Minnesota farmers—a vital part of the state’s economy—are facing mounting challenges such as climate change, increasing cost of production, and more. According to United States Department of Agriculture data, the number of Minnesota farms from 2007-2022 decreased roughly 19%.

To address this, University of Minnesota Extension works statewide to provide research, education, and outreach to help farmers thrive. 

Emerging farmers—those who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources needed to build profitable agricultural businesses—are one of those groups.

A lifeblood of rural communities

Minnesota emerging farmers tend to be younger, first generation, or immigrants. They often manage small vegetable farms because they can be profitable, and starting one requires less land and capital than growing row crops like corn and soybeans.

“It’s important to work with them because even if they’re small in scale, they’re people directly feeding their community and supporting vitality,” says Natalie Hoidal, an Extension vegetable crops educator.

Hoidal searches for ways the University can help mitigate personal risk for farmers. Some of these include finding common production challenges, providing hands-on educational opportunities, and sharing research-based information about topics like nutrient management, crop planning, soil health, and climate adaptation.

Exposing Minnesotans to new cultures through growing African crops like ugu or chinsaga—that benefitted from soil health and nutrient management research conducted by Extension—are another enriching aspect of investing in these farmers. 

Adapting to a new environment

In addition to being underresourced, many of these farmers are not familiar with some agricultural best practices in Minnesota.

Annalisa Hultberg, regional Extension educator in food safety, educates 3,000 fruit and vegetable farmers statewide to reduce the potential for contamination that can cause foodborne illness so their farms prosper.

“If [the farmers] have not sold to larger customers before, they might not know how to meet the food safety requirements of markets like schools, hospitals, and restaurants,” says Hultberg. “Our program helps them learn how to cool, wash, and pack the produce because wholesale buyers expect consistently high-quality products that have been grown using food safety best practices.” 

Some of these farmers are also trying to grow organically so they are limited in what they can use to deter pests in Minnesota like cabbage loopers—inch worms that can destroy cabbage, collards, and brussel sprouts—they haven’t faced before. Another member of the Extension vegetable team, Marissa Schuh, teaches farmers about ways to manage insects like cabbage looper holistically, including the safe and responsible use of organic pesticide options.

A resource for all

Extension is not only a resource for Minnesotans, but also for the University faculty and researchers who want to work with various communities.

“Extension connects science- and evidence-based research to our communities,” says Hultberg. “So if people are getting grants and projects that involve communities, consider working  with Extension. We have long-standing relationships that have taken years to build.”