MN Soil Health Coalition

Soil Health Field Day - Stephen
2021-06-30 09:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
For three crop years, Minnesota Office for Soil Health and SFA have been collecting, analyzing and sharing on-farm soil health data across Minnesota to help us better interpret and use soil health measurements. This is the first of five field days planned to share research, discuss soil health practices and network.
Presenters include Mr. Larson, SFA Senior Technical Advisor Kent Solberg and U. of Minnesota Research Assistant Hava Blair. A rainfall simulator demonstration will be given by Kittson SWCD. Free, lunch included. Registration appreciated but walkups welcome.

Address: 44680 St. Hwy 220 NW Stephen, MN 56757
The event series is sponsored by SFA, MN Office of Soil Health (MOSH) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). This event is co-sponsored by Kittson County SWCD.

Minnesota Soil Health Series
2021-06-30 09:00 - 14:00
For three crop years, Minnesota Office for Soil Health and SFA have been
collecting, analyzing and sharing on-farm soil health data across Minnesota
to help us better interpret and use soil health measurements. Five field days
are planned to share research, discuss soil health practices and network:
Wed., June 30 – 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Michael Larson Farm, 44680 State Hwy 220 NW, Stephen.
Presenters include Mr. Larson, SFA Senior Technical Advisor Kent Solberg and U. of Minnesota
Research Assistant Hava Blair. A rainfall simulator demonstration will be given by Kittson SWCD.
Free, lunch included. Registration appreciated but walkups welcome. Co-sponsored by Kittson
County SWCD. Register at sfa-mn.org/soil.

Celebrate Grazing
2021-06-25 12:30 - 14:30
Land Stewardship Project &
Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed!
Join us for our virtual kickoff event on
FRIDAY, JUNE 25TH 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
All livestock farmers are highly encouraged to participate!

Since their founding in 2003, Thousand Hills has been focused on one mission: to
nourish the soil, the plants, cattle, and people by holistically grazing cattle
for their lifetime. What began as a passion to simply share the nutritional benefits of
Lifetime Grazed 100% Grass Fed Beef with more people has evolved into a full embrace
of regenerative agriculture—with its many critical
benefits to people and planet.
Thousand Hills sources cattle from “Renegade
Ranchers” across 3 regions: Northeast, Midwest, and
West. Supporting local rural economies is of highest priority, therefore they strive to
source, process and sell their products in the regions where they originate. Their
foremost goal is to convert 1,000,000 acres to regenerative grazing practices
by 2025! The Renegade Ranchers are the true super-heroes, independently making
grazing management decisions that aim for the greater environmental, economic, and
social impact in the long-term.
Register at https://landstewardshipproject.org/events/item/1642

Guiding Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Ag Service Providers
2021-06-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2021-06-17 13:00 - 14:00
Guiding Resilience

Carbon Markets For U.S. Row Crop Producers: Opportunities And Challenges
2021-06-24 12:30 - 13:30
Questions about agriculture’s potential role in carbon sequestration are on many ag producers’ minds these days. Purdue ag economists Carson Reeling, Nathanael Thompson and James Mintert will discuss the opportunities and challenges of the carbon markets in U.S. agriculture for row crop producers on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
Registration is free and can be completed by submitting the form on this page. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email with a link to view the webinar live at its scheduled time. Those unable to join live can register to receive a follow-up email after the webinar to download the slides and view the recording.

Building Resiliency on the Farm
2021-06-24 12:00 - 13:00
Matthew Frana, watershed project coordinator for the Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Joel Zook, energy planner for the Winneshiek County Energy District, will discuss how farmers, landowners, and local community leaders can implement practices, such as on-farm solar energy and water quality improvement projects, to build more resilient farms in northeast Iowa. Zoom information will be provided upon successful registration.

Silvopasture and Oak Savanna Restoration Workshop
2021-06-24 08:30 - 14:30
It is estimated that there are over 600,000 acres of unmanaged woodland grazing in Minnesota. These woodlands need to be managed to protect soil, water, vegetation and tree resources. Silvopasture—the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land—may be an appropriate management option for some landowners. These systems are intensively managed for livestock, forest products and forage, providing both short and long-term income sources.
Researchers are especially interested in the use of silvopasture as a method for restoring degraded oak savanna. This workshop will give attendees a chance to see this restoration in action at Minneopa State Park. Land managers at Minneopa are using controlled burns and bison grazing to restore oak savanna.
Agenda

8:30 a.m. – Registration at Greater Mankato Business Development Center
9:00 – Silvopasture Learning Network (Theresa Keaveny, Sustainable Farming Association)
9:30 – Basics of Silvopasture (Gary Wyatt, UMN Extension)
10:00 – Farmer Silvopasture Story – Tools and Resources (Tyler Carlson, Sustainable Farming Association)
10:45 – NRCS and EQIP funds for Silvopasture (Callie Bertsch, NRCS)
11:15 – Oak Savannas History and Restoration in Minnesota (Dr. Rebecca Montgomery, UMN Department of Forest Resources)
12:00 p.m. – Lunch (box lunch provided for registered attendees)
1:15 – Reconvene at Minneopa State Park
1:30 – Managing Oak Savanna with Bison and Fire (Molly Tranel Nelson, MN DNR)
2:30 – Bison at Minneopa (Scott Kudelka, MN DNR)

SWROC Advancing Ag series: Pesticide resistance - How do you know it's happening to you? Webinar
2021-06-23 11:00 - 12:00
We continue to see issues with pesticide resistant insects, weeds, and disease and many have experienced a problem with poor pesticide performance. How can you sort out application and environmental effects from actual resistance? Researchers and Extension specialists will discuss how to avoid performance problems and how to make sure pests management strategies are effective.
IPM Specialist Bruce Potter will lead this discussion and question and answer session. Panelists include:
– Ian MacRae, UMN Professor and Extension Entomologist
– Dean Malvick, UMN Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist
– Dan Nielsen, Certified Crop Consultant
– Ken Ostlie, UMN Professor and Extension Entomologist
– Tom Peters, NDSU Associate Professor and Extension Agronom

Deepen Your Knowledge and Learn From Some of Today's Leading No-Till Experts
2021-06-23 - 2021-06-24
Understanding that the need for no-till knowledge is year-round and seeing the opportunity to bridge the unique learning experiences of the annual National No-Tillage Conference in-person event, No-Till Farmer is proud to launch a brand new 2-day online educational event.
The National No-Tillage Conference Summer Intensive, June 23-24, 2021, is a FREE ONLINE EVENT featuring a fast-paced lineup of no-till experts sharing field-proven ideas to help you boost yields, save time and increase profits.

Extended Rotations With Red Clover
2021-06-22 14:00 - 14:45
Red clover might just be Ben Dwire’s favorite crop to grow. During this episode, we’ll talk with Ben about all things red clover and how this nitrogen-fixing cover crop can help other parts of his extended rotations and his livestock operation.
We’ll take a peek at the red clover he’s underseeded with his oats and discuss how he manages his cover crop together with his small-grain crop. Then we’ll hop over to the other side of the road and take a look at corn that followed last year’s red clover, where Ben is experimenting with taking nitrogen credits and cutting nitrogen by roughly 40 units.
Topics:

Establishing and managing red clover
Nitrogen credits to corn
Extended rotations
Cost-share opportunities

Ben Dwire farms near Arco, Minnesota, with his wife, Kristi, and two daughters. The Dwires grow soybeans, corn, oats, wheat and annual forages on 550 acres, and are 100% no-till and non-GMO. They have an additional 150 acres of hay and pasture where they raise cattle, pigs and chickens. Ben is chairman of the board at the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition.

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: ECOSYSTEM MARKETS
2021-06-22 11:00 - 12:30
Join the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership and organizations from Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin for a free four-part webinar series exploring new management options and financial opportunities for Midwest farmers. The series will provide farmers and their advisors with practical and straightforward information on innovative incentives.
Each webinar has been approved for 1.5 hrs CEU in Soil & Water Management.

TUESDAY, JUNE 22ND FEATURES PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FROM INPUT PROVIDERS (BAYER, CORTEVA, AND NUTRIEN)

THURSDAY, JUNE 24TH EXPLORES INNOVATIVE MARKETS AND DATA PLATFORMS AVAILABLE FROM CIBO, GRADABLE BY FARMERS BUSINESS NETWORK, AND LAND O’LAKES

TUESDAY, JULY 13TH EXAMINES MARKET OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE LENS OF GRAIN BUYERS AND CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS COMPANIES WITH CARGILL, GENERAL MILLS, AND PEPSICO

THURSDAY, JULY 15TH HIGHLIGHTS WATER QUALITY MARKETS AND ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL REVENUE STREAMS FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

SROC Virtual Agronomy Field Tour Tuesday, June 22
2021-06-22 10:00 - 11:00
The UMN Southern Research & Outreach Center (SROC) in Waseca will hold a Virtual Agronomy Field Tour on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 from 10 a.m. to noon. This webinar will give participants a look at several current research projects at the SROC and will include a question and answer opportunities.
The webinar is free, but participants must pre-register online at z.umn.edu/SROC-Agronomy_Field_Tour. An email address is required to register, and participants can join the webinar from a computer, tablet or phone.
Research topics covered by University of Minnesota faculty and researchers at the Virtual Agronomy Field Tour include:

Early season soybean growth and development in a tough year – Seth Naeve
Corn stand establishment, growth, and development – Jeff Coulter
Strategies for managing the changing HG Types of the soybean cyst nematode – Senyu Chen
Evaluation of weed management systems in a dry spring – Tom Hoverstad
Nitrogen management on poorly drained soils – Fabian Fernandez
Do high fertilizer and commodity prices affect fertilizer rate guidelines? – Jeff Vetsch

There is no cost for this event, however donations are greatly appreciated. If you’d like to make a donation in support of research at the U of M, Southern Research & Outreach Center, Waseca: z.umn.edu/sroc-gift.
To request accommodations, contact Deanne Nelson at nelso191@umn.edu or 507-835-3620.

Northern Soil Compaction Conference
2021-06-22 09:00 - 2021-06-23 13:00
Every operation on agricultural fields has the risk to cause compaction and drag down your yields and profit. Making each pass work for you is essential for maximizing your crop productivity year after year.
Join us at the Northern Soil Compaction Conference on June 22-23, 2021, for the latest in technical advice for alleviating your current compaction, building proven strategies to minimize your risk in the future, and the benefits you can expect.
This event is co-sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota State University and Manitoba Ag.

Cost
The cost to attend this two-day conference is $50.
Registration
Please use the link below to register for this event.

Register online

2021 Sustainable Agronomy Conference Virtual Event & Conservation in Action Tour
2021-06-20
July 20 & 27, August 3, 10, 17, & 24
FREE TO ALL!
*Conference registration includes access to all session recordings through October 24*
6 Two-Hour Sessions > One Per Week > Starting July 20 = 12 CEUs
The Sustainable Agronomy Conference will provide Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs), Agri-Sales Professionals, and growers with the opportunity to more fully understand and implement sustainable agronomy in the field. Learn the drivers, economics, agronomics, environmental benefits, and implementation techniques of sustainable crop production. Economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainable agronomy will be considered.
This year’s Sustainable Agronomy Conference includes a four-part virtual Conservation in Action Tour by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC). Each of the four tours will include a video from the field that includes interviews with farmers, CCAs, researchers and other experts, followed by a live panel discussion/Q&A. Tune in and find out why the CTIC Conservation in Action Tour has become such a popular way to learn about conservation practices on the ground.
Unlike other sustainability or agronomy conferences that simply describe broad research findings, this conference will be action-oriented, practical, interactive, and applied with a focus on decision support and execution. You will leave the conference with information that you can confidently recommend to clients and implement in the field. Speakers, moderators, and panel participants will have a deep understanding of “why” and “how” to implement sustainable agronomy.

Rice, Wolf, Heath Creek cover crop expansion meeting
2021-06-15 17:00 - 19:00
Share tile drainage/stream results. Explain cover crop expansion effort(Bridgewater Cover Crop Adoption
Project)
Location: L&M Bar & Grill, Rice County

HYBRID RYE FIELD DAY
2021-06-15 13:00 - 15:00
FEATURING KWS HYBRID RYE AT HENNEN SEEDS, LLC.
JUNE 15, 2021 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
1:00 PM–1:30 PM: Incorporating Hybrid Rye into Your Systems, Millborn Seeds
1:30 PM–2:00 PM: Agronomics of Hybrid Rye, KWS
2:00 PM–3:00 PM: Field Tour with Ice Cream
RSVP encouraged but not required. Please RSVP by calling
Amber Kraft at Millborn Seeds: 605-697-6306
FIELD IS LOCATED AT
3248 230TH AVE.
GHENT, MN 56239
FROM GHENT:
› Head east on 320th St for 2.5 mi
› Turn north onto 230th Ave for .5 mi
FROM HWY 59:
› Head west on 320th St for 2 mi
› Turn north onto 230th Ave for .5 mi

Winter Annual Oilseed Field Day to be held June 11 in Rosemount
2021-06-11 11:00 - 14:30
Winter Annual Oilseed Field Day to be held June 11 in Rosemount

ROSEMOUNT, MN – The University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative invites manufacturers, food entrepreneurs, farmers, policy professionals, and the public to a Winter Annual Oilseeds Field Day event at the Rosemount Research and Outreach Center. At this event, attendees will learn about the latest research and development updates on pennycress and winter camelina, two exciting new crops which have the potential to transform the food, fuel and feed industries in the upper Midwest.
Pennycress and winter camelina, both winter annual oilseeds, have great potential for use as a cash cover crop to protect soil and water while providing economic benefits to farmers in the upper Midwest. Rapid advancements in pennycress and camelina genetics and breeding have allowed researchers to identify a wide range of end-uses, including healthy edible oils, novel plant proteins, biodegradable packaging materials, lubricants, biofuels, and animal feed. All of these products equate to additional economic opportunities for Midwest farmers. Oilseeds fit well behind short season crops such as silage corn, sunflower, and spring wheat. As the seedlings grow in the autumn, they protect the soil surface from erosion caused by high winds, intense rains, or snow melt. Additionally, the plants absorb soil nutrients, helping to eliminate nitrate and phosphorus contamination of ground and surface waters. Ultimately, the addition of these crops to upper Midwest farmland will assist in keeping well water safe for drinking and improve the quality of water in our wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes.
The Winter Annual Oilseed Field Day will highlight current research and work underway to launch pennycress and winter camelina into Minnesota’s agricultural landscape. Visitors will see winter camelina growing in the field and learn from UMN agronomists about best production practices with this crop. The Forever Green Initiative Commercialization Team, Constance Carlson and Colin Cureton will discuss the many potential opportunities for end-uses of pennycress and camelina. Kent Cavender-Barres of Rowbot Technologies LLC will discuss opportunities for new robotic technologies to interseed oilseed crops. Finally, attendees will have the ability to participate in round-table discussions with each of our experts after their presentations.

Attendees should arrive between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM on June 11th to check in. A lunch (vegetarian option available) will be served from 11:30-12 PM. Presentations will begin at 12 PM, followed by a round table discussion from 1:00-2:30 PM. The event will be held rain or shine. All attendees are requested to register as early as possible prior to June 11. Space for the event is limited. Register using the link below: http://z.umn.edu/oilseedday . For more information and disability accommodations, contact Katie Black at 701-400-9486 or e-mail her at black807@umn.edu.

This event is made possible by generous support from the Walton Family Foundation and IPREFER. Special thanks to PepsiCo for their generous donation for this event.

Guiding Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Ag Service Providers
2021-06-10 13:00 - 14:00

Farming with Soil Life Short Course - Midwest
2021-06-09 09:00 - 13:00
Healthy, living soil and its functions are created and maintained by fungi, bacteria, plants and by invertebrate animals as diverse as annelids, springtails, and firefly larvae, among others. Soil invertebrates are fundamental to soil health and create soil structure, cycle organic matter, consume weed seeds and prey on crop pests.
This online short course is intended for NRCS staff, Soil and Water Conservation staff, Extension Educators, farmers and other agricultural professionals. Participants will learn about common soil invertebrates, their ecology and roles in soil health, scouting methods, and management strategies to increase beneficial soil animal populations.
Online Course Learning Objectives:
a. Gain an expanded understanding of soil animal diversity, including the ability to recognize the 12 most common groups of soil macroinvertebrates and to describe their role in soil health
b. Have greater, in-depth exposure to the life cycles and ecology of soil invertebrates, including the ability to describe the basic life cycles of at least 12 invertebrate groups and their role in the food web
c. Receive training in how to recognize common groups of soil invertebrates, particularly those with agricultural importance, including the ability to describe basic invertebrate body parts and physical characteristics
d. Learn to conduct hands-on field scouting and sampling of soil animals to evaluate species diversity in agricultural settings. This training will guide them toward being able to carry out that same scouting and sampling independently after the course
e. Learn how invertebrate diversity may be used as a rough bioindicator of soil health, and learn to compare the diversity of soil animals across fields with differing management practices; be able to draw general conclusions about soil health based upon the invertebrate groups present in a soil sample
f. Understand practical, science-based strategies to help increase soil life abundance and diversity

Guiding Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Ag Service Providers
2021-06-03 13:00 - 14:00
Guiding Resilience

Agriculture professionals: Are the farmers and ranchers you work with asking you tough legal questions? Do you wish you knew how to get them answers?

Soil Health Nexus Digital Cafe Series
2021-05-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Webinar
Pathway to Resilient Soils to Achieve Optimum Productivity and Environmental Quality with Jerry Hatfield
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
2:00 PM CT

Soil health is the pathway to improved soil function with the goal of increasing soil water availability, nutrients, and support for the growing crop. The collective change in soil enhances the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems. Tune in to hear from Jerry Hatfield, retired director of the USDA Agricultural Research Service National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, as he discusses pathways to acheive optiumum productivity and environemtal quality in soils.

Register at https://unl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvc-ipqjwqGdOkjsGp0kjDYwuoQ7t7f0-6

ECONOMICS OF SOIL HEALTH EVALUATED ON 100 FARMS BY THE SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE AND CARGILL
2021-04-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Soil health systems increased net income for 85% of farmers growing corn and 88% growing soybean
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, Mar. 9, 2021 – Improving soil health can help farmers build drought resilience, increase nutrient availability, suppress diseases, reduce erosion and nutrient losses, and increase economic benefits according to recent Soil Health Institute research. “In addition to benefiting farmers and their land, many soil health management systems also benefit the broader environment by storing soil carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving water quality,” says Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, President and CEO, Soil Health Institute (SHI). “However, investing in soil health is also a business decision, and information regarding the economic benefits of adopting soil health practices was limited until the Institute’s recent evaluation.”
To address this information gap, Cargill and SHI partnered to assess the economics of soil health management systems and provide farmers with the economic information they need when deciding whether to adopt regenerative soil health systems.
SHI researchers interviewed 100 farmers across nine states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee) who adopted soil health systems to acquire production information such as tillage practices, nutrient management, pest management, yield changes, and others. Dr. Archie Flanders, SHI Agricultural Economist, then evaluated the on-farm economics using partial budget analysis. A detailed description of the partial budget methodology used can be found on the SHI website: https://soilhealthinstitute.org/economics/. In this approach, the costs and benefits of a soil health system are compared before and after adoption of that system.
KEY FINDINGS:
From the data collection and analysis across all 100 farms, SHI found that soil health management systems:

Increased net income for 85% of farmers growing corn and 88% of farmers growing soybean,
Reduced the average cost to grow corn by $24/acre and soybean by $17/acre, and
Increased net farm income by an average of $52/acre for corn and $45/acre for soybean.

“In addition, 97% of the farmers we interviewed reported their soil health management system increased crop resilience to extreme weather,” said Dr. John Shanahan, Project Manager for the study.
“There has been growing awareness and interest among farmers in soil health. Increasingly, they are looking for a more robust picture of the long-term benefits soil health management systems can provide,” said Ryan Sirolli, Global Row Crop Sustainability Director at Cargill. “We’re encouraged by the work the Soil Health Institute has done to provide additional quantitative evidence to demonstrate the economic benefits of adopting soil health management systems. These results further our confidence that agriculture is how farmers can become more resilient and profitable while making a positive impact on the environment.”
“To get information into the hands of farmers that is most relevant to them, we are presenting results for each individual state using webinars and fact sheets,” said Dr. Honeycutt. “The webinars will cover the highlights and give farmers an opportunity to ask questions, while the fact sheets will provide a bit more detail for their particular state. We are inviting as many state-based, ag-related organizations as we can find and asking them to please forward the invitation to all farmers on their mailing list.”
The following schedule will be used for the state-by-state webinars that occur weekly from March 18 through May 13. Registration is free but required to participate. All who register will receive that state’s fact sheet.
Iowa
Webinar scheduled for 3/18, 1 p.m. Central Time (CT)/2 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ncr9yx7pTzShHS3bt7UdnA
Nebraska
Webinar scheduled for 3/25, 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PdIECNp5SZyD4Zwwao7Mug
Tennessee
Webinar scheduled for 4/1, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vRljwTSbTyOliJ3unc_ndQ
Illinois
Webinar scheduled for 4/8, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZdRZImQIR6uKSMx2X2lK5A
Indiana
Webinar scheduled for 4/15, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nJGr_884RmKqLkiQdM0jfw
South Dakota
Webinar scheduled for 4/22, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2hUHlnuBTYCwEQXLEZ2yzQ
Minnesota
Webinar scheduled for 4/29, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dK2yawGvQJCjn4BRpxJ_cg
Ohio
Webinar scheduled for 5/6, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hUOxZ44NSoKJbq1k0lO2Ow
Michigan
Webinar scheduled for 5/13, at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZAWeUa4TR7i8egq8bky5GQ
For further information, visit www.soilhealthinstitute.org.

Advancing Ag webinar: Benefits of cover crops in regions with limited growing conditions
2021-04-28 11:00 - 12:00
Wednesday, April 28 | 11 am – noon

Advancing Ag webinar registration

Benefits of cover crops in regions with limited growing conditions will be the topic of discussion at the SWROC’s April Advancing Ag webinar on Wednesday, April 28th at 11 a.m.
Associate Professor Axel Garcia y Garcia will lead a panel discussion covering a range of cover crops and soil health topics including regenerative agriculture to enhance carbon sequestration and credit, digital technologies to enhance cover crop management, and the economic considerations behind cover crop decisions. Panelists include:

José Hernández, Senior Agronomic Data Scientist at Indigo Agriculture
William Lazarus, Professor and Extension Economist at the University of Minnesota
Guillermo Marcillo, Ag Systems Modeler at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Jay Norton, Professor and Soils Extension Specialist at University of Wyoming

This diverse panel of researchers will engage in a dialogue about cover crops with one another and take questions from participants. Participants are encouraged to submit questions upon registration or to come to the webinar with questions in mind.

Bale Grazing for Overwintering Cattle
2021-04-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Participate in this webinar as we discuss bale grazing, how to properly implement this winter feed strategy even in states with mild/wet winters while minimizing surface pasture disturbance, maximizing hay nutrient distribution and targeting the buildup of low fertility soils.
http://conservationwebinars.net/webinars/bale-grazing-an-alternative-strategy-for-overwintering-beef-cattle
Overwintering beef cattle on farms across the U.S. can be a challenge for so many producers. Just the time and effort it takes to feed hay during the wet and cold weather conditions can be stressful enough. That daily chore coupled with excessive hay waste, manure accumulation and the compaction and rutting of wet pasture soils by the daily tractor traffic, often adds multiple levels of resource concerns to soil and water resources on the farm. We are familiar with and encourage stockpiling and strip grazing over the winter. We are also familiar with the benefits of systematically unrolling hay out across the pasture for the cattle, but both of these management techniques have their limitations. How about ‘Bale Grazing’? What is it? Can it be a viable alternative strategy for overwintering beef cattle in our variable (cold/mild) and wet winter weather conditions of the eastern United States? Attend this webinar to learn about bale grazing, how to properly implement this winter feed strategy even in states with mild/wet winters while minimizing surface pasture disturbance, maximizing hay nutrient distribution and targeting the buildup of low fertility soils. See the first hand results of a local farm bale grazing demonstration where this producer fed nearly 400 bales to overwinter his herd using this strategy during the long, wet winter of 2020/2021.

Energized Fence Training & Silvopasture Workshop/Tour
2021-04-23 08:30 - 16:00 | Virtual
On April 23rd, Sustainable Farming Association is heading out to the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge for a free, full-day Energized Fence Training & Silvopasture Workshop/Tour, 8:30-4:00 PM. The day is designed for those interested in oak savanna restoration, silvopasture, adaptive or conservation grazing, and semi-permanent fence designs for grazing management.
Participants will enjoy two 3-hour sessions, one session of fencing training with Kent Solberg and Doug Voss of SFA, and one Silvopasture Workshop & Tour session with Tyler Carlson (SFA), Gary Wyatt and Jeff Jackson (U of MN Extension) and Austin Yantes (University of Minnesota). A boxed lunch will be served at noon. This event is limited to 20 participants, and pre-registration is required. Get the full details on the Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project homepage and REGISTER.

Adaptive Grazing & Silvopasture Webinar
2021-04-21 09:00 - 10:30 | Virtual
Silvopastures are complex agroecosystems with the potential to provide an array of sustainable products and services. From healthy pasture-based foods and forest products to clean water and carbon sequestration, highly skilled grazing management is critical to the success and optimization of these systems. This webinar will present an overview of Adaptive Grazing Management and a look into its application to Silvopasture.
Presenters: Kent Solberg of SFA, Dr. Sue Wika and Dr. Tom Prieve of Paradox Farm.
Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gRbBErm6SCeodxcMYryrAA
*When you attend this Zoom event, you are giving SFA permission to use your image in the live and recorded broadcast of this event. If you do not wish to give this permission, please join the Zoom event or webinar via telephone.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Bale Grazing Farm Tour
2021-04-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Virtual
The Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council, a Networking Group of the Sustainable Farming Association, is hosting an extensive series of grazing events this spring and summer. Details for each, including registration links, are below. Preregistration is required to attend. All are free.
April 19 – Bale Grazing Tour, 5:30-7 p.m., Hollister Family Farm, 12857 Nokasippi River Rd SE, Brainerd. Bale grazing is a form of wintering cattle on pasture, or outwintering. The benefits of bale grazing include more equal distribution of manure and associated nutrients, reduced machinery costs for feeding and manure handling, and improved soil health. REGISTER.

Pasture Map & Soil Value Exchange Webinar
2021-04-12 16:00 - 17:30 | Virtual
Join the webinar, April 15th 4:00 CT , to learn about how carbon storage buyers, like Shopify and Marathon Oil, are trusting nature-based carbon drawdown and storage, American landowners are profiting from soil carbon sequestration, and how regenerative agriculture has an incredible impact on ecology, soil health, water storage and much more.

Winona SWCD Cover Crop Spring Self Guided Tour
2021-04-12 - 2021-07-01 | Winona County
Self Guided – April through July.
7 farms with 9 sites to visit.
Visit the sites before planting season starts, during a rain day, and once the crop is taking off in June or July.
Here’s a summary of the field sites you can tour….
* planting corn and soybeans green,
* roller crimping mature rye with soybeans,
* interseeding v1-v4 corn
* 60″ corn with interseeding,
* double cropping Triticale and NT soybeans,
* and making cover crops work with manure.
Winona SWCD 2021 Cover Crop Tour
