Annual Conference
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Gorecki Conference Center
College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph
Early bird registration is now open!
$50 for current SFA members, $75 for nonmembers. Ends December 31, 2022. Prices go up by $25 on January 1, 2023!
Emerging Farmers: Free
Children's program (ages 5-12): $10
Lunch ticket in St. Ben's excellent cafeteria: $15. (You may also do lunch on your own.)
Register HERE.
With topics including:
- Fruit & Vegetable Soil Health and Profitability
- Grazing Strategies
- "Burn the Box" Changing Ag Paradigms
- Beekeeping
- Farm Profitability
- Emerging Farmer Resources
- Climate Adaptability
- New Cooperative Marketing Models
- and more!
Full schedule coming soon.
Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities
Please consider partnering with us on SFA's flagship event for farmer-to-farmer education and networking.
More information and an application form are HERE.
Our 2023 Sponsors
BLOOM SPONSORS
Afternoon Social Sponsor
A community owned grocery store with 3 locations in the Twin Cities Metro area, Lakewinds' mission is to promote sustainable agriculture, support local makers. and nourish our community. No membership required to shop, and all are welcome!
Opening Plenary Session Sponsor
SAPLING SPONSORS
A voluntary opportunity for farmers and ag landowners to take the lead in conservation practices that protect our water while obtaining regulatory certainty for 10 years.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture mission is to enhance all Minnesotans' quality of life by equitably ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment and the strength and resilience of our agricultural community.
SEED SPONSORS
Solar Electric (PV) design, sales and installation.
A look back at our 2022 conference:
Why attend our Annual Conference? Take it from these farmers:
Our Blog
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
By Kent Solberg • SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist One of the five tenets of soil health is incorporation of livestock, and recent data underlines the value of managed livestock integration into cropping systems. After hearing multiple requests from both livestock and crop producers interested in a method of connecting with other producers to incorporate…
Read MoreSFA members and friends Lori Benson and Jim and Audra Chamberlin came together under the initiative of Mat Nix to help Linda and I remodel our winter chicken coop on Oct. 22. Pastured poultry have a number of benefits for pasture-based livestock operations (if you can manage the predators). A few benefits of poultry include…
Read MoreBy Kasandra Brown Editor’s Note: Kasandra Brown attended SFA’s “Dirt Rich: Building Soil Health Experts” events held Aug. 16-17 in Redwood Falls and Marshall, Minn. She submitted this column in reaction to her experiences at those SFA events. Standing on the sweltering edge of a nearly full grown corn field, sweat bees relentlessly buzzing against…
Read MoreWelcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
Read MoreBy Kent Solberg • SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist It’s encouraging that the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s largest news outlet, is plastering cover crops across the front page of the business section like in this recent article. Cover crops are a tremendous tool to move agriculture toward healthy soils. However, cover crops are simply that –…
Read MoreBy Cassi Dutcher • Farm Skills 101 Student The third and final weekend of Farm Skills 101 was abundant with varied activities. At Seven Pines Farm in Verndale, Minn., we spent a significant amount of time handling dairy cattle. We learned how to put cattle in a head gate, assess health, administer medication and put…
Read MoreBy Cassi Dutcher • Farm Skills 101 Student We did so much fencing in Farm Skills 101 Week Two that for two nights I dreamed of nothing but fencing and high-tensile wire. When creating systems for forage based livestock, appropriate fencing is critical. For the vast majority of the history of agriculture, ruminants were not…
Read MoreBy Cassi Dutcher • Farm Skills 101 Student The first weekend of this fall’s semester of Deep Roots Farm Skills 101 was stacked with practical skills. We spent time building fences out of the most efficient materials for rotational and multi-species grazing as well as removed outdated fencing. Our carpentry skills portion of the…
Read MoreOur Blog
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Cover Crop Options after Small Grain Harvest
By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director While persistent rainfall across the state is delaying the start of small grain harvest for many farmers, this downtime can be used to plan for post-harvest cover crops. Planting cover crops immediately after harvesting small grains like wheat, barley, or oats can be highly beneficial and is a…
Read MoreAugust 8 Café Chat to explore no-till and cover crops
Could implementing practices like cover crops and no-till on your farm work for you and your bottom line? What if you could get paid to do it? Enjoy a meal and conversation with area farmers and your Soil Water Conservation District this Thursday, August 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Duffy’s Riverside Saloon…
Read MoreBounty and Blooms: Cut Flower Tour
Cut flowers can be a diversifying crop for fruit and vegetable growers, adding an income stream in the form of bouquets and arrangements. And in the case of R. Roots Garden, even edible flowers! On Monday, August 12 from 5:30-7:30 PM, the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network will enjoy an evening at Queen Frye’s North Minneapolis…
Read MoreHands-on workshop: “Foundations of Fencing”
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…
Read MoreDr. Don Wyse: a dynamic force
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…
Read MoreSix Apps in the Toolbox
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…
Read MoreNow hiring: Climate Smart Seedling Production Network Project Lead
**July 23, 2024 update: This position has been filled. Fast Facts: This position is a part-time, remote consulting contract that will sunset in October of 2027.Time commitment: 30-40 hours/monthHourly rate: $40-$55, depending on experienceTravel within Minnesota and occasional overnight lodging required. Mileage and travel expenses are reimbursed. Overview:The Climate Smart Seedling Production Network (CSSPN) Project…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Biological Soil Tests – July Field Day
Have you ever wondered if your soil can go to work for you to provide more nutrients for your crops than it is? 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…
Read MoreMaking soil health gains with your Prevent Plant acres
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,…
Read More