This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREm, Program Vision Statement Agriculture in Minnesota will be based on dynamic, flexible farming systems that are profitable, efficient, productive, and founded on ethics of land stewardship and responsibility for the continuing vitality of local rural communities. Minnesotans will strive to understand and respect the complex interconnectivity of living systems, from soil to people, so as to protect and enhance all natural resources for future generations. Minnesota agriculture will sustain an abundance of food and other products as well as meaningful, self directed employment that supports the quality of life desired by farmers and rural communities. Agriculture will foster diversity in all its forms of production, products, markets, and cultures. Program Mission Statement To work toward the goal of sustainability for Minnesota agriculture by designing and implementing programs that meet the identifiedneeds and support the creativity of Minnesota farmers. Inclusion of a trade name does not imply endorsement of that product by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. DEPARTMENT OF m, AGRICULTURE September 2017 Thank you to the MDA's Agricultural Marketing and Development Division Staff who helped to make Greenbook 2017 a reality. They include: Cassie Dahl, Jessica Del Fiacco, Alison Fish, Tori Hoeppner, Stephen Moser, and Meg Moynihan. DEPARTMENT OF m1�1 AGRICULTURE Minnesota Department of Agriculture 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55155 651-201-6012 In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this information is available in alternative forms of communication upon request by calling 651-201-6000. TTY users can call the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. The MDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's annual Greenbook is back again with another great edition showcasing the creative projects funded by the Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program. This year, we're highlighting 36 projects by farmers, ranchers, and researchers who have invested these grant dollars to explore practices that will make farming in Minnesota more sustainable. We are very proud of this program and the many ways it has impacted farmers and rural communities in Minnesota for the past 28 years. New and better farming methods evolve through innovation. We believe the ideas these farmers and researchers are testing are integral to the future of agriculture. Many of the Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Program's past projects have since become widely adopted such as integrated pest management and cover cropping. In the Greenbook, you will find the results from currently funded demonstration projects. The grantees are focusing on ways to increase energy and labor efficiency, reduce purchased inputs, and improve both the environment and their bottom line. Greenbook 2017 compiles all the farmers' research trials and their hard data into an informative and interesting read. To learn more about any of the projects, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the grantee. You'll find contact information listed at the beginning of each project summary. The MDA funded 7 new projects and will be accepting applications again next fall, so if there's a sustainable farming idea you'd like to try, please keep that opportunity in mind Dave Frederickson, Commissioner GREENBOOK 2017 • MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM 4 The Greenbook staff brings a broad range and many years of experience in sustainable agriculture areas. Each staff person focuses on individual topic areas where they have expertise and interest. Cassie Dahl Organic Specialist. Cassie administers the organic program at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) including; the Minnesota Organic Conference and Organic Cost Share Program. In addition, she coordinates the Fruit Integrated Pest Management Newsletter for the department. Cassie has a MS in Sustainable Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and she joined the MDA in 2011. Jessica DelFiacco Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Consultant. Jessica assisted the AGRI program at MDA in 2016 and 2017. Tori Hoeppner State Program Administrator; AGRI - Business Development and Tradeshow Support. Toriworks with Minnesota food businesses to help expand their market access in the state and beyond. Tori joined the MDA staff in 2016. Alison Fish Administrative Support. Alison provides administrative support to the staff and the program. Alison joined the MDA staff in 1990. Stephen Moser Administrative Support. Stephen provides administrative support to the staff and the program. Stephen joined the MDA staff in 2013. Meg Moynihan Senior Advisor on Strategy & Innovation. Meg dreams up new programs and activities that will benefit farmers and rural communities, and helps other staff members keep their projects on the cutting edge. She has worked professionally as an educator and evaluator, and as a community development extension specialist with the U.S Peace Corps in northern Thailand. Meg works part-time for MDA and is also a certified organic dairy farmer with a 70-cow herd in Le Sueur County. Meg joined the MDA staff in 2002. GREENBOOK 2017 • MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM 5 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program ................................................................. 7 New Demonstration Grant Projects 2017 ........................................................ ........ 8 Alternative Markets, Fruits & Vegetables, & Specialty Crops Using Compost Tea in Organic Farming Carlson Becca - Seeds Farm .................................................................. 12 Evaluating Different Depths and Types of Mulches in Blueberry Production Connen Kathy - Redfern Gardens .............................................................. 18 Developing Profitable Apple Production along Lake Superior's North Shore of MN Hale/ Cindy - Clover Valley Farms. .............................................................. 22 Maximizing Profitability in Modular Movable Hoop Houses Henr½ Megan - Sundogs Prairie Farm. .......................................................... 29 Developing a Network for Environment and Weather Applications Jacobson/ John P ............................................................................ 34 Perennial Wheatgrass and Legumes for Cropping, Grazing, and Soil Health Jorgenson/ Mike ............................................................................ 39 Using Juneberries as a Cold Hardy Rootstock for Minnesota Pears Mccamant/ Thaddeus - Central Lakes College . ................................................... 41 Creating Beneficial Habitat for Management & Wildlife Enhancement on Farm Waste Land Nelson/ Melissa . ............................................................................ 44 Preserving and Attracting Native Bees while Providing a Habitat that Adds Value to Small Acreage Thomas/ Noreen ............................................................................ 48 Evaluating Hybrid Hazel Wood Chips as a Mushroom Substrate Wiegrefe/ Sue .............................................................................. 52 Controlling Canada Thistle in Organic Blueberry Production Wills/ Aaron ................................................................................ 55 Cropping Systems & Soil Fertility Raising Soil pH Effectively in Acid Soils Abazs/ David - Wolf Ridge Enviornmental Learning Center . ......................................... 59 Soil Health Research in Southwest Minnesota Ackermann Jerry and Nancy .................................................................. 64 Nitrogen Capture Using Cover Crops in a Cash Grain Rotation Bronde0 William - Sherburne County SWCD ..................................................... 73 GREENBOOK 2017 • MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM 6 Table of Contents Developing Low-cost Planting Materials and Establishment Methods to Accelerate Agroforestry Adoption for Function and Profit Chamberlin, Jim. ............................................................................ 79 Demonstrating Vermicomposting for Soil Health in the Upper Midwest Devaney_, Caroline ........................................................................... 84 Evaluating Harvest Methods for Intermediate Wheatgrass as a Perennial Edible Grain Fernholz, Carmen ........................................................................... 87 Inter-seeding Cover Crops and In Season Nitrogen Application in One Pass Hartmann, Keith ............................................................................ 90 Inter-seeding Cover Crop into Standing Corn in June Kraus, Alan . ................................................................................ 93 Legume Cover Crops Kruger, Paul ................................................................................ 96 Evaluation of Winter Annual Small Grain Cover Crop for Forage Production Ley, Daniel ................................................................................. 99 Sub-surface Irrigation for Field Crop Profitability and Water and Fertilizer Efficiency Martie, Russell \I.. .........................................................................