Sustainable Farming Association Of Minnesota

SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS THROUGH FARMER-TO-FARMER NETWORKING, INNOVATION, DEMONSTRATION, AND EDUCATION.

NETWORKING FOR SOIL HEALTH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SILVOPASTURE, CONSERVATION CONNECTIONS. SFA IS ADVANCING SOIL HEALTH AS A KEY COMPONENT FOR ADDRESSING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ON THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE. THESE SOLUTIONS ARE GROUNDED IN THE FACT THAT SOIL BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY IS LARGELY INFLUENCED BY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PRACTICES SUCH AS TILLAGE, USE OF FERTILIZERS, CHEMICALS AND HERBICIDES AND TILING. PRODUCTIVE, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IS BASED ON A HEALTHY SOIL RESOURCE, SOMETHING THAT SFA'S PROGRAM PRIORITIZES. SOIL MICROBIAL POPULATIONS MEDIATE 85-90% OF SOIL FUNCTION. SFA'S SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM IS FOUNDED ON 5 KEY PRINCIPLES, 4 OF WHICH ARE ADOPTED BY THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE 1) MINIMIZE SOIL DISTURBANCES; 2) KEEP HEALTH ROOTS IN THE SOIL;3) INCREASE CROPLAND AND PASTURELAND PLANT DIVERSITY; 4) KEEP THE SOIL COVERED; 5) INTEGRATE LIVESTOCK. SFA'S EDUCATIONAL AND MENTORING PROGRAMS CENTER ON FIELD DAYS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, ON-SITE FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS, ON-FARM CONSULTATIONS AND FARM MENTORING; PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS EMPHASIZING LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT, CROP ROTATIONS, NUTRIENT CYCLING AND FARMLAND PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY FROM A SOIL HEALTH-BASED PRODUCTION MODEL. SINCE JUNE OF 2021, SFA HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE USDA TO PROMOTE THE MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (MAWQCP) A VOLUNTARY OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS TO TAKE THE LEAD IN IMPLEMENTING CONSERVATION PRACTICES THAT PROTECT OUR WATER. OUR MANY PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATION SHARING WITH MEMBERS HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RECRUITING MORE THAN 1,000 AGRICULTURAL LAND OWNERS AND RENTERS TO THE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, SFA CONSULTANTS CONTINUED THEIR INTENSIVE TECHNICAL ADVISING WORK WITH 10 FARMERS, PROVIDING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND SOIL TESTING ASSISTANCE, SUPPORTED BY KISS THE GROUND'S FARMLAND PROJECT. OPERATIONS THAT HAVE ADOPTED SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES ROUTINELY DISCOVER NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 2021 MANY PRODUCERS TOOK PARTICIPATED IN ONE OR MORE OF SFA'S PROGRAMS. SFA'S SOIL HEALTH WORK ALSO INCLUDED RESEARCH WITH ANOTHER 14 COOPERATING FARMERS RESULTING IN THE GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF TWO MORE SOIL HEALTH CASE STUDIES SETS, ONE FEATURING SILVOPASTURE PRACTITIONERS. SFA CONTINUED ITS RESEARCH PROJECT WITH THE MN OFFICE OF SOIL HEALTH (MOSH), WHICH HAS INCLUDED OUTREACH AND FIELD EDUCATION AMONG THIS CO-HORT. IN ITS 7TH YEAR, THE SFA SOIL HEALTH NETWORK HAS EXPANDED BOTH THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (1,300+), AND AVAILABLE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT. IT INCLUDES AN INFORMATION-RICH WEBSITE WITH CASE STUDIES, INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, AN EVENTS CALENDAR AND SIGN UP FOR CONSULTATIONS. THIS SERVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY SUSTAINABLE AG PRODUCERS, CONVENTIONAL FARMERS, RESEARCHERS, AND EDUCATORS AS A HIGHLY REGARDED SOURCE OF CREDIBLE INFORMATION ON SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES. SFA PARTNERS WITH THE MINNESOTA INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, MN FARMERS UNION, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION AND "FOREVER GREEN" PROGRAM, NRCS AND SWCD, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER GROUPS TO EXTEND THE REACH OF SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION. SFA'S SOIL HEALTH PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES A "SILVOPASTURE" FOCUS, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019 TO EDUCATE FARMERS, AG PROFESSIONALS, FORESTERS, LANDOWNERS AND LAND MANAGERS ON HOW TO EMPLOY MANAGED GRAZING IN FORESTED AREAS, HOW TO FOSTER FORAGE PRODUCTION AND USE THIS HISTORIC PRACTICE TO EXPAND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE. THIS INCLUDES A "PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (PDP)" WHICH RECRUITS, TRAINS AND SUPPORTS AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE AND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT PERSONNEL, FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AG BUSINESS PEOPLE AND EDUCATORS AND RESEARCHERS TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN FARMERS ON HOW TO ENGAGE IN SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES. SFA IS WRAPPING UP ITS 2ND YEAR OF A NEW SILVOPASTURE PDP PROGRAM THIS FALL. THE PROJECT FEATURES SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE TRAINEES TO ATTEND SFA'S ANNUAL "MIDWEST SOIL HEALTH SUMMIT", WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS. IN FOLLOW UP, THE TRAINEES EACH CONVENE THEIR OWN WORKSHOP, MEETING, WEBINAR OR FIELD DAY IN THEIR LOCAL AREA TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE MORE FARMERS ON SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES. SFA ALSO PROVIDED ADVERTISING, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND EARNED AND PAID MEDIA SERVICES AS WELL AS REGISTRATION AND ORGANIZING SERVICES TO THE TRAINEES AS THEY HOLD THEIR FOLLOW UP EVENTS. SFA'S PODCAST SERIES "DIRT RICH", LAUNCHED LAST YEAR, FEATURES A WIDE RANGE OF SOIL HEALTH, SILVOPASTURE AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE EPISODES THAT HAVE BEEN WELL REVIEWED. A NEW PROGRAM "CONSERVATION CONNECTIONS', LED BY RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE, PROVIDES OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO EMERGING FARMERS GENERALLY, AND SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO ARE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, TO LEARN ABOUT SOIL HEALTH AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES, AND TO INTRODUCE THEM TO NRCS PROGRAMS DESIGNED ASSIST THEM WITH COST SHARING CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS ON THE THEIR LAND. SFA CONTRACTS WITH THREE EMERGING FARMERS TO DO THE BULK OF THE OUTREACH WORK. A NEW EFFORT FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION "TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRAZING" HAS RESULTED IN ENGAGEMENT OF MORE THAN 35 FARMERS IN SELECTED COUNTIES TO IMPROVE (OR BEGIN) GRAZING MANAGEMENT AND FORAGE PRODUCTION, USING ROTATIONAL GRAZING AND OTHER MANAGED GRAZING PRINCIPLES. THIS RESULTS IN MEAT WITH A HIGHER VALUE PROTEIN THAT IS MARKETED AS "GRASS FED." THIS PRACTICE ALSO IMPROVES THE ECOSYSTEM.

FARMER AND RANCHER OUTREACH/CHAPTER AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT.THESE PROGRAMS ARE CORE TO SFA'S FARMER-TO-FARMER NETWORK, SERVING AS THE UMBRELLA FOR SFA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND HARVEST FESTIVALS. SFA PARTNERS WITH MISA, THE REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS WORKING TO PUT FARMERS AND RANCHERS ON THE LAND. SFA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES FEATURED A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS, FIELD DAYS, DEMONSTRATIONS. AND GATHERINGS OF FARMERS, EDUCATORS, FOOD ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND ACHIEVE RURAL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. COVID 19 CREATED SOME NEW CHAPTER VIRTUAL FORUMS SUCH AS AN ONLINE BOOK GROUP "CLIMATE BITES AND "MEET UPS." SFA'S GARLIC FESTIVAL TRANSITIONED TO AN ONLINE MARKETING PLATFORM THAT ENABLES GROWERS TO SELL THEIR GARLIC ONLINE. GROWERS ENGAGED ON THIS PLATFORM GENERALLY EXPERIENCE COMPLETE SELL OUT OF THEIR AVAILABLE PRODUCT.THE SFA RURAL ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (ROLD) LAUNCHED A NEW CHAPTER, THE MINNESOTA RIVER CHAPTER, ENROLLED 30+ NEW MEMBERS. WORK IS UNDERWAY TO EXPAND SFA'S MEMBER BASE TO OTHER PARTS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING POVERTY AMONG FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. A NEW STAFF PERSON WAS HIRED, OUTREACH INTERVIEWS, SURVEYS AND A NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS CONDUCTED, A NEW CHAPTER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED. SFA HAS CONTINUED TO EDUCATE LOCAL GROWERS ON MARKETING AND FOOD SAFETY. SFA CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE OUTREACH IN MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES TO LINK PRODUCERS WITH CONSUMERS, HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION WITH LOCAL BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND TO ADVOCATE SUPPORT OF PRODUCERS TO SUCCEED AS INCOME GENERATORS AND RESIDENTS OF THESE COMMUNITIES. SFA NETWORKING GROUPS, ORGANIZED AROUND ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN (MIDWEST GARLIC GROWERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LIVESTOCK, CROW WING RIVER BASIN FORAGE COUNCIL) EACH HELD AN ANNUAL GATHERING OF MEMBERS, PLUS PERIODIC FIELD DAYS. A FOURTH NETWORKING GROUP, THE URBAN GROWERS NETWORK, BASED IN THE TWIN CITIES HELD SEVERAL FACE-TO-FACE EVENTS INVOLVING EMERGING FARMERS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO GROW FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMERCIALLY. SFA ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE ON ITS FARMLAND ACCESS HUB, TO HELP NEW FARMERS NAVIGATE THE DAUNTING JOURNEY TOWARD FARM OWNERSHIP.

DAIRY FARMING SUPPORT SFA WORKS WITH MDI, THE MINNESOTA DAIRY INITIATIVE, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO A NUMBER OF DAIRY FARMERS AROUND MINNESOTA ON A RANGE OF MILK PRODUCTION, GRAZING AND LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT ISSUES. IN 2021, SFA SERVED 15 DAIRY FARMERS ENROLLED WITH MDI, PROVIDING INFORMATION ON GRAZING DAIRIES, FORAGE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT AND NUTRITION. SFA ALSO CONTINUED AS THE MINNESOTA ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNER OF THE NATIONAL DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP (DGA) PROGRAM, HIRING A CONSULTANT WHO RECRUITS AND ORIENTS NEW "APPRENTICE" DAIRY FARMERS, MATCHING THEM TO "MASTER GRAZIERS", WITH WHOM THEY WORK DURING A 2 YEAR INTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND HANDS-ON WORK PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PUT THE NEXT GENERATION OF DAIRY FARMERS ON THE LAND BY PAIRING THEM WITH EXPERIENCED DAIRY FARMERS. THEIR APPRENTICESHIP RESULTS IN A CERTIFICATE AND ADVANCEMENT AS A JOURNEYPERSON, RECOGNIZED AS SUCH BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

SFA SPECIALTY CROP, GROWING AND MARKETING PREMIUM MN GARLICTHIS PROGRAM TEACHES FARMERS HOW TO BEGIN GROWING GARLIC, OR HOW TO EXPAND THEIR GARLIC GROWING IN A WAY THAT MAXIMIZES PRODUCTION, ENSURES SOUND SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES, AND ENABLES PROFITABLE MARKETING. THE PROJECT HAS NEARLY 200 ENROLLEES, OF WHOM 34 ARE THOSE FROM USDA-DEFINED SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, THE PROJECT HELD 9 WORKSHOPS OR PRESENTATIONS ATTENDED BY NEARLY 217 PEOPLE. THE PROJECT PARTNERS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION'S REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP (RSDP) TO AID IN BUILDING SUPPLY CHAINS AND GREATER MARKET DEMAND. A SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT INCLUDES ADVANCED GROWING AND MARKETING TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS ANOTHER RESEARCH COMPONENT.