Resources
Farming
Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Farmers can greatly benefit from the resources provided by Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) when looking to implement conservation practices. These districts offer a wealth of valuable information, such as educational resources, conservation incentive programs, equipment rentals, lists of service providers, and maps.
Cover Crops & Soil Health
Planting cover crops has been found to improve agricultural land in various ways, such as reducing erosion, controlling weeds, boosting soil productivity, and providing habitat. Our organization plays a crucial role in promoting the growth of cover crops in the Cannon River watershed. Through our programming, we assist farmers in implementing cover crops to enhance farmland and the surrounding land, water, and communities.
We are dedicated to assisting local farmers in planting cover crops, which have numerous benefits. We have partnered with local organizations to research the impact of these cover crop operations on water quality, overall watershed health, and farm profitability.
Conservation Cost-Sharing Resources
We worked with Rice County SWCD and UMN-Extension to create a comprehensive list of cost-sharing incentives available at the county, state, and national levels for farmers interested in implementing conservation programs like cover crops.
Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
The Minnesota Soil Health Coalition (MSHC) is a resource for farmers in Minnesota who are looking to improve their soil health practices, such as cover cropping. Their aim is to create a comprehensive network of soil health professionals and connect practitioners with education, mentors, technical information, and media resources.
Midwest Cover Crops Council
The Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC) is dedicated to increasing the total acreage of cover crops grown across the Upper Midwest. To achieve this goal, MCCC provides farmers with cover crop guides and resources, educates the public about the importance of maintaining a continuous living cover, funds research on relevant topics, and fosters communication between farmers, scientists, industry, and the general public.
Perennial Crops
Increasing continuous living cover on the landscape offers numerous benefits, including reducing erosion and providing additional income sources for producers. In southeastern Minnesota, several organizations are working towards developing alternatives to conventional annual farming. We collaborate with several local partners to promote environmental health and profitability by increasing continuous living cover on the landscape. Our team has closely worked with various organizations to research and encourage the adoption of perennial crops, such as Kernza®.
Ecotone Analytics, Forever Green Partnership, & Friends of the Mississippi River. (2023). Putting Down Roots: Analyzing the economic and environmental benefits of continuous living cover for Minnesota’s farmers, water and climate.
Forever Green Initiative and The Land Institute
The Forever Green Initiative (FGI) at the University of Minnesota and The Land Institute are dedicated to promoting perennial and continual living cover crop alternatives to conventional, annual farming. Their goal is to improve water quality, increase biodiversity, promote healthier soils, and offer diversified income sources for farmers. To achieve this, we assist these organizations by educating farmers about perennial/continuous cover crops, conducting on-farm research, and facilitating communication between producers, supply chain professionals, and scientists.
Perennial Pantry
Perennial Pantry offers perennial food products to the public, including wholesale Kernza® and innovative products made with perennial ingredients. The company aims to improve the supply chain between growers and consumers. We are pleased to collaborate with Perennial Pantry to promote the adoption of perennial agriculture and encourage farmers to consider economically viable alternatives to annual agriculture.
Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative
The Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative aims to offer agronomic assistance and improve market access for producers of perennial crops. The Coop's goal is to build a community of perennial farmers and establish a more direct link between growers and consumer markets. Our organization played a crucial role in the Coop's formation by arranging member meetings, communicating with growers, and providing agronomic guidance.