Herb Project Field Day Coming Up June 24 in Hutchinson; Learn Marketing and Growing Tips from Herb Specialist

The SFA Herb Project intends to increase the supply of locally produced herbs, improve the operational efficiency of Minnesota herb production, reduce the barriers to bringing new products to market, and generally strengthen the local herb industry.

Next in this effort is a Herb Project field day, “Growing & Marketing Herbs,” set for 9 a.m.-noon Sat., June 24, at The Lamb Shoppe, 61231 Highway 7 W, Hutchinson. As part of this event, SFA Herb Specialist Connie Karstens (right) will conduct a tour of her herb plots and on-farm market as well as give a presentation on herb marketing. Snacks, music, and networking are included. 

This event is free, but please register here for planning purposes. Casual attire encouraged and dress for the weather; follow parking signs off Highway 7.

The next and final programs for the Herb Project will take place Aug. 12 at Minnesota Garlic Festival, where Connie will lead a presentation for consumers and retailers on the benefits and uses of local herbs. In addition, an exhibit area at the festival will include everything you ever wanted to know about growing and using the wide array of herbs and spices available in Minnesota.

Info: jerry@sfa-mn.org. 

Apply Now for SFA Winter Sustainability Conference Internships

SFA is offering internship positions for Winter 2017-18 in conjunction with our two February events, the SFA Annual Conference and the Midwest Soil Health Summit.

All internships will involve at-home, non-residency work collaborating with one of the event coordinators, plus onsite work at both conferences. Interns will learn the finer details of nonprofit sustainability event production, attend conference sessions on a wide variety of topics and meet leaders in the sustainable agriculture movement.

Application deadline is July 15, 2017. Download the application HERE. Questions? Jerry Ford, jerry@sfa-mn.org.

From the Executive Director: Join or Renew Today and Help Protect Our Food-Producing Resources 

By Theresa Keaveny

You may recently have received an invitation to renew or become a member of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. Your membership dues provide critical support, and I hope you will join SFA's network of farmers, eaters, ag professionals, businesspeople, food systems advocates and conservationists who are dedicated to protecting our food-producing resources.

SFA is an inclusive organization that provides hands-on tools so all farmers can be profitable stewards of our air, land and water. We connect people who are doing innovative, cutting-edge farm work and who raise, distribute and sell a better, safer, tastier product. SFA protects our rivers, lakes and streams, our soil, and the insects, birds, fish and wildlife needed for a diverse, healthy ecosystem.

Membership dues support this mission as well as programs like our Soil Health Network, which counts over 1,000 people dedicated to the principles of soil health. Our Midwest Soil Health Summit unites researchers, producers, farm businesses and ag professionals to share information, challenge conventional thinking, conduct innovative research and build relationships. Want details? Visit our Soil Health Portal or dig in at one of our "Dirt Rich" field days with Dr. Allen Williams this August (registration coming soon; email jason@sfa-mn.org and get an alert when it goes live). 

SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg is a fount of practical, hands-on knowledge on incorporating profit-focused soil health principles into farming operations. His work in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture helped launch the innovative Cropland Grazing Exchange, which is just one example of how the production agriculture paradigm is beginning to shift.

Graduates of SFA's Deep Roots Farmer Development Program are becoming the successful producers and marketers of tomorrow, thanks to excellent training and support from Kent, Sue Wika and Tom Prieve. This program also contributes to the emerging paradigm shift.

Your SFA membership dues support impactful SFA programs like these and move our region toward a cleaner, sustainable future.

If this isn't reason enough to join SFA, there's always fun! The Minnesota Garlic Festival (Aug. 12, Hutchinson) is an amazing community event showcasing world-class garlic and local food. And don't miss our two new signature events: Farm2Families, hosted by Greater Mille Lacs Chapter on Aug. 26 in Aitkin; or Minnesota Salsa Fest, hosted by SFA Central Chapter on Sept. 16 in Long Prairie.

Foster a paradigm shift toward sustainable agriculture and vibrant rural communities. Join or renew your SFA membership today.

‘Dirt Rich’ With Dr. Allen Williams Returns Aug. 8-11

Featuring renowned livestock specialist Dr. Allen Williams, SFA is proud to host a pair of two-day “Dirt Rich” soil health events: Aug. 8-9 in Faribault and Aug. 10-11 in Blue Earth.

Dr. Williams has thrice been a featured speaker at SFA’s Midwest Soil Health Summit and at last year’s “Dirt Rich” field days (right). He is a champion of the grass-fed beef industry as well as a leader in cutting-edge grazing methodology. He currently is Co-Project Leader of the Pasture Project, of which SFA is a part.

These field days are a golden opportunity to learn directly from leading soil health and livestock experts as well as producers.

Watch for registration details in SFA Connect, or email jason@sfa-mn.org if you’d like to be sent registration information when it becomes available.  

2018 SFA Conference Voting Now Open & Other Tidbits

The 2018 SFA Conference will be next Feb. 10 at St. Ben’s. Do you have feedback on the date or time? The night-before social hour? Do you know people we should invite? Give us a holler at info@sfa-mn.org, or look for a survey in the coming weeks.

The online survey tool for the 2018 Annual Conference is now live! Enter your session topic ideas and vote on your favorites right on the AC homepage.

SAVE THE DATE: The Midwest Soil Health Summit will return to Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls on Feb. 14-15, 2018. 

Garlic Growers Hosting Tours of Award-Winning Operations in Red Wing, West Concord

The Upper Midwest Garlic Growers, an SFA networking group, is presenting tours of two award-winning garlic operations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 1 that starts at Hawk’s Brain Garlic, 32742 200th Avenue, Red Wing and finishes at Coffman Garlic & Apples, 56115 120th Ave, West Concord. 

At 10 a.m., we will meet at Hawk's Brain Garlic near Red Wing, where Susan Johnson (right) has been growing garlic for 20 years. With a wide range of varieties in her repertoire, Hawk's Brain Garlic has repeatedly won awards in the Garlic Growing Contest at Minnesota Garlic Festival. 

After a potluck lunch in Red Wing, we'll drive to Coffman Garlic & Apples near West Concord, where Maria and Tom Coffman (right) grow nine varieties of softneck & hardneck garlic as well as Honeycrisp apples. The Coffmans sell their garlic at Minnesota Garlic Festival, where they won Best in Show in 2017.

This event is free but an RSVP is required here. Please bring a dish for the potluck. Info: garlicgrowers@sfa-mn.org or 763.244.6659.

Cover Crop & Soil Health Webinar With Dr. Scotty Wells is June 12

Join SFA and Dr. Scotty Wells, a two-time speaker at our Midwest Soil Health Summit, for a free soil health webinar, “Filling the Void: Strategies for Improved Sustainability,” from 11 a.m. to noon Mon., June 12. This webinar, held in cooperation with The Pasture Project, will discuss Dr. Wells’ work on soil health, cover crops, new opportunities, new cash crops, and more. To register, email wayne@sfa-mn.org.

Forage Council Hosting Three Upcoming Events: June 16-17 in Brainerd; June 27 in Bluffton; Aug. 25 in Staples

The Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council, a networking group of the Sustainable Farming Association is hosting three upcoming soil health events this summer: June 16-17 in Brainerd; June 27 in Bluffton, and Aug. 25 in Staples. All are open to the public.

First, the Forage Council is partnering with U. of M. Extension, Happy Dancing Turtle, and Minnesota NRCS to jointly host a Silvopasture Workshop, Walk and Tour on June 16-17 in Brainerd & Fort Ripley, Minn. Silvopasture is a sustainable agroforestry practice where trees and forage crops are grown together in a single piece of land, and managed grazing animals are introduced into the system to utilize the forages. Click here for more information and to register, or contact Jim Chamberlin at jchamberlin@hugllc.com.

Second is a free tour from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 27 at the Steve and Sue Flanagan Farm, 36554 620th Ave, Bluffton. View cover crop applications, pasture management, results from outwintering and low-cost interseeding with cattle, and pasture renovation. No RSVP is required. Info: Kent Solberg at kent@sfa-mn.org. 

Next is another free tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 25 (note date correction) at Central Lakes College, 26505 Country Road 2, Staples. Attend an open house at the CLC agricultural center and tour of its Byron Township site – the Forage Council-sponsored portion is a part of the larger SFA Soil Health Network event detailed below. Attend all or part of the day’s events. Info: Jim Chamberlin at jchamberlin@hugllc.com.

Soil Health Network Event: Field Day, Aug. 25, Staples

Central Lakes College Ag and Energy Center is hosting a Field Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 25 at 26505 County Road 2, Staples. This event includes the Forage Council-sponsored tour noted above as well as additional programming.

Join CLC researchers as they highlight the many different aspects of research and community/industry partners connected with the center. Planned are demonstrations on water quality and agronomic research, irrigation, local foods integration, children’s programming, drone demonstration, tractor rides, forage and pasture tours, and more. Lunch is included.

This SFA Soil Health Network event is free, but an RSVP is requested here.
Info: hbarrett@clcmn.edu. Click here to download an event flyer.

Greater Mille Lacs Meeting, Farm Tour, 'Farm2Families'

SFA Greater Mille Lacs Chapter is hosting a farm tour & potluck from 4 to 7 p.m. July 8 at Maple Ridge Farm, 29555 380th Ave, Aitkin. Open to all, this fun event will include discussion and plenty of farmer networking. This event is free and no RSVP is required.

Also, the chapter is hosting a community event, Farm2Families, from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Heimark Farm, 33683 Dove St, Aitkin. The full program is still being discussed, but should include farm demonstrations, food, entertainment, kids activities and a farm store. Save the date and watch for more information here in SFA Connect. 

Info: greatermillelacs@sfa-mn.org.

Save the Date: Salsa Fest is Sept. 16, 2017

Big plans are under way! Minnesota Salsa Fest, the new signature event from SFA Central Chapter, is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16, 2017, at the Todd County Fairgrounds, 215 1st Ave SE, Long Prairie.

Come celebrate all things related to salsa and enjoy local farm vendors, workshops, music, food, and a salsa contest. Cost is $5/person.

If you are interested in being a vendor at this event, or for more information, contact central@sfa-mn.org.

Applications Available for Garlic Festival Vendors

Want to sell your products to a crowd of 3,000-plus at the state's stinkiest festival? Vendor Applications can be found here. Vendor fee discounts for SFA members!

Minnesota Garlic Festival is Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

From the Farm Transitions Network: Don't Have a Farming Heir? Check Out These Resources

By Teresa Opheim • Senior Fellow, Renewing the Countryside

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.

• Join the new farm transitions discussion list!  Click here to sign up.
• 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.

New Allen Williams Webinar Available

A new webinar with Dr. Allen Williams, "Cattle, Cover Crops & Hope," is now archived on our website. Dr. Williams covers basic principles of cover crop/livestock integration, how to implement adaptive grazing practices using temporary fencing technology, real-life farm case studies showing results of cover crop/livestock impact, soil health and ecosystem benefits, and new biological soil testing analytical methods in this webinar from The Pasture Project and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Check This Out

• Two time MSHS speaker Ryan Stockwell co-authored this opinion column for Agri-Pulse: “Crop Insurance Rules Hinder Soil Health.”
• A new resource from IA State for those looking to rent pasture for cattle, this fact sheet outlines considerations for both landowners and renters when negotiating yearly or long-term grazing-land leases.
• The public safety side of soil health: A dust storm caused a traffic fatality in Illinois.
• More good news for cover crops and increasing diversity in the crop rotation in this column from The Progressive Farmer.

Annual Conference Photo Feature

Photographer extraordinaire Crystal Liepa once again documented our 2017 Annual Conference, held Feb. 11, 2017, at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. To learn more about Crystal, visit her website.

Also Noted

Specialty Crops Event: The U of M Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships welcomes you to a new and exciting public forum highlighting U of M developed and improved specialty crops. The event, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26, will be held at the Cargill Building on the St. Paul campus. Anyone interested in learning more about agricultural innovation happening at the University of Minnesota should attend. RSVP here.

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