MN Soil Health Coalition

Minnesota Soil Health Coalition Board Meeting
2021-12-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-11-02 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-10-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
We meet at the Pizza Ranch in Redwood Falls, MN the first Tuesday of every month from 10AM-12PM.

THE BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT
2021-12-06 - 2021-12-07
Our mission is to provide FARMER FIRST education, training, and networking to increase soil health and function, quality of life, and ROI.

Time & Location

Dec 06, 8:30 AM CST – Dec 07, 4:00 PM CST
Riverside Casino, 3184 IA-22, Riverside, IA 52327, USA

About the Event

THE BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT provides an expected 500 farmers, rural landowners, and ag industry members with a ground-up educational experience. While many conferences inspire and teach, THE BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT encourages and illuminates soil health practice adoption. It also provides practical boots-on-the-ground training for not only new farmers and early adopters of regenerative ag, but landowners and industry professionals as well.

Call December 3 at noon on marketing small grains
2021-12-03 12:00 - 13:00
Friday, December 3 | Noon – 1 p.m. CT

Small grain prices are looking good, but marketing isn’t as easy as with corn and soybeans. On our December shared learning call hear from Mike Schulist as he describes common challenges and opportunities for marketing small grains like oats and wheat for food and feed markets.

Mike is the marketer for NF Organics and the organic grain program manager at National Farmers Organization. He has been helping farmers market their organic grain for 14 years.

Come with your marketing questions! There will be information for both organic and conventional growers.

New! We’ll be convening on Zoom
To join by computer: click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83632167882
To join by phone: dial +1-312-626-6799 and enter meeting ID 836 3216 7882 followed by #

Cafe Chat
2021-12-02 09:30 - 12:00
Farmers, ag professionals, landowners and others interested are invited to two free Café Chats this week! Coffee and bakery goods will be provided free of charge.

The Chats will be focused on grazing woodlots, wooded acres in pastureland, and building natural shade and other forest products into existing pasture. Local farmers, SFA staff, U of MN Extension educators and others will provide management background and real-world experiences to help others get more from their wooded pasture acreage:
Thursday, December 2 | 9:30 AM-Noon | Cotton
This chat will highlight silvopasture opportunities in northern Minnesota, and include speakers Tyler Carlson, Tom Gervais, and Troy Salzer.

Building Resiliency: Farm and Ranch Profitability with Burke Teichert
2021-12-01 19:00
Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00 pm central
Take advantage of Burke’s vast experience on increasing farm and ranch profitability to fine tune your operation.

Cafe Chat
2021-12-01 09:00 - 11:00
Farmers, ag professionals, landowners and others interested are invited to two free Café Chats this week! Coffee and bakery goods will be provided free of charge.

The Chats will be focused on grazing woodlots, wooded acres in pastureland, and building natural shade and other forest products into existing pasture. Local farmers, SFA staff, U of MN Extension educators and others will provide management background and real-world experiences to help others get more from their wooded pasture acreage:
Wednesday, December 1 | 9 AM-Noon | Dundas
Speakers will include Gary Wyatt, Travis Bruce, Jake Langeslag, Brad Gordon, and Claire LaCanne.

Pomme de Terre River Annual Meeting
2021-11-30 18:00 - 19:30
The Pomme de Terre River Association is pleased to invite you to our annual meeting regarding the state of the Pomme de Terre River watershed on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Old No. 1 Southside Room in Morris, MN.

This annual meeting will be a chance for Pomme de Terre River partners to get an update on what’s been happening in the watershed recently, including the Drywood Creek Dam removal, soil health field days, and the completion of the Pomme de Terre River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. Steve Rosenzweig with General Mills will be joining us to give a guest talk on regenerative agriculture practices, and Paul Wymar from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will give an update on water monitoring efforts in the watershed. We will also provide dinner – a two-meat buffet with sides.

Please RSVP by November 23rd with your name and number of people attending to micayla.lakey@pdtriver.org. Space at the meeting is limited so please respond to reserve your spot. Feel free to contact me or your local SWCD office with any questions regarding the meeting.

[Webinar] Testing and Vetting Today’s Ag Biological Products
2021-11-24 10:00 - 12:00
Understanding how ag biologicals fit into your operation can be tough. There are so many products on the market today, and often times there’s not enough data associated with each one to enable farmers to make a confident adoption decision. Hear from two experts on how they ID biological companies and products that are worth testing and how they use small scale strip plots and commercial scale testing to validate biological products for their customer bases.
When: November 24 @ 10am Central
Click here to register for free.
Email Julia Gerlach at No-Till Farmer with any questions about the webinar.

Know to Grow: A webinar series for small farms and local foods producers
2021-11-18 16:00 - 17:00
Register at: z.umn.edu/know2grow
Join the University of Minnesota Extension for a four-part webinar series to help small Minnesota farms grow.
This webinar series will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m, November 15-18, 2021
The session topics are:

Thursday, November 18: Fitting in Food Safety with D&S Gardens and Untiedt’s – In this session, two very different farms will share their food safety stories. Why food safety matters to them and how they started growing their understanding. This session will offer ideas and insight to keep farms of all sizes providing safe and reliable food to your customers. Visit their website to learn more about their business: https://www.facebook.com/DSgardenspepin/ and https://www.untiedts.com/

Know to Grow: A webinar series for small farms and local foods producers
2021-11-17 16:00 - 17:00
Register at: z.umn.edu/know2grow
Join the University of Minnesota Extension for a four-part webinar series to help small Minnesota farms grow.
This webinar series will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m, November 15-18, 2021
The session topics are:

Wednesday, November 17: Product of the Farm: the legal side of things with Jane Jewett from Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) – This session will provide you with resources on how to successfully navigate the legal side of marketing your products. (Minnesota specific) Visit their website to learn more about their business: https://www.misa.umn.edu/

Navigating Farm Financial Risks for Beginning Specialty Produce and Livestock Farmers
2021-11-16 18:30 - 20:00
Have you wondered if you were being protected by your current marketing contracts? Do you know about risk management products and relief programs?
In this risk mitigation webinar hosted by Land Stewardship Project you will have the opportunity to dive into Marketing Contracts, Whole Farm Revenue Protection, Relief Program Updates and ask your specific legal questions.
Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG) attorneys Stephen Carpenter and Lindsay Kuehn will offer their legal expertise to help beginning and specialty crop and livestock farmers mitigate risk. Working from existing marketing contracts, Stephen and Lindsay will highlight strengths and weaknesses of contracts; provide an overview of Whole Farm Revenue Protection policies that can provide protection for some diverse farmers. Some time will be spent updating information about state and federal relief programs. There will also be time at the end for individual legal questions.
If you have any questions please contact Karen Stettler at 507-458-0349.

Know to Grow: A webinar series for small farms and local foods producers
2021-11-16 16:00 - 17:00
Register at: z.umn.edu/know2grow
Join the University of Minnesota Extension for a four-part webinar series to help small Minnesota farms grow.
This webinar series will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m, November 15-18, 2021
The session topics are:

Tuesday, November 16: From On-farm Sales to Nationwide: marketing your farm on all scales – Becky Swenson. Swenson Gardens is a renowned peony-producing farm. In addition to their impressive intersectional hybrids, Keith and Becky Swenson have taken advantage of different markets to build a successful business. Join this session to learn more about marketing a farm on both small and large scales. Visit their website to learn more about their business: https://swensongardens.com/

Planning for Success When Reducing Tillage
2021-11-16 14:00 - 15:00
What to expect when reducing tillage
Before you can know if reducing – or eliminating – tillage is right for your fields, start with what success would look like and how to measure it. Start considering your options – what to expect, how to prepare, and when to begin the transition – at Indigo’s next soil health webinar, Planning for Success When Reducing Tillage. You will hear from an agronomist and two no-till farmers on the strategies to set you up for success. You will also learn:

Important equipment and agronomic considerations when making the transition
Resources for planter set-up, changes in herbicide program, and residue management
How Carbon by Indigo can help you start generating new revenue with high-quality carbon credits

Good Grass: The many benefits of grazing to birds, bees, family and farm
2021-11-16 12:00 - 13:30
This fall Grassland 2.0 is hosting a 4-part Digital Dialogue focusing on the question – What are healthy agroecosystems? The series will explore the different aspects that make up a healthy agroecosystems and the benefits these systems have on people, farms, communities and the land.
The Digital Dialogues will be held on the third Tuesday of the month from 12:00 – 1:30 PM CT this fall, with the exception of December which will be held on the first Tuesday of the month.
The line-up includes:

Tuesday, September 21st from 12-1:30PM CT
Dan Smith, President and CEO of Cooperative Network
Broken Ground: The Changing Culture of America’s Dairyland
View the recording
Tuesday, October 19th from 12-1:30PM CT
Stephan van Vliet, nutrition scientist and metabolomics expert at the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University
Understanding the Linkages between Animal and Human Health: A Metabolomics Approach?
View the recording
UP NEXT: Tuesday, November 16th from 12-1:30PM CT
Thelma Heidel-Baker, entomologist, outdoor educator and organic grazing farmer at Bossie Cow Farm
Good Grass: The many benefits of grazing to birds, bees, family and farm
The November 16th edition of the Digital Dialogue will feature Thelma Heidel-Baker. Thelma is an entomologist, outdoor educator, and organic grazing farmer. Thelma has extensive science & research experience working in sustainable agriculture and conservation. She is an entomologist by training and has worked for Iowa State University Extension and The Xerces Society providing technical advice on beneficial insect conservation. She currently works for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a soil conservationist. Thelma is also a grazing farmer, and she brings wildlife conservation onto Bossie Cow Farm, her family’s grass-based dairy farm. She farms with her husband, Ricky, and their two young kids near Random Lake, Wisconsin.
Register for the third digital dialogue coming up on Tuesday, November 16th on “Good Grass: The many benefits of grazing to birds, bees, family and farm” below and you will be emailed the access link. Space is limited so be sure to book your spot!

Know to Grow: A webinar series for small farms and local foods producers
2021-11-15 16:00 - 17:00
Register at: z.umn.edu/know2grow
Join the University of Minnesota Extension for a four-part webinar series to help small Minnesota farms grow.
This webinar series will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m, November 15-18, 2021
The session topics are:

Monday, November 15: Building a Business: Finding Your Niche – Brady Wulf is the youngest of his family and the last to return to the family ranch; Clear Springs Cattle Company. Understanding the fragility of our current food system, Brady wanted to ensure his communities would always have access to quality protein, direct from the farm. Join this session to learn more about how to build a business and expand opportunities for all family members. Visit their website to learn more about their business: https://www.clearspringsmarket.com/

Insurance for Food Safety Liability on Direct Market Farms: The good, the bad, and the ugly reality
2021-11-04 13:00 - 14:00
Insurance for Food Safety Liability on Direct Market Farms: The good, the bad, and the ugly reality.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
2pm Eastern / 1pm Central / Noon Mountain / 11am Pacific
FREE

It’s every direct market farmer’s worst fear: Someone gets hurt from the food they produced. Good risk management suggests we control the legal outcomes of liability and financial responsibility by getting a good insurance policy. But… Do the insurance policies farmers buy actually cover the food safety incidents that keep them up at night?
Join this webinar for a discussion of how farm insurance policies appear to cover (or not cover) common concerns such as e. coli contamination or foreign objects. We’ll show actual policy language that can help insurance sleuths get a bead on their own policies. We’ll also discuss strategies for sourcing the best policy possible. To wrap it up, we’ll cover ways to develop resilience through the tremendous uncertainty that is food safety insurance for the direct market farmer.

Sign up Here. FREE

Goat and Sheep Webinar Feeding for the Age and Stage of Production
2021-11-04 10:00 - 12:00
Cologne, Minn. (10/20/2021) — Due to drought conditions across much of Minnesota, many goat and sheep producers will find it necessary to take a closer look at the economics, nutritional content and availability of feedstuffs to better manage their herd and flocks’ nutritional needs throughout the winter season. The University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a webinar on Thursday, November 4, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until noon to discuss the nutritional requirements of small ruminants at every age and stage of growth and reproduction. Farmers, 4-Hers, veterinarians, nutritionists, and hobby farmers are invited to attend.
Feedstuffs, grain and forage can vary in nutritional quality especially in a drought year. It may be necessary to test feed stuffs and provide supplements to meet the additional energy and protein requirements of a balanced diet for goats and sheep at each stage of growth.
Laura Kieser of Dairyland Labs will give an overview of testing feedstuffs for nutritional content along with sampling tips. Kieser will discuss how near infrared (NIR) and wet chemistry analytical testing is used to assure accurate and timely quality evaluations of feeds and why molds and mycotoxin reduce palatability of feeds and grain.
Phil Berg, Lamb and Wool Instructor at Minnesota West Community and Technical College will lend his many years of experience of working with sheep producers to discuss why the nutrient requirements differ based on age, stage of production, weight, breed type, and the environment.
The webinar will also feature a producer spotlight, Noah and Sara Van Beck from Stearns County sharing their experience with raising 600 nannies and marketing goats in Minnesota. Finally, attendees are asked to participate in a panel discussion with Laura Kieser, Phil Berg and Troy Salzer, Extension Educator, St. Louis County on the special feeding considerations and availability of alternative feedstuffs.
Pre-registration is required. Register at: z.umn.edu/TCGoat21
The Zoom link will be emailed to you immediately after you register. If you are unable to attend the live session, you will receive the recording via email. Any questions please contact: Brenda Miller at nels4220@umn.edu or Colleen Carlson at traxl042@umn.edu

SFA Cafe Chat
2021-11-04 09:00 - 12:00
At a November 4th Café Chat in Motley, local SFA farmer members and staff will provide management background and real-world experiences to help you get more from your pasture acreage.
Speakers: Jim Chamberlin, Kent Solberg, Judy and Harry Worm, Vickie Kettlewell and Greg Booth.
All are welcome to attend. We will chat from 9 AM to noon. Coffee and bakery goods provided. Registration encouraged, walk-ups welcome.
Address: Bricks Cafe/Travel Center meeting room, 265 US-10 #1, Motley, MN 56466

New Farmer U
2021-10-29 12:30 - 16:30
New Farmer U covers farm financial and business management for intermediate beginning farmers—3-6 years of farming experience—or anyone who is ready to plan for future success. See the full program schedule below.
We will follow state and local COVID recommendations at the time of the event.
Space could be limited. Register today to reserve your place!

Mower County Soil Health Field Day
2021-10-29 09:30 - 13:00
FRIDAY
Oct. 29, 2021
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost: FREE with lunch provided
(RSVP REQUIRED by Oct. 28, 2021)
Email: tim@mowerdistrict.org
Phone: (507) 434-2603 ext. 5
Location: Terry & Cindy Hamilton Farm
18890 660th Ave., Adams, MN (See map)
Mower County Soil Health Field Day 2021 (2)
Topics:
Cover crop establishment in corn/soybean rotation
Strip tillage
Soil health topics
Results of local and statewide soil health studies
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Registration and Refreshments 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM. – Field tour of soils, cover crops, strip tillage 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM – Discussion with Hamilton Family 11:15 AM- 11:45 AM – Presentations • Anna Cates – University of Minnesota Extension o Principals of soil health o Statewide soil health study • Hava Blair – University of Minnesota Graduate Research Assistant o Mower County soil health study from local farms o Biological and physical tests for soil health o Impact of soil health management • Steve Lawler – Mower SWCD o Soils of Mower County 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM – Meet Partners in Soil Health • Mn Soil Health Coalition • Freeborn Soil Health Team • Northern Country Coop • Mn Dept. Agriculture • Soil Health 101 Training • Sustainable Farming Association • Sand County Foundation • Mower SWCD 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch (RSVP NEEDED TO GUARANTEE LUNCH)

Soil Carbon Plus: Additional Benefits to Restoring Grasslands
2021-10-27 12:00 - 12:30
Although carbon drawdown may be hard to visualize, a mention of flooding immediately brings to mind images of submerged houses during Hurricane Harvey and dramatic flash floods through Europe. These events cause catastrophic damage to homes and businesses.

But what does flooding have to do with the soil carbon credit market and why are we talking about it?
Grassroots Carbon Presents: “Soil Carbon Plus: Additional Benefits to Restoring Grasslands” A free webinar featuring Dr. Matthew Berg on Wednesday, October 27, 12-12:30 PM CST

Join the webinar to learn more about

How restoring soil health can restore the water cycle
Natural flood prevention through soil
The intersection of policy with climate changes related to soil and flooding
And more!

Register Today

Learn more about our special guest Dr. Berg

Dr. Matthew Berg is the CEO and Principal Scientist of Simfero, a science-based consulting firm based in Houston. After Hurricane Harvey, Matthew briefed the U.S. congressional delegation from Texas about flooding and extreme rainfall. His research was also cited in the first ever Texas State Flood Assessment for the State Legislature. Dr. Berg completed his doctoral studies in watershed science at Texas A&M University as part of a USDA program to train the next generation of science leaders.

Prior to that, he worked with Texas A&M AgriLife on stakeholder-driven watershed planning projects. Dr. Berg has been named a Future Leader in Science by the Soil Science Society of America and has received awards for policy work from the Ecological Society of America.

Adaptive Grazing for Oak Savanna Management Field Day
2021-10-22 09:00 - 14:00
Friday, October 22 | 9 AM–2 PM | Zimmerman
This free field day will be held at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Staff will give an overview of the Refuge and oak savanna management, followed by a visit to University of Minnesota research plots and review of the Refuge’s grazing management in recent years.
Lunch will be provided. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to be outside all day and dressed for the weather. We will be touring several sites around the refuge that will require walking short distances. Register here.
Presenters include:

Kent Solberg, SFA Senior Technical Advisor
Gary Wyatt, University of Minnesota Extension
Austin Yantes, University of Minnesota Graduate Research Assistant, Natural Resource Science Management
Doug Voss, SFA Grazing Lead
Tyler Carlson, SFA Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead

This field day is funded by the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. The event is part of a join effort between the University of Minnesota Extension, SFA, Great River Greening, and the Center for Integrated Natural Resource Agricultural Management.

Oak Savanna and Silvopasture Volunteer Day
2021-10-14 14:00 - 18:00
Thursday, October 14 | 2-6 PM | Howard Lake
Get hands on with silvopasture and oak savanna restoration at Living Song Farm! This event is tailored for volunteers to help a farmer transition some acres to a silvopasture oak savanna system. Volunteers will get experience planting oaks, spreading prairie/oak savanna seed, pulling buckthorn, and learning about silvopasture and oak savanna restoration. There will also be discussion on grazing and fencing.
This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, tools and training provided. Find more details and registration here.
Sponsored by Great River Greening, co-sponsored by SFA, the University of Minnesota Extension, and CINRAM.

Economics of Soil Health Systems on 100 Farms
2021-09-30 12:00 - 13:00
Farmers and ranchers are businesspeople, and the questions that often present the most significant barrier to the adoption of soil health management systems pertain to the business case. The Soil Health Institute interviewed 100 farmers in 9 states who have adopted soil health systems and used partial budget analysis to evaluate their economics and answer the following question: Do soil health practices increase or reduce profitability?
This webinar will provide an overview summary of the economics assessed across 100 farms and is supported through the generosity of Cargill.
Register at: https://soilhealthinstitute-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9b2n2zxxSgu-XHFbLdQKnA

Soil Health Field Day
2021-09-30 09:00 - 12:00
Address: Jeff Koehn Farm
25737 County 8
Long Prairie, MN 56347

Free Meal Included

Agenda:

· 9:00 Introductions, purpose of meeting by Todd SWCD – Cover Crop grant
· 9:05 Grant Brietkreutz, General Soil Health, Integrating Livestock and Chemical precautions
· 10:15- Q & A and Soil Health Cover Crop/ Soil simulator compaction, water tests- Stretch your legs! Check out Jeff’s first time cover!
· 10:45-11:15- Osakis Creamery- Emily Middendorf and RJ Dykema- Local Soil Health Successes and Agassiz
· 11:15 Q & A for Osakis Creamery as long as interest holds up- can do some demos after as well.

Contact Mark Gutierrez at 505-980-1360 or Deja Anton at 320-732-2644 to register.

Field Day: Grazing and Forest Management as Regenerative Ag
2021-09-28 15:00 - 19:00
Time & Location

Sep 28, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT
Holm Girl’s Dairy, E10025 690th Ave, Elk Mound, WI 54739, USA

About the Event

Join us for a pasture walk with organic farmer and conservationist Mariann Holm. She will be covering pasture renewal, grazing as conservation, and grazing livestock on pasture with trees. NRCS staff will join us, and talk about how NRCS programs have benefitted Mariann’s farm. Connect with women farmer and landowners, and learn and see how soil regenerates through pasture rotation and renewal. Examples of interseeding to increase biomass through the NRCS CSP program, and tree harvest to improve woodlands, also supported through NRCS.

Box supper provided

Building Resiliency Webinar
2021-09-23 19:00 - 21:00
Join Gabe Brown and Shane New at 7 p.m. Central time on Thursday, Sept. 23 as they discuss the relationship between water, carbon and biology, in Understanding Ag’s “Building Resiliency” free webinar series.
Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N4t8_Ql9RCuv0DpEiBu1VA

Adaptive Grazing Field Day (Paynesville)
2021-09-21 15:00 - 19:00
This field day will focus on:
-Adaptive Grazing
-Fence and Water Infrastructure
-Bale Grazing

Registration required. Free and open to all!

Address: Voss Farms, 27725 Business 23 E Paynesville, MN 56362
