Small Farms News

By Annie Klodd, Extension Educator - Fruit and Vegetable Production. 

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture just released the call-for-proposals for the 2019 AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program. This is a good opportunity for farmers, including fruit and vegetable farmers, to apply for funding for research and demonstration projects on their farm. A total of $200,000 will be awarded this year, and proposals may request up to $50,000.

According to the MDA website, "This grant supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations. It funds projects that explore sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable, resource efficient, and personally satisfying."

Applications from farmers are given priority, but farmers can also collaborate with UMN researchers, UMN Extension, other non-profit organizations, and/or other farmers on their proposed projects. Non-profit and educational organizations can also apply, as long as t…

On Saturday, September 21, 2019, the UMN Extension Small Farms Program will offer a workshop on “Managing the Reproductive Season of Sheep.” It will be held on the St Paul Campus, in the Beef Barn. Registration will start at 9:30, and the program will run from 10:00-3:00 p.m.
Topics to be covered will include, but not be limited to:
Reproduction in the Ewe Pre-breeding PrepFlushingBreeding Ewe LambsNutritionCulling
Reproduction in the Ram: The “ram effect”Fertility checkUsing a marking harnessSeasonal and year round breedingNutrition
Location- St Paul Campus Beef Barn, Corner of Buford and Gortner.  A light meal will be served. Please register in advance so that we can plan food. To Register: Contact Wayne Martin at 612-625-6224, or at marti067@umn.edu . $10/adult, $15/couple or business partner, $5/student.

By Katie Winslow, University of Minnesota Extension 

Join the University of Minnesota Extension for a small farm and local foods marketing seminar on Thursday, November 7, 2019 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. This event is bringing together local food growers and purchaser to provide tangible steps to help you grow your own local food market. The cost to attend is just $15 and registration is available at z.umn.edu/localfood.

The event will kick off with registration at 8:00 am. Three local foods producers will present on how they grew their farm market to include grocery stores, restaurants and nation-wide shipments. These farmers will share their successes and hard lessons learned along the way. Their hope is that you can learn from their trials. Then, you will work through building a brand for your business and the steps it takes to maintain a strong brand.

You probably know that connecting with your consumers in person and online is key to growing your business; but figuring that out can…