Ear to the Ground 263: Small Grain-Big Opportunity

Landon Plagge’s experience growing oats has proven that this humble grain can play a big role in revitalizing soil health on corn-soybean farms. Can the milling facility he’s proposing do the same for rural communities? (Third in a three-part series on small grains and community-based foods.)

More Information

• Episode 2 in Ear to the Ground Small Grains Workshop Series: “Roy Pfaltzgraff — Regenerative Return”
• Episode 1 in Ear to the Ground Small Grains Workshop Series: “Bob Quinn — Additive Vs. Extractive”
• Jan. 28, 2025, LSP Small Grains Workshop Registration
• Green Acres Milling
• LSP Blog: Oats & the 3-Legged Stool of Farm Resiliency
• LSP’s Community-Based Food Systems Web Page
• LSP’s Soil Health Page

You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast episodes on Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, and other podcast platforms.

**North-central Iowa farmer and entrepreneur Landon Plagge, shown with his plans for a regional oat processing facility.**

Upcoming Events

January 2025

Thursday January 23

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Lakes and Prairies Solar 101 - Moorhead

Thursday January 23

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Lakes and Prairies Solar 101 - Moorhead

Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th St S, Moorhead, MN 56560, USA

Learn about solar energy and its benefits for your home, or small business. This meeting will take you through the technology, economics, financing and more. You’ll also learn about the Solar Co-op in your area. The program is free to join, and members are not obligated to buy solar panels. For details and to register, click here. Information on the Lakes and Prairie Solar Co-op is here.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Good Idea Shop Talk

Thursday January 23

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Good Idea Shop Talk

Zoom Online

This free meet-up series is for row crop and livestock producers who want to exchange ideas and advice for troubleshooting on-farm challenges related to improving soil and water resources. It helps producers connect with and learn from each other about how to be good stewards while protecting their profitability. These weekly, virtual meet-ups will take place on Thursdays, January 23, Jan. 30,^,and Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. Producers from across the Midwest and Mid-South are invited to join, so it’s also a great way to learn from producers across the region.

Learn more and register here: https://goodideafarm.org/shop-talks.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

U of M Extension Winter Garden College

Thursday January 23

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

U of M Extension Winter Garden College

McLeod County Extension Office, 840 Century Ave SW, Hutchinson, MN 55350, USA

Join local Extension Educators for a two-hour deep dive into backyard garden and small-scale farming topics.

In this free course, you will learn how cover crops improve soil health by preventing erosion, providing nutrients, building organic matter, and feeding beneficial microbes. This course is split into two 45-minute presentations along with a 30-minute hands-on session.

The first session will show simple ways to integrate cover crops into your home garden for a healthier, more productive growing season. In the second session, you will learn strategies to extend the growing season by using different tools and techniques.

Topics

Soil health and cover crops in the home garden
Cover crop selection and planning
Extending the growing season in Minnesota

For details and to register, click here.

Saturday January 25

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Book Event for Dodge County, Incorporated
Saturday January 25
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Book Event for Dodge County, Incorporated
Barnes & Noble, Apache Mall, 1201 12th St SW Suite 425, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
Sonja Trom Eayrs, author of Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag & the Undoing of Rural America, will talk about her family’s fight against factory farms and the corporate-controlled takeover of her community. For details, click here.

Tuesday January 28

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

LSP Small Grains Workshop: Economic Opportunity in a New Market Environment

Tuesday January 28

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

LSP Small Grains Workshop: Economic Opportunity in a New Market Environment

Edgewater Bay Pavilion, 1940 Edgewater Drive, Albert Lea MN 56007

Based on the visionary work of a fourth-generation farmer and scientist, Bob Quinn (Kamut International), and practical, farmer-innovators like Roy Pfaltzgraff (Pfz Farms) and Landon and Anne Plagge (Green Acres Milling), the Land Stewardship Project is hosting a workshop for producers who are seeking confidence and practical know-how related to raising and selling small grains. Join us at the Edgewater Bay Pavilion in Albert Lea, Minn., on Tuesday, January 28, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Learn about how farmers are:

Increasing the value of what they produce and demonstrating the value of those products to human and environmental health.
Diversifying crop production while maintaining quality and profitability.
Organizing around cooperatively processing and marketing grains.

Click here to register. The workshop flyer is available here. For more information, contact LSP’s Shea-Lynn Ramthun at 651-301-1897 or at slramthun@landstewardshipproject.org.

Bob Quinn
Bob Quinn’s roots run deep into the rich soil of Big Sandy, Montana, where he returned after earning a PhD in plant biochemistry from UC Davis to apply his scientific knowledge to the family farm. Bob Quinn’s vision extends beyond agriculture, embodying a holistic approach where local minimal processing, community, health, and education intertwine to redefine success in farming. By championing the idea that every grain and every harvest should enhance health, Bob has positioned the Quinn Institute as a leader in transforming agriculture into a health-giving enterprise.

Roy Pfaltzgraff
Roy Pfaltzgraff is the current head of PFZ Farms in Colorado. PFZ Farms’ mission is to help educate fellow producers and consumers about how food is grown and to provide high-quality products for their community. The third-generation family farm produces quality agricultural products with sustainable methods for a healthier world. While they produce a number of dry-land crops, they also have a number of smaller production focuses that support their overall vision of a regenerative farm.

Landon Plagge
Landon Plagge holds nearly 30 years of hands-on farming experience growing corn, soybeans, livestock, and oats, as well as managing a grain handling facility, stewarding one million bushels of grain annually. Landon studied Investment Banking at Bentley College and holds a degree in business administration from the University of Northern Iowa. Landon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in sustainable farming practices and crop rotation, and frequently shares his experiences to help others improve their own practices. He is also one of the founders of Green Acres Milling, a farmer-owned oat processing facility under construction in Albert Lea, Minn.

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