The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded $150,000 in Sustainable Agriculture grants for 10 on-farm research and demonstration projects. Available through the MDA's Sustainable Agriculture Grant Demonstration Program, the grants support three-year projects that increase farm net profits, benefit the environment and improve the farm family quality of life.
Many of this year's grantees will investigate ways to extend the growing and grazing seasons for crops and livestock.
In Carlton County grantee Kelly Smith will research and demonstrate the growing of hardy greens such as spinach, arugula, and carrots in unheated hoop houses under row cover to extend the vegetable growing season.
Other projects include:
Ryon S. Walker, Itasca and Carlton counties, will compare conventional seeding, no-till interseeding, or broadcasting of annual cool and warm-season grasses utilizing pastures used as winter feeding areas.
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Sustainable agriculture grant projects are highlighted in the MDA's annual Greenbook. To learn more about previous projects, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/sustainable/greenbook2007.htm .
