Introducing the 19th edition of the Greenbook, a publication of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing & Development Division. We highlight the project results of creative and innovative farmers and researchers involved with the Sustainable Agriculture On-farm Demonstration Grant Program.

Sustainable agriculture focuses on environmentally friendly farming practices with a special emphasis on reducing inputs. It also includes diversification of crops and alternative livestock systems, and it gives farmers increased access to alternative markets.

Greenbook 2008 contains articles highlighting the results of the grantees' projects and provides 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. They are all dedicated to making Minnesota agriculture more profitable and environmentally friendly. Feel free to give them a call about their projects.

This year's Greenbook also includes articles on sustainable agriculture provided by the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), a partnership between the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota and the Sustainers' Coalition, a group of individuals and nonprofit organizations. MISA received funding from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), program of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) to help farmers implement sustainable agriculture practices. The articles in Greenbook 2008 present the work done on these projects.

Please contact Jeanne.Ciborowski@state.mn.us for a printed copy of the entire Greenbook 2008: A Multitude of Ideas to Sustain Agriculture

Introduction (PDF: 111 KB / 6 pages)

Program Information (PDF: 2.39 MB / 41 pages)

Alternative Markets and Specialty Crops

• Developing a Saskatoon Berry Market in the Upper Midwest (PDF: 134 KB / 5 pages)
• Improved Productivity in a Winter Greenhouse (PDF: 126 KB / 3 pages)
• Hardwood Reforestation in a Creek Valley Dominated by Reed Canarygrass (PDF: 172 KB / 3 pages)
• Introducing Cold-hardy Kiwifruit to Minnesota (PDF: 133 KB / 3 pages)
• Dream of Wild Health Farm Indigenous Corn Propagation (PDF: 49 KB / 4 pages)

Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility

• Environmentally and Economically Sound Ways to Improve Low Phosphorus Levels in Various Cropping Systems Including Organic with or without Livestock Enterprises (PDF: 73 KB / 2 pages)
• Rotational Use of High-quality Land: A Three Year Rotation of Pastured Pigs, Vegetable Production, and Annual Forage (PDF: 156 KB / 4 pages)
• Keeping It Green and Growing: An Aerial Seeding Concept (PDF: 280 KB / 5 pages)
• Establishing Beneficial Bug Habitats in a Field Crop Setting (PDF: 277 KB / 5 pages)
• Impacts of Aeration Incorporation of Turkey Litter on the Yield and Quality of Alfalfa Production in Northern Minnesota (PDF: 91 KB / 2 pages)
• Field Windbreak/Living Snow Fence Crop Yield Assessment (PDF: 176 KB / 4 pages)

Energy

• Testing the Potential of Hybrid Willow as a Sustainable Biomass Energy Alternative in Northern Minnesota - Second Season Results (PDF: 125 KB / 5 pages)
• On-farm Biodiesel Production from Canola (PDF: 113 KB / 3 pages)
• Evaluation of the Potential of Hybrid Willow as a Sustainable Biomass Energy Alternative in West Central, Minnesota (PDF: 197 KB / 3 pages)

Fruits and Vegetables

• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Production in Western Minnesota (PDF: 139 KB / 4 pages)
• Intercropping within a High Tunnel to Achieve Maximum Production (PDF: 177 KB / 3 pages)
• Controlling Western Striped Cucumber Beetles Using Organic Methods: Perimeter Trap Crops and Baited Sticky Traps (PDF: 120 KB / 4 pages)
• Apple Scab Control Project (PDF: 65 KB / 3 pages)
• Establishing Healthy Organic Asparagus While Utilizing Minimal Labor and Maintaining Proper Soil Nutrition (PDF: 38 KB / 2 pages)
• Insect and Disease Pressure in Unsprayed Apple Orchards in Central and Northern Minnesota (PDF: 110 KB / 4 pages)
• Novel Preplant Strategies for Successful Strawberry Production (PDF: 410 KB / 4 pages)

Livestock

• Equine Forestry: Promotion of a Low-impact Forest Harvesting Method (PDF: 91 KB / 2 pages)
• A Comparison between Cornstalk and Soybean Straw for Bedding Used for Hogs and Their Relative Nutrient Value for Fertilizer (PDF: 38 KB / 2 pages)
• Comparing Alternative Laying Hen Breeds (PDF: 102 KB / 3 pages)
• Demonstration of How Feeding In-line Wrapped High Moisture Alfalfa/Grass Bales will Eliminate Our Fall and Winter "Flat Spot" in Grassfed Beef Production (PDF: 481 KB / 4 pages)