2019 Agroecology Summit

Butterflies, Bluegreens,

Kilowatts & Calories

Agenda

August 16-17, 2019

FRIDAY, August 16

9:00–9:40 REGISTRATION and Coffee 9:40–9:50 WELCOME: Reflections on the Evolution of Conservation in Ag-Lands – Tony

Thompson, Willow Lake Farm 9:50–10:00 Putting Perennial Vegetation Within Row-Crops – Summary of “Seeding

Between the Lines Project (the spark that draws us here today). Shawn Schottler, St. Croix Watershed Research Station

10:00–10:45 The Need For and The Promise of Perennial Cropping Systems – A review of

why perennial cropping systems are critical for meeting our water quality habitat and climate goals, and recent advances in perennial crops. Don Wyse, Forever Green

10:45–11:00 BREAK 11:00–11:45 Water Quality, Wildlife, Pollinators and Climate: A pathway to Success? –

Laying out the playing field of how markets, policy and technology have gotten us where we are and how they could be our profitable pathway to improvements. Shawn Schottler, St. Croix Watershed Research Station

11:45–1:00 LUNCH – provided by the local Ethiopian community 1:00–1:45 Vignettes of Policies to Drive Perennial Cropping Systems: Cost/Benefit

Summaries – Methodology for calculating water quality and habitat benefits versus associated costs resulting from policies, using a solar riparian mandate as an example. Jason Ulrich, St. Croix Watershed Research Station

1:45–2:30 More Vignettes of Policies to Drive Perennial Cropping Systems: Cost/Benefit

Summaries – Examples include: policies to promote solar riparian pastures, policies for perennial cropping in well-head protection zones, subsidies for winter annual cover crops. Trevor Russel, Friends of the Mississippi

2:30–3:15 Even More Vignettes of Policies for Perennial Cropping Systems: Cost/Benefit Summaries – Examples include: Incentivizing home heating with switchgrass, consumer promotion for meat from perennial grain feed rations, possibilities for repurposing unprofitable croplands. Lucy Levers, University of Minnesota

3:15–3:30 Cost/Benefit Comparison of Policies for Perennials – Summary of the cost and

benefits of different market scenarios. Pat Hamilton, Science Museum of Minnesota

3:30–3:45 BREAK 3:45–4:45 The Pathway Forward: Facilitated panel discussion of how to turn optimism

into reality. • Deborah Swackhamer, Professor Emerita, Former Director Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota • J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy • John Jaschke, Executive Director, Minnesota Board of Soil Water Resources • Greg Hoch, Prairie Habitat Supervisor, Minnesota DNR • Peter Berthelsen, Partnership Director, Bee & Butterfly Fund 4:45–7:00 DINNER and FRIVOLITY 7:00–Dawn BARN DANCE: Featuring Live Music SATURDAY, August 17 8:00–9:30 Light Breakfast at Willow Lake Farm – Porridge, fruit, coffee, juice, chirping

birds and dappled sunshine 9:30–11:30 Walking Tours: • Archeology dig of Woodland and Oneota era Native American occupation Tour given by Professor Brian Hoffman and crew, Hamline University • Perennial vegetation strips within row-crops Tour given by Michaela Hacker and Shawn Schottler 11:00–12:30 LUNCH (not provided) 12:30–12:45 LOAD BUS 12:45–4:00 Nearby Bus Tours: • Wind energy site • Examples of unprofitable crop plants and their potential to re-purpose • Cover crop sites in the Windom area • Thompson grain storage and handling operation

4:00–5:00 RETURN to Farm and FREE TIME 5:00–Dawn WILLOW LAKE FARM: Outdoor FEAST, BONFIRE and BARN DANCE, featuring Live Music