Advancing Soil Health Through Innovation and Education
The systems approach management enhances erosion protection, sunlight harvest, plant diversity, carbon, pollinators, beneficial insects, wildlife, salinity control, livestock forage and more.
The Menoken Farm is a conservation demonstration farm located in central North Dakota. Some of our values:
Cropping system
Menoken Farm is divided into 10 fields, each about 12 acres. The cropping system includes no-till seeding, high crop diversity, and rotations with cover crop combinations seeded after harvest and as season-long plantings.
Compost
Each fall compost is made from a number of organic materials, including common ingredients such as hay, straw, wood shavings, fish, and manure. Upon completion, the compost is applied to available cropland and gardens.
Windbreaks
A number of windbreaks have been planted and serve as an arboretum for information and education on energy, wildlife, and forestry topics.
Grazing system
Rotational perennials are part of the crop rotation. These fields are seeded to 21 species of perennial grasses, legumes, and flowering forbs. The grazing system is managed with short livestock exposure periods, followed by long plant recovery periods.
Gardens
Menoken Farm has a high tunnel greenhouse garden and an outside garden. The soil health principles and compost are used to manage both gardens. Healthy, fresh produce is donated to the Bismarck/Mandan food pantries, in cooperation with the Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Project.
Education
With continued support from the North Dakota Department of Health and NRCS-USDA, Menoken Farm provides natural resource education.
Learn more about soil health principles through our article database.
VISITING THE FARM
The Menoken Farm hosts several groups, tours and workshops each year. If the event allows, we would be happy to accommodate you. Individuals or groups who wish to join an upcoming event or schedule their own day should contact:
Darrell Oswald
Menoken Farm Manager
Office: 701-250-4518 ext-3
Nolan Swenson
Urban Conservationist
Office: 701-250-4518 ext-3
Jay Fuhrer
Lead Educator
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Recent Articles
Soil Health Principle 5 – Livestock Integration
If only we could invent a way to distribute aerobic and anaerobic microbes effectively and economically across our agricultural landscapes. Something mobile, and capable of processing plant material into nutritional protein. The invention should also come in various...
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What is a conservation farm? Learn about our unique ND farm