GOODHUE, MN., JANUARY 11, 2021 – Farmers and landowners can learn about the soil health journeys of 10 Minnesota farmers in a new report, “Soil Health Case Studies Vol 3.”
Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead for the Sustainable Farming Association, visited 10 farms across southeast Minnesota and interviewed the farmers. He then used those conversations to develop case studies profiling the soil health management practices these farmers have implemented on their operations. The farmers featured in the case studies were selected with the help of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA), University of Minnesota Extension’s Southeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, and an advisory board of farmers, researchers, and organization staff.
The farms featured in the study represent a range of acreage sizes, landscape challenges, livestock species and crops produced. The farmers also represent a range of experience levels, and skill sets. From first generation pastured pork farmers to large scale multigenerational operations, this set of case studies prove that soil health management practices can be implemented on any farm.
“As these successful farm management practices become more common, stories like these provide the inspiration farmers need to develop an optimistic view of their own farm futures,” said Theresa Keaveny, executive director of SFA.
When talking about soil health management practices, we refer to the five commonly accepted soil health principles. 1) Soil armor; 2) Minimize soil disturbance; 3) Increase diversity; 4) Keep a living root in the soil; and 5) Livestock integration. When farmers implement these principles within the context of their operations, they build farms that are more resilient to both financial and weather related challenges.
According to Dean Current, program director for University of Minnesota’s Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management, “We plan to expand our network and ability to make these case studies available in electronic form to more farmers and natural resource professionals as they promote and weigh options for adopting soil health practices.”
This is the third set of case studies in a series started in 2018. The project is a partnership among University of Minnesota’s Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management (CINRAM), University of Minnesota Extension’s Southeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, and the Sustainable Farming Association.
The 10 farms featured in this study include:
• Kaleb Anderson, Goodhue
• Dayna Burtness, Spring Grove
• Olaf Haugen, Canton
• Ed McNamara, Goodhue
• Bob and Greta Mierau, Caledonia
• Rob Miller, Lewiston
• Tom Pyferroen, Pine Island
• Mike and Jennifer Rupprecht, Altura
• Travis Schullo, Dorchester
• Myron Sylling, Spring Grove
The Southeast Minnesota volume of the Soil Health Case Studies is available online at z.umn.edu/SoilHealthCaseStudiesSE2020 or www.sfa-mn.org/soil-health-case-studies-2020.