Dirt Rich

Two farmers on the SFA team share what they've learned over several years of operating CSAs and selling at farmers' markets. Dan Zimmerli of Cedar Crate Farm (Waldorf) and Lauren Barry of Dancing Gnome Farm (Wabasha) talk about how they've grown their businesses, the tech that helps them day-to-day, and how they design their farm stands at the market to boost sales and build relationships with customers.   Dan Zimmerli, SFA Specialty Crop Lead; Cedar Crate Farm Lauren Barry, SFA Finance Director; Dancing Gnome Farm Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Farmer Education Director The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Click here to learn more and register for the upcoming workshop with Charlotte Smith.    Charlotte Smith swore she would never return to farming after a very difficult family farm bankruptcy while growing up. Spoiler: After some time working in the corporate world, she started a farm in 2009. She found that the time management, hiring, and interpersonal skills she had learned also really benefited her farm business. Others noticed too, and in 2013 she started teaching marketing to fellow farmers.   According to Smith, the longest-standing principle of marketing is connecting in person. Digital marketing is not a substitute, although it is a very valuable tool that she helps farmers learn to use productively. Challenging a common farmer belief of "I don't like people, that's why I became a farmer!", she believes that as farmers build relationships and connect in person with others, they start thinking about people and their farm product differently, and they start showing up better. Sales follow.   If you like what you learn in this episode, you may want to join our upcoming workshop! Learn more and register for the April 18, 2024 workshop with Charlotte Smith in St. Joseph, Minnesota: https://sfa-mn.org/events/three-crucial-steps-to-build-your-profitable-farm-with-charlotte-smith/   Charlotte's recommendations: Mailchimp Mailer Lite Flodesk Squarespace Wix Square CharlotteMSmith.com   Charlotte Smith Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Farmer Education Director The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Click here to learn more about the January 2024 Principles of Biological Systems workshop in Elk River, Minn. Dan Kittredge grew up on a homestead with a family deeply engaged in the organic movement. Over the years, he worked on farms across the globe and learned from permaculture, biodynamic, agroecology, indigenous, conventional, and microbiological perspectives. With a foundation in both the practical and the philosophical, he created the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) in 2010, who makes it their mission to "increase quality in the food supply." If you've heard of the concept of "nutrient-dense foods," you might already be familiar with some of BFA's work. The Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) is excited to be partnering with BFA to host Kittredge for a two-day "Principles of Biological Systems" workshop on January 26 & 27, 2024 in Elk River, Minnesota. Don't worry about sitting in front of a slide presentation for the whole weekend -- the workshop will be highly interactive and suitable for anyone who grows anything. Bring your questions and expect to leave with a better understanding of living systems and practical tools to make a positive impact on your plant and soil health. Learn more and register here.   Dan Kittredge, Bionutrient Food Association Executive Director Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Farmer Education Director   Resources: Bionutrient Food Association Bionutrient Institute     The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Derek Schmitz has never dreamt of being anything other than a farmer. He also really doesn't like doing field work. An adaptively managed, perennial grazing dairy just makes sense.  In this conversation Schmitz shares how fellow dairy farmers helped him get started, and how genetics, observation and building his own farm team through the Minnesota Dairy Initiative have been key to his success -- and has even reduced his labor by about half.   Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Farmer Education Director Derek Schmitz, SFA Minnesota Dairy Initiative Coordinator   Resources: -MDI Website -Newman Turner books -"Farm as Ecosystem" by Jerry Brunetti -"Dirt to Soil" by Gabe Brown -"Building a Profitable Dairy Herd"     The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Jeff Duchene is a Grazing Specialist for the Minnesota NRCS, which offers both financial and technical assistance to producers to help them meet their land management goals and address their natural resource concerns. In conversation with host Jonathan Kilpatrick, Duchene shares how his formal education combined with years of learning directly from producers has been foundational in his career: "I think every producer I've worked with over the years I've learned something from." The pair also discuss the process of applying for NRCS programs like EQIP, and pointers and resources available to help navigate the current drought.   Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Soil Health Lead Jeff Duchene, NRCS Grazing Specialist, Minnesota   Resources:  NRCS website Cropland Grazing Exchange  Midwest Grazing Exchange MN NRCS YouTube channel September 2023 Grazing School Send us an email at info@sfa-mn.org.   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Five SFA farm consultants from across Minnesota discuss how they are approaching and planning ahead for drought conditions on their varying grazing operations. While conditions have changed since this conversation was recorded in early June 2023, their goals and decision-making strategies are evergreen. Listeners are welcome to reach out with questions. Drop us a line! SFA also offers our members on-farm coaching and consulting. Get started here. Drought can be a real source of stress for farmers. Minnesota has resources to help you cope. Reach the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670, or text FARMSTRESS to 898211, or email farmstress@state.mn.us. More information and additional resources are available here.   Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Lead Derek Schmitz, MN Dairy Initiative (MDI) Coordinator Angie Walter, Central Minnesota Education Coordinator, DGA; Agricultural Water Quality Certification Project Outreach Coordinator Doug Voss, Grazing Lead Tyler Carlson, Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead   Resources: Contact your county's FSA office for more information on opportunities and deadlines described in this episode. Cropland Grazing Exchange Midwest Grazing Exchange Minnesota Department of Agriculture Drought Resources   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Jonathan Kilpatrick and Jared Luhman return to the mic to explore farm financial health. Doing a thorough business analysis can help you clearly identify specifically where your profits and losses lie across your enterprises, and in turn help you make confident decisions for your farm's future. In their experience, the time you take to get a handle on your numbers usually pays itself back quickly in labor and input costs. The pair walk through some definitions, the components to consider in a financial analysis, on-farm examples, and provide a foundation for listeners to gain a clearer picture of their farm business. Find information about SFA's on-farm consults here, and Ranching for Profit School here. And, join us at an event to learn and connect with fellow farmers and food supporters!   Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist, SFA Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

We're switching it up today! Jonathan Kilpatrick moves into the host seat and interviews Jared Luhman about the history of farming in his family and about his time working for Sustainable Farming Association. A pivotal moment for the trajectory of the family farm came when a visiting student told them they were working too hard. The listening and learning (and traveling!) that followed laid the groundwork for how Jared and his father farm today. Jared also discusses the common perception of regenerative agriculture practices being in opposition to profitability, and how he likes to work through those tough conversations. Check out SFA's Soil Health Case Studies here. And, join us at an event to learn and connect with fellow farmers and food supporters!   *This episode was recorded prior to the passing of soil health leader and Ohio farmer Dave Brandt. There are many recent tributes to his legacy, including these pieces from No-Till Farmer and NPR.   Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist, SFA Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

In 2022, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) opened the state's first Emerging Farmers Office. Lillian Otieno and Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey of the MDA Commissioner's Office share how it came to be, the value it brings to our agricultural landscape, and the impacts they are seeing. SFA's Executive Director Lucinda Winter hosts this discussion, exploring the connections with SFA's work and how individuals can plug in. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the Emerging Farmers Office or what “emerging farmer” means, this is a great conversation to listen to to get a sense of the Office's approach to helping Minnesota's farmers find success.   Links mentioned in the show: Emerging Farmers Office Emerging Farmers Working Group Ag Census   Patrice Bailey, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Lillian Otieno, Commissioner's Office, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Lucinda Winter, Executive Director, Sustainable Farming Association   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Organic dairy grazier Angie Walter shares her experience using PaddockTrac, a grazing tool being developed by the University of Missouri. Angie's family runs a 100-cow organic dairy in Villard, Minn., grazing 80-100 acres at any given time. Theirs and 12 other Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship farms are piloting the PaddockTrac through an NRCS cooperative agreement. The PaddockTrac device, which is in the prototype phase, mounts to the front of a UTV or 4-wheeler and uses sonar waves to measure forage height in pastures. Once the data is saved and uploaded, its app generates a grazing wedge. The Walters drive their pastures weekly, using their eyes and the data from the grazing wedge to get a fuller picture to base their grazing management decisions from. As organic producers, it also aids in necessary record keeping for quantifying what the cows are eating. PaddockTrac could hit the market in early 2024. Read more about the DGA/PaddockTrac project here.   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Angie Walter, Central Minnesota Education Coordinator, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.  

We're back! Dirt Rich kicks off its fourth season with the second part of Jared Luhman's interview with Dan Zimmerli (check out part one here). The two get into the business management side of the farm -- employees, task tracking, data management and record keeping -- and how the Zimmerlis have leveraged it all to improve efficiency, profitability, and quality of life for them and their staff. Dan and his wife operate Cedar Crate Farm southeast of Mankato, growing produce for their CSA members. He also works for SFA as a soil health educator for fruit and vegetable producers. Resources mentioned: Lean Farm, Harvie, Microsoft To Do, Cornell Small Farms online courses   Schedule update: Dirt Rich is moving to a monthly release schedule. We will continue to release on Wednesdays   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Dan Zimmerli, SFA Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, Cedar Crate Farm. Contact at dan@cedarcratefarm.com or dan@sfa-mn.org    The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

This will be the last episode of season 3, and 2022! Thanks for listening, and we'll see you back in 2023 with another episode on vegetable production with Dan, conversations on new grazing technology, and other great interviews! Jared Luhman and Dan Zimmerli in conversation about vegetable production logistics from planting to harvest on Cedar Crate Farm. They discuss equipment, planning tools, pack shed layout, seed bed prep, food safety considerations, Lean Farm techniques and more. You just might get ideas for the next growing season! Dan and his wife operate Cedar Crate Farm southeast of Mankato, growing produce for their CSA members. He also works for SFA as a soil health educator for fruit and vegetable producers. Check out our first episode with Dan Zimmerli, Episode 33: Growing a CSA from 8 to 80, here. What's a finger weeder?   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Dan Zimmerli, SFA Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, Cedar Crate Farm   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Jared Luhman, Doug Voss, Kent Solberg, and Jonathan Kilpatrick discuss what's on their mind in the ag world at this point in the season. As we approach winter in the Midwest, folks are looking ahead and planning for next year. The team highlights the many opportunities for making changes on the farm in the next season guided by the principles of soil health.   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Doug Voss, SFA Grazing Lead Kent Solberg, SFA Senior Technical Advisor Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Soil Health Specialist   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Katie Feterl and Jared Luhman discuss SFA's on-farm consulting offering, how you can support our work, and highlight two big upcoming events: Annual Conference and Midwest Soil Health Summit. Contact Jared Luhman about consulting at jared@sfa-mn.org. You can also visit our Staff Page.   Give to the Max: November 17, 2022 (Giving open through the end of November). You can also support by giving through the SFA website or becoming a member at any time.   SFA Annual Conference: February 11, 2023 in St. Joseph, MN. Visit the webpage to learn more, register, and see exhibitor and sponsor information.   Midwest Soil Health Summit: March 8-9, 2023 in Alexandria, MN. Visit the webpage to learn more, register, and see exhibitor and sponsor information.   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Originally released November 16, 2020. Winter can be the most expensive time to own a cow in the Midwest. As the season changes, five of our staff who also raise beef and dairy cows gathered to share the ways that they've found to reduce the cost (and labor) of wintering cattle on their unique operations. All five live in different parts of Minnesota and run pasture-based farms, some raising organic dairy, some grass-fed or grass-finished beef. While there's no one-size fits all management style to wintering livestock, the team discusses a variety of practices that have worked for them, including bale grazing, stockpiling perennial pasture to extend the grazing season, and the timing of calving. They've also found benefits extending beyond the cost savings of quality winter feed: Doug Voss finds that by bale grazing, he also saves on labor and improves the health of his herd. And farmers certainly don't need to outwinter their cattle 100% of the time to start seeing the benefits--just making a few changes can show cost savings, a boost to herd health, and improvements in soil biology.   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Angie Walter, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Central Minnesota Education Coordinator Doug Voss, SFA Grazing Lead Tyler Carlson, SFA Silvopasture & Agroforestry Lead Kent Solberg, SFA Senior Technical Advisor   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Chad Crowley firmly believes that for those who want to get into dairy or farming in general, grazing is the way to go. That route has certainly gone well for him. He was told many times that he couldn't find success in farming because he didn't grow up on one, but today he and his wife Melissa farm in southeast Minnesota as part of Enchanted Meadows Farms. Enchanted Meadows is an organic, pasture-based dairy in La Crescent. The Crowleys were hired by owners Art and Jean Thicke in the early 2000's. After prior experience working at a high-production dairy, the grazing dairy model allowed for the lifestyle that Chad and Melissa were looking for. They stayed on for several years, and the Thickes began gifting them calves to “build sweat equity” in the farm business. If they ever left Enchanted Meadows, their growing herd could move on with them. Twelve years in, the Thickes concretely initiated a farm transition, selling the Crowleys one of the farms and splitting ownership of the herd. “Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it,” says Chad. The four continue farming together, and good communication and planning has helped the partners through inevitable times of disagreements. Listen in as Chad Crowley offers a candid conversation on getting into farming and non-family farm transitions in this episode with Jared Luhman.     Chad Crowley, Enchanted Meadows Farms Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA   If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting Dirt Rich and SFA's work by donating or becoming a member at www.sfa-mn.org. The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Scott Haase farms in Blue Earth, Minnesota, raising crops with his brother Brent and raising pasture and woodland pork under Blue Dirt Farm. Their German ancestors “walked here from Wisconsin back in the 1860's,” and they still farm some of the land where those ancestors homesteaded. Like most in the area, the Haase family farm is still a fairly conventional corn and soybeans farm. They have made some changes, including going completely no-till on their soybeans and reducing tillage overall, and adding cover crops to their management. The soil in the region feels difficult to manage for most, but Scott thinks “tillage here just begets more tillage” and the transition has been worth it. In his conversation with host Jared Luhman, Scott discusses the challenges and joys of raising Mangalitsa pigs on pasture, including pasture rotation, marketing, inventory management, processing, and fencing technology. He has long range goals for the land, and is mindful of the risk of burnout. “It's very hard and you need support from customers and the community at large” he says, reflecting on the value of farmer-to-farmer relationships and knowledge that he's built through SFA and other networks. His passion and self-admitted stubbornness keep him moving forward: “I really want to make an impact on more land than just my own farm…I've really gotten excited about finding things that work on the land and sharing those with people and providing really high-quality products.”   Scott Haase, Blue Dirt Farm Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA   Cannon Valley Butcher's Block The Meatery   If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting Dirt Rich and SFA's work by donating or becoming a member at www.sfa-mn.org. The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Following Dirt Rich's previous episode, 57: Fundamentals of Adaptive Grazing with Jonathan Kilpatrick, we thought it would be a great time to revisit our conversation on Adaptive Multi-Paddock grazing with Jared Luhman and Doug Voss.   If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org. ---------------------------------- Over the years of establishing and fine-tuning their management systems, grazing has become absolutely key in both Luhman's and Voss' cattle and dairy operations. Beyond rotational grazing, Adaptive Multi-Paddock grazing (or AMP) has improved the ecology of their farms--not to mention saved the time, energy, and expense of hauling around feed and other off-farm inputs--by modeling their grazing systems after the natural movement of wildlife across landscapes. “There's no substitute for what comes out the back of a cow or small ruminant,” Doug jokes. Doug hasn't used any off-farm inputs for years, and yet his yields continue to increase. The adaptive part of AMP is quintessential: not only is a successful grazing plan going to be unique and flexible to the context of a piece of land, but to the conditions that may come to pass during the season, be it a change in rainfall or a family wedding you need a couple days to travel to. The number of variables to consider may be daunting, but as Doug reminds us, creating an adaptive grazing plan is more of a journey than a destination. In the interview, he shares some advice for those looking to start to graze as well as those looking to improve their management, covering fencing, watering systems, rest periods, and examples from Voss Farms. The payoff is worth it. AMP grazing has brought Doug great peace of mind and more predictable income: “I have far fewer challenges where I'm not going to be productive or profitable on an acre of ground than I've ever had before.”  Whether you own a herd or land, there are a lot of good resources to help you get livestock applied appropriately to your land: SFA Soil Health resources SFA Silvopasture resources Technical Assistance Program for Graziers Nourishment by Fred Provenza  SFA also offers technical assistance to farmers, with priority given to SFA members. Doug Voss, Grazing Lead, Sustainable Farming Association, doug@sfa-mn.org Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, Sustainable Farming Association, jared@sfa-mn.org   Originally released March 17, 2021   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota.

Today, a presentation that our Soil Health Specialist Jonathan Kilpatrick gave on adaptive grazing at a recent field day. He'll bring you through the fundamentals, always keeping in mind the importance of context in grazing management. Jonathan believes that grazing is one of  the most powerful forces we can have to regenerate our soils. A topic overview: Why we adaptively graze How adaptive grazing plays a role in building soil health and resilience in our eco-systems Stocking density Measuring forage stand density and dry matter/acre Calculating herd needs BRIX If you have any questions for Jonathan or other SFA team members, you can always reach out to us. Find our contact details on our staff page at www.sfa-mn.org. We're all happy to help.   Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist, SFA   If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting Dirt Rich and SFA's work by donating or becoming a member at www.sfa-mn.org. The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Jared Luhman sits down with SFA's new Soil Health Specialist, Jonathan Kilpatrick. Jonathan comes to Minnesota after several years in several states, where he built a diverse background in agricultural work. He grew up farming with his family, eventually building up a 250-300 member CSA vegetable operation with his brothers. Time in other parts of the country has been spent as an intern and apprentice at Polyface Farm, a manager of a nonprofit farm in Vermont, a grazier in Oklahoma, and more. His experience with various farming enterprises makes him a great resource for SFA members. Jonathan will be doing work with soil health, grazing livestock, Kernza, and more. Get in touch with him at jonathan@sfa-mn.org or 1.844.922.5573 Ext. 712. If you haven't connected with the Sustainable Farming Association yet, know you are always welcome to reach out!   Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist, SFA Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

The Minnesota Garlic Festival returns to Hutchinson, Minnesota this Saturday, August 13! And that's got us thinking about seed garlic and planning ahead for the fall planting. Please enjoy this delightful conversation with two seasoned garlic growers, and consider joining us on Saturday for garlic food, fun, and conversations with farmers. Originally released September 16, 2020. ----------------------- “Minnesotans don't like that garlic. They don't eat that spicy stuff, dontcha know?” Jerry and Sunny and their sold-out-by-August harvest beg to differ! Jerry Ford and Sunny Ruthchild  are longtime friends in Minnesota garlic and organic farming. Sunny runs Merryweather Gardens near Walnut Grove, raising garlic, poultry, vegetables, and pigs who are happy to be the clean-up crew for her orchard. Jerry raises replacement dairy heifers, grass-fed beef, and garlic with his family at Living Song Farm near Howard Lake. Before they get back out there to plant next year's garlic crop, they're taking some time to compare notes and philosophies as they prepare for the next season and climate unknowns. They get into: Site Selection - Jerry's land is hilly, Sunny's land is flat. They both make it work. Soil Prep - “If you need to add chemicals to the soil, you need a different site.” Timing of planting Seed garlic and varietal selection - Seed garlic grown in Minnesota does well in Minnesota. First-time growers & gardeners - Porcelain varieties are a great place to start Dip treatments - Nah. Their agriculture philosophies Mulching Being adaptable to change in markets and climate Garlic is a high-value, premium crop here in Minnesota. As Sunny says, “the truth is, Minnesota can grow garlic. And the other truth is, people in Minnesota love good garlic, don't let anybody tell you anything else.”   Jerry Ford - Living Song Farm, SFA Network Coordinator Sunny Ruthchild - Merryweather Farm Katie Feterl - SFA Communications Director The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA.   Resources: Minnesota Premium Garlic Project Minnesota Garlic Festival & Virtual Directory Dirt Rich Episode 6: Harvesting Minnesota Garlic SFA Garlic Videos

There are many tests you can do yourself on your farm to measure soil health, and we've talked about some of them on Dirt Rich before (check out Episode 47: Four DIY Soil Health Tests). Today, Jared interviews Lance Gunderson of Regen Ag Lab on the utility of lab soil testing, particularly for farmers on a regenerative path. Why do do a lab soil test? Which one? How often? What do you do with the results? In this episode, we learn about a handful of different tests and the scenarios they may be useful in. The farm's unique context is important, and recommendations are informed by a farmer's goals and resource concerns. In particular, Gunderson does a deep dive into the chemistry and biology (his forte) of the Haney Test and why it is so useful for farms working with or transitioning to regenerative practices.   Lance Gunderson, President and Co-Owner, Regen Ag Lab, LLC Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Originally released July 15, 2020. ------ It's about that time to plant for late season grazing. Kent Solberg and Doug Voss discuss the biological benefits of grazing complex cover crops (nicknamed “biological primers”), and walk you through the process of designing a seed mix that will fit the unique context of your farm. As we know, things can change rather quickly, and remaining adaptable and having a “plan B” is always helpful. Sharing experiences with other producers in your area can help give you ideas and learn what might work best (or not at all!) on your farm. Other resources mentioned in this episode include: NRCS Offices  Green Cover Seed Smart Mix Calculator Midwest Cover Crop Council SFA Soil Health Page   Doug Voss - Grazing Lead, SFA Kent Solberg - Senior Technical Advisor, SFA Katie Feterl - Communications Director, SFA Reach out to Kent, Doug, Katie, or any other member of the SFA team here.   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Finnish farmer Thomas Snellman coined the concept of REKO Rings in 2013, and in the last few years they've begun to sprout in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This unique model of a local food market is connecting thousands of eaters directly to their local farmers using regional Facebook groups for each ring. Each week, participating growers post what they have to offer and customers comment to initiate an ordering process. All payment happens in advance of the weekly pick-up day, where everyone meets at the same time and place to receive their orders from the farmers. The efficiency can save all parties time and money, while still allowing for authentic relationship building between farmers and eaters. It's a straightforward foundation and each ring may operate a little differently, responsive to the needs of their community. To explain how REKO works and how to go about starting one in your own community, three farmer guests and founding members of their own REKO Rings join the podcast:   Mehgan Blair, Canosia Grove, Twin Ports REKO Ring Vanessa Wallock, The Victory Garden Farm, Ozaukee Area REKO Ring Thelma Heidel-Baker, Bossie Cow Farm, West Bend REKO Ring Host Katie Feterl, Communications Director, SFA   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

“I went in thinking I wouldn't have to do a darn thing.” Farmer Dale Buendorf was well on his way to becoming certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program at the outset, having implemented no-till and strip-till on his acres of corn and soybeans. While working with his certifier, Herman Bartsch, they discovered that there were just a few tweaks to make, including adjusting his nutrient management plan. Now, Dale says they are more responsible with where they apply nutrients and when, keeping it out of the groundwater. And, fewer passes on the fields has turned into a lot of savings in fuel costs. Dale was certified within six months, and also received endorsements in Soil Health and Integrated Pest Management! “As the boots on the ground on these lands that we're part of, I think it's important that we do these things and be responsible and protect these resources that we've got.” Dale's attitude is shared by many of the 1,200+ farmers who are certified. It is important to them to be good land stewards, and the recognition and resources they receive through certification is appreciated. Caroline D'Huyvetter (Minnesota Department of Agriculture), Herman, and Dale share their experience with the certification program in this conversation, how it can work with landlords, and the five different endorsements that farmers can receive in addition to getting certified: Climate Smart Farm, Soil Health, Integrated Pest Management, Wildlife, and Irrigation Water Management. There's more to those than the additional recognition: bridge payments for those with the Climate Smart endorsement are in the works. Learn more about the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program here, and find out who to contact to get started here.   Dale Buendorf, Farmer in Faribault County, Minnesota Herman Bartsch, South Central Area Certification Specialist for the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Caroline D'Huyvetter, Pesticide and Fertilizer Management, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Katie Feterl, Communications Director, SFA   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

We're taking a break this week as we prepare for many in-field events coming up this summer. Check out our event calendar at www.sfa-mn.org to find out what's going on near you! With dozens of events going through the fall, there's something for everyone. Also: we're on YouTube! Episodes 1-5 are available on the Sustainable Farming Association YouTube channel now, and we'll be uploading the full catalog over the coming weeks. If that's your preferred way to listen or share podcasts, you're in luck. We'll have a new episode coming up later this month! Thanks for listening.   Katie Feterl, Communications Director, Sustainable Farming Association   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

As we approach our big field day at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge that will demonstrate targeted grazing to restore oak savanna, we thought it would be a good time to revisit this episode with Tyler Carlson and Stephen Thomforde. This episode was originally released February 17, 2021, and its preceding episode is 23: Oak Savanna Origins. ------ Tyler and Stephen pick up their conversation on oak savanna from our last episode: How do we restore oak savanna? What does it take? Where have we been and what's been missed in prior restoration attempts? According to Stephen, “restoration is restoring the processes that maintain the desirable vegetation.” He dives into a variety of techniques used to do so including spraying, mowing, burning, baling, and grazing. Knowing what to take and what to leave is key in changing the trajectory of an ecosystem. Stephen and Tyler also get into a popular question: do we really need fire? What is necessary to maintain the savanna once you have it where you want it? To parse out an answer to that question, Stephen walks us through historical and ecological perspectives. Considering the relationship between burning and grazing, the pair land on grazing as a primary tool and burning as a secondary tool to maintain savanna grassland; grazing reduces the necessity of burning. The opportunity of farming and restoring oak savanna simultaneously is exciting, and Stephen looks forward to the growing cooperation between farmers and conservationists to build understanding and successful restoration work. He imagines the potential that could stem from bringing grazers back into the picture on more of the landscape, even in urban areas: a stronger local food economy, more meaningful jobs. The possibilities just might be as diverse as the ecosystem itself.   SFA's Silvopasture & Agroforestry webpage: https://www.sfa-mn.org/silvopasture-agroforestry/ Silvopasture Learning Network: https://silvopasture.umn.edu/home   The name we were struggling to remember towards the end of the episode was Tom Barthel of Snake River Farm. Check out his work in Sherburne county with bison and other grazers here.   Stephen Thomforde, Stantec, Senior Ecologist Tyler Carlson, SFA, Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota.   This episode is supported and funded by a grant from the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). It is part of the “Oak Savanna Restoration through Silvopasture Project” in cooperation with University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension, Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management (CINRAM) at the University of Minnesota, and Great River Greening.

We wrap up our Farm Succession Miniseries with a conversation with Jim Molenaar, a longtime Farm Business Management educator and “farm boy.” Today, he works with 55-60 different farm families around St. Cloud through the Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence, counseling on areas such as day-to-day management, financials, and succession. Molenaar's top three essentials in the farm succession planning process are “communication, communication, and more communication.” In his conversation with Jared Luhman, he lays out some scenarios and helpful tools to frame your own approach to succession, retirement, and estate planning. Not that you have to go it alone– accountants and lawyers can be key third parties, and Farm Business Management educators/counselors like Molenaar are also available across the state of Minnesota. While Molenaar grants that there is always urgent work to be done in a farm business and succession conversations can be difficult, starting the process early on rather than avoiding it can be quite beneficial. In his experience, making a plan is key to boosting the likelihood of success in a farm transition. One practice he recommends is creating a to-do list with specific people assigned to each task with a deadline. Taking minutes during any succession meeting is also a great tool that can help get parties on the same page. Listen to Episode 49 and 50 to hear the first two parts of the Farm Succession Miniseries.   Jim Molenaar, Farm Business Management Educator, Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence, jmolenaar@sctcc.edu Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, Sustainable Farming Association   Resources: Southern Minnesota Center of Agriculture (Mankato) Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence (Staples)  Compete directory in for FBM instructors around the state   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Jerry Ford and Mariénne Kreitlow are the fourth generation on a farm with a legacy in conservation. Living Song Farm sits on highly erodible land near Minnesota's Crow River, but the practices introduced in the 1940's by Mariénne's father, Willard Kreitlow, have generated topsoil for decades. Jerry and Mariénne share Willard's land ethic, and have worked for several years to find a non-family fifth generation that will continue this legacy even before the farm was officially transferred to them in their 60's. In this second part of our Farm Succession Miniseries, Jerry Ford describes their goals for succession (including living on the farm even after retirement), financial situation, and his experience with the family and non-family transitions that have occurred in tandem. He also details the legal realities of a tangle of life estates, Transfer on Death Deeds, long-term care insurance, and other policies that have shaped their unique experience: “Don't try this at home, kids. Have a lawyer.”   Our Farm Succession Miniseries will conclude next week, May 4. Stay tuned!   Jerry Ford, Living Song Farm, SFA Network Coordinator Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   Resources mentioned: Land Stewardship Project Renewing the Countryside Sustainable Farming Association   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Megan Roberts has experienced many farm transitions–as a non-farm heir to her family dairy farm, as an in-law in a family farm transition, and as an educator. Drawing on over a decade in personal and professional experience in farm succession and estate planning, in this episode she shares several points of consideration for families navigating tough conversations and the complex process of succession. “Something I learned is that there's never enough communication,” says Roberts. Even when family relationships are really strong and there are shared goals, farm succession planning isn't simple and can provoke strong emotions. Roberts encourages families to “be inclusive” in their meetings and conversations on the future of the farm, inviting in-laws and non-farm heirs to be present and have a voice even if they aren't ultimately decision makers. Listen in for more of Roberts' conversation with Dirt Rich host Jared Luhman, who is in the midst of a family farm transition himself, on other things to consider in succession: finances, estate planning and grief, maintaining relationships, security for the elder generation, and more. This is the first of a three-part miniseries on farm succession. Look for Part 2 on April 27, when we'll release an episode with Jerry Ford on a non-family farm transition.   Megan Roberts, Executive Director of the Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence, Farmer Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

With springtime around the corner, this week we're revisiting our 2021 episode on managing spring grazing. When is the best time to turn the cows out? Kent Solberg and Jared Luhman dig into this decision that sets you up for the rest of the grazing season. It can be awful tempting to get started as soon as we see green, but Kent illustrates how letting the pasture mature a bit more can extend the grazing season by one to two months. Waiting for the third leaf stage, starting in a new paddock each spring, increasing plant diversity, and grazing about 30-50% of the plant height are all beneficial towards animal performance and forage production in the long term. Kent and Jared also discuss some tips for management once you start your grazing season. Of course, it always depends on the context of the land and your goals. This is adaptive management, after all. Listen in for more sage advice from SFA's resident grazing expert!   More soil health and grazing resources are also available on the SFA website. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box. Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Kent Solberg, SFA Senior Technical Advisor; Seven Pines Farm & Fence (Verndale) The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Sarah Lindblom returns to Dirt Rich today to share four soil health tests that you can do at home to gain insight on the soil's physical, chemical, and biological function. These tests can be valuable to gardeners and farmers at any scale, and can be done using simple materials from your recycling bin: Infiltration test - simulates a 1 inch rain event, demonstrates soil structure and indicates biological activity Slake test - simulates an extreme rain event, demonstrates soil structure and indicates biological activity Earthworm test - Indicates soil biological activity pH test - Helps you track soil acidity Directions for each of these tests and a “Soil Health Report Card” to help you track your results are available on the SFA website. See Sarah demonstrate the tests in this video for a visual walkthrough.  Sarah also gives an overview of how the physical, chemical, and biological components of soil health and function are interconnected, and briefly discusses approaching soil health using systems thinking. The Venn diagram graphic she uses to illustrate is here. Sarah Lindblom operates Solar Fresh Produce in Buffalo, MN and is entering her eighth growing season. She has run a CSA and a farm store and primarily grows produce, herbs, flowers, and raises bees and chickens. She is also the president of the Crow River Chapter of SFA.   Sarah Lindblom, Solar Fresh Produce Katie Feterl, Communications Director, Sustainable Farming Association   Recommended reading: Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows Miraculous Abundance by Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer Permaculture Design by Aranya The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka The Lean Farm: How to Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency by Ben Hartman   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Audrey Lomax manages the grazing enterprises of MNL, a Minnesota-based land management and restoration company that provides ecological products and services. One of the neat parts of her job is that she manages thousands of acres under solar arrays with their flock of 2500 Katahdin sheep. This service provides vegetation management and pollinator habitat in a regenerative way that otherwise would have been done mechanically or chemically.  We talk about the logistics of managing this type of an operation and discuss how other farmers can participate the same way. The potential of solar grazing for beginning farmers to build a land base is exciting and if you are interested in doing it, you won't want to miss this conversation. If you want to reach out to Audrey, you can reach her at Audrey.Lomax@mnlcorp.com.   Audrey Lomax, MNL Grazing Manager Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Meat processing has long been a challenge for local food producers in Minnesota. In this episode, we discuss meat production and processing in the southeast part of the state with Eric Klein of Hidden Stream Farm and Dover Processing. Klein's diverse array of businesses compliment each other, both improving soil health and supporting local foods and communities. He raises grass fed beef, hogs, pastured chicken and organic crops on Hidden Stream Farm. The farm markets products direct-to-consumer and has wholesale accounts throughout Rochester and the Twin Cities. They also distribute products from other farmers in their region, strengthening shared markets and providing more options to their customers. Most recently, Klein and his family saw a need for more USDA processing in their region and started Dover Processing, which processes beef, pork and lamb for local farmers. They provide jobs for several families while providing opportunity for many other families in southeast Minnesota. We discuss his farm business, the journey to starting their own processing facility, and all the challenges that come along with it. If you have considered doing any of this, this episode is a must listen! According to Klein, now is a fantastic time to start a meat plant, the demand is high and there are dollars available to assist from both state and federal sources.   Eric Klein, Hidden Stream Farm; Dover Processing Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

When Jared and Valerie Luhman's customers started requesting soy- and corn-free chicken, they decided to try making some changes to the way they raised their flock on pasture in order to see how they might sustainably meet this demand at a larger scale. Grants from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and SARE supported upgrading their chicken tractor, feeding and watering infrastructure, and studying various outcomes of corn- and soy-free birds with birds eating corn- and soy-based feed. As their final report comes together, the Luhmans share the results of the project (including some nutritional analysis of the butchered birds), general observations of bird health and customer response, and more. For those considering adding this kind of enterprise to their farm, they have lots of recommendations for resources and considerations as you plan.   Resources: Days Fed vs Average Butchered Weight Chart SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Minnesota Department of Agriculture AGRI Grant Greenbook 2021 - The Luhmans' project objectives begin on page 18.   Valerie Luhman, Grassfed Cattle Co. Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Mehgan Blair and Nate Watters are two orchardists and hyper-local craft cidermakers in different Minnesota landscapes. Blair and her family steward a historic dairy farm with an heirloom orchard in Duluth: Canosia Grove. Icelandic sheep are their “land managers,” grazing and conditioning the soil for an eventual expanded orchard. Watters and his family started their now 6-acre orchard from scratch, planting over 6,000 apple trees of many varieties near Dundas. They bottle their cider as Keepsake Cidery, also offering a cozy tasting room experience with noshes from nearby cheesemakers. The two prioritize community partnerships, sustainability of land and people, and growing the heirloom apple and cider markets to financial sustainability–the major challenge of note.   Nate Watters - Keepsake Cidery, Dundas, MN Mehgan Blair - Canosia Grove, Duluth, MN Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Kaleb Anderson is the third generation of his family farm in Goodhue, Minnesota, and grew up with a conventional ag background. Living in the Driftless region, soil degradation and erosion were always a big concern. Since moving back onto the farm in 2006, Anderson has adjusted practices and diversified the business. He would say that he's still very much on his ‘soil health journey' over a decade in: “The more I've peeled the onion back, the more I realize how much I need to learn.” Anderson describes the operation now as “still conventionally based,” and grows corn, Kernza®, small grains like oats and rye. Grass-finished beef is the centerpiece, and he's always looking for new crops to grow and ways to stack the cattle with other enterprises. Enter Kernza®. Perennial-based agriculture had always intrigued Anderson, and when he caught wind of the developing crop Kernza®, he wanted to give it a try. At some point (memories are fuzzy), Anderson connected with Alan Kraus of Clean River Partners, who had also been intrigued by the concept of a perennial wheatgrass. Kraus' own prior dairy grazing experience fueled his interest in measuring the success and profitability of grazing Kernza®. What followed was an in-depth study on Anderson's farm. In this episode, Kraus and Anderson go through the findings, and the promise and uncertainties of Kernza® as markets develop. Spoiler: the study found that Kernza® was profitable for forage and grain production, and farmer and public interest are growing into well-attended field days, and festivals are on the horizon!   More resources: Soil Health Case Studies Volume 3  The study University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative: Kernza   Kaleb Anderson - Farmer, Goodhue, MN Alan Kraus - Conservation Program Manager for Clean River Partners, former dairy grazier Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

(Originally released October 28, 2020) Kathy Zeman pasture-raises a veritable menagerie: goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys, broilers, hens, meat rabbits, and honeybees graze her twenty acres at Simple Harvest Farm Organics. She grew up farming, and first got started on poultry with her brother for a 4-H project. “Nick's Eggs” continues today, available at the Just Food Co-op in Northfield.  The array of animals she raises now ensures she never has to buy fertilizer--the manure production keeps pastures lush, and is a piece of her vision of resiliency and being self-sustaining. In fact, Kathy says that the grass actually grows back thicker and healthier behind a well-paced turkey tractor. Her Bourbon Red and Broad Breasted White turkeys happily graze in cattle panel hoop tractors, enjoying fresh grass once or twice a day safe from predators. Kathy built her farm business on her values. She's certified organic, and raises a heritage breed in part to keep the genetic diversity going. They're “spendy,” but her customers are willing to pay for that fresher turkey flavor and the value of the environmental stewardship that the birds provide. “I always tell people when they buy from us, they're really protecting these 20 acres. These little 20 acres on this planet are going to be no soil erosion, no water pollution, we're not building antibiotic-resisting bacteria. That's what they're supporting.” In addition to farming, Kathy Zeman is also the executive director of the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. That work aligns with her values, too. MFMA has been able to advance policy important to local foods. She describes farmers markets as the place “where community eats and meets.” They shorten food miles and keep money circulating locally. The community of people surrounding farmers markets are her crowd, too--resilient, boots-on-the-ground folks. Host Jared Luhman's conversation with Kathy Zeman naturally branches out from pastured turkey production and into thoughts about farm/land/life sustainability, pricing and food access, and the need for more BIPOC voices at the agricultural table. Listen in for comical stories, seasoned advice, and reflections on topics that are top-of-mind for many growers these days.   Kathy Zeman, Simple Harvest Farm Organics, Minnesota Farmers' Market Association Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead of SFA The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota.

Dr. Anna Cates, the State Soil Health Specialist for the Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH), discusses the roles and interplay of both scientific research and anecdotes in soil health education and implementation with host Jared Luhman. In her opinion, both are quite valuable in making the case for using soil health techniques on the farm. In this episode, Dr. Cates shares the research she is doing with MOSH in several farmer's fields. Tracking pairs of neighboring conventional and “soil health fields,” MOSH is looking at soil aggregates before and after rainfall. Listen into her conversation with Jared for an inside look at the soil health research happening here in Minnesota! Interested in participating in MOSH's soil health research? Farmers can fill out a 10-minute survey on soil health, field workability, and quality of life here.   Dr. Anna Cates, State Soil Health Specialist, Minnesota Office for Soil Health Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

We're shaking it up a bit this episode! Cohosts Jared Luhman and Katie Feterl reflect on the last year: drought challenges and lessons, in-field experiences across the state, hopeful moments, and observations from different spaces in the regenerative ag world. Links: Find all upcoming field days, workshops, webinars and more on our event calendar.  You can also find more detailed information about the SFA Annual Conference and Midwest Soil Health Summit on our website. The new Soil Health for Fruit and Vegetable Growers resource is available online. Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Connecting with others and meeting new people has always been important to John Beaton, and it's this flair for relationship building that is at the heart of his farm story. John and Emily Beaton operate Fairhaven Farm just north of Duluth, Minnesota. John got his start on a local CSA vegetable farm, where his mentor, Rick, eventually gave him space to plant his own field to start his farm business--something Rick's own mentor had also done for him when he was starting out. A series of meet cutes and handshakes paved the way for the Beatons to buy a farm and grow their business in new directions. They were also privileged to have steady off-farm employment and financial support from family. John and Emily currently run a 50-member CSA on just shy of an acre of production, and grow plant starts for their local co-op and several other accounts in the region. These enterprises, too, grew out of personal connections and intention. After receiving so much support from others in purchasing a farm and getting started, John wants to do the same for other emerging farmers. Utilizing his firsthand experience with the process of finding and purchasing farmland, he serves as a Farmland Access Navigator through Renewing the Countryside's Farmland Access Hub. Through this grant-funded program, he provides detailed, free guidance for land-seekers. He also serves as a Conservation Connector, helping connect historically underserved farmers with conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP (both of which his farm has applied for and received) that can provide some financial support. John intends to keep paying it forward. “We need more farms here, and whatever I can do to help people achieve that...that's my goal.” This ethos is baked into Fairhaven Farm itself. He and Emily are looking to expand their gathering space centered around their pizza oven, building up a regional farm store and event space. To build relationships with others, John encourages fellow farmers to put themselves out there and tell their story. “Every bit of good fortune in one's life comes from other people,” he says. And in connecting with others and authentically sharing one's story, it creates opportunities to help each other out.   John Beaton, Fairhaven Farm and Lake Superior Chapter member Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead   Resources: Farmland Access Hub & Navigators Conservation Connections Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

It's that time of year again! Garlic growers in Minnesota are preparing for planting. We're bringing this episode back into your feed to help you get ready with advice from two seasoned garlic growers: Jerry Ford and Sunny Ruthchild. --------------------- “Minnesotans don't like that garlic. They don't eat that spicy stuff, dontcha know?” Jerry and Sunny and their sold-out-by-August harvest beg to differ! Jerry Ford and Sunny Ruthchild are longtime friends in Minnesota garlic and organic farming. Sunny runs Merryweather Gardens near Walnut Grove, raising garlic, poultry, vegetables, and pigs who are happy to be the clean-up crew for her orchard. Jerry raises replacement dairy heifers, grass-fed beef, and garlic with his family at Living Song Farm near Howard Lake. Before they get back out there to plant next year's garlic crop, they're taking some time to compare notes and philosophies as they prepare for the next season and climate unknowns. They get into: Site Selection - Jerry's land is hilly, Sunny's land is flat. They both make it work. Soil Prep - “If you need to add chemicals to the soil, you need a different site.” Timing of planting Seed garlic and varietal selection - Seed garlic grown in Minnesota does well in Minnesota. First-time growers & gardeners - Porcelain varieties are a great place to start Dip treatments - Nah. Their agriculture philosophies Mulching Being adaptable to change in markets and climate Garlic is a high-value, premium crop here in Minnesota. As Sunny says, “the truth is, Minnesota can grow garlic. And the other truth is, people in Minnesota love good garlic, don't let anybody tell you anything else.”   Jerry Ford - Living Song Farm, SFA Network Coordinator Sunny Ruthchild - Merryweather Farm Katie Feterl - SFA Communications Director The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA.   Resources: Minnesota Premium Garlic Project Minnesota Garlic Festival & Virtual Directory Dirt Rich Episode 6: Harvesting Minnesota Garlic SFA Garlic Videos

“It's hard to find a Minnesotan that's not proud of the fact that we've got so many wonderful lakes in our region and we're the source for the Mississippi River...We have a lot of pride for our natural resources in this state and we have a lot of pride for our operations.” -Jennifer Wagner-Lahr The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a statewide opportunity for farmers to be recognized for their efforts to protect water quality. The certification also provides regulatory certainty for 10 years, and the process opens up opportunities for technical and financial assistance to help achieve certification. Farmers Jennifer and Larry Lahr laud the financial assistance and the guidance from their certifier, Mark Lefebvre, for helping make “the leap” in implementing some new practices into their crop and livestock operations comfortable. In this episode, the three guests share their experiences with getting certified under MAWQCP, some of the nuts and bolts behind the program and other opportunities for support, and the changes that they've seen on-farm as a result of implementing conservation and soil health building practices-- even in the face of drought conditions.   Get started on program certification here or reach out to your local Soil Water Conservation District Office. More information on the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium pilot is available here.   Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director Mark Lefebvre, Stearns County SWCD Certifier, (320) 251-7800 x3, Mark.Lefebvre@mn.nacdnet.net Jennifer Wagner-Lahr, Lahr Heritage Acres Larry Lahr, Lahr Heritage Acres, (320) 761-3925, thenewcountrycat@yahoo.com   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Megan Benage, a Regional Ecologist for the Minnesota DNR, brings her passion for the prairie to 32 counties in southern Minnesota--and to thousands of listeners on the Prairie Pod, which she hosts with fellow scientists. And today, she brings it to Dirt Rich!  Once covering a full third of the state, Minnesota's tallgrass prairie is now 235,000 acres of remnant reference prairie. Megan shares what the day in the life of an ecologist is like, and how her work intersects with agriculture. In fact, she describes the balanced prairie ecosystem function that she works towards as incredibly relevant to the farmer: “Every regenerative agriculture model that we have is based on how a prairie is just living its life.” There's a lot to be learned from the prairie, especially in a changing climate. Megan distills it down to diversity, connection, and community. “When we put our natural resources first, we are putting ourselves first, because we all need the same basic things to live.” Additional Resources: Prairie Pod Xerces Society USDA NRCS Minnesota DNR ‘Beyond Your Backyard' archive   Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director Megan Benage, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Ecologist The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

Angie Walter, the SFA/DGA Central Minnesota Education Coordinator, and her husband Nate run an organic dairy in Central Minnesota, and are also masters in the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program. Today's episode features them in conversation with their first apprentice, Ryan Heinen, who now manages a dairy in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His passion for ecology and restoration led him to farming and to grass-based dairy, and DGA helped him build a solid foundation to take on a new endeavor. The Walters and Ryan share their experiences in the DGA program from both the master and apprentice perspectives--it was a positive and valuable learning experience for all. Angie highlights the value of networking events, such as pasture walks, to dairy farmers of all experience levels. There are two pasture walks remaining this season, one on August 24 in Verndale, MN, and one on September 9 in Brandon, MN. Both are free, they include lunch! More information and registration can be found on SFA's DGA page.   Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director Angie Walter, SFA/DGA Central Minnesota Education Coordinator, Walter Dairy Nate Walter, Walter Dairy Ryan Heinen, Land and Livestock Manager, Gwenyn Hill Farm   Additional Resources: Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship SFA/DGA Resources and Events Dirt Rich Episode 19: Family Dairies & Apprenticeships   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

“What else is livestock farming but sort of a dance and a balance between farmer happiness, livestock happiness, and soil health happiness?” Dayna Burtness discusses her “pastured pig-centric farm,” marketing enterprise, and incubator farm near Spring Grove, in the Driftless region of Minnesota. Dayna is the sixth generation in her family to farm in Houston County, and she and her husband Nick Nguyen are finishing 75 mixed breed heritage pigs on pasture this season. They utilize a wagon wheel hub model and are constantly experimenting to improve soil health, pit happiness and health, and farmer happiness and health.  In her conversation with Jared Luhman, Dayna shares how her production system has evolved over time, her focus on soil health, her intentionality in the incubator farm, and her philosophy on marketing, pricing, and running a farm business. She also offers sage advice to those pursuing similar ventures, and plenty of examples of ‘failed' and successful on-farm experiments.   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Dayna Burtness, Nettle Valley Farm   Additional Resources: Soil Health Case Studies Vol. 3, featuring Nettle Valley Farm “Building Profitable Farms through Direct Marketing” webinar video The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Leave us a review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box.

In anticipation of our trio of silvopasture field days and workshops next week, we wanted to re-release Episode 10: "Implementing Silvopasture" as a refresher or introduction to the topic. If you'd like to learn more, you can also listen to our other episodes that cover this management approach with ecological and indigenous origins: Episode 9: "Silvopasture in Minnesota" with SFA's Tyler Carlson and Jared Luhman. Episode 10: "Implementing Silvopasture" with SFA's Tyler Carlson and Jared Luhman. Episode 23: "Origins of Oak Savanna" with Stephen Thomforde and Tyler Carlson. Episode 24: "Restoring Oak Savanna" with Stephen Thomforde and Tyler Carlson. Episode 25: "Home on the Tree-Range" with Tony Wells and Jared Luhman. Find more resources and information about the upcoming field days and workshops on our website. ------------------------------- Episode 10: Implementing Silvopasture Jared Luhman and Tyler Carlson return to further discuss Silvopasture: “the intentional integration of trees, forage, and livestock into one intensively managed system.” Formerly a trope to “keep livestock out of the woods,” now farmers have the tools to properly manage their impact.    By intensively managing trees to optimize the growing environment for the forage below, as well as the timing and location of livestock grazing, farmers can reap numerous benefits. Silvopasture practices can boost soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat and diversity, and carbon sequestration. Silvopasture can also raise timber value, animal performance, and overall economic returns, making this system an attractive option for some farmers.   Tyler describes his own operation, from his intensive study of agroforestry as a student at the University of Minnesota, to his 200 acres in Todd County today. He and his wife raise grass-fed beef, pastured lamb, and perennial fruits on their farm. Tyler shares his experience in working with both existing woodlands and establishing silvopasture on cleared land for those looking to get started.   Resources: SFA Silvopasture & Agroforestry Homepage - Learn more and register for upcoming workshops here. Silvopasture Handbook Silvopasture Webinar Series University of Minnesota Silvopasture Learning Network NRCS EQIP   Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Tyler Carlson, SFA Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota.   This episode is supported and funded by a grant from the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). It is part of the “Oak Savanna Restoration through Silvopasture Project” in cooperation with University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension, Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management (CINRAM) at the University of Minnesota, and Great River Greening.

“I'm so heartened by the work that our farmers are doing, that our researchers are doing, to create these really sustainable crops--they're actually regenerative crops--that are not only delicious on the plate, but really good for the land.” Beth Dooley shares the excitement for Minnesota perennial crops and Kernza that she, Jacob Jungers, and Peter and Anne Schwagerl all bring to today's episode of Dirt Rich. Research by a variety of stakeholders, including the Forever Green Initiative and University of Minnesota researcher Jacob Jungers has been focused on the economic and environmental impacts of perennials like alfalfa, hazelnuts, pennycress, and the intermediate wheatgrass Kernza®. They've found that fewer pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are needed to grow perennial crops, and farmers reap the economic benefits. Additionally, the deep root systems that perennials grow provide many ecosystem services: fixing nitrogen, building fertility. While Kernza doesn't fix nitrogen, it takes it from deeper levels of the soil than annuals can reach, and reduces the leaching of nitrogen into groundwater. Beginning farmers and SFA Western Chapter members Anne and Peter Schwagerl have certainly noticed those benefits on their farm so far. They have 40 acres of Kernza seeded on their organic farm this season. Says Peter, “it also offers a good way for us to tackle some of the very nitty gritty challenges that we face on a farm, particularly us as organic farmers. It really feeds a lot of needs for us from an agronomic standpoint.” They're able to keep living roots in the soil, reduce tillage, improve pest and weed management, and break up soil compaction. The Schwagerls intend to eventually incorporate that fifth principle of soil health, 'Integrating Livestock,' and graze the forage that Kernza provides as well. As Jacob Jungers explains, grazing Kernza results in four potential income streams for the crop: grazing forage in early May, harvesting the grain, using the leftover straw for bedding or rations, and grazing again in the late fall. As markets expand for Kernza--just to name a couple examples: a Kernza grower co-operative is forming, and Dooley recently published a cookbook highlighting perennials--academic and farmer partnered research continues on quality, taste, measuring environmental factors, and increasing yields. The future of the crop seems to have great potential for connecting eaters to growers and land, tied in by the passion for great-tasting food and climate change mitigation.   Links:  July 8 Kernza Field Day UMN Sustainable Cropping Lab The Land Institute Kernza CAP Forever Green Initiative   Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box. Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director Jacob Jungers, Assistant Professor, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota Beth Dooley, Food Writer and Cookbook Author, Beth Dooley's Kitchen   Peter & Anne Schwagerl, Prairie Point Farm, SFA Western Chapter members     The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Dan Zimmerli is the SFA Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, and he also farms full time. He and his wife operate Cedar Crate Farm southeast of Mankato, growing produce for their CSA members. They started out with 8 members in their first season in 2015, and six seasons later they've grown it to 80--always with a goal of lifestyle balance in mind. Dan grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Redwood County, so he wasn't new to agriculture when he started his own farm. He was drawn to growing produce because he enjoyed making personal connections with customers and knowing that they were taking home a high quality product that they could eat that day.  “Our goals right now are really to make our farm truly sustainable in a holistic sense.” For the Zimmerlis, this includes being able to take Sundays off. To be able to leave the farm in the hands of their employees from time to time and take a trip. Technology, making processes more efficient, training employees well, and adding infrastructure have all played a role in growing their business while not spreading themselves too thin.   His advice to budding farmers considering a CSA model: Start small. You want to deliver a good experience, because recruiting a new crop of members can be a lot of work. Network with fellow growers and/or like-minded individuals Try not to lose sight of the other things that you enjoy in life. Take time to enjoy them. Don't discount the financial management and marketing pieces of your business.   Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box. Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Dan Zimmerli, SFA Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, Cedar Crate Farm   The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

Gabe Brown shares his ranch story and his 25+ years of learning about regenerative agriculture practices. Before “soil health” concepts entered the mainstream, a few hail storms in the ‘90s, financial challenges, connections made with soil experts, and some serendipity prodded Gabe to try things that were rather unconventional in commercial ag; he stopped tilling, he started planting some cover crops, he grazed, and he ran side-by-side trials with and without chemical nutrient inputs. He'd never seen earthworms in the soil there before, but soon they were appearing. He noticed soil aggregate and improvements in water infiltration--which, by the way, has increased from a half inch per hour to 30 inches per hour. Something was working. Another factor that Gabe attributes to his somewhat inadvertent foray into soil health is the fact that he didn't grow up on a farm. He was a “city kid” who grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota, and he and his wife eventually took on her parents' ranch over the years. Knowing his neighbors would laugh at him no matter what he did, he wasn't too worried about doing anything unconventional. And it's been worth it: healthy soil has made Brown's Ranch both more resilient and more profitable than it used to be. But he didn't do it alone, Gabe is blunt about the valuable role of connecting with and learning from others in his own success: “Gabe Brown's not very smart, but I know a lot of smart people.” Throughout their conversation, Gabe and Jared discuss how building healthy soils and stacking enterprises can boost farm profitability, and challenge the “feed the world mentality” as a promotion for high-yield, monocrop agriculture. Gabe also shares the ethos behind his “200-year plan” for Brown Ranch: “We don't own the land that we farm and operate, we're only borrowing it from our children and future generations.” Now retired from the ranch, Gabe helps other farmers work within their farm's individual context to implement soil health principles and benefit their triple bottom line. He co-owns Understanding Ag, a for-profit consulting company that is currently consulting on over 22 million acres across the country. An active presenter, Gabe Brown spoke at SFA's virtual 2021 Midwest Soil Health Summit. All session recordings are available on SFA's Youtube channel. For more resources, visit Understanding Ag's website, or their non-profit arm Soil Health Academy (there's a June event in Cold Spring, MN for dairy farmers). There are also soil health and grazing resources and technical assistance available on the SFA website. Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Gabe Brown, Brown's Ranch, North Dakota; Understanding Ag The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA.   Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Rate, review, or drop us a line on our Virtual Comment Box. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.