- Campuses :
- Twin Cities
- Crookston
- Duluth
- Morris
- Rochester
- Other Locations
Alternative Crops
Alternative crops include just about anything that is not corn, soybean, or wheat--the "Big 3" of Minnesota agriculture. Alternative crops also include specialty varieties of the big three crops: things like white corn, waxy corn, and food-grade soybeans.
Search engines such as Google can provide a vast array of information on alternative crops, but knowing what search terms to enter can be a challenge.
Minnesota Farm Opportunities provides helpful suggestions for using search engines to find alternative agriculture information. This site also has links to lists of suggested key words for alternative crops, livestock, and other farm-based business opportunities such as agritourism and energy production.
ATTRA, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas is a great source of in-depth information about alternative crops. Click on "Horticultural Crops" or on "Field Crops" in the left column; or type a specific crop name into the "Search" field at the top of the home page. You can also contact ATTRA to request print copies of publications.
ATTRA telephone numbers: 800-346-9140 (English); 800-411-3222 (Español)
MISA Publications:
Discovering Profits in Unlikely Places
Minnesota Guide to Organic Certification
Minnesota contact people for alternative crops:
Meg Moynihan
Agricultural Diversification Specialist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
email: Meg.Moynihan@state.mn.us
Telephone: 651-297-8916
Regional Extension Educator--Crops, University of Minnesota Extension Service
email: stah0012@umn.edu
Telephone: 507-372-3900
Jeff Jensen
Marketing/Program Assistant, Rural Advantage
email: jeff@ruraladvantage.org
Telephone: 507-238-5449
Web: www.ruraladvantage.org
