (MDA)

Appendices

FENCE CONTRACTORS/INSTALLERS/D ESIGNERS

Sustainable Farming Association

Financial Resources for Beginning Vegetable & Fruit Growers

Obtaining Farmland

Farm Infrastructure and operations:

Business Planning

More Info

Sustainable Farming Association Resources for Vegetable & Fruit Growers

‘Give to the Max’ and help us transform agriculture

Thursday is Give to the Max Day

SFA Digital Asset Highlights

General Funds Spotlight: Laura Borgendale

General Funds Spotlight: Becky Ankeny

Your impact doubled during Give to the Max!

General Funds Spotlight: Suzanne Miller-McFeeley

General Funds Spotlight: Lauren Barry

Support SFA this Give to the Max Day!

Why is general funding so important?

General Funds Spotlight: Katie Feterl

Support the Backbone of SFA

An assuring blast from the past

“It’s one of the organizations I’m really proud to be a member of.”