This winter has been a strong reminder that conservation grazing is gaining momentum.
Across Minnesota, we’ve seen growing interest at conferences and workshops, thoughtful conversations around grazing for soil health, and producers eager to learn what’s possible on their land. That momentum is carrying us into spring with some exciting opportunities ahead.
I am especially excited about the coming launch of our Grazing Mentorship Program next month, developed in partnership with many SWCDs across the state. This program connects producers with experienced grazers for practical, on-the-ground learning.
I’ve seen firsthand how impactful mentorship can be on a grazing operation. Having someone who understands your landscape, your constraints, and your goals makes conservation practices more approachable and sustainable.
Enrollment opens March 1, and select counties and watersheds will offer mini-grants of $500 and $300 stipends for mentors. Additional details will be posted on our website soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me at leah.matzke@mnglca.org
if you’d like to learn more.
At the 2026 Extension Women in Agriculture Network Conference, our team led a hands-on Adaptive Grazing Simulation — complete with life-sized props and a few “manure” emojis.
Participants compared continuous and rotational grazing from the cow’s perspective and saw firsthand how grazing strategy affects forage growth, hay costs, and pasture resilience.
It was practical, interactive, and perhaps most importantly, fun!
Read the full recap and see what we learned → View Post
Thirty-seven producers gathered in Bemidji
on February 12 for a Ranching for Profit workshop hosted by Beltrami SWCD
in partnership with MNGLCA and led by Dallas Mount.
The program focused on foundational business principles for agricultural operations, emphasizing that sound economics must precede financing and tax strategy. Participants examined the distinction between profitability and production, the importance of recovery in grazing management, and the role of clear planning in successful succession.
Read the full recap on our blog for additional highlights and insights from the event.
The University of Minnesota Beef Team
once again hosted the annual Cow-Calf Days Seminar Tour, continuing a 50+ year tradition of delivering practical, research-based education to Minnesota producers. This year featured an all-University lineup, offering timely insights on management, nutrition, efficiency, and marketing. Producers know they can count on Cow-Calf Days for information they can immediately apply to their operations. MNGLCA is proud to support this long-standing series serving our state’s beef community.
Forty-seven farmers gathered February 6 at the Nary Community Center in Bemidji for the Hubbard County Grazing Workshop. With sessions ranging from soil health and bale grazing to multi-species systems, economics, and genetics for profitability, the day offered practical takeaways for producers at every stage.
Just as valuable were the conversations — connecting with resource professionals, returning attendees, and new faces committed to strengthening their grazing systems.
Read the full recap and view photos from the day → View Post
The MN Farmers Union did a write-up on MNGLCA board member Morgan Kauth, who is also the District Conservationist in Big Stone County
and the Southwest Minnesota Grazing Specialist for NRCS.
"My roles with NRCS and MNGLCA complement each other because NRCS has great opportunities for cost-share and technical resources for farmers, but MNGLCA can take that a step further through education and outreach. MNGLCA is like an encyclopedia of knowledge for the actual practitioners, and that helps bridge the gap between farmers and NRCS. " Read full interview with Morgan
February 26, 2026 | Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum, Dassel, MN; 5-8pm
In this interactive workshop, farmers will learn about important soil, finance, crop, and livestock concepts related to crop and livestock integration.
SFA Midwest Grazing and Soil Health Summit March 3-4, 2026 | Willmar, MN Join fellow grazers, farmers, and land-stewards from across the region at the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit — a 2-day gathering focused on regenerative grazing, soil health, and livestock integration into cropping systems.
Paying for a membership or event? It just got easier. We now accept Google Pay, Venmo, and PayPal in addition to our existing payment methods.
We value the knowledge and experience within this community. If you have a question, idea, or grazing story you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Thank you for being part of MNGLCA and for the work you do every day to steward Minnesota’s grazing lands.
What a difference a month makes—whether you’re seeing green pastures or still a bit of snow, spring is starting to show up across Minnesota. Grazing season is just around the corner.
Even if the weekend's blizzard has much of Minnesota buried in snow, spring really is just around the corner—and with it, new opportunities to learn and grow with MNGLCA!
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