Three Rivers RC&D

It’s been a busy but exciting week here at Three Rivers RC&D. After returning from the North Central RC&D conference in Rochester, MN I immediately got back to preparing a proposal for the Farmers Market Promotion Program. If we receive funding, this project will develop a variety of educational programs that will benefit Farmer’s Markets through out the Three Rivers RC&D area. There will also be a component aimed at recruiting and developing new farmers for the area markets.
Three Rivers RC&D is very interested in developing programs and educating the public about the environmental and economic benefits of Local Foods and Sustainable Agriculture. We will also be involved with the development of the Friends of the Mankato Farmer’s Market organization, which we hope will be a valuable asset to the Greater Mankato area local foods movement.

Recently we were notified that we have received $75,000 in funding from the Conservation Innovation Grant program for “The Three Rivers Economic Conservation Project”. This project will fund projects that demonstrate economically and environmentally compatible agriculture practices in the Three Rivers 9 county area, as well as conducting a consumer education campaign. This concept of using sustainable agriculture as a rural economic development tool is central to our current project Productive Conservation on Working Lands. Funding for this program is expected to be available in October of this year, so check back for more details…

The idea behind the economic conservation concept is that we should encourage and promote profitable practices that conserve our soil and water resources rather than simply paying farmers to take land out of production. With uncertain Federal support for conservation programs it is more important now than ever to make conservation a profitable agricultural practice.

The organization Greenhorns was recently brought to my attention by one of my local foods and sustainable ag co-conspirators Ryan Ihrke. This group is highlighting young farmers who are developing viable and vibrant businesses and organizations based on ecologically sound farming practices. The majority of farmers profiled are currently working in urban California, but they are looking for nominations across the nation for farmers that fit this profile. It is very encouraging to see my generation stepping up as the torch bearers for sustainable agriculture, a field commonly written off as sovereign territory of multi-national agri-business.

Spring is on it’s way here in Minnesota, with the temperatures finally reaching into the 50s. This winter has been full of planning and scheming, and hopefully we will see the fruits of our work ripen during this growing season. We expect to see several hundred acres of perennial crops established this spring with the assistance of funds from PCWL, as well as developing a land management plan for the upcoming organic garden at the Putting Green in New Ulm.