ALTURA, Minn. — Greden Farms in Altura, Minn., is a family-owned dairy farm established in 1866. As a fifth-generation dairy farmer, Ross Greden farms alongside his wife, Vicky, and his parents, Larry and Nancy.

Greden’s father initially instilled in him a passion for conservation. Growing up, he helped his father plant trees every year, a tradition that started because his father grew tired of building fencing for his cow pastures. He learned how to take care of the land and preserve it for the future.

“My grandfather, my father and I have all served as supervisors on the Winona County Soil and Water Conservation District,” Greden said. “I’m the third generation of individuals focused on sustainability, so my commitment to conservation goes back quite a long way.”

Greden says he still plants trees every year, but he’s also focused on prairie management, cleaning up invasive species and understanding the history of his farmland to better manage it. He’s seen an increase in wildlife such as butterflies, insects, songbirds, and other animals, as well as reduced erosion, which has positively impacted his farm and the surrounding environment.

On the farm, the family has been planting cover crops for over a decade now.

“We no-till plant into our rye cover crop, and the system works really well for us because the rye acts as a natural weed suppressant,” he said.

Greden has been involved with the Driftless Area Ag Alliance since the farmer-led watershed group first formed and has appreciated the ability to network and stay connected with other like-minded farmers in the area.

“Farming is not only our livelihood, but also our way of life,” Greden said. “It’s so important for us farmers to stick together, and Driftless Area Ag Alliance offers a great way to do that. We help each other in practical ways through sharing ideas, participating in field days and workshops.”

Survey results

As a part of DAAA, Greden participated in the second annual Member Conservation Practice Survey. This survey documents and shares the group’s collective sustainability efforts and progress with the entire community.

The group, composed of 14 farmers, implemented various conservation practices, including planting 6,228 acres of cover crops, using no-till on 1,918 acres and soil sampling on 14,734 acres.

The potential benefits of these practices:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 1,585 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, equal to greenhouse gas emissions produced by 377 cars driven for a year.

• Prevention of sediment loss from farm fields of 8,629 tons, equivalent to 863 dump trucks worth of soil.

• Reduction of phosphorus runoff by 19,112 pounds, potentially preventing 9.6 million pounds of algae growth in local water bodies.

Data was analyzed by Houston Engineering, Inc. and Farmers for Sustainable Food.

For more information about Driftless Area Ag Alliance, visit driftlessareaag.org or email driftlessareaagalliance@gmail.com.

By the numbers

Number of acres covered by conservation practices among Driftless Area Ag Alliance members:

• 2024 ―31,817
• 2025 ―59,562

*Multiple conservation practices can be used on a farm field

Potential impact of conservation practices in 2025:

• Phosphorus runoff reduction ― 19,112 pounds
• Sediment erosion reduction ― 8,629 tons
• Carbon dioxide emission reduction ― 1,585 metric tons

About Driftless Area Ag Alliance:

Driftless Area Ag Alliance is a nonprofit farmer-led conservation group based in the City of Lewiston, Minn. This group of area farmers is devoted to keeping their local water, soil and air healthy as they adopt innovative technologies and share their stories. Their vision is to ensure a healthy environment and community for generations to come. More information: driftlessareaag.org.