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Microbiology

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A new and exciting step in rebuilding healthy soil is managing for soil microbial communities. The soil environment is like any other ecosystem — it consists of producers, consumers, and predators. Bacteria and fungi make up the producers, beneficial protozoa and nematodes are the consumers, and the top predators are arthropods and predatory nematodes. This production and consumption model contributes to nutrient cycling in the soil. Due to past agricultural practices, most soil consists solely of bacteria.

To introduce more beneficial organisms and balance fungi-bacteria ratios, some farmers are turning to biodiverse, aerobic composting methods to inoculate their crop fields and pastures. This is a developing piece of work, so please check out the information below and continue to check back for more resources as they emerge.

LSP Johnson-Su Research Video Reports

Videographer Kobi Dansingburg recently created two reports on the on-farm research LSP conducted in Minnesota and Wisconsin over a two-year period related to developing compost using the Johnson-Su Bioreactor System.

• Video: Long Version

• Video: Short Version

Soil Microbiology Fact Sheet

• Elaine Ingham & Soil Health: How to Weave a Web of Willing Workers

Presentation on Johnson-Su Bioreactor System

On Aug. 26. 2022, LSP hosted David Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson on the Pangrac dairy farm near Lewiston, Minn. The Johnson’s gave a presentation on the Biologically Enhanced Agricultural Management System, otherwise known as BEAM. They also discussed the use of the Johnson-Su Bioreactor Composting system to build soil biology. Check out their presentation here.

Got a Question about Microbiology?

Want to get started taking a deep look at your soil’s biology? Give LSP a call at 507-523-3366.

Got an Idea?

If you have an idea you’d like to have featured in a video, blog, podcast, or field day, contact us.

Field Days & Workshops

See out web calendar for the latest LSP field days, workshops  & pasture walks

LSP Soil Health Podcast Series

Check out LSP’s ongoing Ear Dirt podcast series for conversations on cover cropping, no-till, managed rotational grazing, fungi, and just about anything else that builds soil health.

Soil Microbiology Videos

Check out LSP’s videos featuring farmers and other experts talking about the role microbiology and other regenerative practices can play in building healthy, profitable soil.

Related Posts

  • Ear to the Ground 292: Working the Microbes

    David Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson’s approach to composting may help farming reach the ultimate regenerative ag pinnacle: self-sufficient soil.
    More Information
    • LSP’s Microbiology web page
    • Managing…

    Ear to the Ground 292: Working the Microbes
  • Ear to the Ground 271: Focusing on Fungi

    Maks Kopish is looking through a microscope and seeing a way for soil to be self-reliant.

    Ear to the Ground 271: Focusing on Fungi
  • Ear to the Ground 318: Great Expectations

    Farmer Mike Seifert is realizing that building a solid soil house is not enough — he also has to stock its pantry.

    More Information

    • LSP’s Soil…

    Ear to the Ground 318: Great Expectations

Soil Health Team

  • Alex Kaminski, 320-269-2105, e-mail
  • Robin Moore, 612-767-9480, e-mail
  • Shea-Lynn Ramthun, e-mail
  • Alex Romano, 612-767-9880, e-mail
  • Sarah Wescott, 612-767-9881, e-mail
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Upcoming Events

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December 2025

Wednesday December 10

9:00 am – 11:30 am
Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop
Wednesday December 10
9:00 am – 11:30 am
Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop
Zoom online

In December and January, the Organic Fruit Growers Association is offering a series of climate resilience workshops. Workshop goals are to learn about the changing climate in our region and the expected impacts on fruit farmers and to select climate resilience practices which are suited to your farm’s goals and values. The outcome of the workshops will be a written climate resilience plan with actionable steps to make your farm more resilient to changing climate. 
 
Workshops will be led by University of Minnesota extension educators Katie Black and Madeline Wimmer and include times for farmer-to-farmer discussion. This series includes the following four meetings. Expect to spend an additional 4-10 hours outside the meetings developing your farm’s climate resilience plan:

  • Wednesday Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
  • Monday, Dec. 22, discussion (online via Zoom — optional but encouraged)
  • Wednesday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (in-person workshop in La Crosse, Wis. Lunch provided, and you can be reimbursed for mileage traveling to and from the meeting.)

For details and to register, click here. 

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
How to Make Your Farm's Website Convert Visitors to Customers
Wednesday December 10
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
How to Make Your Farm's Website Convert Visitors to Customers
Zoom Online

Join Sarah Carroll of Greener Pastures and Michelle M Sharp of Meet the Minnesota Makers in this 90-minute virtual workshop to learn about what your business website needs to tell its story, engage customers, and turn visits into real sales.

This workshop lays out the essential components of a user-friendly website for direct-to-consumer farms or food producers. No prior website skills are required.

Topics covered:

• How to make your products searchable by customers.

• What makes a compelling About Me page.

• The right balance of images to text.

• How to engage customers right from your home page.

• Incorporating FAQs.

Who this training is for:

This workshop is ideal for the farm or ag business that has launched an initial website that’s ready to upgrade or for the farm that has not yet created its own website. This workshop is both for farmers/food producers and ag ecosystem professionals that support farmers/food producers in their marketing and website efforts.

For details and to register, click here. 

Thursday December 18

All Day
MDA Urban Farm Conservation Mini-grant Deadline
Thursday December 18
MDA Urban Farm Conservation Mini-grant Deadline
MDA

A grant opportunity for urban farmers in Minnesota to receive up to $5,000 to make conservation-focused improvements is now open for applications.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is once again offering an Urban Farm Conservation Mini-grant with approximately $100,000 available, thanks to funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. This year the program has expanded eligibility.

Who is eligible:

  • Entities commercially farming in Minnesota, meaning they sell or donate at least $1,000 of what they produce.
  • Farm applicants must be located in or selling into a city with a population over 5,000 people, or be located within the boundaries of federally recognized tribal land in Minnesota and serve tribal community members.

The grant offers up to $5,000 per approved recipient which can be used to cover a variety of tools, supplies, services, and other expenses related to improving their urban farm.

Eligible projects include irrigation infrastructure improvements, tools and amendments for improving soil health, composting infrastructure, specialty crop rotation equipment and many other farm improvements which generate conservation outcomes.

Up to 100% of the total project costs may be covered by the grant, and a cash match is not required. Grantees will need to pay for eligible expenses up front and then request reimbursement, using proof of purchase and proof of payment.

An informational session will take place online at 1 p.m. on November 20 and registration is required. Language interpretation services may be requested for the information session by contacting Emily Toner at emily.toner@state.mn.us.

This is a competitive grant program and applications must be submitted by December 18.

Visit the Urban Farm Conservation Grant web page for more information on its application. The Request for Proposals is available for download in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.

11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Managing Cover Crops Effectively
Thursday December 18
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Managing Cover Crops Effectively
830 Whitewater Ave, St Charles, MN 55972, USA

Program Includes:

  • Introduction to cover crop management
  • Funding and cost-share opportunities
  • Farmer panel and Q & A with panelists Mike Unruh, Ken Bergler, and Myron Sylling

Presentations from: Bailey Tangen (UMN) and Brad Jordahl Redlin (MDA).
 
Holiday conservation mixer following program.
 
This event is free but registration is required. For more information and to register, click here or call 262-325-6637. Details are also available on this flyer.

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop: Sharing No-till Knowledge & Microbial Insights
Thursday December 18
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop: Sharing No-till Knowledge & Microbial Insights
Olmsted County Public Works Service Center, 1188 50 St SE, Rochester, MN 55904, USA

Whitewater Gardens, The Olmsted SWCD, and The University of Minnesota Extension Olmsted County is offering a workshop called The Living Soil Roundtable: Sharing No-Till Knowledge and Microbial Insights. This workshop will offer practical information on how to read soil tests (both the Haney and the Soil Food Web), share findings from a recent NRCS SARE research project Optimizing No-Till Methods for a Direct-to-Market Organic Vegetable Farm on various mulching methods (deep composting, cut and carry, and living mulch), and provide plenty of time for questions and answers to discuss incorporating mulching in reduced till systems as a weed management practice and how to incorporate practices to increase soil microbiology. 


Participants are encouraged to bring soil or compost samples for viewing under a microscope and for analysis to detect microbial life. Class cost is free and will be held at Olmsted County Public Works Service Center (1188 50 St SE, Rochester, MN 55904) on December 18th from 1- 4 PM. 
 
Register at z.umn.edu/soilroundtable. Contact Shona Langseth at
shona.langseth@olmstedcounty.gov
 or 507-328-6905 with any questions.

View Full Calendar

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