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Minnesota Africans United, in partnership with Global Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, is hosting this webinar focused on empowering trade with Africa through agriculture. Hear stories of current African entrepreneurs farming in Minnesota and working to provide healthy and safe food to the community while advancing economic prosperity. Find out more about resources available to support farmers in Minnesota and Africa. Learn about the opportunities and challenges of farming and investing in African agriculture from a visiting guest from Cameroon.

The University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative invites manufacturers, food entrepreneurs, farmers, policy professionals, and the public to a Winter Annual Oilseeds Field Day event at the Rosemount Research and Outreach Center. At this event, attendees will learn about the latest research and development updates on pennycress and winter camelina, two exciting new crops which have the potential to transform the food, fuel and feed industries in the upper Midwest.

Pennycress and winter camelina, both winter annual oilseeds, have great potential for use as a cash cover crop to protect soil and water while providing economic benefits to farmers in the upper Midwest. Rapid advancements in pennycress and camelina genetics and breeding have allowed researchers to identify a wide range of end-uses, including healthy edible oils, novel plant proteins, biodegradable packaging materials, lubricants, biofuels, and animal feed. All of these products equate to additional economic opportunities for Midwest farmers. Oilseeds fit well behind short season crops such as silage corn, sunflower, and spring wheat. As the seedlings grow in the autumn, they protect the soil surface from erosion caused by high winds, intense rains, or snow melt. Additionally, the plants absorb soil nutrients, helping to eliminate nitrate and phosphorus contamination of ground and surface waters. Ultimately, the addition of these crops to upper Midwest farmland will assist in keeping well water safe for drinking and improve the quality of water in our wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes.

The Winter Annual Oilseed Field Day will highlight current research and work underway to launch pennycress and winter camelina into Minnesota’s agricultural landscape. Visitors will see winter camelina growing in the field and learn from UMN agronomists about best production practices with this crop. The Forever Green Initiative Commercialization Team, Constance Carlson and Colin Cureton will discuss the many potential opportunities for end-uses of pennycress and camelina. Kent Cavender-Barres of Rowbot Technologies LLC will discuss opportunities for new robotic technologies to interseed oilseed crops. Finally, attendees will have the ability to participate in round-table discussions with each of our experts after their presentations.

Attendees should arrive between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM on June 11th to check in. A lunch (vegetarian option available) will be served from 11:30-12 PM. Presentations will begin at 12 PM, followed by a round table discussion from 1-2:30 PM. The event will be held rain or shine. All attendees are requested to register as early as possible prior to June 11. Space for the event is limited. For more information and disability accommodations, contact Katie Black at 701-400-9486 or e-mail her at black807@umn.edu.

Come join us and learn about what is happening in barley research at the University of Minnesota. There will also be a sneak preview of the new hop yard on campus. This event will allow you to hear from UM barley scientists, see research plots, and participate in hands on activities. All followed by delicious barley (and other) refreshments and a chance to socialize.

As the first commercially available perennial grain crop in the US, Kernza® perennial grain has the potential to change agriculture landscapes by providing valuable ecosystem services and new economic opportunities. Carmen Fernholz of A-Frame Farm, has been growing Kernza since 2011. A-Frame Farm manager, Luke Peterson, started growing and marketing Kernza in 2018, and now manages 30+ acres of the University of Minnesota (UMN) variety, MN-Clearwater. 

This field tour is an opportunity for growers, processors, businesses, and others to learn more about Kernza® and its environmental benefits and economic opportunities. 

In 2020, Carmen, Luke, and Kernza growers across Minnesota formed a co-op called Perennial Promise Growers Co-op (PPGC). Carmen, Luke, and others from PPGC will share the vision for the co-op and how they are working with industry and researchers to grow, market, and champion Kernza.

The Field Day tour will also include water erosion demonstrations from the Lac qui Parle Soil and Water Conservation District and a soil pit that will showcase the impressive Kernza root system. Food companies and culinary professionals will share how they are using Kernza and UMN researchers will be on-hand to answer questions about breeding, agronomics and economics.

We recommend wearing durable shoes or boots to walk through the field. This is a rain or shine event, so please dress accordingly.

Light refreshments that include Kernza will be served. A social hour will follow the tour, plan to stay for conversation and connection!

This event is free but registration is required.

About UMN Forever Green Initiative (FGI) and The Land Institute: University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative has been engaged in research and development of this ground-breaking crop for several years in partnership with The Land Institute (Kansas), where the grain was first developed. The UMN and Land Institute research team includes ecologists, breeders, agronomists and food scientists working on everything from increasing seed size and yields to field trials and commercial opportunities.

Join us for an overview of the demonstration site as we highlight the soil, water and economic analysis for each tillage treatment (conventional tillage, strip-tillage, and no tillage). After lunch a number of demonstrations will be made, including the NRCS rainfall simulator, wind erosion simulator, Soil Your Undies, and more.

There is no cost to attend the event. If you are planning to stay for lunch please RSVP to the Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District by July 9th. (218-643-2933 ext. 3 or Kimberly.melton@mn.nacdnet.net)

The site is located 1 mile north of Breckenridge, Minnesota. See the flyer for a map.

Dispose of your waste weed killers/herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other pesticides. The MDA sponsors opportunities to properly dispose of unwanted pesticides from farms, businesses or homes. Minnesota pesticide users can bring their waste pesticides to any of these events and dispose of up to 300 pounds free of charge. For amounts greater than 300 pounds call MDA at 612-214-6843.

WASTE PESTICIDES ONLY!
No Paint, No Fuels, No Crop Oils, No Rinsates, No Recycling

Dispose of your waste weed killers/herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other pesticides. The MDA sponsors opportunities to properly dispose of unwanted pesticides from farms, businesses or homes. Minnesota pesticide users can bring their waste pesticides to any of these events and dispose of up to 300 pounds free of charge. For amounts greater than 300 pounds call MDA at 612-214-6843.

WASTE PESTICIDES ONLY!
No Paint, No Fuels, No Crop Oils, No Rinsates, No Recycling

Dispose of your waste weed killers/herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other pesticides. The MDA sponsors opportunities to properly dispose of unwanted pesticides from farms, businesses or homes. Minnesota pesticide users can bring their waste pesticides to any of these events and dispose of up to 300 pounds free of charge. For amounts greater than 300 pounds call MDA at 612-214-6843.

WASTE PESTICIDES ONLY!
No Paint, No Fuels, No Crop Oils, No Rinsates, No Recycling