Fiscal Year 2019
| Name | Project | Grantee City | Project Location (County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Sedge Farm (Jane Grimsbo Jewett) | Determine the viability of a Forever Green poultry ration built on small grains and perennial crops for production of small-flock meat chickens | Palisade | Aitkin, Ramsey, Rice |
| Anishinaabe Agricultural Institute (Nicolette Slagel, Winona LaDuke) | Create an integrated hemp and traditional foods working and demonstration farm, utilizing rotational planting, natural fertilizers, and greenhouses | Ponsford | Becker |
| Keith and Anna Johnson Farm | Testing two pasture types to finish lambs on pasture and an evaluation of economics and meat quality from each type compared to lambs on a feedlot ration | Gibbon | Sibley |
| Cannon River Watershed Partnership (Alan Kraus) | Determine a pathway for greater farm profitability and practice adoption by testing the effect of corn row width on cover crop biomass and corn grain yields | Northfield | Goodhue, Rice |
| Brouwer Berries (Sarah Brouwer) | Test the effectiveness of sheep grazing on grass cover crops as a method of improving soil health, reducing weed pressure, and increasing strawberry yield | Raymond | Kandiyohi |
| Main Street Project (Wyatt Parks) | Evaluating hazelnuts as a soy protein replacement in free-range poultry systems for feed quality, nutrition and palatability | Northfield | Dakota, Rice |
| Canosia Grove (Robert Blair) | Rotational grazing in an orchard to improve pasture health, reduce energy input, and increase profit | Duluth | Saint Louis |
| Environmental Initiative (Sacha Seymour Anderson, Greg Bohrer) | Investigate and create case studies for farming practices that benefit both cost of production for farmers and natural resource conservation and demonstrate the benefits of these practices | Minneapolis | Benton, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Stearns, Todd, Wright |
| North Star Farm Tour (Melodee Smith, Wendy Wustenberg)) | Exploring North Star Farm Tour as a sustainable agri-tourism model for small fiber producers | Welch | Dakota, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Olmstead, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Wright |
Fiscal Year 2018
| Name | Project | Grantee City | Project Location (County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blazing Star Gardens LLC | Research the profitability of drip irrigation and its impact on yield of native prairie seed production | Clarks Grove | Freeborn, Steele |
| Cannon River Watershed Partnership | Investigate the impact of fall grazing on subsequent Kernza grain yields and the quantity and quality of the fall regrowth of Kernza biomass for forage | Northfield | Rice |
| Jerry D. Ackermann | Obtain data on plant growth and nutrient uptake due to cover crop effects on soil temperature and soil moisture in southwest Minnesota | Lakefield | Two field plots in Jackson and Nobles |
| KISS LLC dba Brookview Winery |
Testing of a non-traditional process for cleanings and sorting Minnesota wine grape varietals and demonstrate removal of other material at the crush pad | Milaca | Mille Lacs and Stearns |
| Mashkiikii Gitigan | Investigate the sustainability and impact of production-oriented perennial systems on soil contaminant accessibility and for effectiveness to sequester carbon | Minneapolis | Hennepin |
| Mighty Axe Hops | Experts in hop growing, beer brewing, and sensory analysis will investigate how to best evaluate, communicate, and market the specific aroma and terroir of Minnesota grown hops | Foley | Benton |
| Owl Forest Farm dba Kate I. Paul |
Identify peony cultivars that grow well in Northeastern Minnesota and produce late season flowers and support use of peonies in commercial cut flower production in our region | Iron | St. Louis |
| Richard Traugott | Demonstrate cover crop and intercropping alternatives during the establishment period of perennial fruit plants and evaluate any added value of secondary crop produced | Foley | Benton |
| Seelye Brook Farms | Comparison of mobile confinement and day-range production systems for pastured broiler chickens for output, profitability and marketability of products | Oak Grove | Anoka |
| The Good Acre | Evaluate the effectiveness of Sap Analysis to inform a customized nutrient management system using fertigation throughout the growing season to produce higher yields, better quality and reduced input costs | Falcon Heights | Ramsey and Goodhue |
| Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center | Develop an agrophenological calendar for Northeastern Minnesota that will serve as a more reliable planting guide for farmers and users of greenhouses and high tunnels | Finland | Lake |
Fiscal Year 2017
| Name | Project | Grantee City | Project Location (County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Johnson | Testing three novel sheep-specific pasture types to maximize average daily gains in lambs on pasture | Gibbon | Sibley |
| Blueberry Fields of Stillwater | Using essential oils to repel spotted wing drosophila in blueberries | Stillwater | Washington |
| Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council | Impact of two tillage types on yield, economic profitability, and soil health in Polk County | Red Lake Falls | Polk |
| Pheasants Forever | Using precision ag data to maximize economic and environmental benefits | Saint Paul | Multiple |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota (Steve Poppe) | Developing an annual day-neutral strawberry planting system with biodegradable mulches | Minneapolis | Hennepin, McLeod, Otter Tail, Stevens |
| Vande Ag | Economic feasibility of spray foam insulation in a hog finishing barn | Marshall | Lyon |
| York Farm | Testing different training systems and varieties to improve the profitability of gooseberries | Hutchinson | McLeod |
Fiscal Year 2016
| Name | Project Description | Grantee City | Project Location (County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon River Watershed Partnership; Brad Fraizer | Compare June cover crop establishment in standing corn (V5-V7) on eight farms, broadcasting cover crops/mixtures selected by each farmer. | Northfield | Rice, Goodhue |
| Central Lakes College; Thaddeus McCamant | Try grafting Minnesota pear varieties onto juneberry root stock in order to decrease tree height and increase production of young pear trees. | Staples | Todd, Chisago, McLeod |
| Four Seasons Apiaries; Joseph Meyer | Determine whether interrupting a honeybee hive's brood rearing reduces the number of Varroa mites in the hive. | Minneapolis | Hennepin, Carver |
| Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation & Development; John Beckwith | Find out whether grazing goats during winter can reduce feed costs and control invasive species without harming desirable native plants. | Janesville | Rice |
| Hoch Orchard; Harry & Jackie Hoch | Evaluate economic effect of integrating hogs into an apple orchard. Compare with economics of other hog production systems. | LaCrescent | Winona |
| Jorgenson Family Farm; Mike Jorgenson | Evaluate establishment, production, quality, and harvest of perennial wheatgrass/legume intercrops. | Clinton | Big Stone |
| Keith Hartmann | Try to establish cover crops and apply liquid N simultaneously into V4-V6 stage corn in June | Gibbon | Nicollet, Sibley |
| Lighthouse Farm; John Mesko | Evaluate feed value, animal gain, and soil/pasture improvements from bale grazing purchased hay. | Princeton | Mille Lacs |
| Paradox Farm; Sue Wika & Zachary Paige | Grow and test the nutrient profile and palatability of novel corn varieties for poultry. | Ashby | Otter Tail, Becker |
| Stone's Throw Urban Farm; Caroline Devany | Find out whether worm composting on an urban farm will result in a high quality, profitable greenhouse potting product the farm can use or sell. | Minneapolis | Hennepin |
| Wholesome Harvest; Susan Wiegrefe | Evaluate hazelnut woodchips (a byproduct of nut orchard mgmt) for their potential as substrate for growing wine cap and shiitake mushrooms. | Mabel | Fillmore |
Fiscal Year 2015
| Name | Project Description | Grantee City | Project Location (County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Stewardship Project; Robin Moore | Test whether deep-rooted cover crops can replace fall tillage in the Chippewa watershed | Montevideo | Chippewa & Swift |
| Minnesota Apple Growers Association; John Jacobson | Evaluate an Internet-based weather network’s ability to predict apple pests and diseases in Minnesota | White Bear Lake | Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Itasca, Nobles, Rice, Wabasha, Washington, Winona, & Wright |
| Megan Henry | Explore how to maximize vegetable profitability in a segmented, modular/movable hoop house | Brandon | Douglas |
| Land Stewardship Project; Caroline van Schaik | Test the feasibility of planting cover crops after short season corn harvested for grain | Lewiston | Fillmore |
| Darryl Patnode | Demonstrate planting cereal rye after corn silage and harvesting spring growth for forage before planting soybeans | Corcoran | Hennepin |
| Jerry and Nancy Ackermann | Evaluate the impact of cover crops on soil health and fertility on several Southwest Minnesota farms | Lakefield | Jackson & Nobles |
| Carmen Fernholz | Determine optimal harvest timing for intermediate wheatgrass, a “new” perennial grain | Madison | Lac qui Parle |
| David Abazs | Compare three methods to raise the pH of very acidic soil (pH 3.8): wood ash, biochar, and lime | Finland | Lake |
| University of Minnesota; Ulrike Sorge | Improve animal behavior in the milking parlor and milker safety by handling heifers before they calve | St. Paul | Rice |
| Eagle Creek Honey Farm; Victoria Ranua | Investigate the potential of honeybee propolis production 1) as a new profit center for Minnesota beekeepers and 2) to improve honeybee health | Shakopee | Scott & Hennepin |
| Daniel Ley | Compare spring yield and dairy forage quality of several winter small grain cover crops | Richmond | Stearns |
| Steve Stassen | Synchronize indoor pen lambing and farrowing for best workload efficiency and market timing | Kerkhoven | Swift |
| Russell Martie | Evaluate water and fertilizer efficiency of sub-surface irrigation for corn and soybeans, compared to center pivot irrigation and a non-irrigated control | Monticello | Wright |
Fiscal Year 2014
| Name | Project Description | Grantee City | Project Location (County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noreen Thomas | Preserving and Attracting Native Bees | Moorhead | Clay |
| Sherburne SWCD; William Bronder | Nitrogen Capture Using Cover Crops in a Cash Grain Rotation | Elk River | Sherburne |
| Chad Rollofson | No-till/cover Crop Rotation vs Intensive Tillage in Corn/soybean Rotation | Barrett | Grant |
| Happy Dancing Turtle; Jim Chamberlin | Developing Low-cost Planting Materials and Establishment Methods to Accelerate Agroforestry Adoption for Function & Profit | Pine River | Cass |
| Hmong American Farmers’ Association; Pakou Hang | The Effects of Cover Crops on Water & Soil Quality | St. Paul | Dakota |
| Seeds Farm; Becca Carlson | Using Compost Tea in Organic Farming | Northfield | Rice |
| White Earth Land Recovery Project; Winona LaDuke | Developing an Integrated Perennial System | Callaway | Becker |
| Hammer Green Acres; Sharon Utke | Solar-powered Rainwater Catchment & Distribution System Using Drip irrigation | Fountain | Fillmore |
| Little Hill Berry Farm; Aaron Wills | Controlling Canada Thistle in Organic Blueberry Production | Northfield | Rice |
| Melissa Nelson | Creating Beneficial Habitat for Weed Management & Wildlife Enhancement on Farm Waste Land | Ortonville | Big Stone |
| Paul Kruger | Legume Cover Crops | Wabasha | Wabasha |
| Cindy Hale | Developing Profitable Apple Production Along Lake Superior's North Shore of Minnesota | Duluth | St. Louis |
| Redfern Gardens; Kathleen Connell | Evaluating Different Depths and Types of Mulches in Blueberry Production | Sebeka | Wadena |