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Cropping System • Rousu
Principal Investigator
White Earth Land
Recovery Project
Margaret Rousu
607 Main Ave.
PO Box 97
Callaway, MN 56521
218-375-2600
Project Duration
2014 to 2016
Award Amount
$17,663
Staff Contact
Developing an Integrated
Perennial System
Project Summary
We are creating an integrated perennial system combining plantings of hybrid hazelnut
seedlings and native berry plants (buffaloberries, juneberries, and honeyberries) on a plot
of land with low soil quality to study the capacity of the system to revitalize soil nutrient
and add economic value for farmers in northern Minnesota (zone 3b). The system is
being initiated using cover crops to prepare the land for the perennials.
Fish fertilizer from the Akina Red Lake Fishery will be applied using a traditional
indigenous method to half of the plot. We will conduct soil testing and leaf nutrient
concentration testing to ascertain data on soil nutrient quality and plant nutrient uptake
during the course of the research project. This initiative will aid farmers in our zone who
are looking to implement a traditional and sustainable agricultural model that may both
improve their soil nutrient quality and augment the economic value of their operations.
Mark Zumwinkle
Keywords
hazelnut, buffaloberries,
juneberries, honeyberries
Project Description
The cropping system for the White Earth Land Recovery Project farm includes many
enterprises and community services. We cultivate traditional annuals such as corn,
beans, and squash as well as producing maple syrup. On this project, we are focusing
on the educational research and development of growing hybrid hazelnuts in our zone.
We will be using a drip irrigation system with liquid fertilizer of fish emulsion as well as
tilling in fish guts.
The soil in which we have chosen to plant our hybrid hazelnuts and berry plants consists
of a desirable well-drained sandy loam. We still need to work on raising the nutrient
concentration of the soil on this plot during our first year.
In the second year of the project, we will obtain bare-root dormant hazelnut seedlings for
our system from two sources: Forest Ag Enterprises and Lois Braun (research associate
with the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Resource Sciences).
These hazelnut seedlings are hybrids between the European hazelnuts and two species
native to North America. Hybrid hazelnuts grow as bushes rather than trees.
Woody perennial crops, such as hybrid hazelnuts, provide farmers with economic and
ecological benefits. They improve the health of the surrounding ecosystem by reducing
soil erosion, improving water quality, improving wildlife habitat, and reducing inputs.
Planting hazelnuts on marginal lands may provide farmers with a means of obtaining
economic returns without incurring further ecological damage. Finally, hazelnuts have
the potential to diversify our terrain and serve as an economic stimulus to the Upper
Midwest.
Our native berry species, juneberries, buffaloberries, and honeyberries, have historically
been used as important sources of nutrients, require few inputs, and show potential for
cultivation as commercial crops in our region.
GREENBOOK 2015 • MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND IPM PROGRAM
Cropping System • Rousu
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Results
The first year of this project was intended as a preparation year, mainly to build up soil fertility and prepare the ground for
planting the perennials. This year, we accomplished most of our goals. Our soil test recommendation showed minimal
need to add phosphorus and potassium so we only added fish guts. We applied fish guts to half of the field and tilled
them in. The other half of the field was left as a control. We then broadcast seeded buckwheat in the middle of July.
The buckwheat grew nicely and evenly throughout the designated area for the integrated perennial system, which is
roughly one acre. The buckwheat competed well with weeds.
The buckwheat did a good job of competing with weeds.
We mowed the buckwheat in the early flowering stage and broadcast seeded a mix of winter rye and hairy vetch on
September 1. The rye and vetch did not visibly germinate before snow cover. Perhaps they needed some more ground
cover. We will see what happens in the spring.
Nearly all analysis and experimentation for this project will come in year 2 and 3 when we plant the majority of our
perennial crops and perform leaf nutrient concentration tests and further plant and soil analysis.
GREENBOOK 2015 • MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND IPM PROGRAM
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Cropping System • Rousu
Management Tips
Project Location
1. Buckwheat works well as a warm season cover crop.
It works well in our northern climate and adds a lot of
beneficial nutrients to the soil when mowed, tilled in, or
grazed.
Contact Margaret Rousu for directions to the farm site.
2. Test your cover crop seeds for germination if you are
unsure of how they were stored.
3. When you are using fish guts, till them in immediately
before they start to rot. The soil dampens the scent
more than if they were in open air.
Cooperators
Other Resources
Restoration Agriculture. Mark Shepard. 2013.
Gaia’s Garden: Second Edition. Toby Hemenway. 2009.
Hybrid Hazelnuts. Lois Braun and Jeff
Jensen. Rural Advantage, Fairmont, MN.
www.extension.umn.edu/environment/agroforestry/
components/hybrid-hazelnuts.pdf
Lois Braun, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
John Munter, Hazelnut Grower, Warba, MN
Adam Woltjer, USDA-NRCS Tribal Liason, Mahnomen, MN
GREENBOOK 2015 • MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND IPM PROGRAM