The University of Minnesota Extension and Central Lakes College will host a field day on adding crops into a current row cropping system for farmers in Central and West Central Minnesota, showcasing winter camelina, small grains, and dry edible beans. Speakers will cover agronomic considerations for these crops, as well as machinery needs and available market opportunities.

The field day will be held on Friday, Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Central Lakes College (CLC) Ag & Energy Center in Staples. The center is located at 26505 County Road 2. The field day is free this year and does not require pre registration.

“Diversifying farm crops is important instead of relying on one single crop,” says Susanne Hinrichs, Extension Educator on the Agricultural Business Management team. “By diversifying the crops on a farm, an operator can create multiple income streams which can help to buffer against price fluctuations and unexpected events like bad weather. In addition to economic reasons, diversifying crops on a farm can improve soil health and bolster a farm’s resilience to weather events.”

For any questions, contact Olivia Olson at olso7655@umn.edu or Jackie Estrem at estre060@umn.edu.