Country
Friday, November 1, 2019
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Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 7, Edition 16
Farming today
PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE
Stearns County SWCD nutrient management specialist Mark Lefebvre (left) and farmer Brandon Dingmann stand in front of a Kernza field Oct. 21 near Cold Spring. The two are working together in a project to see how Kernza helps eliminate nitrates in wellhead protection areas near Cold Spring.
for tomorrow
Dingmann partners with SWCD to grow Kernza as part of sustainability efforts By JENNIFER COYNE Staff Writer COLD SPRING – Brandon Dingmann is a young farmer in central Minnesota with one goal in mind – to care for the land so that future generations may have the same opportunities of forming a career in farming. “This is our livelihood,” Dingmann said. “I feel I need to do whatever I can to help improve the longevity of this farm.” Dingmann and his father, Dave, run 1,100 acres of land where they grow corn varieties, soybeans, canning peas and small grains near Cold Spring. They also raise chickens and cow/calf pairs, and feed out Holstein steers. This past summer, the Dingmanns partnered with the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District and University of Minnesota to grow 20 acres of Kernza. “If we could find a way to address soil health and eliminate the issues of
farming in the city’s wellhead protection area for future generations, we wanted to give it a try,” Dingmann said. Kernza is a relatively new small grain, most closely related to wheat. The plant was developed as a perennial grass that forms a deep root system in the soil, which helps capture nitrates and prevent the particles from leaching into groundwater. In the city of Cold Spring, elevated levels of nitrates in public drinking water have caused concern from both community members and area farmers. With a grant from Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Stearns County SWCD had the opportunity to use Kernza to address the issue, and the Dingmanns were willing to participate in the project. “When you’re fighting groundwater issues, you have to be proactive,” Dingmann said. “As farmers, we want to do the best we can to not cause a greater issue.” Over the past year, Dingmann worked closely with Stearns County SWCD’s nu-
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This month in the
COUNTRY
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PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kernza seed is prepared for planting at Brandon Dingmann’s field last fall near Cold Spring.
trient management specialist Mark Lefebvre in expanding seed production of the crop’s MN-Clearwater variety. “Brandon took a risk on this project,” Lefebvre said. “We’re working with a new crop with environmental benefits, but it’s still a great risk. This shows Brandon’s commitment to being proactive.” After planting the crop last fall, it was ready for harvest in August. Dingmann swathed the field Aug. 19 and combined
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it seven days later. “I heard horror stories of harvest not going well,” Dingmann said. “We were prepared for the worst, but when it was all done it was pretty easy. There was an open window for us to harvest.” Kernza can be taken off the field with methods commonly used in small grain
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DINGMANN continued on page 2
16 Country Cooking 18 County Acres According to: Frank Vouk