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Lewiston Dairy Farm to Host LSP Field Day on ‘Building Biodiverse Compost’ Aug. 26

July 11, 2022

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LEWISTON, Minn. —  Utilizing a cutting-edge composting system to build soil health and fertility naturally will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) field day Friday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Dale and Carmene Pangrac-Kim and Andy Olson dairy farm near Lewiston (19300 Trestle Drive). This field day will offer information for both conventional and organic farmers, and a noon lunch will be available (free-will donations accepted). Registration starts at 9:30 am. For more information and to RSVP by Tuesday, Aug. 23, register online at https://bit.ly/3OZESHz or contact LSP’s Shona Snater at ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org.

Two finished Johnson-Su Bioreactor stacks on the Pangrac-Olson farm, July 2021.

Directions: Head west out of Lewiston on Highway 14 for about a mile and then take a right onto Holstein Road. Drive north for about 1.5 miles and then take a right onto Trestle Drive. The farm is one-third of a mile down the road.

This is a daylong event for farmers interested in learning how to develop a practical system for building good bugs in the soil. Soil microbiology experts David Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson will share how they are using the Johnson-Su Bioreactor system to practically develop fungal-dense composts that can be applied as a beneficial inoculant to depleted soils. They will cover the construction, filling and management of the bioreactor and how this process creates a fungal-dominant, biologically diverse compost inoculant that can be used to jump start soil biology and increase crop production on any scale of farming operation.

Field day participants will also learn how local farmers are developing compost extracts and applying them to increase the soil’s ability to cycle nutrients, suppress weeds and reduce disease. The Pangracs and Olsons are working to rebuild the microbial populations in their pasture and organic row crop soils by using various “static” and “turned” composting methods. Growing beneficial soil microbiology is complex, and the farmers are willing to share their experiences using cutting edge composting set-ups, including the Johnson-Su Bioreactor system. Participants will get a closeup look at Johnson-Su Bioreactors, as well as a compost extractor and microbe applicator set-ups.

The Pangrac-Olson operation is one of five farms in the region participating in a Land Stewardship Project on-farm research project related to Johnson-Su Bioreactors. The project is being funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Program.

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Category: News Releases
Tags: composting • David Johnson • fungal • Hui-Chun Su Johnson • Johnson-Su bioreactor • microbiology • soil health

Contact

Shona Snater, LSP, 612-767-9886, ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org

Photo Available

For a photo of a Johnson-Su Bioreactor being erected on the Pangrac-Olson farm, contact LSP’s Brian DeVore at bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org

Upcoming Events

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July 2025

Friday July 18

9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Russell Hedrick Soil Health Event: Lac qui Parle County
Friday July 18
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Russell Hedrick Soil Health Event: Lac qui Parle County
1174 295th Ave, Dawson, MN 56232

Details are here.

Tuesday July 22

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
Tuesday July 22
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
2611 17th St N, Sartell, MN 56377, USA

Details are here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Tuesday July 22
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Far North Spirits, 2045 220th Avenue, Hallock, MN 56728, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Tuesday July 22
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Online Webinar

This free webinar series is about cattle and sheep solar grazing and growing forages or grain crops under solar panels.

The practice of grazing livestock under solar panels has become increasingly popular. It is often referred to as agrivoltaics or solar grazing. This system involves the use of land for both solar energy production and livestock grazing or crop production. In this session, Sabrina Florentino will talk about forage production research and the Rauenhorst Farm Agrivoltaics Project on growing row crops under solar panels.

To register, click here. 

Wednesday July 23

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
Wednesday July 23
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
15290 127th St, Villard, MN 56385, USA

Details are here.

View Full Calendar

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Montevideo, MN 56265

(320) 269-2105

Lewiston

180 E. Main Street
Lewiston, MN 55952

(507) 523-3366

Minneapolis

821 E. 35th Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 722-6377

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