Two paths to profitable sustainability for midsouth farmers

By Blake Jackson

Attention farmers in the Midwest and Mid-South! This month, you have two incredible opportunities to advance your sustainability efforts while safeguarding your bottom line: 

1. Good Idea Shop Talks: Join your fellow row crop and livestock farmers for free virtual meetups on Thursdays, January 18th and 25th, and February 1st at 11:30 AM CT. Learn more and register here: https://goodideafarm.org/shop-talks/. Ditch formal presentations and dive into honest conversations: share challenges, swap advice, and learn from each other's experience in improving soil health and water quality. This is your chance to connect with a network of good stewards who prioritize both environmental responsibility and profitability. 

2. Good Idea Mini-Grants: Team up with a farm advisor and submit a proposal for a low-cost edge-of-field conservation practice on your farm. Think vegetated buffers, prairie strips, restored wetlands – possibilities abound! Implement the practice, create a video or podcast documenting your journey, and share your valuable lessons with other farmers. Mini grants up to $8,000 are available, and applications close on January 22nd, 2024. Learn more and apply here: https://www.reach.msstate.edu/grant-application.php 

Both opportunities are open to farmers in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. 

"Shop Talks are all about real farmer connections and problem-solving. No experts, just open mic for your questions and peer insights," says Amanda Gumbert, co-organizer and Extension Water Quality Specialist. 

"Mini grants let you test innovative conservation practices on a small scale, see the difference they make, and inspire others to follow suit," adds Beth Baker, co-organizer and Associate Extension Professor. 

These initiatives stem from a collaboration between University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Kentucky, and Mississippi State University Extension Services, funded by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture and Walton Family Foundation. A dedicated team of farmer advisors also lends their expertise. 

Remember, One Good Idea, a platform brimming with farmer-created videos and podcasts showcasing practical conservation solutions, is always there to help you find the perfect fit for your operation. 

Photo Credit: gettyimages-dmytro-diedov