Global exports have long been touted as the savior of American agriculture. But as the international marketing situation undergoes unprecedented changes, is this still the right path for farmers?
And if not, what comes next?
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, join the Land Stewardship Project to explore answers to that question and more during our winter workshop: “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets.” The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rochester International Event Center (7333 Airport View Dr. SW, Rochester, MN 55902). Breakfast and a catered lunch will be provided. You may register here.
Topics:
Morning Keynote: Organizing the Oat Mafia
The workshop’s morning keynote speaker will be Martin Larsen, a farmer and founding member of the “Oat Mafia” in southeastern Minnesota. He will highlight the challenges and opportunities facing all farmers as they look beyond selling into the export market at the elevator and instead consider recreating the local markets that once served our farmers and consumers. Larsen will share his journey establishing food grade oat production on his farm and founding the Oat Mafia, and the agronomic and economic results.
Afternoon Keynote:What’s Possible with Farmer Cooperation
The afternoon keynote speaker will be Landon Plagge, the 2025 Leopold Conservation Award winner for Iowa and founder of Green Acres Milling, a farmer-owned oat processing facility under construction in Albert Lea, Minn. Plagge will speak from his personal experience in organizing Green Acres Milling on how farmers can cooperate together to take back power from multi-national conglomerates and rebuild the local supply chains that once served each region.
Between the keynote addresses, there will be two breakout sessions with local experts and farmer-leaders:
Session 1: Economics of Diversifying Your Rotations
Summary: “Diversifying” your crop rotation is a little like apple pie and puppies: everybody’s in favor of it. But the bottom line is diversifying must make financial sense to be successful. After all, there’s a reason so many of us are sticking with the basic corn-soybean rotation. During this session, two farmers with extensive experience diversifying their crop rotations will lead a practical, real-world discussion about how they have crunched the numbers and weighed the risks, all while penciling out the benefits.
Session Leaders: Al Jostock, diversified farmer and LSP Soil Health Steering Committee member; James Hepp, diversified farmer and member of the Iowa Strip Till Mafia.
Session 2: Marketing Your Alternative Crops
Summary: Raising the most diverse set of crops that’s agronomically possible does little good if you can’t find a viable, consistent market in your region. During this session, a trio of farmers will discuss innovative, practical approaches they’re utilizing to gain access to profitable markets for crops that represent an alternative to the export-driven commodity system.
Session Leaders: Matt Kruger, Green Acres Mill/farmer; John Strohfus, diversified farmer and marketer; Tom Finnegan, farmer and LSP Soil Hub Member.
For details, you can contact event organizer Shea-Lynn Ramthun at 651-301-1897 or slramthun@landstewardshipproject.org.