MN Soil Health Coalition

Fence Options for Grazing Cover Crops and Corn Residue: Paynesville
2020-10-13 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Paynesville
SFA’s ongoing Dirt Rich work continues this summer with four in-person events that, like our corresponding podcast, feature expert knowledge and farm information focused on the Five Principles of Soil Health and especially, in the case of these events, livestock integration.

Each event will be led by SFA Senior Technical Advisor Kent Solberg and the accompanying SFA staff farmer host. These in-person events will be limited to 10 participants each to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines. Registration is free for current SFA members and $40/nonmembers. SFA recommends bringing face masks to its events.

This workshop, Oct. 13 – “Fence Options for Grazing Cover Crops and Corn Residue,” is set for 1-4 p.m. Tues., Oct. 13, at Doug Voss Family Farm, 27725 Business 23 E, Paynesville.

NCAT Webinar Series: Federal Assistance for Natural Resource Conservation on Working Lands
2020-10-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2020-09-24 15:00 - 16:00
Webinar Series Explains Access to Federal Assistance for Natural Resource Conservation on Working Lands
Webinar Part 1: The Overview – Thursday, September 17
Webinar Part 2: The Process – Thursday, September 24
Webinar Part 3: Deep Dive – Thursday, October 8
This is a webinar series supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and its ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program.
Farmers and ranchers nationwide will have access to billions of dollars in federal assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) to maintain and begin critical conservation efforts on their farms and ranches that benefit us all. How is access to these resources determined?
In 2020 a new tool called the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) was introduced by NRCS. It uses a conservation program neutral method to assess the existing condition and planned conservation activities on a client’s operation and provides an efficient ranking tool to rank single applications into multiple applicable ranking pools for funding consideration. A three-part webinar series on CART will take place during September and October to provide interested farmers and ranchers with an overview of the tool, as well as a deeper look into how it works.
Presenters:

Aaron Lauster, Conservation Planning Branch Chief, NRCS
Eric McTaggart, Natural Resources Specialist, NRCS

Moderator:

Jeff Schahczenski, Agricultural and Natural Resources Economist, NCAT

Webinar 1: Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART): Overview

Thursday, September 17, 1:30 p.m. EDT
Presented by: Aaron Lauster, Conservation Planning Branch Chief, NRCS
This webinar is intended to give farmers and ranchers a basic understanding and familiarity with CART, including how CART can be used to evaluate their operations for conservation assistance and funding consideration, and how they can request an assessment.
Register for Part 1 here: https://attra.ncat.org/cart-part-1/

Webinar 2: Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART): The Process

Thursday, September 24, 3:00 p.m. EDT
Presented by: Eric McTaggart, Natural Resources Specialist, NRCS, and Aaron Lauster, Conservation Planning Branch Chief, NRCS
This webinar will walk through an example of a farmer or rancher who is interested in applying for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) with NRCS. It will start with completing a CART assessment on the client’s operation and then explain how that application is considered for funding.
Register for Part 2 here: https://attra.ncat.org/cart-part-2/

Webinar 3: Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART): Deep Dive

Thursday, October 8, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Presented by: Aaron Lauster, Conservation Planning Branch Chief, NRCS, and Eric McTaggart, Natural Resources Specialist, NRCS
This webinar will build on the previous two by taking a deeper look at the science behind CART and the methodology the ranking tool uses to rank different applications across multiple ranking pools for funding consideration.
Register for Part 3 here: https://attra.ncat.org/cart-part-3/

All three webinars will be recorded and posted online at a later date.
About the Presenters:
Aaron Lauster, Conservation Planning Branch Chief, NRCS
Aaron has worked the last two years leading the development of CART. Prior to working on CART, Aaron was the National Sustainable Agriculture Lead at NRCS
and led development of the Resource Stewardship Evaluation Tool (RSET). Aaron has worked with the Department of Commerce as the Senior Conservation Policy Advisor for the RESTORE Council and lead writer for the development of the Comprehensive Plan for Restoring the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy. He has provided leadership on a number of national initiatives including the Air Quality Initiative, Organic Initiative, Mississippi River Healthy Watershed Initiative, Sage Grouse Initiative, and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Aaron was previously an NRCS Area Conservationist in Michigan and a District Conservationist in Indiana. He also has experience with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Astbury Environmental Consulting and Private Forestry Consulting.
Eric McTaggart, Natural Resource Specialist, NRCS
Eric McTaggart has worked for NRCS since 2002. He began his career as an intern in his home county of Iroquois County, Illinois, and began his full-time career with

NRCS in 2003 as a Soil Conservationist. From 2005 to 2018, he served in multiple counties throughout Illinois as a District Conservationist. He also successfully implemented the Indian Creek Watershed project and the Headwaters of the Vermilion project, with the goal of improved water and soil quality. In 2018, Eric became a Natural Resource Specialist in the Financial Assistance Program Division based in Washington, D.C., where he developed Farm Bill Financial Assistance Program policy and provided training and support to the state branches of the agency. He also served six months as the project coordinator for the development of CART. In 2019, he joined the Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Division where he provides CART training, guidance, and support to states while continuing his work on the development of enhancements and new functionalities for future versions of CART.

Since 1976, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been helping people build resilient communities through local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, strengthen self-reliance, and protect natural resources. More information about its programs and services is available at www.ncat.org or by calling 1-800-ASK-NCAT.

NCAT Headquarters:
3040 Continental Drive
Butte, MT 59701
1-800-ASK-NCAT

THE NCAT MISSION
Helping people by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources.

Virtual Soil Health Field Day
2020-10-08 13:30 - 15:00
From perennial crops to cropland grazing, we want to help farmers maximize their soil health!
Join the Washington Conservation District for a virtual field day with local farmer, Pam Arnold; learning how they apply their cover crop mix for greatest success! Pam Arnold farms 40-acres of land in Scandia along the St. Croix River and is the owner of Salt-n-Pepper Farm LLC . She is certified through the Minnesota Ag Water Quality program and was recognized as the Washington County Outstanding Conservationist in 2018. Pam is a fierce advocate for the St. Croix River and enthusiastic about getting more women involved in farming.

Additionally, hear from local experts at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, and the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District who will share about the benefits of soil health practices, how to take advantage of the cropland grazing exchange program, and what financial resources are available to help you apply these conservation practices to your own farm!

SFA Silvopasture Planning Management Workshop
2020-10-01 08:30 - 13:00 | Sunup Ranch, 12316 Co 18 SW, Brainerd, MN, 56401
The Sustainable Farming Association is hosting a workshop on silvopasture planning management on October 1 in Brainerd. This training is for both agricultural professionals who work with farmers and farmers that are considering or implementing silvopasture practices.
Suitable for marginal land and unmanaged wooded pasture, silvopasture combines livestock, forage, and trees into one holistic system. The Silvopasture Field Training Workshop is set for 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 1, at Sunup Ranch, 12316 Co 18 SW, Brainerd. The event will illustrate how this farming system can improve soil health and water quality, enhance wildlife and prevent erosion – all while providing short- and long-term farm income. REGISTER.
Led by SFA Silvopasture Lead Tyler Carlson and Dr. Diomy Zamora, this event is sponsored by SFA Central & Greater Mille Lacs Chapters and North Central SARE and includes a box lunch. It is free for current SFA members and $40 for nonmembers and preregistration is required. SFA membership typically starts at $40, making it a great time to join the network!
The workshop will take place outside with social distancing guidelines in effect; space is limited to 25 people due to Minnesota COVID-19 guidelines. Registrants will be notified on September 28th if the event is to be cancelled due to low attendance and non-members will be refunded. For additional information on the workshops please see the SFA’s Silvopasture page.
Directions: The workshop will be hosted at 12316 Co 18 SW, Sunup Ranch’s headquarters, and not the house. Access is a minimum maintenance road at the back of the ranch. Folks should be advised that GPS will often take them east of Brainerd to MN Hwy 18 and that the site is west of Brainerd, and Co 18 goes north off of Hwy 210.

Ag Professionals: There are scholarships available to cover the $40 registration fee for agricultural professionals to attend the workshop. We also offer six CEUs for Certified Crop Advisors to participate. Here’s the link for applying for a scholarship. This form will serve as your registration form. Wayne Monsen (wayne@sfa-mn.org) will let you know if you are registered and the scholarship approved or if the registration is full.

U of M Extension Goat/Sheep Webinar: Connecting Producer to Consumer
2020-09-30 18:30 - 19:30
The University of Minnesota Extension is excited to host a webinar on Wednesday September 30th starting at 6:30pm CDT focusing on the different factors and steps to connect goat and sheep producers with consumers.
Discussion will center around the different types of processing and direct marketing, animal ID & record keeping, factors affecting the marketing of sheep/goats, cuts of meat, profit calculators, outlets for direct marketing, and how to tell your story. Farmers, 4-Hers, ag business professionals who work with farmers, and those interested in goats or sheep are invited to attend.
Dr. Travis Hoffman-Extension Sheep Specialist-U of M/NDSU Extension, Rashed Ferdous-Local Meat Specialist, and a representative from the MN Dept of Ag, Dairy and Meat Inspection Division will be the featured speakers. Additional topics include: direct marketing & regulations regarding meat processing-what you can/can’t do, managing costs & customer expectations, and growing specialty meat marketing opportunites in Minnesota.
Pre-registration is required. Please register at z.umn.edu/Goat-SheepMarketing by 12:00 pm (noon) on Wednesday September 30th. The Zoom link will be emailed to you after registration closes. 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
Media Contact: Brenda Miller, Extension Educator-Todd County, Long Prairie, MN, 320-533-4655, nels4220@umn.edu

Agralytica Virtual Listening Session: Feasibility of Insuring Local Food Production
2020-09-30 18:00 - 19:00
Please tune in to this Virtual Listening Session with Agralytica, which is working under contract for USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA).
Why? As part of the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress required RMA to solicit feedback about improved crop insurance coverage options for farmers and ranchers selling to local food markets (including but not limited to farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), road-side stands, restaurants, retailers, schools, and institutions). This includes discussing how existing crop insurance programs can be improved, as well as exploring the possibility of a new crop insurance program. The feedback we receive will help us identify potential changes and/or additions to insurance options for producers supplying local markets.
Who? This “make-up” session is primarily for farmers and ranchers who sell to local food markets and their representatives in the federal crop insurance industry.
When? Wednesday, September 30th, at 6p Pacific Time. Please contact us if you are unable to attend and still want to provide feedback.
What is a virtual listening session? It is a method to connect and talk with you via phone and/or an internet connection. You can participate in one of two ways:

By calling into the number provided to listen or speak, OR
You may call in and participate online through videoconference (using Zoom), which allows you to view the host and some of the participants, as well as any visual material shared digitally.

Any information/feedback provided will be made anonymous prior to inclusion in any report.
Instructions to Participate in the Listening Session
How? You can participate via videoconference using Zoom on a computer or smartphone app, or by simply dialing from a telephone. For those participating via Zoom, you will be given the option of using your computer (or phone app) for audio, or dialing in. Participants will be muted by default upon entry.
Computer/app participants: Click on the link below and, if prompted, enter the passcode “local”.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87372872344?pwd=[REDACTED] Passcode: [REDACTED] Meeting ID: 873 7287 2344
Telephone participants: You can mute and unmute yourself by typing “*6” (star, followed by the number 6).
One tap mobile +16465588656,,87372872344#,,,,,,0#,,746512# US (New York) +13017158592,,87372872344#,,,,,,0#,,746512# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location (if you have free long distance, any of these should work)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 873 7287 2344 If dialing in only, there is no participant ID. Passcode: [REDACTED] Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kclzmxreEX
Contact information
Please contact Andre Williamson, President of Agralytica, with any questions regarding the content of this invitation or to provide additional feedback regarding the feasibility
of insurance coverage for local food producers. Mobile Number: 240-432-0308 OR email: awilliamson@agralytica.com. If you email, please include “Local foods insurance” as your subject line.

Soil Sessions: Yield Data Collection
2020-09-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Join SHP Field Manager Keith Byerly as he shares his top tips for ensuring you’re collecting accurate yield data. Since we don’t get to hit the reset button on harvest, Keith’s advice will help make sure you have the information needed to make the best decisions in the future.
Date
September 29, 2020
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location
Virtual – Zoom information will be provided following registration
Note: If you cannot attend the live event, still register for access to the recording.
Questions
soilhealth@ncga.com

FEATURING

Featured SHP Staff:
Keith Byerly
Keith Byerly is a Field Manager for Soil Health Partnership covering Kansas and Nebraska.

TOPICS

Yield Data Collection

You’ll learn:

Which parts of your yield monitor system are wearable – and how to ensure they are still functioning properly
How to check your data system and make sure it is up-to-date
Why understanding how data is coming out of the field and who is taking data from the field is critical to eliminating data preservation problems

Hosts

Keith Byerly – SHP Field Manager

Additional Links

Registration ›

Exploring Forage Potential in a Rotationally Grazed, Perennial Pasture System
2020-09-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual
Zoom Event
RSVP to LSP’s Alex Romano at aromano@landstewardshipproject.org

Are you a young grazier wanting to explore rotational grazing of diverse, perennial pastures? How about techniques for increasing forage productivity and quality to extend your grazing season? Are you a seasoned grazier with direct experience and/or connections relevant to this topic that could help a young grazier get going?
Fire up your computer and join the Land Stewardship Project on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., for an Online Pasture Talk* featuring southeastern Minnesota grazier Zach Knutson. He will share his recent experiences planting parcels of highly erodible soil to a perennial pasture mix to help expand his land base while sequestering carbon and improving soil in those spots. Zach also plans to discuss lessons learned in the first year of daily rotations and the benefits he is seeing in his pastures from cutting paddock sizes in periods of slow growth.
About Zach
Zach Knutson owns and operates Knutson Shorthorns in Pine Island, Minn., where he rotationally grazes registered shorthorns and direct markets beef. Recently, Zach has been planting more perennial crops and plans to utilize more diverse cover crop mixes for fall/spring grazing. He has also been breaking his pastures up into smaller paddocks, moving the cattle more frequently and increasing rest periods. When he is not farming, Zach works as a bank examiner with the Farm Credit Administration, which oversees the Farm Credit System institutions across the U.S.
*E-mail reminders with event details and Zoom links will be sent out at least one week ahead of the event.
Questions?
Contact LSP’s Alex Romano at aromano@landstewardshipproject.org.

UMN Extension-Pine County Hay/Pasture Management Field Day
2020-09-22 18:00 - 19:30 | 11131 Lakeview Heights Road, Pine City, MN
You are invited to a pasture management field day on Sept 22nd at 6pm hosted by University of Minnesota Extension-Pine County at 11131 Lakeview Heights Road, Pine City (follow the signs to farm entrance.) Google Map

Speakers are: Kent Solberg, SFA grazing specialist, NRCS/SWCD county reps, Rod Greder, Pine/Isanti Extension Educator, Troy Salzer, St Louis Extension Educator, and local graziers.

Objectives:

Learn best practices for rotational grazing from other graziers and grazing experts
Learn about pasture measurement tools and using them to improve profitability
Determine the most cost-effective ways to increase hay quality and quantity.
Hear about the top 10 tips to improve pasture productivity and wean more pounds off each acre

For more details go here: https://z.umn.edu/PastureManagement
Please pre-register by contacting Rod Greder, gred0014@umn.edu or call 320-591-1662.

We will also be discussing the Pasture Productivity Pail (PPP) and its use and intent. More details to come as we prepare for the launch of the PPP later this Fall.

We will practice covid-19 guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Soil Health Institute Webinar: Achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions in U.S. Agriculture through Soil Health
2020-09-22 13:00 - 14:45
The theme for this event is Achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions in U.S. Agriculture through Soil Health. Brief, 10-minute presentations will be given by the Soil Health Institute, Cargill, and Walmart.org that describe the overall strategy and work being conducted to address gaps in adoption that will allow the entire U.S. agricultural sector to achieve net zero C emissions by 2040. The audience (food & beverage companies, policymakers, conservationists, and others) will then engage in a 20-minute discussion period with all speakers.
The Soil Health Institute is a non-profit with a mission to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soils through scientific research and advancement.
Disclaimer for Participation:
I understand that this is a virtual event. By registering for this event, I acknowledge that I may be part of a video/audio production. I hereby grant permission to the Soil Health Institute to use any captured image of myself as well as my voice recorded during their event in its publicity, promotion for soil health, and/or education.
Event Agenda:

Fridays on the Farm September 18th
2020-09-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Facebook Live
Join us on our series of virtual field days this summer, every other Friday, to hear from farmers around the state with how they’re using soil health practices!
Events will be on the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition’s Facebook page using Facebook like to allow you to participate from anywhere and ask questions! Find it HERE

2020 SW MN Field Day
2020-09-17 14:00 - 17:00 | Nancy and Jerry Ackermann’s, 39750 820th St, Lakefield, MN, 56150, United States
Nancy and Jerry Ackermann are partnering with the Heron Lake Watershed District and Minnesota Department of Agriculture to host a field day! Data and testing have been collected over a three-year period to help measure and determine the benefits of using cover crop strip-till management versus conventional tillage. The field day will consist of:
1. Various cover crop seed mix demonstrations by Jerry Ackermann
2. A demonstration of the rainfall simulator showing runoff and infiltration rates for various management types by Jennifer Hahn, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
3. Soil temperature and moisture results from the grant period of using cover crop strip-till management versus a conventional tillage management by Catherine Wegehaupt, Heron Lake Watershed District
4. Soil test results from the grant using various managements
When: Thursday, September 17 th , 2020 at 2:00 PM
Where: Nancy and Jerry Ackermann’s 39750 820 th Street Lakefield, MN 56150

NCAT Webinar Series - Federal Assistance for Natural Resource Conservation on Working Lands
2020-09-17 13:30 - 14:30

Preparing Your Poultry Coop for Winter
2020-09-17 13:00 - 14:00
The number of Minnesotans raising backyard and small flock poultry has grown immensely during the pandemic. And the care of livestock and poultry in winter can be challenging.
Join us for a lunch-time webinar on how to prepare your coop for winter and provide your birds with a successful winter experience.
Cost-Free
Registration-Registration is required. Zoom will send you the link to the webinar along with calendar invitations and event reminders.
Event information
Date- Thursday, September 17, 2020
Time-12 – 1 p.m.
Location-Webinar
ContactAbby Schuft, Extension educator
neux0012@umn.edu or 320-235-0726

Register at:
https://extension.umn.edu/event/preparing-your-poultry-coop-winter

Measures of Soil Nitrogen Cycling
2020-09-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Thursday, September 17, 2020
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Central/10:00 – 11:00 AM Mountain/9:00 – 10:00 AM Pacific
Measuring and assessing soil health are critical for understanding how changes in agronomic management practices affect the capability of soil to support cropping systems. In this presentation, the Soil Health Institute will focus on explaining measurements and assessments of soil health associated with soil-nitrogen dynamics. Soil scientists have been working to estimate rates of nitrogen mineralization for use in soil fertility recommendations for generations. The Soil Health Institute has investigated various means of measuring the microbially mediated process of nitrogen cycling and will discuss: soil organic carbon and nitrogen, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, microbial respiration, inorganic and organic nitrogen extractions, N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG enzyme), and autoclaved-citrate extractable soil protein (ACE protein). For each measurement, the method or methods will be described and the meaning of the measurement will be discussed, especially as it pertains to on-farm advisers and farmers. Insights and examples from the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements will be shared to provide contextual understanding of each measurement.
CCAs and CPAgs will receive 1.0 Soil and Water Management CEU. CPSS and CPSC will receive 1.0 Professional Meetings CEU.
Free to all registrants. Register now!
Registration for the live webinar provides free access to the recording for 30 days.

Solar United Neighbors Webinar: Grants & Financing Opportunities for Farms & Rural Businesses to go Solar
2020-09-16 12:00 - 13:00
Webinar to feature grants and financing opportunities for farms and rural businesses to go solar
The webinar is Wed., September 16 p.m. at noon. You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HpUJY1R-Qd66bvZUVjimdw
Solar United Neighbors is working to help farmers and rural small business owners tap into grants and financing available to install solar. Solar power has grown in popularity as the costs of installing solar have dropped while at the same time solar panel technology has dramatically improved.
For farmers and rural business owners there is financing and grants available to go solar. A federal tax credit that covers 26% of the cost of solar installations on businesses goes down to 22% in 2021 and then continues at 10% from 2022 onward. Two experts on the issue will be featured on a Solar United Neighbors webinar on May 19 at 6:30 p.m.:

Fritz Ebinger, Clean Energy Resource Team, Rural Energy Development Program Manager
Autumn Long, Solar United Neighbors Regional Director

You can also contact Bobby King at Solar United Neighbors at 507-450-7258 or bking@solarunitedneighbors.org.
In addition farmers and small business owners in southwest Minnesota may want to enroll in Solar United Neighbors Morris and Southwest Prairie solar co-op to tap into additional resources for going solar.

Temporary Fence Techniques for Managed Silvopasture: Sauk Centre
2020-09-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Sauk Centre
SFA’s ongoing Dirt Rich work continues this summer with four in-person events that, like our corresponding podcast, feature expert knowledge and farm information focused on the Five Principles of Soil Health and especially, in the case of these events, livestock integration.

Each event will be led by SFA Senior Technical Advisor Kent Solberg and the accompanying SFA staff farmer host. These in-person events will be limited to 10 participants each to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines. Registration is free for current SFA members and $40/nonmembers. SFA recommends bringing face masks to its events.

This workshop, “Temporary Fence Techniques for Managing Silvopasture,” is set for 1-4 p.m. Sept. 15 at Tyler Carlson’s Early Boots Farm, 20232 Balsam Dr, Sauk Centre.

Info: kent@sfa-mn.org.

Inter-Seeding Covers, Grazing and 60" Corn
2020-09-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Zoom online video event.
RSVP to Shona Snater, LSP, ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org

Aaron Gillespie farms near Fountain, Minn., and raises conventional/organic row crops, small grains, cover crops, hay, and canning peas. He also rotationally grazes beef. Gillespie built his own interseeder to incorporate cover into his 30” and 60” corn.
This Land Stewardship Project presentation will take place online over a Zoom conference call. You can video conference or just phone in. Those who call in will not be able to see images of the presentation. Small group discussions and Q & A will be a part of the program. Join the meeting 10 minutes early for music and socialization!
For more information, contact LSP’s Shona Snater at ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org.
To view the flier for this and other LSP soil health events, click here.

Soil Health School
2020-09-10 09:00 - 2020-09-11 16:00 | Jamie Labat’s Farm, 3055 260th St, Marshall, MN, 56258, United States
A two day training designed to provide introduction to intermediate effective information on how to get started implementing soil health practices as well as a deeper look into management options and integrating regenerative practices. Classroom and field learning will be provided, hear from Minnesota farmers implementing soil health practices as well as technical experts from the state. Discussion sessions will be provided to hear from and ask questions from farmers to learn about their successes and challenges as they’ve implemented soil health practices. Who Should Attend? Farmers, agronomists, technical staff, those interested in learning more.
Register below or complete and mail in the hard copy
SH School Brochure

Soil Health Expo
2020-09-09 09:00 - 14:30
The Rollofson family is holding a unique and educational Soil Health Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 9th from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm near Barrett, MN to discuss and demonstrate soil health management tactics being implemented in west-central Minnesota.
Learn how to economically integrate no-till, strip-till, and cover crops into your system from experienced farmers. Topics include:
Soil fertility
Nutrient management
How to integrate cover crops into reduced till operations
True cost of field erosion
A farmer panel will discuss the challenges that local producers face when striving to improve soil health. Lastly, watch some equipment get dirty in the side–by–side equipment demonstrations presented by regional and national manufacturers of cover crop interseeders, strip-till implements, and no-till planters.
There is no cost to attend the event. However, pre-registration is requested to help with meals, grounds planning, and updates concerning changes in the agenda.
The planning committee is closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation and the impact it may have on this event. Registrants will continue to receive updates about the event throughout the summer and we will communicate any changes to format as soon as possible.
Register now for the Soil Health Expo https://extension.umn.edu/event/soil-health-expo
The Expo is a collaboration between the Rollofson family, Grant Soil and Water Conservation District, the University of Minnesota – Extension, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Pomme de Terre River Association.
The Soil Health Expo is located two miles west of Barrett, Minnesota on County Road #2. The latitude/longitude is 45.901546, -95.826897.

Fridays on the Farm September 4th
2020-09-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Facebook Live

Park the Plow: Tillage, Cover Crops, and Clean Water
2020-09-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Dave and Mark Legvold Farm, 5103 315th Street W, Northfield, Minnesota, 55057
Discover how area farmers are improving soil health, farm profitability, and water quality by using Strip-till, No-till, and cover crops. View reduced tillage and interseeding equipment and talk to farmers and company representatives.
The event is free, but registration is required. To register visit www.crwp.net and click the “Register Now Here”. Registration deadline is Thursday, Aug. 27 th. Attendees will be in their vehicles to hear presenters with slides projected on Dave’s shed wall. Space allows for about 25 vehicles, register early. You only need to register once for all of the people in your car.
Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Guidelines will be followed, including the wearing of cloth masks and maintaining a 6-foot distance from non-family members. Sponsors will provide reusable cloth masks, bottled water and popcorn, and the first 25 attendees will receive a water nitrate test kit free.
Schedule
7:00 pm View Equipment and Strip-till discussion led by Environmental Tillage Systems
7:40 Using the Nitrate Test Kit – Professor Paul Jackson, St. Olaf College
7:50 “About Groundwater” – Jill Trescott, Dakota County Environmental Specialist
8:10 Farmers Dave & Mark Legvold, Tim Little & John Becker

MN BWSR Tech Talks: Nutrient Management Module 5: Nitrogen
2020-08-31 13:00 - 14:00
Tech Talks is a online training series hosted by the MN Board of Water & Soil Resources and organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program. Rotating speakers cover a wide variety of technical topics every Monday at 1:00. On occasion additional sessions may be scheduled at 9:00 in the morning to accommodate our presenters.
Miss a session you were interested in? We record every presentation and make replays available in the Online Learning section of the TTCP website.
Follow these instructions to access the webinars:
1. Go to https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/k2/j.php?MTID=t4cff36c965dd6296bae80dfbe43cb361
2. Enter your name and email address (or registration ID).
3. Enter the session password: [REDACTED]
4. Click “Join Now”.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
If you are joining to the audio by phone, dial 1-415-655-0003 after connecting above. The session code is 968 039 336, and your participant ID will be displayed on the Webex screen.
You may log-in up to 30 minutes in advance to establish your connection.

August 10
Evaluating Herbicide Plans in a Soil Health System
What can we do to help ensure our herbicide program matches up with our cover crop goals in a corn-soybean rotation? Join Liz Stahl, UMN Extension, for a discussion on the the latest research and information regarding the impacts of weed management decisions on the potential for successful establishment of cover crops, cover crop end uses, and the tradeoffs we can expect in our weed management program.

9:00 amAugust 17
Equipment Modifications for Cover Crops
NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Kristin Brennan will host a farmer panel including Brady Wulf of Starbuck, Ryan Hough of Barnesville and David Miller of Red Lake to discuss equipment modifications they have made to facilitate the integration of a soil health system into their farming operations.

1:00 pmAugust 17
Wild Turkey Habitat and Management Considerations
Join Matt Weegman (NWTF), Nathan Paul (NWTF), and Jeff Kalin (NRCS) to learn about wild turkey habitat requirements and beneficial management.

August 24
Fertilization in a Soil Health System
Dr. Dan Kaiser (UMN Extension), Amy Robak-Bruce, and Dorian Gatchel will discuss fertilizer considerations in soil health systems.

August 31
Nutrient Management Module 5: Nitrogen
Larry Gunerson, Travis Hirman, and Kevin Hauth from MDA will review the nitrogen considerations for nutrient management planning. This session will cover current impairments, loss pathways, ground water protection rules, nitrogen loss assessments, and practices to reduce movement.

Film on the Farm - Rice County SWCD/NRCS
2020-08-27 20:00 - 21:30 | Larry Conrad Farm, 10214 Baseline Road, Dundas, Minnesota, 55019
The Rice Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are partnering together to host a “drive-in” movie night for area farmers to view several short films showcasing the use of conservation tillage and cover crops by producers in southern Minnesota. The event, Film on the Farm, will take place on Thursday, August 27th from 8:00 – 9:30 pm on the Larry Conrad Farm, 10214 Baseline Road, Dundas.
Films to be shown during Film on the Farm include Hugh Hammond Bennett: The Story of America’s Private Land Conservation Movement by NRCS, No-Till Farming with Corn and Cover Crops in Southeastern Minnesota by Minnesota NRCS, High Clearance Cover Crop Seeder with Andy Linder by Minnesota NRCS, Growing No-Till Corn Silage and Cover Crops for Dairy in Southeastern Minnesota by Minnesota NRCS and Studying My Soil: A Continuous Education through Trial and Error (featuring Dave Legvold, Rice County farmer) by Strip-Till Farmer Magazine.
The films will be projected onto a large machine shed door and the audio for the movies will be broadcast to each vehicle using an FM transmitter.
The Film on the Farm event is made possible by grant funding from the Minnesota Office For Soil Health, Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, Minnesota NRCS, and the Tri-Lakes Sportsman Club.
Attendees are asked to bring their own beverage. A bag of popcorn will be provided. There will be no restrooms on sight, so attendees should plan accordingly.
Due to limited space, reservations are required. Reserve a parking spot ticket by registering online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-on-the-farm-tickets-115233117356 or by contacting the Rice SWCD at 507-332-5408.

SPRF Irrigation and Nutrient Management Virtual Field Day
2020-08-27 12:00 - 13:30
This upcoming virtual field day will give farmers and agronomists the opportunity to learn about the latest agronomic research in central Minnesota from the comfort of their own home. U of M scientists will join other presenters to deliver timely information about ongoing research at the Sand Plain Research Farm (SPRF) in Becker, Minnesota.
This field day will be held online so participants can join from their computer, tablet, or phone. Pre-registration is required. Pre-register by clicking here. Participants will be able to ask the researchers questions after their presentations.
Learn about these five research projects taking place at the Sand Plain Research Farm (SPRF) in Becker, Minnesota:

Irrigation and Nitrogen management research projects for profitable corn production and groundwater quality protection – Vasudha Sharma, Assistant Extension Professor – Irrigation Specialist
GEMS Informatics: Soil to Satellite and Sensor to Supercomputer – Bryan Runck, Geocomputing scientist
Enhancing soil health in irrigated potato cropping systems – Carl Rosen, Professor and Extension nutrient management specialist
Lessons from current nitrogen management research projects in irrigated corn – Fabian Fernandez, Associate Professor and Extension soil fertility specialist
Advancing Intensive Management of Continuous Corn on Irrigated Sands – Jeffrey Coulter, Professor and Extension agronomist

MN BWSR Tech Talks: Fertilization in a Soil Health System
2020-08-24 13:00 - 14:00

Fridays on the Farm August 21st
2020-08-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Facebook Live
The Minnesota Soil Health Coalition is hosting the Fridays on the Farm series this summer starting this Friday, July 10th! We will visit with farmers around the state hearing about their soil health management on a variety of operations.
The events will be on the Coalition’s Facebook Page using Facebook live found HERE
MN NRCS, Redwood SWCD, Renville SWCD, MOSH, and University of Minnesota Extension

2nd Annual Soil Health Field Day
2020-08-21 09:00 - 16:00 | Maple Grove Farms, 10815 555th St, Rush City, MN, 55069, United States
Join us at Maple Grove Farms to learn how Jon Stevens has used soil health practices to reduce stress and improve economics on his diverse Pine County farm. We will have the rainfall simulator, “soil your undies,” equipment modifications, and many more demonstrations. This year will include a cover crop species test plot and more livestock discussion. Learn how soil health farming can work in eastcentral Minnesota.
GUEST SPEAKERS FROM:
LOCAL FARMERS
NRCS
UMN
SUSTAINABLE FARMING ASSOCIATION
LUNCH AND REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED RAIN OR SHINE RSVP REQUIRED: CALL/TEXT 218-451-6118

Rosholt Research Farm Virtual Field Day
2020-08-20 12:00 - 13:15
This upcoming virtual field day will give farmers and agronomists the opportunity to learn about the latest agronomic research in central Minnesota from the comfort of their own home. U of M scientists will join other presenters to deliver timely information about ongoing research at the Rosholt Research Farm in Westport, Minnesota.
This field day will be held online so participants can join from their computer, tablet, or phone. Pre-registration is required; participants are encouraged to pre-register by August 18th. Pre-register by clicking here. Participants will be able to ask the researchers questions after their presentations.
This webinar will look at results from ongoing research at the Rosholt Research Farm. MDA Commissioner Thom Peterson will give the opening remarks. Topics will include:

Nitrogen rate and cover crop study – Fabian Fernandez, Extension soil fertility specialist
Irrigation scheduling study & irrigation and nitrogen management study – Vasudha Sharma, Assistant Extension irrigation professor
Forever Green Initiative – Jake Jungers
