Dirt Rich

Click here to learn more and register for the upcoming workshop with Charlotte Smith. Charlotte Smith swore she would never return to farming after a very difficult family farm bankruptcy while growing up. Spoiler: After some time working in the corporate world, she started a farm in 2009. She found that the time management, hiring, and interpersonal skills she had learned also really benefited her farm business. Others noticed too, and in 2013 she started teaching marketing to fellow farmers. According to Smith, the longest-standing principle of marketing is connecting in person. Digital marketing is not a substitute, although it is a very valuable tool that she helps farmers learn to use productively. Challenging a common farmer belief of "I don't like people, that's why I became a farmer!", she believes that as farmers build relationships and connect in person with others, they start thinking about people and their farm product differently, and they start showing up better. Sales follow. If you like what you learn in this episode, you may want to join our upcoming workshop! Learn more and register for the April 18, 2024 workshop with Charlotte Smith in St. Joseph, Minnesota: https://sfa-mn.org/events/three-crucial-steps-to-build-your-profitable-farm-with-charlotte-smith/ Charlotte's recommendations: Mailchimp Mailer Lite Flodesk Squarespace Wix Square CharlotteMSmith.com Charlotte Smith Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Farmer Education Director The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Derek Schmitz has never dreamt of being anything other than a farmer. He also really doesn't like doing field work. An adaptively managed, perennial grazing dairy just makes sense. In this conversation Schmitz shares how fellow dairy farmers helped him get started, and how genetics, observation and building his own farm team through the Minnesota Dairy Initiative have been key to his success -- and has even reduced his labor by about half. Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Farmer Education Director Derek Schmitz, SFA Minnesota Dairy Initiative Coordinator Resources: -MDI Website -Newman Turner books -"Farm as Ecosystem" by Jerry Brunetti -"Dirt to Soil" by Gabe Brown -"Building a Profitable Dairy Herd" The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Five SFA farm consultants from across Minnesota discuss how they are approaching and planning ahead for drought conditions on their varying grazing operations. While conditions have changed since this conversation was recorded in early June 2023, their goals and decision-making strategies are evergreen. Listeners are welcome to reach out with questions. Drop us a line! SFA also offers our members on-farm coaching and consulting. Get started here. Drought can be a real source of stress for farmers. Minnesota has resources to help you cope. Reach the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670, or text FARMSTRESS to 898211, or email farmstress@state.mn.us. More information and additional resources are available here. Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Lead Derek Schmitz, MN Dairy Initiative (MDI) Coordinator Angie Walter, Central Minnesota Education Coordinator, DGA; Agricultural Water Quality Certification Project Outreach Coordinator Doug Voss, Grazing Lead Tyler Carlson, Silvopasture & Agroforestry Project Lead Resources: Contact your county’s FSA office for more information on opportunities and deadlines described in this episode. Cropland Grazing Exchange Midwest Grazing Exchange Minnesota Department of Agriculture Drought Resources The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

We’re switching it up today! Jonathan Kilpatrick moves into the host seat and interviews Jared Luhman about the history of farming in his family and about his time working for Sustainable Farming Association. A pivotal moment for the trajectory of the family farm came when a visiting student told them they were working too hard. The listening and learning (and traveling!) that followed laid the groundwork for how Jared and his father farm today. Jared also discusses the common perception of regenerative agriculture practices being in opposition to profitability, and how he likes to work through those tough conversations. Check out SFA’s Soil Health Case Studies here. And, join us at an event to learn and connect with fellow farmers and food supporters! *This episode was recorded prior to the passing of soil health leader and Ohio farmer Dave Brandt. There are many recent tributes to his legacy, including these pieces from No-Till Farmer and NPR. Jonathan Kilpatrick, Soil Health Specialist, SFA Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Organic dairy grazier Angie Walter shares her experience using PaddockTrac, a grazing tool being developed by the University of Missouri. Angie's family runs a 100-cow organic dairy in Villard, Minn., grazing 80-100 acres at any given time. Theirs and 12 other Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship farms are piloting the PaddockTrac through an NRCS cooperative agreement. The PaddockTrac device, which is in the prototype phase, mounts to the front of a UTV or 4-wheeler and uses sonar waves to measure forage height in pastures. Once the data is saved and uploaded, its app generates a grazing wedge. The Walters drive their pastures weekly, using their eyes and the data from the grazing wedge to get a fuller picture to base their grazing management decisions from. As organic producers, it also aids in necessary record keeping for quantifying what the cows are eating. PaddockTrac could hit the market in early 2024. Read more about the DGA/PaddockTrac project here. Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Angie Walter, Central Minnesota Education Coordinator, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

This will be the last episode of season 3, and 2022! Thanks for listening, and we'll see you back in 2023 with another episode on vegetable production with Dan, conversations on new grazing technology, and other great interviews! Jared Luhman and Dan Zimmerli in conversation about vegetable production logistics from planting to harvest on Cedar Crate Farm. They discuss equipment, planning tools, pack shed layout, seed bed prep, food safety considerations, Lean Farm techniques and more. You just might get ideas for the next growing season! Dan and his wife operate Cedar Crate Farm southeast of Mankato, growing produce for their CSA members. He also works for SFA as a soil health educator for fruit and vegetable producers. Check out our first episode with Dan Zimmerli, Episode 33: Growing a CSA from 8 to 80, here. What’s a finger weeder? Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Dan Zimmerli, SFA Community Organizer and Outreach Coordinator, Cedar Crate Farm The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Katie Feterl and Jared Luhman discuss SFA's on-farm consulting offering, how you can support our work, and highlight two big upcoming events: Annual Conference and Midwest Soil Health Summit. Contact Jared Luhman about consulting at jared@sfa-mn.org. You can also visit our Staff Page. Give to the Max: November 17, 2022 (Giving open through the end of November). You can also support by giving through the SFA website or becoming a member at any time. SFA Annual Conference: February 11, 2023 in St. Joseph, MN. Visit the webpage to learn more, register, and see exhibitor and sponsor information. Midwest Soil Health Summit: March 8-9, 2023 in Alexandria, MN. Visit the webpage to learn more, register, and see exhibitor and sponsor information. Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead Katie Feterl, SFA Communications Director The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. If you enjoy Dirt Rich, consider supporting our work by becoming a member of SFA or donating at www.sfa-mn.org.

Chad Crowley firmly believes that for those who want to get into dairy or farming in general, grazing is the way to go. That route has certainly gone well for him. He was told many times that he couldn’t find success in farming because he didn’t grow up on one, but today he and his wife Melissa farm in southeast Minnesota as part of Enchanted Meadows Farms. Enchanted Meadows is an organic, pasture-based dairy in La Crescent. The Crowleys were hired by owners Art and Jean Thicke in the early 2000’s. After prior experience working at a high-production dairy, the grazing dairy model allowed for the lifestyle that Chad and Melissa were looking for. They stayed on for several years, and the Thickes began gifting them calves to “build sweat equity” in the farm business. If they ever left Enchanted Meadows, their growing herd could move on with them. Twelve years in, the Thickes concretely initiated a farm transition, selling the Crowleys one of the farms and splitting ownership of the herd. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it,” says Chad. The four continue farming together, and good communication and planning has helped the partners through inevitable times of disagreements. Listen in as Chad Crowley offers a candid conversation on getting into farming and non-family farm transitions in this episode with Jared Luhman. Chad Crowley, Enchanted Meadows Farms Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead, SFA If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting Dirt Rich and SFA's work by donating or becoming a member at www.sfa-mn.org. The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA. Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.