This session provides an overview of Minnesota's Seed law, one of the oldest consumer protection laws in Minnesota, which is in place to ensure a fair marketplace. The law requires certain content on seed labels so that the customer knows what they are buying. The Minnesota Seed Regulatory Program inspects seed labels and takes samples of seed lots at all sites where seed is produced, labeled, or available for sale. Samples are tested by the MN seed lab using American Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) rules and the result is compared to the label to see if they are truthful.

In this webinar, we will provide an introduction to and overview of silvopasture for any level. Learn more about what it is, who should do it, and the advantages and disadvantages of the system. In addition, listen to a producer using silvopasture discuss their experiences on the ground. This is the first webinar in a six part series targeted towards landowners, farmers, producers and natural resource professionals.

During this session Courtney Cheever (NRCS), Mark Wetlauffer (MDH), Aaron Meyer (MRWA), and Katie Breth (MRWA) provide an introduction to the wellhead protection rule, Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMAs), and Source Water Protection (SWP) priority areas, including examples and success stories from existing plans. Conservation practices, planning tools, and financial assistance programs are also be discussed.

This course covers the structural, vegetative, and management conservation practices used to reduce all five types of soil erosion.

Joshua Gamble, ARS Research Agronomist, discusses the role alfalfa roots play in mediating yield, stand persistence, and ecosystem services. Joshua will also discuss how root systems can be managed for improved outcomes, and highlight some of the current ARS research in breeding and root architecture. Craig Shaeffer, UMN, provides an overview of alfalfa fertility with particular attention to K, S, and pH.

The new version of the seeding spreadsheet has the ability to do seeding checkouts based on seed tags listing a Pure Live Seed (PLS) applied column. This method streamlines the checkout data entry to just one number per species. The spreadsheet still accommodates doing a checkout with a seed tag using the traditional purity and germination data entries. It also provides for a two step process whereby a seed tag utilizing purity and germ data can be combined with a PLS style tag to get a single efficient printout to document  the seeding meets standards and specs.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has put together this presentation to help retailers understand the requirements for labeling and selling seed in Minnesota. It provides basic information that seed retailers should know regarding the Minnesota seed law, seed inventory management strategies, and seed label requirements. Please contact seed.mda@state.mn.us with any questions or if you would like further information.

Callie Bertsch, NRCS State Forester, gives an overview of the criteria for Forestry CPA 106, DIA 165, and CEMA 223 activity plans. She reviews a newly released checklist, the practice standards and cost list.

Ian Olson and Ken Fransky of Centrol Crop Consulting share information and videos about different fall activities on a farm.