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Jan. 10, 2017 

Change Can be Tough When Whole Town is Watching; Stockwell Specializes in Psychology of Decisionmaking

Editor’s Note: SFA Communications Intern Kassie Brown continues her terrific work profiling the speakers at the 2017 Midwest Soil Health Summit. The following is an excerpt from her feature article on sustainable farmer and public policy influencer Ryan Stockwell. Click here to read the entire article; click the following links to read features on MSHS speakers Scott Haase and Grant Breitkreutz.

By Kassie Brown • SFA Communications Intern

Anybody can preach to the choir, but it’s tougher to get your message across when your sermon is delivered to people on the sidewalk.

Ryan Stockwell, a sustainable farmer and public policy influencer slated to speak at the 2017 SFA Midwest Soil Health Summit, specializes in engaging those folks and getting them into the pews. 

Stockwell (right), a soil health-focused farmer and Senior Agriculture Program Manager for the National Wildlife Federation, knows farmers face intense social pressure when making sustainably focused changes to their fields despite mounting evidence that implementing soil health practices leads to enhanced farm profitability. Keeping soil covered, increasing crop diversity and integrating livestock can create social, economic and personal dilemmas. For Stockwell, the key to creating a more sustainable system is understanding this process and finding out why farmers choose to make changes – even if those changes, while successful, could bring alienation, ridicule, or a different workload.

Stockwell has worked with SFA on cover crop adoption and crop insurance literature and now focuses largely on the messaging behind and social psychology of transitioning to unconventional practices. He describes farming as one of the only fields where people are engaged in a “non-voluntary public occupation.”

“For farmers, decisions to go against what is tried and true cannot be made lightly,” he said. “Any changes that a farmer makes are noticed.” 

Click here to read the entire article; to hear more from Ryan, attend the Midwest Soil Health Summit set for February 15-16, 2017 in Fergus Falls, Minn. Register here. 

Ready for Advanced Soil Health Training? Register Now as Midwest Soil Health Summit Speaker Slate Complete

SFA’s innovative 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.

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
  • 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.

Another Deep Winter Greenhouse Class Added: Feb. 25

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. This class is in addition to the sold-out Feb. 5 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.

SFA Conference Tidbits: Register, Volunteer, & More

The SFA Annual Conference schedule is coming together and it’s time to register – SFA members may register for just $45 and nonmembers just $55 through Jan. 15.

Sessions already scheduled for the 2017 SFA Annual Conference, set for Feb. 11 at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, include:

  • Introduction to Soil Health & Restoration
  • Grazing: Fencing Innovations & Managing Rest Periods
  • Time to Call the Butcher: What to Expect, Terminology, and Helping Customers with the Process
  • Wintering Livestock
  • Farm Transitions on Farmland: What Matters Most?
  • Keeping the Family Farm Going: On- and Off-Farm Heirs
  • Soil Health for Small Farms
  • Deep Winter Greenhouse Design: Location, Selection & Managing the Three Seasons
  • Garlic Mythbusters
  • Organic Control of Spotted Wing Drosophila: Going Beyond Sprays in Berry Crops

Register TODAY to get the best pricing. Also:

Volunteer! Choose your job: parking, registration, session monitor, and more. All volunteers receive an SFA t-shirt and are practially guaranteed to have fun. Fill out this form with your preferences and Volunteer Coordinator Gretchen Boyum will contact you with the details. It’s that easy. 

Current students can receive a scholarship for half-price admission. All scholarship recipients must sign up for a volunteer shift. Fill out this form then email jerry@sfa-mn.org if you are interested in a scholarship. 

Sponsor/Exhibitor registration is open as well. The SFA Conference has a limited number of exhibitor space, so register today to ensure your spot. Click here to download a fillable signup form and return to jerry@sfa-mn.org

Annual Meetings Roundup: Events Galore

Cannon River Chapter is hosting its annual meeting from noon to 3 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Just Food Co-op, 516 Water St S, Northfield. Join the chapter for a potluck meal and community brainstorming session. Board elections and 2016 event planning will ensue. The meeting is free and open to all; registration is not required. To renew or start a Cannon River Chapter membership, click here

Central Chapter is hosting its annual meeting, “Wellness From the Ground Up,” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., Jan. 14, at Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace, 609 13th Ave NE, Little Falls. The event includes a tour of the Sprout facility, lunch, and a panel discussion on the title topic. Cost is $10 for SFA members and $30 for nonmembers; the latter fee includes a one-year SFA membership. Click here to register. Info: central@sfa-mn.org.

Crow River Chapter is hosting its annual meeting from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 21, at Delano Senior Center, 234 2nd St N, Delano. Cost is $10 for current members and $20 for nonmembers. The meeting includes guest speakers Anne Borgendale, an artisanal cheesemaker; Lucie Amundsen, Locally Laid Eggs; and Greg Reynolds, Riverbend Farm. A potluck lunch is planned as well as a chapter update and panel discussion with the three speakers. Click here to register.

East Central Chapter is hosting its annual meeting from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Jan. 14 at Sharon & Bruce Johnson’s Minnesota Fresh Farm, 20241 Hwy 65 NE, East Bethel (located on the east side of Highway 65 at Klondike Dr). The agenda includes chapter officer review, budget update, chapter next steps, and a detailed discussion of ideas for community education regarding sustainable farming and SFA awareness. Bring a potluck breakfast/brunch item. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested for planning purposes. Click here to RSVP. Info: eastcentral@sfa-mn.org.

Greater Mille Lacs Chapter is hosting its annual meeting at 5 p.m. Sun., Jan. 29, at Hazelton Town Hall, 24248 U.S. Highway 169 (about 12 miles south of Aitkin). Free and open to all, the meeting includes a potluck and member renewal time, seed swap and “year in review” presentation, guest speaker, discussion about a possible signature event, board elections and a board meeting. No RSVP is required. Potential candidates for the chapter board should email their interest to greatermillelacs@sfa-mn.org by Jan. 15. Info: greatermillelacs@sfa-mn.org.

Lake Superior Chapter is hosting its annual meeting from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 28, at Peace Church, 1111 N 11th Ave E, Duluth. Topics to be covered include organic management of spotted wing drosophila, raising pigs, deep winter production, beekeeping, and more. This event is open to all and no preregistration is required. Cost: $15 at the door; lunch is included. Info: lakesuperior@sfa-mn.org.

Forage Council Winter Meeting is Jan. 24 in Staples

Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council is hosting its winter meeting, “Optimizing Forage and Nutrients in Livestock Production,” from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 24 at Central Lakes College, 1830 Airport Rd, Staples. 

Speakers will be Troy Salzer and Abe Mach. Salzer is a University of Minnesota Extension educator in Carlton County, who with his family operates Sandy Hills Ranch near Barnum running 300 cows and custom graze an additional 150 head. Mach of Mach Angus Ranch in Sturgeon Lake runs 200 breeding-age cows. Their presentation will discuss herd management, cover crops for grazing, pasture management, soil health, and optimizing forage management. 

Cost is $25/person and includes lunch. Click here to register. Info: foragecouncil@sfa-mn.org.

Minnesota Organic Conference is Thursday & Friday

The Minnesota Organic Conference is this Thursday and Friday, Jan. 12-13, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.

The event offers learning and networking opportunities for people new to organic production as well as folks who are old hands at it. Farmers, researchers, educators, consultants, and anyone else interested in organic issues is welcome. Registration is available online or at the door.

SFA will have a booth at the trade show; be sure to stop and say hello.

Cannon River Farmer Exchange Events Slated

Cannon River Chapter is again hosting its series of farmer-to-farmer exchange events in 2017. All events in the series are free and open to all, and no registration is required. The schedule:

  • Jan. 22 – Cooperatively Hiring Farm Workers: What if a few farmers could organize and provide workers with full-time work at 2-4 farms each week? A brainstorming session from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Simple Harvest Organics, 9800 155th St E, Nerstrand. 
  • Feb. 16 – Share lessons learned and progress made at Open Hands Farm, including root cellaring and food safety practices. Bring a dessert to share. Meeting is 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the farm, 4151 320th St W, Northfield. 
  • March 6 – Transplant Production for Vegetable Farms: Tips, tricks, and lessons on transplants and greenhouse production. Bring a potluck dish to share. Meeting is 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Sogn Valley Farm, 4830 360th St, Cannon Falls.

Info: cannonriver@sfa-mn.org.

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.

Support SFA With Amazon Smile

Did you know that you can donate to SFA through your Amazon purchases?

The AmazonSmile program donates a percentage of your purchase to the organization you choose. Simply bookmark SFA’s AmazonSmile homepage, and part of the dollars you spend on Amazon will go to support SFA. The percentage is small but not insignificant, especially if all SFA’ers use our AmazonSmile link when shopping.

SFA is a locally focused organization that advocates using your dollars in the community as much as possible. However, using Amazon now and again has become a near necessity, and this is a good way to feel a little better about it.

Check Your Membership & More on SFA Homepage

Ever wonder whether your SFA membership is current? Want to make a sustaining tax-deductible contribution to SFA? Forget what upcoming SFA events for which you registered? Our website has a new login feature that can provide answers to these questions. Create an account by clicking the login link at the upper right on our homepage. Then, once logged in, you can view your SFA membership, easily register for upcoming events, make a donation, and much more.

Click these links for how-to videos on creating an account and logging into your account. These and other videos are always available on our YouTube page.

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.

 

 

Also Noted

The 2015 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey: Designed to collect data related to the marketing of foods directly from farm producers to consumers or retailers who then sell directly to consumers, this survey, conducted in all 50 states, produced benchmark statistics on the number of farms that market food directly, the value of these direct sales, and the marketing practices used in conjunction with direct sales. The full report can be found at www.agcensus.usda.gov.

PFI Conference: Practical Farmers of Iowa is hosting its Annual Conference, “Pass It On,” Jan 20-21 in Ames, Iowa, that features a keynote address by three renowned Iowa farmers with decades of sustainable wisdom, 42 sessions on topics relevant to farmers of all types, eight networking sessions, and much more. All are welcome to attend. Info/registration: practicalfarmers.org

Registration is now open for the 2017 Organic Grain Production and Marketing Seminar: Two days of expert presentations, engaging panels, productive discussions, and plenty of time to meet other farmers interested in organic grain production in the Upper Midwest. Info/registration: http://ograin.bpt.me.

GAP Workshop: University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a Good Agricultural Practices workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 2, in Long Prairie. Learn how GAPs can minimize food safety risks with fresh produce, are good for business and getting new customers, and more. This workshop is intended for fruit and vegetable farmers. Cost is $15. Register at http://z.umn.edu/2017gaps. Info: Beth Berlin, adam0062@umn.edu

GrassWorks Grazing Conference: GrassWorks is hosting its 25th annual Grazing Conference, “Resilience Through Generations,” on Feb. 2-4, 2017, at Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. The event includes speakers Tom Frantzen, Joyce Turk, Jim Gerrish, and many more as well as live entertainment, full trade show, and demonstrations. To learn more and register, please visit www.grassworks.org.


 

 


 

        

 

  

   
       
       

    

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SFA Connect is your bi-weekly link to the Sustainable Farming Association

The Sustainable Farming Association is a chapter-based, statewide non-profit organization that supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation, demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking. If you, your farm or organization has any upcoming events that you would like posted on the SFA Community Calendar, email info@sfa-mn.org.

Sustainable Farming Association (SFA)
4924 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410
1.844.922.5573 • info@sfa-mn.org




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