ALBERT LEA, Minn. — Farmers, agricultural professionals, and community members are invited to a “Bringing Small Grains Back to Minnesota” workshop Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Edgewater Bay Pavilion in Albert Lea. This free, all-day Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event is an opportunity to learn from industry leaders and local innovators about the benefits of reintroducing small grains into farming operations and ways to rebuild the markets and infrastructure to support them. Lunch is provided and pre-registration is required by Thursday, Jan. 23. To register and to secure a spot, visit bit.ly/smallgrain. For more information, contact LSP’s Shea-Lynn Ramthun at 651-301-1897 or slramthun@landstewardshipproject.org.
Small grains, once a staple across the Corn Belt, have largely disappeared from large parts of the region, taking with them vital markets and infrastructure. Yet the benefits of incorporating small grains into crop rotations are undeniable: they help control weeds, reduce feed and fertilizer costs and boost soil fertility while lowering water nitrate levels.
During the event’s morning session, attendees will hear from expert speakers, including Bob Quinn, a farmer, scientist, author, founder of Kamut International and a leading advocate for sustainable farming practices. Also presenting will be Roy Pfaltzgraff , owner of Pfz Farms, a family farm recognized globally for innovation in no-till practices and soil health research. Finally, Landon Plagge, founder of Green Acres Milling and an experienced farmer, will share insights on grain processing and sustainable crop rotation.
An afternoon Q & A panel involving the keynote speakers as well as local experts will address pressing questions and practical challenges farmers in the region face. There will also be farmer-to-farmer breakout sessions where producers can share challenges, swap solutions and collaborate on strategies for success.
“This workshop is about building confidence, creating connections, and giving farmers the tools they need to diversify their operations and find new opportunities in small grain markets,” said LSP soil health organizer Shea-Lynn Ramthun.
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The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering an ethic of stewardship for farmland, promoting sustainable agriculture and developing healthy communities in the food and farming system. LSP has offices in the Minnesota communities of Montevideo, Lewiston and South Minneapolis.