Quad County Crops Newsletter
Women in Agriculture Network Conference
The Women in Ag Network is a collaboration between the University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota’s Farm Service Agency. It provides educational opportunities and events that enhance women’s leadership, management and production skills in agriculture. Our goal is to connect individuals to relevant, research-based education and to each other. All are welcome.
Learn more and register for the 2026 Women in Ag Network Conference.
Great Lakes Cover Crop Project
The Great Lakes Cover Crop Project is recruiting farmers to participate for the 2025-26 season! This community science effort brings together farmers from across the upper Midwest to build a regional database of cover crop performance, which then allows for identifying what cover crops and management practices work best across different farming conditions. Partnering farmers collect cover crop photos and height measurements from their fields in the spring, and in return receive a personalized report with cover crop biomass and nutrient estimates, along with $50 per field for up to three fields. Anyone growing overwintering cover crops this season in MI, OH, IN, IL, WI, or MN is eligible. Enroll fields.
P.S. If you’re planting a cover crop other than cereal rye, I might be interested in collecting a sample for nutrient analysis in the spring. Please reach out to Jackie at 763-515-1023.
MN Organic Conference
Whether you're an experienced producer or new to the field, don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to connect with Minnesota’s thriving organic community!
January 8th-9th, 2026 | River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud
Research brief: Economics of crop and livestock integration
Integrating livestock on crop fields is one way to improve soil health, similar to the use of reduced tillage or cover crops. Livestock can be integrated each year by grazing cover crops, crop residues, or annual or perennial forages, or bale grazing on cropland. Farms with integrated livestock can benefit from improved soil health, market resiliency, and resource efficiency as a result of the practice.
Let Extension know how alfalfa insect issues are affecting you
In recent years, Minnesota alfalfa growers have been reporting increased issues with insect pests. Especially for alfalfa weevil, there have been reports of reduced pesticide efficacy and pest persistence past first cutting. Many have shared concerns about management of other insects. To assess the extent of these concerns and respond to the issues, the University of Minnesota Extension has a survey, available at z.umn.edu/alfalfapestsurvey.
All about cover crops: Lower seeding rates, weed control, advice for farmers & more
Thinking about what’s next for your cover crops? Check out this podcast, featuring Anna Cates, Ryan Buetow, and Eric Yu. Depending on your goals for your cereal rye planting, you might be able to think about lowering your seeding rate. Cost-Share requirements for cover crops are informed by available research, and with recent findings, it’s possible that new opportunities for lower seeding rates are ahead.
