13th edition of the annual publication highlighting the results of creative and innovative farmers and researchers involved with the Sustainable Agriculture On-Farm Demonstration Grant Program. These people are dedicated to making Minnesota agriculture profitable and environmentally friendly.

Greenbook 2002 will be very helpful to you as you consider changes on your farm or where you buy your food. The articles highlight the results of the grantees’ projects and provide both practical and technical information. Each article includes observations and management tips from the people already trying the practices. These participants are very willing to share their experiences with you. Feel free to give them a call and visit with them about their projects.

Also included in this year’s Greenbook are three essays featuring the perspectives of a chef, a farmer, and an agricultural economist. The authors address ways in which we can all work to empower farmers in the marketplace, support healthy rural communities, and expand local consumption of the healthy foods Minnesota farmers are so good at providing.

Download/view the Greenbook 2002: Sustaining People, Land and Communities (PDF: 3.15 MB / 162 pages)

Table of Contents

Essays

• A New Vision for Agriculture and Rural Development on the Plains and Prairies of North America
• Stewards of the Table
• Land and Community

Alternative Crops

• Increasing Red Clover Seed Production by Saturation of Pollinators
• Flour Corn as an Alternative Crop - The Benefits of Using Corn Flour
• Integrated Demonstration of Native Forb Seed Production Systems and Prairie Land Restoration
• Propagation of Native Grasses and Wildflowers for Seed Production

Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility

• Development of Eastern Gamagrass Production
• Using Liquid Hog Manure as Starter Fertilizer and Maximizing Nutrients from Heavily Bedded Swine Manure
• Replacing Open Tile Intakes with Rock Inlets in Faribault County
• Land Application of Mortality Compost to Improve Soil and Water Quality
• Soil Conservation of Canning Crop Fields
• In-field Winter Drying and Storage of Corn: An Economic Analysis of Costs and Returns
• Turkey Litter: More is Not Always Better
• Potassium Rate Trial on an Established Grass/Legume Pasture: Determining Economic Rates for Grazing/Haying Systems
• Aerial Seeding Winter Rye into No-till Corn and Soybeans
• Annual Medic as a Protein Source in Grazing Corn and Weed Suppressant in Soybeans
• Agricultural Use of Rock Fines as a Sustainable Soil Amendment
• Mechanical Tillage to Promote Aeration, Improve Water Infiltration, and Rejuvenate Pasture and Hay Land
• Woolly Cupgrass Research
• Increased Forage Production Through Control of Water Runoff and Nutrient Recycling
• Dairy Manure Application Methods and Nutrient Loss from Alfalfa
• A Low-cost Mechanism for Inter-seeding Cover Crops in Corn
• Manure Spreader Calibration Demonstration and Nutrient Management Planning

Fruits and Vegetables

• Integrating Livestock Profitably into a Fruit and Vegetable Operation
• Value Adding to Small Farms Through Processing Excess Production
• Evaluating the Benefits of Compost Teas to the Small Market Grower
• Development and Continuation of a Community Based Sustainable Organic Grower’s Cooperative and Marketing System
• Root Cellaring and Computer-controlled Ventilation for Efficient Storage of Organic Vegetables in a Northern Market
• Viability of Wine Quality Grapes as an Alternative Crop for the Family Farm
• Soil Ecology and Managed Soil Surfaces
• Good Eating with Little Heating: A Straw Bale Greenhouse for Off-season, Energy Efficient Production
• Flame Burning for Weed Control and Renovation with Strawberries

Livestock

• Pasture Aeration and its Effects on Productivity Using a Variety of Inputs
• Viability of Strip Grazing Corn Inter-seeded with a Grass/Legume Mixture
• Increasing Quality and Quantity of Pasture Forage with Management Intensive Grazing as an Alternative to the Grazing of Wooded Land
• Enhancement of On-farm Alfalfa Grazing for Beef and Dairy Heifer Production
• Potential of Medicinal Plants for Rotational Grazing
• Supplement Feeding Dairy Cattle on Pasture with Automated Concentrate Feeder
• Programmable Approach to Pasture Renovation for Cell Grazing
• Can New Perennial Grasses Extend Minnesota’s Grazing Season?
• Grazing Beef Cattle as a Sustainable Agriculture Product in Riparian Areas
• Adding Value for the Small Producers via Natural Production Methods and Direct Marketing
• High Value Pork Production for Niman Ranch Using a Modified Swedish System
• High Quality - Low Input Forages for Winter Feeding Lactating Dairy Cows
• Farrowing Crates vs. Pens vs. Nest Boxes
• Forage Production to Maintain One Mature Animal Per Acre for 12 Months
• Improvement of Pastures for Horses Through Management Practices

ESAP Projects

• Big Woods Dairy at Nerstrand - Big Woods State Park
• Soil Quality and Rainfall Simulation
• Diversification Spotlight: Organics in Minnesota
• Putting Our Eggs in Many Baskets: Diversification for a Healthy, Resilient Agriculture
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program