Ear to the Ground 189: A Farm Flourishes When the Soil Flourishes

Rick Bieber describes how building soil health saved his farm from financial ruin.

(The Land Stewardship Project gratefully acknowledges partial support from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program for this podcast.)

Upcoming Events

January 2026

Thursday January 1

All Day: Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Applications
Thursday January 1
Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Applications
Online
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) will start accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on Jan. 1. This is an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

On Dec. 22, a webinar will provide basic information on the program and how to apply for it. To register, click here.

Friday January 2

6:00 am – 12:00 am: Application Deadline for RSDP Farmer Climate Action Fund
Friday January 2
6:00 am – 12:00 am
Application Deadline for RSDP Farmer Climate Action Fund
Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
Are you a farmer in Greater Minnesota with an innovative idea to address climate change on your farm?

University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) invites farmers throughout Greater Minnesota to apply for funding for on-farm climate adaptation and mitigation projects through RSDP’s Farmer Climate Action Fund.

Small grants will be awarded through a competitive process for ready-to-go, farmer-led projects, including but not limited to planting wildlife corridors, replacing fossil fuels with clean energy alternatives, implementing soil health practices that sequester carbon and incorporating agroforestry systems.

Priority will be given to projects that are shovel-ready and can be completed by December 31, 2026.

The application portal is now open and you can apply until January 2, 2026, with awards announced in early February.

Find more information and application materials on the RSDP website: https://z.umn.edu/FarmerFund.

Wednesday January 7

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Wednesday January 7

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

La Crosse, Wis.

n 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.

Thursday January 8 – Friday January 9

Minnesota Organic Conference

Thursday January 8 – Friday January 9

Minnesota Organic Conference

River's Edge Convention Center, 10 4th Ave S, St Cloud, MN 56301, USA

Each year, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosts this conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture.

Minnesota Organic Conference Logo

Mark your calendars for January 8-9, 2026, when we’ll again feature:

Inspiring keynote speakers
Topical breakout sessions
An 80-booth trade show
Networking
And more!

Whether you’re an experienced producer or new to the field, don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to connect with Minnesota’s thriving organic community!

Who should attend?

Organic farmers and those interested in transitioning to organic practices
Agricultural professionals
Buyers and makers looking to source or showcase organic products
Students and researchers
Organic farming advocates

For details, click here.

Friday January 9 – Saturday January 10

Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference

Friday January 9 – Saturday January 10

Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference

Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

For details, click here.

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