GOODHUE, Minn. — Would you like to learn how to build soil while integrating livestock into your farming operation? This topic will be addressed at a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) soil health field day Saturday, Sept. 16, in Goodhue. Area farmers Kaleb Anderson and Jon and Jared Luhman will also cover how to no-till corn and soybeans, and strategies for extending the grazing season deep into fall and winter. Please RSVP by Thursday, Sept. 14. For more information and to register, contact LSP’s Shona Snater at 507-523-3366, or e-mail her at ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org.
DIRECTIONS: The Anderson farm (12535 335th St.) is 1.5 miles west of White Rock, 10 miles southeast of Cannon Falls and 15 miles northwest of Goodhue. The Luhman farm (23166 350th St.) is 5 miles northeast of Goodhue. Directions from Goodhue: go east on County Rd. 9 for 2 miles, then head north on County Rd. 4 to 350th. Turn right on 350th; the Luhman farm is the second place on the right.
The day will start at the Anderson farm with registration at noon, followed by a “build your own sandwich” lunch (free will donations accepted). A car caravan will lead the group to the Luhman farm, with an expected arrival time of 2:15 p.m., and finishing by 4:30 p.m.
Organic and conventional farmers will learn valuable soil building information from both operations. The Andersons of Belle Creek Cattle raise corn, soybeans, hay, pasture, cover crops and beef. Kaleb Anderson will share his experiences with no-till corn and soybeans following winter rye, and how he no-tills oats or seeds warm-season annuals into spring pasture to increase soil biological activity and boost forage production. He will also discuss his 2018 plans for terminating a cover crop with a roller-crimper to cut his herbicide use.
At Dry Creek Farm, the Luhmans raise beef, hay, pasture, cover crops, organic corn and edible black beans. They will discuss ways they are improving the soil through mob grazing techniques, grazing warm season cover crops, and stockpiling forage for winter grazing. The day will also include a pasture walk and a humorously informative “Soil Your Undies” demonstration.
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