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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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June 2023

Wednesday June 7

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Winter Camelina
Wednesday June 7
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Winter Camelina

The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. On June 7, there will be a webinar on winter camelina. Presenters include Matthew Ott (UMN post doc researcher, camelina genetics) and Anne Schwagerl (farmer, Browns Valley, Minn.).

To sign-up for the June 7 webinar on winter camelina, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Local Foods Planning Session June 7 in Madison
Wednesday June 7
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Local Foods Planning Session June 7 in Madison

The Madison Mercantile Local Food Planning Group will be meetingWednesday, June 7, from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.,at the Madison Mercantile. We will be brainstorming plans for creating a local food infrastructure at the Mercantile, as well as sharing local food opportunities through theReal Food Hub in WillmarandBecker Market.

Madison Mercantile Local Food Planning Group

Wednesday, June 7th @ 6 PM

Madison Mercantile

601 1st St., Madison, MN

Tuesday June 13

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Kernza
Tuesday June 13
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Kernza

The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. The June 13 webinar on Kernza features Jake Jungers (UMN assistant professor), Prabin Bajgain (UMN assistant professor) and Jay Peterson (farmer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.)

To sign up for the June 13 webinar on Kernza, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Upper Sioux State Park Land Return Listening Sessions & Planning Forward
Tuesday June 13
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Upper Sioux State Park Land Return Listening Sessions & Planning Forward

On April 5,there was a historic town hall meeting in Granite Falls where regional residents and Upper Sioux Community members came together to learn about the Upper Sioux Community’s history, relationship, and desires for the return of the Upper Sioux Agency State Park to the Upper Sioux Community. We also were able to ask questions of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources representatives and local elected officials, as well other community members. A proposal to return the state park land to the Upper Sioux Community was officially passed by the Minnesota Legislature during its recently concluded session.

We were encouraged by how we saw our neighbors respond to this proposal, being for the most part supportive of the return.We also heard how important and precious access to green spaces is to all of us who live here, and that many of us have deep connections and relationships with that park.

Please come and share your stories of connection and relationship to the Upper Sioux Agency State Park; we want to understand and honor our connection to this place and channelour passion for the area. We want to think as a community where we might be able to create new public access acres in the river valley with the funds allocated for replacement.Let’s beready and united to advocate locally for these green acres!

Join us on Tuesday, June 13, and/or Wednesday, June 28, at the Granite Falls Kilowatt Community Center (600 Kilowatt Drive, Granite Falls, MN 5624), from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for a light meal, and to share our stories and link arms to create new parkland in western Minnesota.

This event is free and open to the public, but food can only be guaranteed for those who register in advance. Please clickhere to register for June 13and/orhere to register for June 28.

Please contact Robin Moore atrmoore@landstewardshipproject.orgor 320-321-5244 if you have any questions.

This event is organized and hosted in partnership with The YES! House with Department of Public Transformation.

Wednesday June 14

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Hybrid Winter Rye
Wednesday June 14
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Hybrid Winter Rye

The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. On June 14, there will be a webinar on hybrid winter rye. Presenters include Jochum Wiersma (UMN Extension small grains agronomist) and Richard Magnusson (farmer, Roseau, Minn.)

To sign-up for the June 14 webinar on hybrid winter rye, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

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