Join the Soil Health Bus Tour in Southeastern Minnesota
This story was featured in the Northfield News, Faribault Daily News, and Owatonna People’s Press.
Photographed: A sign at Twin Oaks Farm in Northfield, MN, part of a self-guided Soil Health Farm Tour that highlights sustainable practices – such as cover crops, conservation tillage, and more. Photo credit: Environmental Initiative.
Farmers in southeastern Minnesota are leading the way in adopting innovative conservation practices to build and maintain healthy soil. These practices benefit the environment and contribute to the long-term sustainability and productivity of their farms.
On July 31, an exciting opportunity awaits as farmers, industry representatives, and elected officials come together for a mobile field day. The day will feature a bus tour to meet three remarkable farmers in the Cannon River watershed. This unique event promises valuable insights into the practical implementation of conservation practices, with the added bonus of a free lunch.
The tour will start and end at Twin Oaks Farm in Northfield, MN, where the Peterson family has been at the forefront of conservation practices since the 1970s. Their commitment to preserving topsoil for future generations is evident through their adoption of reduced tillage, grassed waterways, interseeding cover crops into corn, and various other best practices for nutrient management. Participants will gain firsthand knowledge of the positive impact of these measures on soil health and long-term productivity.
From Twin Oaks Farm, the tour will continue to Honken Farms in Faribault, MN, where Dan and Erin have successfully converted erodible land into productive pastures through their dedication to conservation efforts. Their implementation of cover crops, no-till and minimal-till practices, and the introduction of the perennial grain Kernza®, showcasing financial support from various grant programs, has resulted in cost savings, improved yields, and reduced environmental impact.
Our final stop on the bus tour will be TJ Kartes' Farm in Blooming Prairie, MN. TJ took over farming operations in 2021 after the land's quality was reduced due to sand mining and grading activities. The land is susceptible to drought conditions, so TJ is working on improving the soil quality through less disturbance and intense cover cropping. He has been working with cover crops since 2009 and sells cover crop seeds for Saddle Butte Ag. Inc. He also owns Kartes Seeds, which specializes in providing cover crop seeds and technical assistance to farmers.
Follow the link below to seize this opportunity to delve into the world of soil health management and witness firsthand the impact of conservation practices.
