Webinar Series Focuses on 'Expanding Forage Options for Adaptive Grazing'

Adaptive grazing experts led by SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg will discuss creative ways to incorporate annual, perennial and stored options into a year-round forage chain during a free webinar series, “Expanding Forage Options for Adaptive Grazing,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on July 18, 23 and 30 and hosted by The Pasture Project. 

Former SFA Central Chapter coordinator Robert Bauer leads the July 18 webinar with his presentation, “Contract Cattle Grazing and Establishing Grazing Leases.” Bauer, now with Wisconsin’s Southwest Badger, will discuss fundamentals of contract grazing and how it can be most effective.

Solberg will present July 23, “Grazing Cover Crops: Planning and Infrastructure,” with discussion on field-tested best practices for integrating cover crops and adaptive grazing. 

The final webinar on July 30 will feature Meghan Filbert of Practical Farmers of Iowa on “Achieving Financial Success With Grazing Cover Crops,” making the economic case that using cover crop rotations is strengthened by integrating adaptive cattle grazing. 

Already held was a webinar with Solberg from July 10, “Establishing Optimal Forage Chains for Livestock Grazing,” sharing how both beginning and established graziers can incorporate diverse annual, perennial, and stored forage options into their grazing plans throughout the year.

These webinars are free and open to all. Registration and archive information is available at http://pastureproject.org/events/. Info: Elisabeth.Spratt@winrock.org.

Lake Agassiz Festival of Farms is This Saturday

SFA Lake Agassiz Chapter is hosting a diverse Festival of Farms event featuring three local sustainable producers this Saturday, July 14, from 9 a.m. to noon and starting at Chandler Farms, 45490 U.S. Hwy 75 SW, Nielsville, where farmer Karla Chandler raises hogs, chickens, small ruminants and more on her family's farm (note: those wishing to carpool can meet at 8 a.m. at Prairie Roots Co-op, 1213 Northern Pacific Ave, Fargo). 

At 10 a.m., after the Chandler tour, the group will caravan to view Leslie Viker and David Swenson's goat dairy, Gorgeous Goats, at 1190 260th Ave, Halstad. Viker and Swenson have raised small ruminants for nine years and produce milk and cheese from their herd.

The tour will finish at 11 a.m. with a tour of Hugh's Gardens, which works with a group of organic growers in the region to store, wash, package and market their produce to the Twin Cities area and beyond and specializes in potatoes and other root vegetables. First, the group will visit Hugh's farm site, which is just west of Halstad off Hwy 200. After viewing that operation, the group will caravan to visit Hugh's warehouse in Halstad at 100 Third St W. 

After the tour, attendees are encouraged to return to Fargo and visit the opening day of the Red River Market, Broadway and 4th Ave N, downtown Fargo. Info: lakeagassiz@sfa-mn.org.

From the Executive Director: Celebrate 25 Years of MISA at Garden Party on July 19

By Theresa Keaveny

This year, SFA, along with several other partner groups, has been observing the 25th anniversary of MISA, the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture with articles, a presentation at the SFA Annual Conference and discussions about MISA's mission and programs. Now, it's time for a garden party!

Please join the MISA Board and staff to celebrate 25 years of connecting farmers, the community and the university to promote sustainable agriculture at a garden party from 4 to 6 p.m. Thurs., July 19, at Cornercopia Student Organic Farm, Dudley Ave & Field Rd N, U. of M. St. Paul Campus. Light appetizers and drinks will be served; parking is available in the Gortner ramp. This event is free and open to all but an RSVP is requested for planning purposes. REGISTER.

For more info, email misamail@umn.edu. I hope to see you there!

Pillager Deep Winter Open House Postponed; Reschedule Date TBA

The Deep Winter Greenhouse Open House set for July 26 at Grampa G's Farm in Pillager and sponsored by the U. of M. Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and SFA has been postponed. Look for a rescheduling announcement in coming months. The expected reschedule date will be sometime in fall. 

If you have questions, please contact Greg Schweser at schwe233@umn.edu or 612.625.9706.

Salsa Fest Sponsor/Vendor Applications Now Available

Minnesota Salsa Fest, the signature event from SFA Central Chapter set for 1-10 p.m. Sat., Sept. 22, 2018, at the Todd County Fairgrounds, 203 9th St NE, Long Prairie, is now accepting applications for sponsors and vendors. 

Salsa Fest celebrates all things related to salsa and includes local farmers market vendors, demonstrations, live music, food, and a salsa contest – for which applications are also open. Sponsorship options range from $100 to $1,000 and include various perks; vendor space is just $10 for a standard booth. 

To learn more and download the forms, visit our Salsa Fest homepage.

SFA Western Chapter Welcomes New Coordinator, Brenna Cook

By Theresa Keaveny • SFA Executive Director

A familiar friendly face from the University of Minnesota-Morris Organic Gardening Club will be seen at this summer's SFA Western Chapter events. Brenna Cook, a recent UM-Morris graduate, is now working part-time as the Western Chapter Coordinator as well as doing outreach for SFA Central Chapter's Minnesota Salsa Fest. The Organic Gardening Club has become a key SFA partner thanks to club leadership, Western Chapter leaders' initiative and the encouragement of Mary Jo Forbord, and brings new ideas, growth, and organizing enthusiasm from Brenna and others. Brenna is also working at Richard Handeen and Audrey Arner Handeen's Moonstone Farm.  

Brenna says, "Food, plants, and friendships have opened up to me as I have found a love for working with environmentally friendly, place-based gardening and agriculture during the past years. I originally moved to Western Minnesota from the Twin Cities to attend college, but the sense of home and community I have found through growing food and working with food-based youth programming encouraged me to continue learning about growing in the region. Perennial, food-bearing plants have a particularly effective way of drawing me toward them, but I am interested in learning the many forms and faces of well-balanced agricultural systems. SFA has helped me connect with some of the gardeners, farmers, and community organizers who have helped me learn to connect with the landscape around me, and I look forward to working more with sustainable agriculture-minded folks in this region."

To contact Brenna, email western@sfa-mn.org.

Soil Health, Land Restoration & More on Display at Upcoming Silvopasture Camp

U. of M. Extension, SFA and USDA-NRCS are partnering to host a two-day Silvopasture Camp on July 13-14 in and near Sauk Centre, Minn., focusing on how silvopasture can enhance production of wooded pastureland, restore marginal pasture or cropland and be employed as part of a rotational grazing plan. 

The workshop begins at 5 p.m. Fri., July 13, with a Camphill Village farm tour and dinner. Saturday's events include expert presentations from SFA's Kent Solberg and Jim Chamberlin, among others, and two afternoon farm tours at Early Boots Farm and StoneBridge Beef. 

Cost is $35 and includes meals. REGISTER. Info/RSVP: 612.626.9272 or zamor015@umn.edu.

Crow River Tour at Maple Lake Pastured Dairy is July 14

Crow River Chapter is hosting a farm tour from 3 to 6 p.m. July 14 at New-Vue Ayrshires Dairy, 9602 County Road 8 NW, Maple Lake. 

New-Vue farmer Elinor Opitz (right) milks 60 registered Ayrshires north of Maple Lake in a pasture-based system. Elinor didn’t grow up farming, but once she knew that she wanted to go into dairy, she started working on other farms, and then attended the University of Minnesota where she studied Animal Science with a Dairy Production emphasis. After graduation she worked at Land O’Lakes in Animal Nutrition for a time, and in 2012 she found an empty dairy farm for sale north of Maple Lake and immediately snapped it up. While getting set up in her own operation, she went to work for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association and consulted with dairy farmers all over the state. In 2015 she started dairying full time. In the future she hopes to move into a direct-to-consumer business model.

This free event is open to all but an RSVP is required. REGISTER. Info: sfa-mn.org/crow-river.

East Central Festival of Farms Tours July 15 & July 28

SFA East Central Chapter is hosting two upcoming events as part of SFA's Festival of Farms Series, starting with an organic farm tour from 1 to 3 p.m. Sun., July 15 at Isanti Baker's Acres, 5301 County Rd 5 NW, Isanti, where Dave and Karen Baker raise grass-fed beef on 130 acres using rotational grazing on pasture, organic hay and minerals as well as pastured chicken and lamb. REGISTER.

Then, another is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Sat., July 28, at Ferris Family Farm, 34338 Blackfoot St NW, Cambridge, where multiple generations of the Ferris Family raise pastured chickens and farrow-to-finish pork on this 40-acre operation. This tour includes discussion of the GEOTEK Mule fencing system the Ferris's installed. In addition, the farm is a distributor for Luxemburg Feed Service and has quality feed available for sale on-site. REGISTER.

These events are free and open to all but an RSVP is requested. Limited parking is available; please carpool if possible. Info: eastcentral@sfa-mn.org or the chapter homepage.

Western Chapter News: Members at Solar Congress, 'Harvesting Sunlight' Social

SFA Western Chapter is hosting or sponsoring two upcoming events, starting with the Minnesota Solar Congress, set for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., July 21, at U. of M. WCROC, 46352 Hwy 321, Morris. This free conference unites solar energy enthusiasts for informational presentations, networking, a tour of WCROC clean energy projects and more; Western Chapter board members Richard Handeen and Jim VanDerPol will be among the speakers. This event is free and open to all; lunch is provided. REGISTER. Info: virginia@solarunitedneighbors.org.

Then, what do cows, grass, solar panels and wood fired pizza have in common? SFA Western Chapter will explore these issues during its "Summer Social: Harvesting Sunlight," from 4 to 8 p.m. Wed., July 25, at Richard Handeen and Audrey Arner's Moonstone Farm, 9060 40th St SW, Montevideo. Tour Moonstone's solar array and paddocks and build some pizza in its wood-fired oven – please bring some dough, pizza toppings or another potluck item.

All are welcome and no RSVP is required. Info: western@sfa-mn.org or Richard at 320.269.8971.

'Dirt Rich: Building Soil Health Experts' Registration Now Open

SFA's yearly "Dirt Rich: Building Soil Health Experts" seminar series is returning to two sites in Summer 2018. These daylong events unite local and regional experts to discuss how soil health can improve your farm operation and include classroom and field segments. Cost is $20 and includes lunch and coffee. Dates for Dirt Rich 2018 are:

• Aug. 28, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Thief River Falls | REGISTER
• Aug. 29, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Lake Park | REGISTER

Speakers at each include Justin Morris (right), NRCS regional soil health specialist; Kent Solberg, SFA livestock & grazing specialist; and Jeff Duchene, NRCS grazing specialist.

More info: Our Dirt Rich homepage.

Forage Council Summer Tours: July 12 in Sebeka; Aug. 24 in Staples

The Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council, an SFA Networking Group, is hosting two separate summer tour events focused on livestock, grazing and watering systems.

The first is 6-8 p.m. Thurs., July 12, at the Tim Hendrickson farm, 51453 County Hwy 75, Sebeka. Tour this farm where integration of fencing, watering systems, grazing, legume inter-seeding and May calving have worked together, both with natural systems and cycles, but also with the needs of a producer to sustain a livelihood. Freewill donation requested; no RSVP required.

The second is 1-4:30 p.m. Aug. 24, where attendees will gather at Central Lakes College, 1830 Airport Rd in Staples, and ride a bus to Neal and Don Gaalswyk's Grand View Ranch to compare long-term managed pastures to newly managed pastures. Pastures on this site have been frost-seeded and both watering and fencing systems have been installed. Part of the grazing system employs custom grazing, and the watering system makes use of solar. This free event coincides with CLC Ag Day and lunch is provided at noon. REGISTER.

Info: foragecouncil@sfa-mn.org.

Study Soil Health & Cover Crop Research Site at Aug. 9 Event in Mahnomen

SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg is among the speakers at a soil health field day hosted by White Earth Food Sovereignty Initiative on Thurs., Aug. 9, at the initiative's farm site, 1482 Hwy 200, Mahnomen. Time is TBA; watch SFA Connect and the Lake Agassiz homepage for updates.

In addition to Solberg, instructors include Dr. Ruth Genger, Horticulturist from the University of Wisconsin; and Vivian Wauters, U. of M. graduate research student studying summer cover crops. The farm site in White Earth hosts one of the research summer cover crop plots to observe; sessions will include research going towards cover crops, practical methods to increase soil organic matter and fertility in organic cropping systems as well as research on mulching and an regional organic potato research project.

This event is free and open to all. Info: lakeagassiz@sfa-mn.org.

Greater Mille Lacs Events: Next is Aug. 12 in Palisade

SFA Greater Mille Lacs Chapter is hosting several upcoming events, starting with a farm tour and potluck from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sun., Aug. 12 at Old Mainstream Hemp, 29324 480th St, Palisade. This tour will focus on the production of hemp seeds at Old Mainstream. A picnic potluck will follow at the Palisade city park; please bring a dish to share.

Finally, a farm tour and field day are slated from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sun., Sept. 9 at Sleepy Willow Farm, 40730 Nature Ave, Palisade. This tour will include a demonstration of alley cropping at Sleepy Willow. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck to follow the farm tour. 

These last three events are free and open to all; no RSVP required. Info on all is available at greatermillelacs@sfa-mn.org or the chapter homepage.

Gustavus' 2018 Nobel Conference to Focus on 'Living Soil;' Discount for SFA Members

Soil is a living entity in its own right, a community of micro- and macro-organisms that interact with the earth’s mineral resources to create a complex entity that undergirds all life on the planet. The 54th Nobel Conference, "Living Soil: A Universe Underfoot," set for Oct. 2-3 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, invites participants to consider the vast diversity and complexity of soil, and to ponder the challenges we face in protecting this most fundamental resource. 

Ticket prices range from $45-$120; current SFA members are eligible for a 25 percent discount by using the discount code "SOIL." Tickets: gustavus.edu/nobelconference or 507.933.7520.

Grass-Based Farmers Needed for Survey by Pivotal Researchers

Dr. Richard Teague of Texas A&M and Dr. Tong Wang of South Dakota State have conducted pivotal research in discovering the myriad benefits of adaptive grazing and grass-based agriculture. They have now created a survey asking farmers and ranchers to discuss what they believe should be pursued in terms of future academic research, with the goal of better understanding the technical and economic challenges faced by grass-based agriculture. Completing the survey by July 31 includes a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards.

Take the survey here. Info: Tong.Wang@sdstate.edu.

Solberg Featured at Soil Health Events in Faribault, Brandon, Kerkhoven

SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg is presenting at two upcoming workshops: July 25 in Brandon and Aug. 7 in Kerkhoven. These events are free and open to all.

Pasture production financials and forage ideas will be showcased as Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship hosts its Summer Fling Pasture Walk from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wed., July 25, at Wagner Organic Dairy, 9750 Co. Rd. 5, N.W., Brandon. Solberg and NRCS Grazing Specialist Jeff Duchene will discuss how good pasture management boosts farm revenue, what forages work on the Wagner farm, dairy farming pressures and more. RSVP appreciated to Bonnie Haugen, bonnie@dga-national.org or 507.421.7170.

Finally, Solberg is the featured speaker at a Land Stewardship Project workshop, "Integrating Livestock Options," set for 4-7 p.m. Tues., Aug. 7 at Kerkhoven Civic Center, 208 10th St, Kerkhoven. Kent's presentation will include how to increase farm profits, stack enterprises, reduce inputs, diversify farm income, increase farm resilience and build soils by integrating livestock onto row-crop acres. The LSP Cropping Systems Calculator will also be discussed. Light supper included; this event is free and open to all. Info/RSVP: Robin Moore, 320.269.2105 or rmoore@landstewardshipproject.org.

Session Voting Now Open for 2019 SFA Annual Conference 

Session topic voting is now open for the 2019 SFA Annual Conference, which is set for Feb. 9, 2019, at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph. Submit your ideas and vote on the session topics you want to see in 2019. Then, we’ll compile the results and build the schedule around your wishes. Vote early and often – the more votes received, the better we can gauge interest in the various topics. To access the voting, visit the AC homepage or use this survey link.

Check This Out

• One of the best ways to integrate cover crops and build diversity into a cropping system is after small grains. The University of Minnesota has a variety of plot tours throughout the summer for producers looking to learn more about small grains fitting them into a rotation. Here's a listing of this year's tours.
• Watering options for your pasture based livestock system are discussed in two articles from The Pasture Project and On Pasture Magazine.

Annual Conference Photo Feature

Photographer extraordinaire Crystal Liepa once again documented our 2018 Annual Conference, held Feb. 10 at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. To learn more about Crystal, visit her website. 

 

Also Noted

FSMA Produce Safety Rule training course: The Produce Safety Rule, which is a part of the new federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requires training for fruit and vegetable farms that grow, pack, harvest and/or hold produce and that do not qualify for an exemption or exclusion. However, all growers interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are encouraged to attend and will find the course material valuable. The certificate of attendance, issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) is good for life. These courses, to be held around the state from November 2018 through March 2019, are co-led by fruit and vegetable farmers and staff people from UMN Extension and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. All courses are one-day from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; cost is $25. To view course dates and register, visit www.psp.tix.com. 

 

Be Cautious When Buying Seed: The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture is asking farmers and landowners to be cautious when buying conservation planting seed, as MDA has encountered several issues with seed sold in Minnesota that included highly invasive weeds like Palmer amaranth. Seed has been found mislabeled with improper information and sold with low germination rates. If you have questions or concerns, contact local staff or Denise Thiede at 651.201.6531 or denise.thiede@state.mn.us. 

Scholarship Opportunity: University of Minnesota Extension has created an endowment fund to support organic agricultural research projects in memory of Extension educator Jim Stordahl, who was an educator in Northwest Minnesota for 21 years. Funds raised will be used by farmers and extension educators to investigate producer-led organic research projects. Scholarships will also be available for farmers to attend state and organic conferences. Info: Nancy Frosaker, frosa001@umn.edu or 701.212.2471.

Horticulture Demos on July 26: U. of M. West Central Research & Outreach Center is hosting a demonstration on Weed Control for Fruits and Vegetables during Horticulture Night July 26 at the Display Garden, 46352 State Hwy 329, Morris. Demonstrations will take place at 6 and 8 p.m.; the overall Horticulture Night event is from 5 to 9 p.m. and includes many other presentations. Free. Info: 320.589.1711 or wcroc.cfans.umn.edu.