Last-Minute Annual Conference Details: Friday Night Social, Seed Swap With Greg Reynolds, & More

How many flavors of kombucha can one store possibly sell? Will Bob Petry and his double bass make an appearance? Can Theresa Keaveny sing?

Learn answers to these questions and more as you socialize the night before the SFA Conference at the yearly “Meet Your Farmers and Foodies Social and Jam Session,” set for 7-9 p.m. this Friday night, Feb. 10, at Minnesota Street Market, 27 Minnesota St W, St. Joseph (right across the street from St. Ben’s). 

Bring the whole family, your instruments, or just drop in to say hello. There will be plenty of room to chat inside one of St. Joe’s fine local food establishments. Questions? Contact Lisa at 320.309.0746 or central@sfa-mn.org.

The annual SEED SWAP is this Sat., Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the SFA Annual Conference. If you have seeds that you would like to share, bring them to the conference. You don't have to bring seeds to participate in the seed swap; anyone can stop by and check out the interesting locally produced seeds.

The Seed Swap is free, but only SFA Annual Conference registrants may attend. The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gorecki Center at the College of Saint Benedict. Seed Swap info: Greg Reynolds, greg.reynolds@frontier.com.

GUEST PARKING is available at St. Ben's in Lots 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16.

THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM is available for download on the homepage.

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION is full. If you signed up and have a question, email boyumfarms@gmail.com.

EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION is full. Questions: jerry@sfa-mn.org.

VEGGIE BUDS kids can still register at the door for $10. Kids under 3 or not potty trained are free but will be the responsibility of their parents.

RECORD CROWD EXPECTED! More preregistrations have come through this year than ever, and the weather for Saturday looks perfect for traveling to the SFA Conference. If you have not registered yet, don't miss out: show up Saturday and pay at the door! A squadron of friendly interns will be there to help you. You won't want to miss this conference.

See you Saturday at St. Ben's!

Last Chance for Soil Health Summit Preregistration

SFA’s Midwest Soil Health Summit, set for Feb. 15-16, 2017, at Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls, Minn., features soil health experts and farm leaders for two days of advanced soil health training and farmer networking.

Today is the LAST DAY to preregister – register now and avoid the rush at the walk-up registration desk at Bigwood.

The conference program is also available for download on the conference homepage.  

Attendees will join some of the most prominent experts in the field as they discuss cutting-edge research and advanced topics in soil conservation: renowned grazing experts Dr. Allen Williams and Kent Solberg, beef cattle specialist Doug Landblom, U of M agronomist and plant geneticist Dr. Scott Wells, Minnesota farmer and conservation trailblazer Grant Breitkreutz, and many more, including:

• Ryan Stockwell, Senior Agriculture Program Manager for the National Wildlife Federation
• Dr. Julie Grossman, faculty at the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science specializing in soil fertility of organic cropping systems
• Scott Haase, a sixth-generation farmer from the Blue Earth River region of southern Minnesota
• Nick David, who has led R.D. Offut’s efforts to expand and change their crop rotation, add cover crops, and integrate livestock into their potato operations; along with farmer Mike Sams
• Dr. Carl Rosen, head of the Department of Soil, Water, & Climate at the University of Minnesota
• Glen Borgerding, owner of Ag Resource Consulting, Inc., an agricultural consulting firm and soil testing laboratory
• Dr. Randy Anderson, an expert on no-till systems without herbicides that include a diverse crop rotation

Each year at the Midwest Soil Health Summit, attendees have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the experts – small-scale discussion tables offer a unique networking opportunity. Additionally, an evening cocktail reception and Q&A, this year with presenters Allen Williams and Grant Breitkreutz, provides a valuable space for discussion and knowledge sharing.

Registration is $150 for SFA members and $200 for nonmembers. Come see why people say the MSHS is the “best conference I’ve ever been to” – click here to register today.

Intro to Small Ruminant Husbandry Class is May 13

Anyone considering adding goats or sheep to their sustainable food production should attend our SFA Deep Roots class, Intro to Small Ruminant Husbandry, set for 1-5 p.m. Sat., May 13, at Paradox Farm, 11643 State Hwy 78, Ashby, Minn. The course is particularly suitable for beginning farmers and class size is small; there is ample opportunity to handle animals and equipment and to ask questions.

Held in a working-farm setting, this class will teach students how small ruminants can fit in a natural systems farm. Course topics include: holistic management, animal selection, animal handling, nutrition, fencing, shelters, grazing, and holistic veterinary care. Wear clothing appropriate for working with animals: closed-toe shoes, gloves, long pants.

Course instructors are Sue Wika, Ph.D., and Tom Prieve, DVM, of Paradox Farm. Cost is $100. Click here to register.

A Few Spots Left for Feb. 25 Deep Winter Short Course

SFA’s Deep Roots Farmer Development Program has added another date for its short course, Deep Winter Production of Greens and Livestock Fodder Using Passive Solar Energy: Feb. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Paradox Farm, 11643 State Hwy 78, Ashby. As of Tuesday morning, only THREE SPOTS REMAIN for this class.

During the class, Paradox Farm owners Sue Wika and Tom Prieve will provide a detailed overview of the construction and operation of their deep-winter greenhouse, which utilizes passive solar energy with underground heat storage. Bring a sack lunch. Cost is $110; Farm Skills 101 graduates may register for $30. Paradox Farm is 7 miles north of Ashby and 10 miles south of Battle Lake.

Click here to register.

East Central Chapter Meeting is Feb. 18 in Isanti

East Central Chapter is hosting its monthly meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 18 at Coborns, 209 6th Avenue NE, Isanti. Agenda items include chapter charter, mission & vision; a summer event schedule; and open forum. 

This event is free and open to chapter members and guests. Please RSVP at this link so we can properly plan. Info: eastcentral@sfa-mn.org.

Solberg on Soil: New Cropland Grazing Exchange Website Links Producers to Build Soil Health

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.

Deep Winter Greenhouse Open House Feb. 18 in Finland

Northeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Northeast Organic Consumers Association are hosting a Deep Winter Greenhouse Public Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at 6771 South Silver Hill Dr, Finland, Minn.

Celebrate the completion of the first of the five prototype Deep Winter Greenhouses that will be built by producers throughout Minnesota. These passive solar greenhouses enable farmers to grow vegetable crops all winter utilizing solar heat. This greenhouse has recently been completed and will be ready for next winter's production season.

Presenters include Dan Handeen, UMN Center for Sustainable Building Research;  Greg Schweser, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships; David Abazs, Organic Consumers Association.

This event is free but RSVP is requested. SFA is a co-sponsor of this event. Click here to RSVP. Info: schwe233@umn.edu.

Small-Scale Sustainable Sheep Event is Feb. 18

Focused on the benefit of sheep as part of a sustainable farming system where meat and wool are viable value-added products, the third annual Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Farming Event is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 18, 2017 at New Journey Church, 505 9th St. NW, Fosston, Minn. Speakers include Julie Zilka on wool, one of the earliest fibers to be spun and woven into cloth; Jeff Duchene on improving forage and livestock production through managed grazing; sheep shearer Byron Johnson discussing how clean fleeces bring higher prices; MDA meat inspector Andy Siira on Minnesota Meat Inspection and how producers can get their products to consumers; and much more.

Pre-register by Feb. 12 by calling 218-657-2502 or e-mail sustainablesheep@gmail.com. Info: http://www.sheepcommunity.com/sustainable-sheep-event.html.

Annual Conference Photo Feature

Photographer extraordinaire Crystal Liepa once again documented our 2016 Annual Conference, held Feb. 13, 2016, at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. To learn more about Crystal, visit her website, or say hello to her this Saturday at St. Ben's!

 

 

Also Noted

Registration is now open for the Great Lakes Indigenous Farming Conference, set for March 2-5 at Maplelag Resort in Callaway. Sponsored by the White Earth Land Recovery Project, this conference will discuss a wide array of topics and discussions such as: community land revitalization, seed saving, tribal food and farm policy, native agricultural techniques, raised bed and elder gardening programs, food preservation and much more! Register at welrp.org. Info: weseedlibrary@gmail.com or 218.375.2600.

Women’s Environmental Institute is hosting three upcoming workshops at its farm campus in North Branch. First, is “Pruning, Grafting and Organic Orchard Care,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 25. Then is “Introductory Class on Beekeeping,” from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 26. Finally, a nine-week “Organic Farming 101” class begins Feb. 6 and is weekly through April 3. Register for these events and learn more at w-e-i.org. Info: 651.583.0705.

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