Soil-health workshops planned

Partnering organizations are offering the 2023 I-90 & Hwy. 14 tour for CLASIC (Crop, Livestock and Soil Innovation Conferences) throughout the month of February in southern Minnesota. The free CLASIC events aim to give attendees an opportunity to network, learn and get inspired with area farmers and regional farming innovators. Discussions will focus on current trends for improving productivity and profitability in crop, livestock and healthy soil-building operations.

On Feb. 8, CLASIC will stop in Stewartville for a workshop from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Stewartville Civic Center, 120 City Center Plaza, featuring soil-health speakers and demonstrations. Reservations are required for lunch, which will be provided at no charge, and can be done by calling Angela White, Olmsted SWCD, at (507) 328-7139. Registration for any CLASIC event also can be done at the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition website: www. mnsoilhealth.org

Other events planned for the CLASIC tour include: Heron Lake on Feb. 6 at Heron Lake Community Center; Fairmont on Feb. 7 at the Knights of Columbus Hall; Hokah on Feb. 9 at the Hokah Fire Station; Owatonna on Feb. 21 at Torey’s Restaurant; Sleepy Eye on Feb. 22 at the Sleepy Eye Event Center; and Lake Benton on Feb. 23 at the Lake Benton Community Center

For more information on all the CLASIC events, contact Mark Gutierrez, executive director of the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, at (505) 980-1360 or via email at: mark@ mnsoilhealth.org

This article was submitted by the Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District. v costs. We’re excited to offer this first-ofits-kind guide to bring more solar power to rural communities.”

REAP started in 2002 as part of the federal Farm Bill. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development administers this grant and loan program. The program is designed to help farmers and rural small businesses access renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Funding for the grants has not been able to meet the demand. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed last year, addresses this challenge. It quadruples REAP funding over the next ten years.

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