WCI and SFA Farm Tour and Funding Resources Evening Sept. 7 in Alexandria SFA and West Central Initiative are partnering again for an evening of learning and networking including a free farm tour and dinner from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 7. The evening starts with a diverse tour of Naima’s Farm, 2204 E…

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network and U. of Minnesota Extension are hosting a farm tour event from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Mon., Sept. 11, at Urban Roots’ Rivoli Bluffs Farm site, 749 Arkwright St, St Paul.  Join us for an educational tour of Urban Roots’ Rivoli Bluffs Farm and Restoration Site and reunite with…

The Emerging Farmers Conference is designed by farmers, for farmers. Emerging food growers and producers are encouraged to attend, particularly Indigenous, New American, BIPOC, and women farmers. The conference will share practical information and examples of farming success through farmer-hosted sessions, hands-on demonstrations, networking and more. SFA is a proud sponsor of the EFC. Learn more…

Owners Jim and Audra Chamberlin will lead a tour of their farm operation. Topics include: Adaptive grazing- cattle, hogs, poultry; Agroforestry- vegetable alley cropping, forest farming (maple syrup, shitake mushrooms, hazelnuts, lumber), windbreaks and shelterbelt, silvopasture; keyline water management, and hedge laying. This tour is a 1/2 mile walk. Please wear proper footwear. Contact the Forage…

Join SFA’s Kent Solberg and Doug Voss along with Lake of the Woods Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff for an afternoon in the field. We will be looking at ways we can evaluate whether or not our soils are functioning properly. Hosted on Bill Bendickson’s farming operation, we will discuss…

Interested in sheep or goats but intimidated by their fencing requirements? Come spend an afternoon learning from experienced graziers how to manage the fencing needs of small ruminants. We will cover the basics of electric fencing, geared towards small ruminant producers, but anyone using electric fencing will benefit. This is a great experience for folks…

What are the possibilities around using Kernza for both a forage and grain? Come hear from Brad Heins, Extension Specialist and Professor for Dairy Management at U of M Morris and West Central Research and Outreach Center, discuss the Kernza plots that they have been grazing for over 5 years. We will discuss what they…

Organic dairy grazier Angie Walter will demonstrate PaddockTrac, a grazing tool being developed by the University of Missouri. Guests will see how it works in the field and hear about what the Walters have used while using it on their 100-cow organic dairy. There will also be information on NRCS programs. This pasture walk is free to attend.…

Learn how pollinator conservation is intrinsically linked to climate-smart agriculture, soil health, & community well-being! Join the TC Growers for a discussion about the ways that pollinator conservation can be a strategy for climate-resilient agriculture, as well as a tour of the University of Minnesota Bee Lab. The conversation will be led by pollinator conservation…

Join farmers Jake and Brigid Williams and SFA’s Silvopasture specialist Tyler Carlson for an afternoon discussing the details of establishing a silvopasture system on an old farm. This is Jake and Brigid’s first full season on this farm where they are working on renovating worn-out hay fields and a woodlot by grazing a variety of…