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Advocating for a Farm Bill for People & the Land in D.C.

By Amanda Koehler
April 1, 2024

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The Federal Farm Bill is the single most important piece of legislation shaping our farm and food system. It spends over $1.5 trillion on nutrition programs, crop insurance, commodity programs, conservation programs, and more. The next Farm Bill, which could still be passed this spring or by early summer, impacts each and every one of our lives — regardless of your zip code or role in the farm and food system.

That’s why it’s so important for the Land Stewardship Project to bring emerging, small, and mid-sized farmers to Washington, D.C., to share their stories and advocate for LSP’s Farm Bill priorities. About two weeks ago, two delegations of LSP farmers and organizers headed to D.C. to do just that, focused specifically on consolidation and land access issues.

Keep reading to learn more and take action!

During the first half of the week, LSP farmer-members Bryan Simon, LSP policy organizer Matthew Sheets, and I participated in a Campaign for Family Farms & the Environment fly-in. We were joined by other farmers and organizers from the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Dakota Rural Action, Food & Water Watch, and the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy in D.C. to meet with the USDA Rural Development Office, the Natural Resources Conservation Service Central Region Conservationist, the offices of Reps. Angie Craig and Michelle Fischbach, and the office of Sen. Tina Smith.

We shared our stories about consolidation and competition, particularly within the dairy and livestock industries. According to the 2022 Ag Census, Minnesota alone lost 40% of our dairy farms between 2017 and 2022 and the average dairy herd grew by 67%. It’s critical that the next Farm Bill addresses consolidation head on, rather than entrenching our farm economy further into the trend of fewer, larger operations.

Want to get more involved with LSP’s Animal Ag Campaign? Join us tomorrow night (April 2) for a Campaign Action Meeting at 7 p.m. via Zoom! Learn more and register here.

The second half of the week, LSP farmer-members Funwi Tita and Eleanor Babcock-Jensen, LSP aspiring farmer-member and farmworker Taylor Olsen, along with LSP land access organizer Whitney Terrill and I, participated in a National Young Farmers Coalition fly-in alongside the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective. Our Minnesota team met with Senator Tina Smith and her staff, Senator Amy Klobuchar and her staff, and the offices of Reps. Angie Craig, Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Betty McCollum, and Ilhan Omar.

We shared our stories about the challenges beginning and emerging farmers are facing in accessing land, capital, and markets. Our farm and food system is more resilient and just with more farmers stewarding the land and growing food for their communities, but so many people who want to farm are facing significant barriers to getting established and sustaining their businesses.

Want to get more involved with LSP’s Land Access & Emerging Farmers Campaign? Join us on Wednesday, April 17 for a Campaign Action Meeting at 7 p.m. via Zoom! Learn more and register here.

LSP policy manager Amanda Koehler can be reached via e-mail.

Category: Blog
Tags: Campaign for Family Farms & the Environment fly-in • consolidation • emerging farmers • Farm Bill • federal ag policy • land access • LASO Act • National Young Farmers Coalition

Upcoming Events

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September 2025

Monday September 1

All Day
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Course
Monday September 1
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Course

Beginning and prospective farmers are invited to apply to the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings course, a year-long training program that focuses on the goal setting, marketing, and financial skills needed to establish a successful farm business. The Farm Beginnings course creates a space for folks to name their vision, acquire the tools and skills needed to make it happen, and become part of a community of support to help them succeed.  

The course will run from November 2025 through March 2026, with some additional educational opportunities to take place later in 2026. 

The deadline for applications is Sept. 1. Early bird applications submitted by Aug. 1 will receive a $100 discount if you are accepted into the class. Partial scholarships are available.

More details are at http://www.farmbeginnings.org or Annelie Livingston-Anderson at annelie@landstewardshipproject.org.

You can apply to the course here.

Wednesday September 3

10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Coffee & Conversation
Wednesday September 3
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Coffee & Conversation
111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

On the first Wednesday of each month, the Land Stewardship Project hosts coffee and conversation at our downtown Montevideo office (111 North First Street), and we hope you will have time to join us at the next one on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The open house-style mornings feature a quick update on recent LSP work and then plenty of time to enjoy your coffee and build community the old-fashioned way, by talking face-to-face. This month we will give an update on our work to combat consolidation in animal agriculture and provide an overview of our recent town hall in Paynesville with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.  

 Come when you can and stay as long as you like! Don’t hesitate to bring along a friend or two — we always enjoy meeting someone new.

For more information, contact LSP’s Matthew Sheets at msheets@landstewardshipproject.org.

Friday September 5

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Field Day on the Cotter Farm: Austin
Friday September 5
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Field Day on the Cotter Farm: Austin
50203 205th St, Austin, MN 55912, USA

 Sign up today for a get-together down on Tom Cotter’s Farm. This field day brings together food companies, local farmers and other professionals in agriculture — a perfect opportunity for networking and discussion.
Hear from soil health experts, then board the Topless Bus to take a tour of Tom’s farm. A FREE TACO BAR LUNCH will featureTom’s own grass-fed beef, along with authentic, homemade tortillas and rice. Featured speakers include soil scientist Kris Nichols and agronomist Joe Ailts.
 
You can check out the field day flier here. For more details and to register, click here.

Saturday September 6

9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soil & Food Health Field Day: Austin
Saturday September 6
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soil & Food Health Field Day: Austin
50203 205th St, Austin, MN 55912, USA

Details are here.

Monday September 8

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne Biklé in conversation with Ross Evelsizer: What Your Food Ate
Monday September 8
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne Biklé in conversation with Ross Evelsizer: What Your Food Ate
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, 207 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101, USA

Join Anne Biklé (co-author, What Your Food Ate: How to Restore Our Land and Reclaim Our Health) and NEIA RC & D Natural Resource Projects Director, Ross Evelsizer, for a conversation and Q & A session followed by a book signing. Everyone is invited to this free event sponsored by the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, with support from Pulpit Rock Brewing and Dragonfly Books.
 
Details on the Sept. 8 event are here.

View Full Calendar

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