Are you intrigued by the thought of building your own fences? Or, have you tried and need a refresher on how to do it? Fence building is both an art and a science, and properly built fences make for years of happy neighbors and livestock success. Learn the ropes with Kent Solberg and Jonathan Kilpatrick… The post Hands-on workshop: “Foundations of Fencing” appeared first on Sustainable Farming Association ..read more

Dr. Wyse By Connie Fernholz Carlson • Crow River Chapter member; former SFA Board member and President It is with deep sadness that I share with all of you the sudden passing of University of Minnesota professor, Dr. Don Wyse, on July 2, 2024. Dr. Wyse was a dynamic force for clean water, healthy soil, sustainable agriculture and a fierce champion for rural communities. Wyse was pivotal in the formation of a family of sustainability-focused organizations that SFA interacts with regularly, including Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), Regional Sustainable Development Partner ..read more

By Jonathan Kilpatrick, Farmer Education Director Last month, during a consultation with a self-proclaimed octogenarian farmer, I was struck by just how much change this gentleman has seen over the years. One of the things that I love about talking to folks who have been farming their entire lifetime is the breadth of perspective that they have on agriculture. For a much younger farmer like myself, it’s fascinating to sit at the kitchen table with these folks and hear about what farming was like 20, 30… even 60 years ago. Gone are the days of the 8-row planter being the newest, greatest piece ..read more

Fast Facts: This position is a part-time, remote consulting contract that will sunset in October of 2027. Time commitment: 30-40 hours/month Hourly rate: $40-$55, depending on experience Travel within Minnesota and occasional overnight lodging required. Mileage and travel expenses are reimbursed. Overview: The Climate Smart Seedling Production Network (CSSPN) Project Lead is responsible for managing the scope of work detailed in SFA’s CSSPN agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The overall objective of SFA’s work is to lead recruitment and training of Minnesota tree seedling producers ..read more

Have you ever wondered if your soil can go to work for you to provide more nutrients for your crops than it is? Click to download flyer. Do you wish there was a way to know how much of the fertilizer you are applying is actually getting used by the plants, or is it washing away into our water sources? Are you getting tired of spending more and more inputs every year with the same results? Let’s discover what you might be missing out on with conventional soil testing. Join SFA’s Kent Solberg and Jonathan Kilpatrick on July 10 in Roosevelt, Minn. for a soil health field day. Click here to r ..read more

Jonathan Kilpatrick Kent Solberg By Kent Solberg, Senior Technical Advisor & Jonathan Kilpatrick, Farmer Education Director Recent rainfall events have prevented farms from completing corn and soybean planting. Decisions made in the next few days can have impacts not only for this cropping season, but for years to come. Some farmers are thinking about either short-season corn or soybeans, planting annual forages, or utilizing cover crops to prevent fallow syndrome in subsequent years. For growers in the midst of making these urgent decisions, there are a number of considerations that can ..read more

By Lucinda Winter • Executive Director One of the things I like about working at SFA is the number of informal conversations that we as staff have with our members, often through email and when returning voicemails. So it was no surprise that I heard from several members after we launched our online SFA Bulletin Board with suggestions on how it could be even better. When we launched this new member benefit, the idea was that current members could list or browse each other’s offerings of resources and opportunities. Since then, some folks have suggested that the bulletin board would be a more ..read more

Come join SFA’s Specialty Crop Lead Dan Zimmerli of Cedar Crate Farm, a mixed vegetable operation in Waldorf, MN, for a workshop on holistic weed management. Cedar Crate Farm produces over 70 varieties of vegetables available at farmers market, CSA, and through wholesale partners. The free event will be held on Monday, June 24, from 1:00-4:00 PM. Click here to download a flyer. Dan will discuss holistic weed management approaches that work in sustainable and organic systems. Cover cropping, creating stale seed beds, cultivation tools, timing of cultivation, and a demonstrat ..read more

On Monday, June 24 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., graziers, land managers, and interested members of the public are invited to Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan to take a look at the techniques and considerations for using goats to control buckthorn. “For those of you thinking about bringing small ruminants into your vegetation management work, this should be a very informative opportunity to learn from the experts,” says Tyler Carlson, the Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead for SFA. Carlson will co-present this field day with Brad Gordon and Alex Bahr of Great River Greening, park staff, a ..read more

On Tuesday, May 21 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., you can support a sustainable future for Minnesota farmers (and eaters like you) just by grabbing a drink or dinner at Wooden Hill Brewing Company in Edina. 10% of all taproom sales will go directly to SFA’s programming! Wooden Hill has an extensive selection of beers, hard seltzers, ‘beertails,’ and several non-alcoholic options. You’ll want to check out their kitchen’s menu, too — this ain’t your average bar food. We hope you’ll join our local staff and board members for a happy hour that night! Bring a friend or the family fo ..read more