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 ‘Farming in Karst Country’ Workshop July 6 at Niagara Cave in Harmony

Discussion to Focus on how Soil Healthy Practices can Improve the Health of Underground Streams

June 16, 2022

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HARMONY, Minn. — The intersection of soil-building farming practices, water movement and karst geology will be the focus of a special Land Stewardship Project (LSP) “Farming in Karst Country” workshop Wednesday, July 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Niagara Cave in Harmony (29842 Co. Hwy. 30). The cost to attend is $20 for adults and $10 for people under 16; the fee covers a cave tour* and dinner from True Smoke BBQ. Space is limited to 75 participants. To reserve your spot, contact LSP’s Maura Curry at 651-249-6308 or mcurry@landstewardshipproject.org, or visit bit.ly/LSPCaveTour.

Directions: Heading south on U.S. 52 into Harmony, take a right onto MN-139 and continue to head south for three miles, then turn right again onto County Road 30. After two miles, the cave will be on your left; look for “Niagara Cave” and “LSP” signs.

Presenters will include farmers, cavers, naturalists and Kernza researchers sharing how practices like no-till, cover cropping and perennial cover can improve the health of the soil and underground streams.

Local crop farmer Martin Larsen will share his insights on practices like no-till and cover cropping. Larsen works for the Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District and is the vice president of the Minnesota Caving Club.

“Soil, water, farming and our Karst geology are intricately connected and produce the freshwater streams, plant diversity and unique landscape of the Driftless Region,” said Larsen. “Improving the health of our soils will help maintain the integrity of our agricultural production, groundwater and unique region.”

Will Varela will speak on the geology of the area and how water quality affects our fish habitat. Varela works as an interpretive naturalist at Mystery Cave and is pursuing a doctorate in riverine ecosystem form and function at the University of New England Armidale. Aaron Bishop and his family have stewarded the Niagara Cave system since 1995, hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors over the years. Bishop will share his knowledge and observations of underground water movement, water quality and the changes his family has seen in the cave over the past 25 years, especially in relation to extreme weather events.

For information on other LSP soil health workshops and field days being held in the region this summer, see landstewardshipproject.org.

*Note that this will be a physically active field day with a topside walking tour and a cave tour that includes 550 stair steps and a mile walk in a humid environment. The cave tour is not recommended for people with heart or respiratory conditions.

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Cavers exploring the karst geology of southeastern Minnesota. (Photo Courtesy of Martin Larsen)
Category: News Releases
Tags: cover cropping • Driftless Region • groundwater • karst geology • Martin Larsen • Niagara Cave • no-till • soil health

Contact

Maura Curry, LSP, 651-249-6308, mcurry@landstewardshipproject.org 

Photo Available

For a photo illustrating the interaction between water and karst geology, contact LSP’s Brian DeVore at bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org

Upcoming Events

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September 2025

Tuesday September 16

9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chicken Processing Workshop
Tuesday September 16
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chicken Processing Workshop
14882 255th Ave, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085, USA

Join the SFA to learn how to process your own chickens at home. At this workshop, participants will actually be processing 35-40 chickens from start to finish, and they will learn how to kill, scald, pluck, and eviscerate the chickens. Each attendee will have the opportunity to perform the complete process with instructor help on several birds. 

Details are here. 

Wednesday September 17

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Grazing for Invasive Species Management in Oak Savannas
Wednesday September 17
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Grazing for Invasive Species Management in Oak Savannas
Myre-Big Island State Park, 19499 780th Ave, Albert Lea, MN 56007, USA

For details on this workshop, click here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Extending the Grazing Season with Cover Crops & Native Grasses
Wednesday September 17
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Extending the Grazing Season with Cover Crops & Native Grasses
Bluffton Resort & Bar, 2619 W Ravine Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, USA

This Ducks Unlimited workshop will feature a discussion of how livestock producers can utilize cover crops and native grasses to extend the grazing season. Featured speakers include Adam Janke, who will discuss Iowa State University’s research on CRP grazing, and Brian Dougherty of Understanding AG, who will discuss the economics of grazing cover crops. There will also be a presentation on Ducks Unlimited’s Advancing Markets for Producers Partnership. 
 
For details, see this flier. or call Ducks Unlimited’s Liam Bonk at 612-483-3577. To register, click here.

Thursday September 18

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Minnesota Women in Conservation: Conservation Land Walk in Dawson
Thursday September 18
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Minnesota Women in Conservation: Conservation Land Walk in Dawson
Dawson, MN

During this Minnesota Women in Conservation event, participants will walk around a “homestead” farm site — exploring areas and goals the landowner hopes to improve in the future, including pollinator habitat, perennial plantings, wind breaks, privacy/noise screens, water quality improvements, well sealing, and compost placements. Participants will hear feedback and recommendations from a conservation professional on potential programs that could assist the landowner in achieving those goals. 
 
This is a FREE event, but you must RSVP here to get the address. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Saturday September 20

All Day
Farm Aid
Saturday September 20
Farm Aid
Huntington Bank Stadium, 420 23rd Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

 Farm Aid is heading to Minnesota for the first time for its 40th anniversary festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The event will launch a year-long celebration of four decades of impactful advocacy, historic cultural moments and unforgettable music.

Farm Aid 40 — a full day of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food and agricultural experiences — will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young (and the Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and more artists to be announced.

For details, click here.

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