Otter Tail County Extension Update

What a full summer it's been, and continues to be! Fields and gardens have quickly grown, and as of the end of July we've moved out of any abnormally dry or drought conditions from all of our recent rains. August promises to be a busy month, with many opportunities for learning in the field. On August 1, Extension will host a field day on adding additional crops to corn + soy rotations, and the East Otter Tail SWCD will be holding one on strip tilling on August 19. If you're near Perham on Saturday, August 2, stop by the Palubicki farm on the east side of town for a free breakfast on the farm. Details for all of these events and more can be found below.

Finally, please take a few minutes to fill out the 2 minute Otter Tail County Extension's needs assessment survey to help shape future programming in the area - the survey is still open, and your feedback is important and greatly appreciated!

Take care,

Olivia Olson

olso7655@umn.edu

office: (218) 998-8308

cell: (218) 282-5963

Needs assessment survey

OTC Farm Family of the Year

Protecting garden fruit in summer

Mushrooms in lawns

Home food preservation course

Diversified crops field day

Breakfast on the farm

Roots and Rotation field day

The future of tillage - a strip till event

What do you want to learn about from Otter Tail County Extension? Take this short survey to tell us what resources and workshops Extension can provide for OTC communities. If you live in or visit the county, we'd love to hear from you - your input is highly valuable!

Congratulations to the Pesch family of Lida Farm for being named Otter Tail County's "2025 Farm Family of the Year" by the University of Minnesota.

Ryan and Maree Pesch did not come from farming backgrounds. Their interest started when Ryan got inspired by the organic food movement in college. After two years apprenticing at Foxtail Farm near Osceola, Wisconsin, they struck out on their own as tenant farmers in Lake Elmo, selling produce at the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market. In 2004, they launched Lida Farm by Pelican Rapids with just a half-acre in production. By 2014, they were growing vegetables on seven acres while raising three kids.

Today, Lida Farm is a 20-acre operation focused on high-quality, sustainably grown vegetables. The Peschs’ grow over 100 varieties on three acres and two high tunnels, with another three acres in cover crops. They use only natural and certifiably-organic inputs across a mix of traditionally cultivated fields and biointensive permanent beds. Their produce goes direct to customers through a CSA, farmers markets, a roadside stand, and wholesale accounts.

Their kids all play a part in the operation. Sylvia, now studying at UMN Morris, put in many hours weeding and planting during her teenage years. Willem handles the farm’s building projects, and Graham is just beginning to help out this summer.

Ryan and Maree are active in local food and farming organizations, from the Minnesota Farmers Union to the Lake Agassiz Sustainable Farming chapter. Ryan helped start the Pelican Market in downtown Pelican Rapids and serves as treasurer of Manna Food Co-op, where Maree manages daily operations as general manager.

More information on the Farm Family program and profiles of other honorees can be found at z.umn.edu/farm-families-2025.

Have you considered adding another crop to your rotation? Join UMN Extension for a diversified crops field day to learn about three crops with established markets that you could incorporate into your row crop system. This field day will cover winter camelina, small grains, and dry edible beans, including the agronomics, machinery needs, and market opportunities for each of these crops. Farmers, agronomists, and agricultural professionals are all welcome, and there is no registration required for this event.

When: Friday, August 1

Where: Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center

26505 County Rd 2, Staples, MN

Time: 9 am - 12:30 pm

Cost: Free

Registration: Not required

View more information about the field day here: z.umn.edu/DCFD25

The local agriculture community and a host of volunteers are all geared up for this year’s EOT Breakfast on the Farm event. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, on the Palubicki Farms located on the southeast edge of Perham.

This family friendly event is a great opportunity for non-farming families to connect with our

local farming families and ag professionals to learn about modern farming operations and how

our local agricultural community works together to produce our food. In addition to getting an

old-fashioned breakfast, those that attend will have the chance to ask those burning questions

they have always had about agricultural production in the area. Attendees will be able to get an

up-close look at the machinery and technology used in farming today. Our local 4H youth will

have their animals on display and members of our local FFA’s will have activities for the kids,

and yes, the ever-popular barrel train will be there too.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend this family-friendly event. Agriculture lives at the core of

our society in Otter Tail County. The EOT Breakfast on the Farm is one way we can ensure that

we build and maintain a connection and appreciation for the farming community. You can find

out more about the event at www.Eotbreakfastonthefarm.com.

When: Saturday, August 2

Time: 7 am - 12 pm

Where: Palubicki Farms, 1008 County Hwy 80, Perham

Cost: Free, donations welcome

Join the University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association for a field day to learn about the benefits of crop and livestock integration and how it fits within a farming operation. Come see for yourself how these practices could work for you!

Your registration includes:

• Presentations and demonstrations by experienced farmers and educators on topics such as: grazing management, cover crops, soil health, year-round forage planning, and more

• Networking opportunities over a shared meal

• Educational resources from University of Minnesota Extension

This field day will take place at Mack Family Farm in Park Rapids, MN. They use no-till farming techniques, cultivating crops like corn, soybeans, rye, sunflower, canola, oats, field peas, and proso millet. Additionally, they rotationally graze a mix of wool and hair sheep, incorporating the livestock into their cropping system to improve pasture health and soil fertility.

When: Friday, August 8 from 4pm-8pm

Where: 10470 190th St, Park Rapids

Cost: $15-20

Pre-registration is required to ensure enough food is ordered. Go to z.umn.edu/RRParkRapids to register.

If you have questions about this workshop, please call Tarah Young at tarahy@umn.edu or 218-209-2111.

Join the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District for their upcoming field day featuring strip-till equipment demonstrations. This educational event will include break-out discussions on soil aggregate stability, root boxes, and a local farmer panel. Personnel from the MN Soil Health Coalition and the University of Minnesota Extension will lead some of the discussions and provide knowledge on soil health aspects relating to strip-till. We strongly encourage registration, as light refreshments will be provided. Please call or visit our website for more information about this event. This event is put on in conjunction with the Wadena and Todd SWCDs.

When: August 19, 9 am - 12 pm

Where: Ron Sakry Farms, 31757 State Highway 106, Deer Creek

Cost: Free

Registration: Call 218-346-9105 or register online

Looking for help in coping with business, family, or mental health issues? This resource list from the MN Department of Agriculture has a list of trained professionals to assist in a variety of ways.

MN Farm and Rural Helpline:

Phone: 833-600-2670

Text: FARMSTRESS to 898211
Email: farmstress@state.mn.us

Crisis Text Line:

Text: MN to 741 741

Are you a beginning farmer looking to rent or purchase working farmland in the Midwest? Or are you an established farmer/landowner in the Midwest who is seeking a beginning farmer to purchase or rent your working farmland, or to work with in a partnership situation? The Land Stewardship Project's Farm Beginnings project has simple application forms available for people seeking farmland or farmers. More information and the forms can be found at this link.

Email: olso7655@umn.edu

Phone: office (218) 998-8303 cell (218) 282-5963
Website: extension.umn.edu
Location: 118 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN 56567

Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Bdewakantuwan, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land

© 2024 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.