‘Dirt Rich' Discussion Topics: Bio-Profile Analysis, How to Build a Paddock, Soil Characteristics, & Much More

Dr. Allen Williams and SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg have developed the classroom outline for our upcoming “Dirt Rich: Building Soil Health Experts” events, which include separate two-day sessions: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8-9 in Faribault and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 10-11 in Blue Earth. Each day begins with a classroom portion followed by a field trip to a local farm.

During the series, Allen (right) and Kent will discuss:

• What is soil health and how can we influence?
• Soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics
• Use and benefits of cover crops
• Livestock integration and adaptive grazing
• Field visit of three fields under different management
• Soil health indicators and monitoring tools
• Soil Bio-profile Analysis and what it looks like in the field
• View examples of cover crops, reduced tillage and seeding techniques
• Grazing paddock size, design, fencing and water systems
• How to build a paddock

The 2017 “Dirt Rich” series consists of separate two-day sessions – the same workshops held in two different regional locations. To register, choose one or the other.

The cost for each two-day session is $80 for SFA members and $100 for nonmembers. Lunch is included.

• Click here to register for Faribault.
• Click here to register for Blue Earth.

Info: Visit our "Dirt Rich" homepage, or contact Wayne Monsen at wayne@sfa-mn.org or 1.844.922.5573 Ext. 712.

This event is sponsored by NCR-SARE, The Pasture Project, Minnesota Dairy Initiative, Faribault County SWCD, University of Minnesota Extension-Rice County, CommonSense Energy, Cannon River Watershed Partnership, and Albert Lea Seed.

• Scholarships available: A limited number of "Dirt Rich" scholarships geared toward ag service professionals are available. To apply, fill out this form.

Deadline Approaching for SFA Winter Sustainability Conference Internship Applications

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.

Soil Health Webinar June 30 With Kent Solberg; Scotty Wells Webinar Now in Archive

SFA hosted a soil health webinar June 30 with Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg, "Soil health for wildlife and fisheries managers: Why should we (or I) care?" 

That, along with a webinar we hosted June 21 with Dr. Scotty Wells, "Filling the Void: Strategies for Improved Sustainability,” is now available at our webinar homepage. 

From the Executive Director: Soil Health Can Fix Modern Agriculture 

By Theresa Keaveny

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.

To continue reading, click here.

Solberg on Soil: Cover Crop Videos Worth Watching

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!

2018 SFA Conference Voting Now Open & Other Tidbits

The 2018 SFA Conference will be next Feb. 10 at St. Ben’s and 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. 

From the Farm Transitions Network: A New Homepage

SFA, Renewing the Countryside and Practical Farmers of Iowa have committed to helping farmers and farm-land owners navigate transition issues for their business and assets. Senior fellow Teresa Opheim (right) has written extensively on the topic, and now her work is collected at SFA's revamped Farm Transitions homepage. Check it out here and watch SFA Connect for future Transitions content from Teresa.

Solberg Speaking at SWROC Organic Field Day

SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg will be a presenter at the annual Southwest Research and Outreach Center Organic Field Day, set for 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Wed., July 12, at SWROC, 23669 130th St, Lamberton.

The event will start with a tradeshow and field tour of organic research projects at the SWROC including cover crops, alternative crops, small grain production, and tunnel vegetable production. After lunch, keynote presentations will begin, including Solberg’s session, “Soil Health & Livestock Production/Cropland Grazing Exchange.” In addition, presentations include “Tools for successful farming” with Amy Bacigalupo and Robin Moore from Land Stewardship Project; and “Grazing dairy steers on two different cover cropping systems” with Dr. Brad Heins, University of Minnesota.

Cost is $30 and includes lunch. Click here to register by July 5. Info: swroc.cfans.umn.edu or 507.752.5063.

Garlic Festival Tickets Now Available Online

For the first time in its history, SFA’s Minnesota Garlic Festival is offering online ticket sales. Buy now and get waved through the gate like a VIP at the festival, which is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 12 at the McLeod County Fairgrounds, 840 Century Ave SW, Hutchinson. The infamous Garlic Festival 2-for-1 is still available online, too. 

Click here to buy your Garlic Festival tickets today!

Regulars to the Garlic Festival know that it has a reputation for being a bit off-the-wall and quirky – like garlic. If you'd like to read how the new online ticket feature was announced in their newsletter, The Stinky News, you can see the latest edition here. If you would like to subscribe to The Stinky News, send an email saying so to Jerry Ford, jerry@sfa-mn.org.

Silvopasture Workshop is Aug. 4-5 in Driftless Region

If you missed the Silvopasture workshop SFA co-sponsored in early June near Brainerd, fear not: Another event showcasing this regenerative, innovative farming method is set for Aug. 4-5 in Soldier Grove, Wis., and La Crescent, Minn. 

Hosted by U. of Minnesota and U. of Wisconsin Extension, the workshop will begin with an optional tour Aug. 4 of a silvopasture trial, followed by dinner and a networking session. On Aug. 5, the program includes presentations on silvopasture establishment and management, a tour of Hoch Orchard and its hog silvopasture, and visits to two additional farms using the practice. 

Cost is $45 for both days, $30 for just Saturday or $20 for just Friday. Info/registration: https://www.regonline.com/SilvopastureWS.

Forage Council Hosting Aug. 25 Tour in Staples

The Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council, a networking group of the Sustainable Farming Association is hosting a free tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 25 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.

Check This Out

• Beef Magazine extensively quotes Allen Williams in this article. A sample from Allen: “I try very hard not to settle into a set system or rigid routine. That is where we make mistakes with grazing and soil health response.”
• The Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group has announced its new Grazing Educator Slide Library, available here with access to webinars by top grazing educators.
• The Stockman Grass Farmer, established in 1977 by grazing pioneer Allan Nation, has named Joel Salatin as Editor. Salatin, a former speaker at the SFA Annual Conference, and his family operate Polyface Farms in Swoope, Va., and raise food for more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets and a farmers' market. With Joel’s can-do solutions promoting local, regenerative food and profitable farming systems, The Stockman Grass Farmer will continue to serve as the informational foundation for a healthy planet and people through profitable grass-based livestock production. For a free sample issue, SFA Connect readers may call 1-800-748-9808 or visit www.stockmangrassfarmer.com. Issues will also be available at our "Dirt Rich" events.

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

Solar Farm Demonstration: Pastures A Plenty and the Boike farm are sponsoring a field day featuring their solar and wind installations from 1-4 p.m. July 15. This event is free and open to the public. The event begins at Pastures A Plenty, 4077 110th Ave NE, Kerkhoven, with a short presentation by Solar Farm, the contractor for the solar installation and an SFA Patron, and the Citizens Utility Board will offer energy bill consultations. The group will then caravan to the Boike farm, 2050 40th Ave SE, Maynard, to view their installation. Info: 320-367-2061.

Barley Seminar: The University of Minnesota has an active center for barley research and is hosting an event from 2 to 5 p.m. July 13 to visit with UM researchers, learn about barley research, and see field experiments on campus. RSVP by July 10 for this free event here. 

Funding Opportunity: Iroquois Valley Farms, an organization working to get farmland to the next generation, has already provided refinancing and/or mortgage funding for several Minnesota farmers as well as the Main Street Project in Northfield. Iroquois Valley Farms starts with the farmer, who brings the company opportunities to purchase or provide financing for land. The company is focused primarily on land that is certified organic or will be transitioned to organic production. Info: iroquoisvalleyfarms.com or Arnie Lau at alau@iroquoisvalleyfarms.com or 847-859-6645.

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