sfa unveils business/organization memberships; exhibitor … · we toured 3 farms, dan...
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Sept. 9, 2013
SFA Unveils Business/Organization Memberships;Exhibitor Registration for SFA's Conferences Now OpenBy Jason Walker • SFA Communications Coordinator
Is your organization or business looking for a useful way to effect real change in the sustainableagriculture movement?
Support SFA through our new membership tier.Become a Business and Organization Patron or Memberand buoy the Sustainable Farming Association and ourmission of supporting the development andenhancement of sustainable farming systems throughfarmer-to-farmer networking, innovation, demonstration,and education.
SFA is making real change in our farm and food systemsthrough our flagship farmer network as well as oureducational conferences and events, and we createdthese new memberships with our longtime partners inmind. Like-minded businesses and organizations thatbecome SFA members receive free or discounted ads,discounts on exhibit space at SFA events, free boothspace at Minnesota Garlic Festival, linked SFA Connect ads and more – all while financiallysupporting the goals of SFA. Choose from two tiers of membership and either a one- or a three-year membership.
And the sooner your business or organization signs up, the sooner it can take advantage ofthose discounts at our upcoming Annual Conference on Feb. 8 in St. Joseph and our MidwestSoil Health Summit on Feb. 19-20 in Alexandria. Exhibitor and sponsor registration for thosetwo conferences is also now open, and business members can receive up to a 20 percentdiscount on sponsor fees at those events.
We've already seen great interest in both conferences despite them being months away. Youprobably already know the SFA Annual Conference is the premier farmer-to-farmer networkingevent in the upper Midwest. But now there's also SFA's new Midwest Soil Health Summit,where we've lined up speakers like Gabe Brown of Brown's Ranch in Burleigh County, N.D., aswell as other soil health experts like Wendy Taheri and Kent Solberg. The Midwest Soil HealthSummit will put Minnesota on the cutting edge of soil health education and will draw a diversegroup of farmers from all over the upper Midwest.
To view our Business and Organization memberships and their related perks, click here.
To register or learn more about becoming an exhibitor or sponsor at the SFA AnnualConference, click here.
SFA UnveilsBusiness/OrganizationMemberships; ExhibitorRegistration for SFA'sConference Now Open
Executive Director's Note
Chapter Update: SouthCentral
Register Now for SFAAnnual Conference; SFAMembers May Volunteerfor Free Registration
SFA to Host NewConference: Midwest SoilHealth Summit
Bee Expert Dr. MarlaSpivak Headlines SFACrow River Event
SFA SupportingSustainable FoodProduction Program
Annual Conference PhotoFeature
August SFA Photo Contestwinner: Georgette Herbertof Waconia
Sheep & Fiber Farm TourSet for Oct. 11-13
U. of M. Seeking Feedbackfrom Current, PotentialStrawberry Farmers
To register or learn more about becoming an exhibitor or sponsor at the Midwest Soil HealthSummit, click here.
Executive Director's Note In collaboration with the MN Department of Agriculture’sSustainable Ag Demonstration Grant Program, NRCSand the National Wildlife Federation, The SFA CentralMN Cover Crop Tour kicked off the first of 3 annual bustours over the weekend, near Verndale, MN.
Our host was Kent Solberg, SFAs Grazing and LivestockSpecialist. We toured 3 farms, Dan Middendorf’s Midd-Minn farms, where we saw several species of covercrops and the resulting soil health benefits, as well ascost savings for this mid-sized dairy.
We also touredMarcus Edin’sintegrated beefand cropoperation, wherewe heard that his2013 calves areabout 100# ahead of his 2012 calves, a difference heattributes to grazing cover crops.
Larry Heitkamp showed off his cover crop rotation onorganic, irrigated potato ground. Larry’s vision foragroecology is that we can mitigate issues like pesticidecontamination and climate change.
All in all it was a great day! Look for more on this projectand stay tuned for the 2014 tour! You won’t want to missit.
Chapter Update: South CentralBy Linda Meschke • Chapter Coordinator
The South Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Associationinvites you to our Fall Picnic, to be held at 6 p.m. Wed., Sept. 11 atthe Albert Lea Farmers Market, Broadway and Fountain, AlbertLea. Sloppy joes, drinks and utensils are provided; please bring avegetable, salad or dessert to share.
The farmers market will be open its regular hours before the picnic,so you can come shop the market and enjoy all it has to offer aswell as get to know the South Central chapter of SFA. Also at thepicnic, Verlus Huntley, market coordinator, will present informationabout the Albert Lea farmers market.
For more information about the picnic, South Central Chapter and its ongoing projects, contactLinda Meschke at [email protected] or 507.238.5449.
Register Now for SFA Annual Conference; SFA Members May Volunteer for Free RegistrationBy Jason Walker • SFA Communications Coordinator
SFA members, did you miss the early-early-early bird $35 member registration deadline for theSFA Annual Conference? Don't worry – you can still register for a discounted price.
Feb. 8, 2014:SFA 22th AnnualConference: College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
Feb. 19-20, 2014:Midwest Soil HealthSummit, ArrowwoodResort, Alexandria, Minn.
July 12, 2014:Festival of Farms
Aug. 9, 2014:Minnesota Garlic Festival,McLeod County
And you can still volunteer and receive free registration.
Registration is open for the 2014 SFA Annual Conference, to be held Feb. 8 at the College ofSaint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., and a discounted price of $45 is valid through Nov. 31 forSFA members, who should have received an email with a discount code. Starting Dec. 1, thecost goes up to $55 for members and $65 for everyone else.
Also, family programming is returning, so that the entirefarm family can come enjoy our farmer-to-farmershowcase. Admission for children ages 3-12 is just $10,while kids under 3 are free.
We'll be going "Back to our Roots" this year as thewisdom of SFA's community helps determine and leadthe sessions, many of which will include casual butfocused networking conversations on topics that youchoose. Using this online voting system, SFA memberscan vote on session topics; we'll analyze the data andadjust parts of the schedule around your wishes. Voting isunlimited – the more votes, the better we can tailor thesessions. You can also vote on our Annual Conferencehomepage.
As of Sept. 8, the top vote-getting topics are:
Root Cellars
Integrating Crop and Livestock Production
Weed Control Strategies
How Do We Make Small-Scale, Diversified Pork Production Sustainable?
Fences – Building, Maintaining
Sustainable Fly Control for Cattle
Easy Pig Handling Procedures/Equipment
Innovative Cover Cropping
Farm-Scale Permaculture
Small, Square Bales vs. Large Round or Square Bales
Want an even better deal? Sign up as a volunteer at the 2014 Annual Conference. For currentSFA members only, we're offering FREE conference registration if you sign up to volunteer byNov. 1.
That's right, SFA members can sign up by Nov. 1 with Volunteer Coordinator Gretchen Boyumat [email protected] or 218.535.1567 to receive registration absolutely free. Volunteersalso receive a free SFA T-shirt.
Get this taken care of now and cross one more thing off your to-do list. AND it'll save youmoney! Register today or email Gretchen.
SFA to Host New Conference: Midwest Soil Health SummitBy Jason Walker • SFA Communications Coordinator
Registration is now open for SFA's new conference: The Midwest Soil Health Summit, to beheld Feb. 19-20, 2014, at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria. The Summit will convene some ofthe most innovative farmers and researchers in the Upper Midwest for two days of networking,speakers, panel discussions and breakout sessions – all geared at improving the health of yoursoil.
The keynote speaker will be Gabe Brown of Brown's Ranch in Burleigh County, N.D. Brown is apioneer in diverse cover cropping, having used no-till techniques for two decades. His familyranch encompasses 5,400 acres, all managed sustainably and with the goal of building ideal
Fairgrounds, Hutchinson,Minn.
GrazeFestOur ongoing GrazeFestseries of grass-basedlivestock and cover croppingevents is led by Livestockand Grazing CoordinatorKent Solberg. Visit ourGrazeFest homepage andwatch SFA Connect forupdates on our upcomingon-farm events.
Adjust 2015Have you had to makechanges to your farm plansince you started farming? Your experiences could helpother farmers. Check outour survey.
Sustainable FoodProduction ProgramSustainable FoodProduction, formerly part ofM State Fergus Falls, is amuch-needed beginning-farmer curriculum thatemphasizes all three tenetsof sustainability, plusprovides extensive skillstraining.
New Crops Project
soil health conditions.
Cost is $100 for current SFA members and $150 for non-members (Note: When registering,SFA members must choose the "discount" option and enter the code that was sent in amembers-only email). If you wish to join SFA and receive the discount code for $50 offregistration, click this link to visit our Join page. Once you join SFA, a discount code will beemailed to you.
Information will come soon on how to be a vendor or exhibitor at this premier conference forfarmers and producers across the spectrum - conventional, sustainable, organic. If you wouldlike more information or to reserve a spot in advance, please contact Jerry Ford, [email protected].
The Midwest Soil Health Summit is in addition to SFA's Annual Conference, which isscheduled for Feb. 8 at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph.
Bee Expert Dr. Marla Spivak Leads SFA Crow River EventSFA Crow River Chapter is hosting a freeevent, "Bees and Pollinators," with Dr. MarlaSpivak at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Buffalo UnitedMethodist Church, 609 8th St NW, Buffalo.
Co-author of six books on bees and pollinators,including the definitive ”Beekeeping inNorthern Climates”, Dr. Spivak (right) is anentertaining and outspoken advocate for honeybees, native bees and bumblebees. If you’renot already convinced that these insects are ofgreat importance, you will be by the end of thiscolorful and moving presentation.
After Dr. Spivak's presentation, attendees willenjoy a period of social time with local foods.
This event is an SFA collaboration with Local Roots Food Co-op and Saturday AwakeningsConcert Series.
SFA Supporting Sustainable Food Production Program
SFA has stepped forward to support an award-winningbeginning farmer educational program, SustainableFood Production, which formerly was a part of M StateFergus Falls. The Sustainable Food Production program
SFA's New CropsProject aims toexpand theavailability of localfoods inMinnesota andhelp farmersexpand their markets. Forinformation, visit the NewCrops blog.
Minnesota Dairy InitiativeFor information about MDIand its ongoing projects,email SFA Livestock andGrazing Coordinator KentSolberg.
Planning For Your Farm'sFutureSFA and Renewing theCountryside held a specialfour-day Farm Successionand Estate Planningworkshop withinternationally known farmtransition expert John Baker.Look for information on ournext workshop in upcomingeditions of SFA Connect orvisit our Farm Transitionshomepage.
will continue as a program under the SFA umbrella.
Sustainable Food Production is a much-neededbeginning-farmer curriculum that emphasizes all threetenets of sustainability, plus provides extensive skillstraining. A unique aspect of SFP is its commitment tocommunity development and mentoring, a perfect fit withSFA's Farmer-to-Farmer Network.
Instructors are all farmer-educators: Dr. Sue Wika, TomPrieve, and Kent Solberg. Each possesses both real-world experience and the educational background toprovide comprehensive sustainable food productioneducation.
If you are interested in this program, visit ourSustainable Food Production homepage, fill out theform and an instructor will contact you.
Annual Conference Photo FeaturePhotographer Crystal Liepa documented our SFA Annual Conference again in 2013 at theMinnesota Landscape Arboretum. Watch for a new photo each issue of SFA Connect and learnmore about Crystal at her website.
Enter SFA Photo Contest for Chance at Free T-shirtWho doesn't want to win a free T-shirt, let alone a cool SFA one?
Here's your chance. Send communications coordinator Jason Walker your photos, and the besteach month, chosen by a panel of distinguished judges, gets an SFA T-shirt.
What kind of photos are we seeking? Simply anything from your farm, family, garden or kitchen– anything that's related somehow to sustainable agriculture that you'd like to share with SFAmembers.
Send your photos to [email protected], and we'll include the winner in SFA Connect. Checkout our Facebook page for all the photo submissions.
August's winner was this tranquil shot from Georgette Herbert of Waconia:
Sheep & Fiber Farm Tour Set for Oct. 11-13Enjoy wine and cheese with author Catherine Friend as well as a self-guided tour of farms andFaribault Woolen Mill during the Sheep and Fiber Farm Tour Oct. 11-13 at various locations insoutheast Minnesota. The tour, dedicated to the education and promotion of sustainable, naturaland local fiber, focuses on fiber animals and farmers, natural fiber products, and fiber art andartists.
The Tour begins Friday with the event featuring Friend, winner of a Loft/McKnight ArtistFellowship for writers. Catherine will talk about writing, sheep farming and why she has knit over100 pairs of socks from 5 to 9 p.m. at the award winning restored farm of Burwood Inn inLanesboro.
On Oct. 12-13, attendees can enjoy a self-guided tour of the the Historic Faribault Woolen Millon the banks of the Cannon River. Travel through the rolling farmland and the river valleys ofthe bluff country to see four fiber farms and fiber mill, meet the farmers, see demonstrations ofthe fiber and visit with the fiber animals that make a pratical, eco-friendly fiber.
For more information, call 507.896.2354, email [email protected] or visitwww.fiberfarmtour.com or facebook.com/FiberFolkeGroup.
U. of M. Seeking Feedback from Strawberry FarmersThe University of Minnesota is developing a comprehensive e-learning tool that will teachsustainable methods and technologies for marketing and growing strawberries, includingmethods to extend the season.
If you are currently a strawberry farmer, or would consider growing strawberries commercially,please take a moment to fill out a brief survey, which can be found here.
This survey is designed to help us determine the areas of greatest interest to farmers and willtake approximately five minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and will only beshared in compiled, aggregate form.
SFA Connect is your bi-weekly link to the Sustainable Farming Association
The Sustainable Farming Association is a chapter-based, statewide non-profit organization that supports the development andenhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation, demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking. Ifyou, your farm or organization has any upcoming events that you would like posted on the SFA Community Calendar, [email protected].
Sustainable Farming Association (SFA)Box 192, Princeton, MN 55371
763-260-0209 • [email protected]
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