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Flower Power

How 3 Farmers Teamed Up to Diversify Out of the Corn-Soybean Duoculture

By Jasmine Curtis
April 15, 2025

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Near the beautiful southern Minnesota town of Austin, three farmers are going against the grain with an unlikely crop: sunflowers. While most Midwestern farmers stick to corn and soybeans, backed by reliable federal subsidies and a marketing and transportation infrastructure centered around such commodities, these pioneers saw an opportunity where others saw risk. Their story isn’t just about growing a plant known for its pretty yellow flower – it’s about building community, protecting soil health, and reimagining what modern crop farming can be.

The journey began in spring 2024 when Tom Cotter, a fourth-generation farmer who had been successfully growing sunflowers for two years, saw an opportunity to expand. He had started out growing 130 acres of the crop and liked how it fit into his diverse rotation of corn, soybeans, and other crops. His early success with sunflowers had caught the attention of Seven Sundays, a growing cereal company looking for local suppliers of organic sunflower seeds for its granola. Recognizing the potential for a larger impact, Cotter reached out to fellow members of the Land Stewardship Project’s Soil Health Hub, including Scott Lightly and Tom Finnegan. Together, they formed a partnership based on a shared interest in crop diversity and soil health.

Neighbors and friends gather in one of Tom Cotter’s sunflower fields. He and the other farmers who have integrated the crop into their operations say that not only has it added diversity to their rotations, but it has helped contribute to the local community. (Photo provided by Tom Cotter)

 

To put things in context as to how unusual it was for these southern Minnesota farmers to grow sunflowers, consider this: 71,000 acres of the crop are expected to be planted in Minnesota in 2025. In comparison, 8.2 million and 7.4 million acres of corn and soybeans, respectively, were planted in Minnesota in 2024. The Red River Valley, which encompasses parts of northwestern Minnesota as well as North Dakota, is much better known for sunflower production than the area around Austin.

But the farmers were willing to take a chance on a new crop. As Finnegan, who is passionate about building soil health on his crop and livestock farm, explains, “Crop rotation diversity was one of my goals.” Lightly, who had previously grown only corn and soybeans, was hesitant about stepping out of his cropping routine.

However, when the opportunity to grow sunflowers came with a guaranteed market, he saw it as the perfect chance to diversify. “I didn’t have a good place to market anything other than corn and soybeans,” he recalls. “Then along comes this sunflower contract, and I thought, ‘That’s what I’ve been waiting for.’ ”

In 2024, the farmers raised a total of 290 acres of sunflowers and pooled them together into one Seven Sundays contract. The three farmers were all familiar with the importance of crop diversity but were at different stages of implementation. While Lightly had previously grown corn and soybeans exclusively, Cotter and Finnegan had experience with diverse crops such as oats, wheat, hay, and cover crops in their production rotations. To keep his risk low, Lightly grew around two dozen acres of sunflowers that first year.

It wasn’t just a guaranteed market that attracted Lightly to growing something different. “Sunflowers are great for soil health,” he says. “Their taproots dig deep and loosen up the soil, which makes a noticeable difference. After we harvested, the soil was much looser than it had been in years.”

Despite the benefits, growing sunflowers presents challenges. Federal crop insurance coverage is not available for non-traditional crops like sunflowers until they have been grown for at least two years, and even then, it’s a complicated and costly process. “It’s expensive,” says Lightly of insuring sunflowers. “Sometimes double or triple the cost of corn insurance per acre.”

Nevertheless, the farmers took the risk and dedicated part of their acres to sunflowers. As Finnegan admits, “We were up for a challenge.”

The early stages of planting were not without their hurdles, and Lightly played a crucial role in helping with the equipment setup. “I had zero challenges because I turned it all over to Scott,” recalls Finnegan. “He did all the heavy lifting. He even came to my house on a Sunday to help me set up the planter. Sunflowers are light and fluffy, unlike corn, which is dense. Each seed has different characteristics, so Scott was instrumental in helping us figure it out.”

Lightly recalls his own learning process. “I spent a lot of time researching online, watching videos, reading from North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and university extensions,” he says. “I even called my planter guy and asked if I could plant sunflowers with my corn planter. He said, ‘Nobody’s ever asked me that before.’ ”

Despite the challenges, the teamwork paid off. Lightly helped Finnegan calibrate his equipment, and Cotter’s equipment was also adjusted to meet the needs of sunflower planting.

When it came time to harvest, another challenge emerged: specialized equipment was needed. While there is the option to purchase commercial sunflower harvesting heads for combines, these farmers took a creative, lower-cost approach. They built their own adapter kit for the corn harvester to work with the sunflowers. “It worked really, really well,” Lightly says, marveling at the success of the homemade adapter.

The commercial version of the adapter would have cost about $2,100 per row. Instead, Lightly’s version, built with the help of a machinist friend, came to just $240 in material costs. “I drew up the plans, and we worked well together. It was a long weekend” Lightly says.

Ultimately, the sunflower project was about more than just diversifying crops; it became a way to connect with the land, the community, and consumers in unexpected ways. The sunflower fields became a local attraction, with neighbors stopping to admire the vibrant blooms.

“It was absolutely beautiful,” Finnegan recalls. “So many people stopped and asked for permission to take pictures.” Dawn, Scott’s wife, had a surprising moment of connection when she saw her cousin eating cereal during a camping trip.

“I asked my cousin, ‘What are you eating?’ She turned the bag around, and it was the Seven Sundays cereal. Now she says, ‘I think of you every time I eat my cereal,’ recalls Dawn. “I didn’t realize how much our work was connected to people’s everyday lives until that moment.”

The connection with Seven Sundays brought the farmers closer to their consumers. Through a community event where the Seven Sundays truck made an appearance, the farmers met the people who would eventually eat the crop they had grown.

In the end, the sunflower project was a success, both in terms of harvest and community impact. In 2025, Cotter, Lightly, and Finnegan plan in growing the crop again for a Seven Sundays contract. The farmers not only are growing a crop that is an alternative to the typical Corn Belt rotation, but that have also strengthened their ties to the land and the people around them. As Lightly says, “It’s not just about the harvest. It’s about the connections, the community, and the story we’re telling.”

Their story is one of resilience, collaboration, and a bold step toward sustainability.

 Jasmine Curtis is serving a soil health internship with the Land Stewardship Project. During this internship, she is, among other things, collecting and analyzing survey data to support research on sustainable agriculture. In May, Curtis will graduate from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a bachelor of science in environmental science, conservation, and resource management.

Category: Blog
Tags: alternative crops • crop diversity • diverse rotations • row crops • soil health • sunflowers

Upcoming Events

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October 2025

Thursday October 9

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Minnesota Women in Conservation Fall Learning Circle
Thursday October 9
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Minnesota Women in Conservation Fall Learning Circle
Dawson, MN 56232, USA

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, windbreaks, 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 will be an active event.

Please bring a camp chair and a potluck dish. The host will provide the main dish, so think about bringing sides and dessert. For details and to reserve a spot, click here. For questions, contact LSP’s Alex Kiminski at akiminski@landstewardshipproject.org.

Friday October 10

8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Weaving a Wider Community: Seeing & Countering Racism in Our Backyard
Friday October 10
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Weaving a Wider Community: Seeing & Countering Racism in Our Backyard
111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

Join LSP and CURE for a community event at the Land Stewardship Project office in Montevideo (111 N. First St.), from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 10. This event includes lunch catered by El Mana; please register by Oct. 3 to be included in the food count.

You can RSVP here.

The Racial Equity Conference, organized by the Greater Minnesota Partnership of the Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative, has been specifically designed to bring engaging content to local communities through a unique pairing of online speakers and in-person local sessions. The morning’s online content will include a conversation focused on seeing and countering racism in rural communities, moderated by Eryn Gee Killough, paired with two outstanding keynote speakers, Jenna Grey Eagle and Ron Ferguson, who have experience working in rural communities. 

This online content will be exclusively available to local community gatherings. Each gathering will gear their in-person activity to their specific community with the goal of extending the impact of the conference to others throughout the following year. Join LSP and CURE for this western Minnesota gathering, or if a different location works better for you, check out all the local gatherings on the FREC site,

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. LSP’s Nick Olson can be reached via e-mail at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Intensive Small-Scale Market Gardening Bus Tour
Friday October 10
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Intensive Small-Scale Market Gardening Bus Tour
Leatherdale Equine Center, 1801 Dudley Ave, St Paul, MN 55108, USA

Explore profitable small-scale farming (1–5 acres) and soil care. Visit a cooperative incubator farm and a thriving suburban market garden. Learn about cover crops, reduced tillage, high tunnel soil health, and support for growers.

This is the second tour in a three-part soil health bus tour series. Participants can sign up for just one, two, or all three tours. Register at https://z.umn.edu/vegetablebustours. The cost is $15 (flat fee, covers 1, 2, or 3 tours). There are more details in the attached flyer.

Saturday October 11

11:00 am – 2:00 pm
LSP-COPAL Visita a la Granja | Farm Tour
Saturday October 11
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
LSP-COPAL Visita a la Granja | Farm Tour
36919 County 57 Blvd, Dennison, MN 55018, USA

Building off the success of last year’s farm event with COPAL in Austin, Minn., this year Land Stewardship Project and COPAL members and supporters will gather at the Young-Walser Family Farm in Dennison, Minn. for a festive and delicious farm tour on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We invite you to come and meet new folks, learn new skills, and try new food! 
 
This year’s COPAL-LSP farm event offers a little something for everyone: 
 
🍯 Honey sampling and the opportunity to purchase from Homestead Honey Farm. 
 
🍎 Apple cider pressing and tasting. (BTW, we’re still looking for an apple press if you or a farmer friend have one nearby we could borrow for this event!) 
 
🌽 Nixtamalization workshop and fresh, homemade tortillas, made with corn grown by LSP and COPAL members at the Young-Walser Family Farm! 
 
🍅 Salsa making and cricket-eating competitions! Yes, you heard that right —we’ll have the opportunity to sample crickets, a delectable crispy and savory snack commonly enjoyed throughout Mexico and Central America. Stay tuned for details on how to enter either competition. 
 
🥾 A tour of the Young-Walser farm, nestled in the beautiful Sogn Valley not far from Cannon Falls, Minn. Enjoy a tromp through the corn and squash fields and hike in the nearby woods. 
 
🌮 A shared meal and opportunity to hear from LSP and COPAL organizers about our participation in the Immigrant Defense Network. 

Let us know you can make it to ensure we order enough food and supplies! Carpools from Minneapolis and Rochester will be available to all attendees. 

________________________________________________

¡Únete a LSP + COPAL para nuestro recorrido anual comunitario en la granja!
Un espacio divertido para tod@s donde exploraremos la agricultura, aprenderemos sobre el campo y participaremos en actividades prácticas. ¡Uno de los momentos más especiales será hacer tortillas frescas junt@s!

Compartiremos un delicioso almuerzo comunitario, preparando tacos en estilo potluck (tipo convivio). Te invitamos a traer un platillo o acompañamiento para compartir.

También estás invitado@ a llegar temprano (desde las 9 AM) para ayudar a cosechar calabazas que sembramos. Puedes llevarte algunas a casa, y el resto se donará a un banco de alimentos local.

El Land Stewardship Project (LSP) es una organización aliada de COPAL que trabaja por sistemas alimentarios y agrícolas más sostenibles y justos. LSP y COPAL están unidas en su lucha por instituciones democráticas sólidas, comunidades saludables y acogedoras, y una ética de cuidado hacia la tierra y las personas que nos alimentan.

Tuesday October 14

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm
Tuesday October 14
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm
Online

This 10-lesson Wild Farm Alliance virtual course teaches agricultural professionals and farmers how to support beneficial birds and manage pest birds on farms. By learning how to assess the farm’s avian needs and opportunities, farms can be designed to provide for a diversity of beneficial birds. 

If pest birds are a problem, they can be discouraged with specific practices during the shorter periods when they cause damage. The sessions cover the latest research, tools and resources, and are given by experts in avian pest control, entomology, ornithology and conservation. While many topics and species are specific to the Midwest, most of the principles discussed are applicable across regions. 

Continuing Education Credits have been requested and are expected to be approved from American Society of Agronomy.

For details and to register, click here. 

The Course Schedule:

LESSON 1

Why Birds Belong on the Farm: Biodiversity, Pest Control & A Thriving Landscape

Tuesday, September 23, 2 p.m. CT


LESSON 2

Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm

Tuesday, October 14, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 3

Birds in the Balance: Pest Control Services Across Crop Types

Tuesday, November 4, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 4

Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation

Tuesday, December 2, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 5

Birds on the Farm: Balancing Biodiversity and Food Safety

Tuesday, January 13, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 6

Beyond the Crop: Birds, Biodiversity, and the Power of Edge Habitat

Tuesday, February 3, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 7

Bridging Forestry, Farming, and Habitat

Tuesday, February 24, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 8

Perennial Pathways: Agroforestry for Birds and Biodiversity on Farms

Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 9

Birds on the Range: How Grazing Practices Shape Habitat for Grassland Species

Tuesday, April 7, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 10

Birds at Risk: How Pesticides Shape Safety on Agricultural Lands

Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. CT

View Full Calendar

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