Category: Innovation

MCGA offering conservation innovation grants for the second year

Posted on September 6, 2016

Minnesota corn farmers will once again have the opportunity to put their innovative conservation ideas into action through the Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s (MCGA) Innovation Grant Program. Proposals on how to better manage nitrogen, protect water quality, or compare farming measuring tools are being accepted through Dec. 15, 2016.

MCGA, working alongside the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council (MCR&PC), is offering a total of $255,000 in Innovation Grants to any Minnesota corn farmer seeking to test or develop an innovative or best practice in the following areas:

Nitrate loss reduction
Improved nitrogen management practices for Minnesota soils
Maintaining or improving water quality
Innovative soil conservation practices,

Taking the kura (clover) cure

Posted on August 30, 2016

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

It seems odd to say that after 10 years, they are still at the early stages of research into kura clover. Used as a perennial cover crop, it offers a promising addition to corn and soybean production systems, but there are still a lot of questions to ask.

Here at the largest of the University of Minnesota Extension Service Outreach and Research Center (4,000 acres-plus),

Sediment research will help direct farmer stewardship

Posted on August 17, 2016

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

Knowing where sediment comes from will ultimately help us devise ways to reduce the amount of sediment that impacts the biological health and recreational value of Minnesota’s waterways.

For the past five years, Patrick Belmont, a watershed scientist from Utah State University, has worked to ‘fingerprint’ the sediment in the Root River Watershed, a system of rivers and streams draining an area the size of Delaware in southeast Minnesota.

Striking gold, helping farmers test new ideas

Posted on August 15, 2016

Written by Haleigh Ortmeier-Clarke

When it comes to agricultural research, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) has hit a gold mine. Where is this gold mine you may ask? Well, it’s in the brain of every farmer.

While scientists go to school to learn the scientific method and the biological processes they work with, farmers live and breathe agriculture. Farmers have to use their brains every day to come up with solutions to problems and ideas to make their practice better.

MCGA invites farmers to attend district meetings

Posted on August 12, 2016

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) will be hosting six District Meetings around the state this fall. These meetings are free and open to all farmers.

The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for farmers to become better acquainted with recent activities of MCGA, as well as hear about what lies ahead for agriculture in Minnesota. There will also be a question and answer session with state MCGA staff and farmer leaders.

MCGA wraps up another great year at Farmfest

Posted on August 11, 2016

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

Farmfest, the largest outdoor farm show in Minnesota, wrapped up its three-day 2016 show last Thursday. Once again there was a strong presence by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA).

On Tuesday, MCGA sponsored “Ag Innovation Day,” which featured panel discussions, as well as a presentation by Minnesota 4-H student teams. These teams were some of the top finishers in 4-H’s Science of Agriculture challenge.

Farmer demonstrates benefits of stewardship practices

Posted on August 1, 2016

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

John and Jewell Peterson, and their kids Nate, Nic and Natasha, all enthusiastically joined the Minnesota Discovery Farms program six years ago. The family produces corn and soybeans in North Branch and for decades they have worked hard to conserve soil and prevent nutrients from running into the St. Croix River watershed.

“The data shows we are doing a pretty good job with the no-till,” says John Peterson.

Minnesota Corn will be well-represented at Farmfest 2016

Posted on July 29, 2016

FamFest 2016 The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) will once again have a strong presence at Farmfest 2016, which will be held next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Gillfillan Estate, near Morgan.

Visitors can stop by the MCGA tent on the corner of Seed Road and Seventh Street to renew their association membership (or become a new member), learn more about MCGA’s 2016 Innovation Grant recipients, ask questions about the MCGA-sponsored Nitrogen Smart program,

Conservation Innovation at its finest

Posted on July 27, 2016

Written by Nicole Krumrie, MCGA intern

When some people think of scientists, they think of someone wearing goggles and a white lab coat. When some think about a farmer, they tend to think of an older man wearing jean coveralls and a straw hat with a piece of hay hanging out of his mouth.

What many don’t consider is that a farmer is a scientist in their field every day.

Corn Views: Farmers are taking leadership role on water quality issue

Posted on July 20, 2016

Written by Noah Hultgren
Minnesota Corn Growers Association President

A statewide editorial that appeared in ECM publications the week of June 24 called on agriculture to take the lead on managing pollutants. As farmers, we’re always working to improve how we grow food, feed, fiber and fuel for an increasing world population.

And when it comes to the important issue of water quality and managing pollutants, farmers are already playing an important leadership role.

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