Introducing the 20th anniversary edition of the Greenbook, a publication of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing & Development Division. The Greenbook highlights the project results of creative and innovative farmers and researchers involved with the Sustainable Agriculture On-farm Demonstration Grant Program.

The Grant Program and this Greenbook celebrate the 20 years of hard work and effort of 270 grantee farmers and researchers who have participated in the program. MDA staff members have worked diligently to help these farmers and innovators accomplish their project goals. We have come a long way in the past 20 years. Many advances have been made in agriculture. The key, however, to quality farming is the work of Minnesota farmers who work tirelessly to produce some of the finest agricultural commodities in the nation. We are proud of the diversification of our farming community – from small specialty crop farmers to the large commodity crop producers. They all work to make our agricultural community a successful industry that is a major contributor to Minnesota's economy.

Greenbook 2009 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.

Please contact Jeanne.Ciborowski@state.mn.us for a printed copy of the entire Greenbook 2009: Twenty Years of Farmers Growing Ideas

Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program

• Grant Program Description (PDF: 24 KB / 1 page)

Alternative Markets and Specialty Crops

• Hardwood Reforestation in a Creek Valley Dominated by Reed Canarygrass (PDF: 146 KB / 4 pages)
  Gossman, Timothy and Susan
• Introducing Cold-hardy Kiwifruit to Minnesota (PDF: 140 KB / 3 pages)
  Luby, James
• Dream of Wild Health Farm Indigenous Corn Propagation Project (PDF: 98 KB / 4 pages)
  Peta Wakan Tipi, Sally Auger
• Growing the Goji Berry in Minnesota (PDF: 179 KB / 3 pages)
  Vang, Koua and Cingie Kong

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: 69 KB / 3 pages)
  Fernholz, Carmen
• Rotational Use of High-quality Land: A Three Year Rotation of Pastured Pigs, Vegetable Production, and Annual Forage (PDF: 86 KB / 5 pages)
  Gale Woods Farm - Three Rivers Park District, Tim Reese
• Keeping It Green and Growing: An Aerial Seeding Concept (PDF: 185 KB / 5 pages)
  Hart, Andy
• Establishing Beneficial Bug Habitats in a Field Crop Setting (PDF: 92 KB / 5 pages)
  Thomas, Noreen

Energy

• On-farm Biodiesel Production from Canola (PDF: 124 KB / 4 pages)
  Dahl, Steve
• Evaluation of the Potential of Hybrid Willow as a Sustainable Biomass Energy Alternative in West Central, Minnesota (PDF: 108 KB / 3 pages)
  Zamora, Diomides

Fruits and Vegetables

• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Production in Western Minnesota (PDF: 97 KB / 4 pages)
  Andresen, Todd and Michelle
• Intercropping within a High Tunnel to Achieve Maximum Production (PDF: 190 KB / 4 pages)
  Boen, Mark
• Using Solar Energy to Heat the Soil and Extend the Growing Season in High Tunnel Vegetable Production (PDF: 179 KB / 4 pages)
  Flynn, Dallas
• Extended Growing Season for Lettuce (PDF: 141 KB / 6 pages)
  Hamp, Michael
• Organic Day-neutral Strawberry Production in Southeast Minnesota (PDF: 104 KB / 4 pages)
  Kedem, Sam
• Insect and Disease Pressure in Unsprayed Apple Orchards in Central and Northern Minnesota (PDF: 318 KB / 6 pages)
  McCamant, Thaddeus
• Winter Plant Protection of Blueberries in Northern Minnesota (PDF: 86 KB / 2 pages)
  Ringer, Al
• Winter Harvest of Hardy Crops under Unheated Protection (PDF: 69 KB / 2 pages)
  Smith, Kelly

Livestock

• Diversified Harvest of Integrated Species (PDF: 104 KB / 3 pages)
  Bowman, Joe and Michelle Gransee-Bowman
• A Comparison between Cornstalk and Soybean Straw for Bedding Used for Hogs and Their Relative Nutrient Value for Fertilizer (PDF: 71 KB / 3 pages)
  Dieball, John
• Increasing the Profitability of Raising Livestock: An Evaluation of Two Methods to Extend the Grazing Season (PDF: 193 KB / 7 pages)
  Duchene, Jeff
• 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: 115 KB / 5 pages)
  Struxness, Donald
• Methods to Establish Grazing of Annual Forages for Beef Cows on Winter Feeding Areas (PDF: 253 KB / 4 pages)
  Walker, Ryon S.

Program Information

• New Demonstration Grant Projects - 2009 (PDF: 24 KB / 2 pages)
  
• Completed Grant Projects (PDF: 45 KB / 10 pages)
  
• Sustainable Agriculture Loan Program (PDF: 30 KB / 1 page)
  
• About the Staff (PDF: 24 KB / 1 page)