Green Lands Blue Waters

Register now for the Green Lands Blue Waters 2017 Conference, Nov. 28th & 29th in Madison, WI.

We expect this conference to reach capacity! Book your spot now.

Join GLBW and our hosts at UW-Madison’s Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) for this year’s annual conference focused on “Continuous Living Cover: Bridging the Gaps with Livestock.”

Find the full agenda and conference details here, including:

Plenary sessions on the economic and environmental benefits of Continuous Living Cover Farming:

Livestock as Economic Drivers of Continuous Living Cover

Tuesday, November 28th

• Logan Peterman, Organic Valley Cooperative
• Rod Ofte & Gene Schriefer, Wisconsin Meadows grass-fed beef cooperative

How does Continuous Living Cover Restore our Landscape?
Wednesday, November 29th

• Steve Apfelbaum, Founder and Chairman of Applied Ecological Services, and author of award-winning Nature’s Second Chance
• Jacob Marty, 6th Generation farmer and co-owner of Green Fire Farm, a regenerative family farm producing organic, grass-fed beef, poultry and pastured heritage pork. Serving the Madison, WI and greater Chicago area.
• Chris Kucharik, Professor of Agronomy and Environmental Studies, UW Madison.

What’s your 2025 Vision for Continuous Living Cover Farming? Join us in Madison and be part of the conversation!

—

Aaron Reser
Watershed Initiative Coordinator, Green Lands Blue Waters
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108-6026

Phone: 612.625.4806

Email: areser@umn.edu

http://greenlandsbluewaters.org/

Note the size difference between intermediate wheat grass (left) and annual wheat (right) kernels. Breeders at The Land Institute are working to increase grain size and yield.

Hampshire Farms Jersey girls are enjoying their first day on the intermediate wheat grass pasture, Oct 30, 2017.

Simple butter cookies made from 2/3 intermediate wheat grass flour (Kernza) and 1/3 annual wheat flour. DELICIOUS noted by all who tasted! Displayed with the grains which they were made.

She is very content after a couple of hours grazing on the intermediate wheat grass pasture. Harvest of grain and straw was on Aug 30 and cows went to the pasture on Oct 30, 2017

Grazing the Intermediate wheat grass pasture at Kellogg Biological Station organic field in Hickory Corners Michigan. The steers were on the pasture for several days, catching the attention of passer-byers. Who let the cows out!! well that is where they belong- on pasture that is tasty! Bon Apetit Boys!

Poster IWG field dayweb    to see what info we share during the field days!

Two great field days were held at Hampshire Farms in Kingston MI and at Kellogg Biological Station of Michigan State University at Hickory Corners, on Oct 30 and Nov 3. The

event focused on multi uses of intermediate wheat grass for its pasture to feed the dairy cows, its grain for Kernza flour or making beer and then using the straw for bedding. Of course the environmental values are top-notch-keeping nitrogen near the roots rather than escaping through leaching into the ground-water. You can see from the photos on this site how long the roots grow! The length and mass of the roots account for the plants ability to hold nitrogen in place. Almost a silver bullet!

Poster IWG field dayweb

If you are interested in research and values of perennials grown in countries in Africa then you should visit this site: https://pgrainsforafrica.psm.msu.edu/
This website shares the progress of a research and extension team from Michigan State University.  Take a look at the crop profiles to see how many different perennials there are in Africa, and many are eaten and are nutritious! The goal of this site is to identify the wide-uses and values of an assortment of African perennial grains,  encouraging farmers to invest in these types of crops, selecting ones that grow well in their climate while addressing their needs-economically, nutritionally and environmentally. Ultimately, favorable adoption and use could lead to a transformation toward a sustainable intensification by many African smallholder farmers.