Introducing the 14th edition of the Greenbook. The Greenbook is an 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 doing their part to ensure that Minnesota agriculture is profitable and environmentally friendly.

Greenbook 2003 contains articles that highlight the results of the grantees' projects and provide practical and technical information. Each article includes personal observations and management tips from the participants. Additionally, these grantees are willing to share their knowledge and experiences with you. Feel free to give them a call about their projects.

Our essayists this year include Bill Hunt, State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Minnesota, and Art Thicke, who operates a grass-based dairy farm in La Crescent, Minnesota.

Bill's essay addresses the relationship of the NRCS with farmers and the role it plays in assisting farmers to care for and maintain Minnesota's natural resources. Incidentally, the MDA recently signed an agreement with NRCS and other federal and state organizations to cooperate more closely in serving the state's organic agriculture sector. Art's essay describes how and why he addresses natural resource issues on his farm and his observations on the impacts of his actions. I think you will Þ nd both informative and interesting.

Download/view the Greenbook 2003: Caring for the Land (PDF: 3.32 MB / 168 pages)

Table of Contents

Essays

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service — Protecting Minnesota's Natural Resources and Providing Conservation Technical Assistance to Minnesota's Agricultural Producers and Landowners
• Managed Grazing, A Mossy Hollow, and Binoculars Behind the Barn — An Interview with Art Thicke, Winter 2003

Alternative Markets and Specialty Crops

• Flour Corn as an Alternative Crop — The Benefits of Using Corn Flour
• Collaborative Character Wood Production and Marketing Project
• Pride of the Prairie: Charting the Course from Sustainable Farms to Local Dinner Plates
• Creating Public Recognition of and Demand for "Grass-fed" Dairy Products Through the Development of Brand Standards and Promotion of These Standards to the Public
• Creating Consumer Demand for Sustainable Squash with Labels and Education
• Demonstrating the Market Potential for Sustainable Pork
• Integrated Demonstration of Native Forb Seed Production Systems and Prairie Land Restoration

Fruits and Vegetables

• Evaluating the Benefits of Compost Teas to the Small Market Grower
• Root Cellaring and Computer-controlled Ventilation for Efficient Storage of Organic Vegetables in a Northern Market
• Organic Strawberry Production in Minnesota
• Viability of Wine Quality Grapes as an Alternative Crop for the Family Farm
• Research and Demonstration Garden for New Immigrant Farmers at the University of Minnesota Outreach, Research and Education Park (UMore Park)

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
• Yield and Feeding Value of Annual Crops Planted for Emergency Forage
• Replacing Open Tile Intakes with Rock Inlets in Faribault County
• Treating Field Runoff through Storage and Gravity-fed Drip Irrigation System for Grape and Hardwood Production
• Dairy Manure Application Methods and Nutrient Loss from Alfalfa
• Soil Conservation of Canning Crop Fields
• In-field Winter Drying and Storage of Corn: An Economic Analysis of Costs and Returns
• Chickling Vetch — A New Green Manure Crop and Organic Control of Canada Thistle in Northwest Minnesota
• Potassium Rate Trial on an Established Grass/Legume Pasture: Determining Economic Rates for Grazing/Haying Systems
• Northwest Minnesota Compost Demonstration
• Use of Rye as a Cover Crop Prior to Soybean
• Aerial Seeding Winter Rye into No-till Corn and Soybeans
• Mechanical Tillage to Promote Aeration, Improve Water Infiltration, and Rejuvenate Pasture and Hay Land
• Woolly Cupgrass Research
• Native Perennial Grass — Illinois Bundleflower Mixtures for Forage and Biofuel
• Manure Spreader Calibration Demonstration and Nutrient Management Planning

Livestock

• Pasture Aeration and its Effects on Productivity Using a Variety of Inputs
• Comparing Performance of Hoop Buildings to an Older Conventional Building for Finishing Hogs
• Raising Cattle and Timber for Profit: Making Informed Decisions about Woodland Grazing
• Performance Comparison of Hoop Barns vs. Slatted Barns
• Enhancement of On-farm Alfalfa Grazing for Beef and Dairy Heifer Production
• Low Cost Fall Grazing and Wintering Systems for Cattle
• Potential of Medicinal Plants for Rotational Grazing
• Using a 24' x 48' Deep Bedded Hoop Barn for Nursery Age Pigs
• Programmatic Approach to Pasture Renovation for Cell Grazing
• Can New Perennial Grasses Extend Minnesota's Grazing Season?
• 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