Events

A Food & Farming Pre-Conference Workshop Forming a business the right way, practicing food safety measures, negotiating sales contracts, hiring workers, filing taxes... the legal issues involved in farming sometimes feel overwhelming. But there's good news: Developing a strong, legally resilient farm business is easier than you think. Farm Commons’ collaborative, easily accessible approach to […]

The fifth annual conference for those interested in organic grain production in the Upper Midwest will feature 25+ expert farmers, researchers and industry representatives sharing their knowledge, along with ample opportunity for networking and discussion. Workshops and discussion will highlight issues important to organic grain farmers. Over 25 businesses will provide educational tables and conversation […]

The annual Emerging Farmers Conference (formerly the Immigrant & Minority Farmers Conference) serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses, including immigrant farmers and farmers of color. This innovative conference focuses primarily on the needs and interests of these […]

Farmers, landowners, and anglers can learn how to buck the damage caused by extreme weather to soil and water during a program on Saturday, Jan. 25, being hosted by the Izaak Walton League’s (Ikes) Owatonna chapter and the Upper Mississippi River Initiative (UMRI). The program begins with registration at 9 a.m. at the Albert F. […]

The Winter Forage Tour is here! At these meetings we will go in depth into many different forages and their use, planting date, and more. This will include mainly pasture grasses and blends, but also alfalfa, summer annuals, and cover crops as forage.

A Land Stewardship Project workshop called, “Cover Crops, No-Till & Grazing: Evaluating the Economics and First Steps to Improving Soil,” will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Peace United Methodist Church between Plainview and Elgin (52497 275th Ave., Elgin, MN 55932). It will feature presentations by southwestern Minnesota […]

How can you match cover crops to meet your cropping system goals? Have you wondered if cover crops can support your nutrient needs? Learn about U of MN cover crop research addressing these questions and more. Speakers: Axel Garcia y Garcia, Agronomist - Sustainable cropping systems and Paulo Pagliari, Nutrient management specialist If this time […]

Join us for a discussion about the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). A pizza lunch will be provided following the presentation. Join the growing number of Rice County farmers who have become MAWQCP certified! (Twenty-eight and counting.) Download the event flyer here: http://www.riceswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/MAWQCP-January-Meeting-1.pdf Please RSVP to travis.hirman@riceswcd.org or call 507-332-5408. Thanks!

The 12th annual Nutrient Management Conference, hosted by University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, will include updates on Minnesota efforts, planned and underway, to reduce nutrient loads in surface water and protect groundwater. Researchers will present findings on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium management. A farmer […]

Want to try cover crops? Attend this beginning class about how to plant cover crops on your farm. Southeast Minnesota farmer Tom Cotter (a 2017 Cover Crop Champion) and TJ Kartes, of Saddle Butte seed company will talk about cover crop seed origination, species and establishment before giving a "Year One' cover crop plan. Alan […]