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Bernhardt: ‘I hope the federal government will honor their commitments to farmers.’

MN Senate Hearing Highlights How Government Programs Benefit Individual Farmers & Communities

By Heather Benson
February 18, 2025

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“I know it’s really valuable to know what I can count on. When I signed a contract with the government, I should be able to plan ahead for my season and count on that.”

— LSP Program Committee chair & farmer, Hannah Bernhardt

♦ ♦ ♦

On Feb. 17, the Minnesota Senate Agriculture Committee heard from farmers and others about the impacts of the federal funding freeze and how this relates to state agriculture programs. LSP Program Committee chair Hannah Bernhardt, whose Medicine Creek Farm is in Minnesota’s Pine County, shared how her Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program grant is on pause at a critical time for her farm, preventing her from participating in a local program that allows her pasture-raised beef to be purchased for local food banks:

“The most immediate program that I use that’s been affected by the funding freezes is the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. It’s an incredible program that allowed me to sell my meat at my asking price to Twin Cities Food Justice, who in turn donated it to a meal program and a food bank in my own community that I got to help pick. It felt amazing to be able to feed those in need in my community. And I received so much gratitude and appreciation, including a thank you note from the food bank that said they had not had fresh meat to offer for almost a year.

“It also helped my operation because the purchases were made at the time of year when my cash flow is otherwise low and I didn’t have to do the extra work of marketing and customer service and delivery that normally takes up a large amount of my time. I was all set to sell three more beef to the program this March when I was informed that the funding freeze meant they would be unable to buy from me. I already have that processing date lined up and as we talked about, there is a bottleneck in processing. So there’s no way I’m going to give up that date. And now I’m worried about scrambling to find new customers to buy that beef.

In addition to the loss of that market, Hannah is faced with uncertainty surrounding federal conservation programs that reimburse her for improvements to her farm. She said:

“Finally, I also have a Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Stewardship Program contract that’s currently on hold. Farming, as you’re probably aware, is a bit time sensitive. And I should be buying seed right now to frost seed my pastures in March when the ground has thawed. But I now have no guarantee that that investment will be reimbursed at the end of the year.

“In the past, we’ve also used funding from the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program in our Soil and Water Conservation District to cost share projects that help improve my operation. You know, state Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen also mentioned during his testimony that Minnesota is set to receive funding to support the work of Soil and Water Conservation Districts related to soil health projects and technical assistance.

“I really want to emphasize that soil health and conservation provide major public benefits beyond supporting individual farms to stay viable. These programs keep everyone’s water and air cleaner while helping farmers to raise healthy food on healthy soils and increase our public health. Unfortunately, my bottom line doesn’t always allow me to justify making these conservation improvements on my own.

“And finally, with the staff cuts at the Farm Service Agency and NRCS that I’m hearing about, I’m also worried about having a harder time navigating resources and getting that technical assistance on conservation from what were already chronically underfunded agencies.”

In addition to Hannah, Tom Smude, a farmer and owner of Midwest Processors, also testified before the Senate Ag Committee on Monday. He said their Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program grant for milling and screening equipment for their sunflower processor business is also on pause due to the funding freeze. That not only causes financial uncertainty and stress for his family but for customers like Brady Barnstable, who also testified. Brady owns Seven Sundays Cereal, which uses up-cycled sunflower protein from Midwest Processors for their cereal.

Tom said he invited Brady to the hearing to show that infrastructure grants like the one he qualified for have widespread benefits.

“It’s not just me,” Tom said. “It’s the end user to the customer for the food products.”

Heather Benson is LSP’s communications specialist. LSP’s government relations director, Laura Schreiber, was in Washington, D. C., last week, where she met with several members of Congress and shared stories of farmer-members who are being impacted by the funding uncertainty. For details on sharing your story and how to get a message to lawmakers about the importance of these programs, see LSP’s action alert.

Watch the full Feb. 17 Senate Agriculture Committee testimony below.

Category: Blog
Tags: agricultural conservation • CSP • federal ag policy • funding freeze • local foods • NRCS EQIP • regenerative farming • USDA

Upcoming Events

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October 2025

Saturday October 18

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pasture Walk: Real World Tools to Extend the Grazing Season
Saturday October 18
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pasture Walk: Real World Tools to Extend the Grazing Season
Nestingen Road, Nestingen Rd, Coon, WI 54667, USA

Valley Stewardship Network will host a pasture walk demonstrating various strategies for extending the grazing season. The event will be held on the Zinn Family Farm in rural Westby.

As input costs rise, livestock producers may want to consider extending the grazing season. Stockpile grazing and bale grazing are two proven methods to achieve this goal. 

The Zinn Family has been utilizing these practices for years on their rural Westby farm. Join us to see stockpiling, bale grazing, and winter water systems in a real-world setting.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Evan Dvorsak at 608-632-6166 (call/text) or evan@valleystewardshipnetwork.org. Snacks will be provided. Details are also available in this flier.

Funding for this event is provided by the USDA’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI).

Thursday October 23

8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Farm to School & Early Care Grants Deadline
Thursday October 23
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Farm to School & Early Care Grants Deadline
Online

School is back in session and this week’s cool temps definitely remind us all that fall is just around the corner. This time of the year also means that the application period is open for Minnesota’s Farm to School and Early Care grants.

Earlier this year, the Land Stewardship Project and our partners were successful in expanding funding for the AGRI Farm to School and Early Care program. The application window for the next round of funding is now open and will close at 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 23.

APPLY FOR FUNDING HERE

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is serving up two funding opportunities to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) centers buy Minnesota-grown and -raised foods. 

1.    First Bite Grants: Up to $5,000 (no match required) to kickstart local food purchasing through intentional, high-impact activities. 
2.    Full Tray Grants: Up to $35,000 (1:1 match required) to help experienced schools and ECE centers increase or expand their local food purchases. 

Equipment funding: First Bite and Full Tray applicants can also request up to $25,000 (1:1 match required) to support the purchase of kitchen equipment that will enhance their capacity to buy, prepare, and serve local foods.  

 These grants are open to: 
•    Public or private K-12 schools or school districts in Minnesota that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
•    Early childhood education (ECE) centers that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in Minnesota

MDA encourages schools, districts, and ECE centers serving sovereign tribal nations to apply. 

 Local Tots Cost-Share Program
There are also funds available to reimburse family child care providers for buying Minnesota-grown and -raised foods used for meals and snacks as part of the the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP):

Interested providers must submit a Local Tots Cost-Share program Letter of Intent to participate. Award amounts will be up to $1,000 and there is a 1:1 cash match required for providers who received a Local Tots Cost-Share award in 2025. There is no cash match required if you are new to the program. 

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 23, 2025. 

 Program details and online applications are available at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-school-early-care-programs or by contacting the Grants Team at MDA.AGRIgrants@state.mn.us. 

 Want to learn more about eligibility, allowable expenses, and how to apply?

 Join the MDA for a virtual info session: 
First Bite and Full Tray Grant Info Session 
September 15, 2025, 2-3 p.m.
Register here

 Local Tots Cost-Share Info Session – for family child care providers
September 18, 2025, 1-2 p.m.
Register here

Farmers: Are you Interested in selling to a school near you? 
Send this opportunity along to the food service director at schools near you or connect with a Regional Local Food Coordinator to help you make connections with schools, childcare settings, and other opportunities to sell locally. These positions are supported by the Department of Education and Renewing the Countryside.

Saturday October 25

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Saturday October 25
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Madison Public Library - Central, 201 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

During the Wisconsin Book Festival, Curt Meine will talk about the book in a discussion with author Sonja Trom Eayrs (Dodge County, Incorporated), in a session on “The Fight for Rural America.” 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

Tuesday October 28

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
MDA Grants Webinar
Tuesday October 28
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
MDA Grants Webinar
Zoom online

Are you interested in applying for a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)? On Tuesday, Oct. 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Land Stewardship Project will be holding an online webinar on four grants that will be available this fall. MDA staffers will go over the details of these grants and how to apply for them.

 To sign-up, click here.  

 This webinar will feature information on four grants:

– AGRI Livestock Investment Grant

– AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant 

– Preparing for Extreme Weather (Prepare) Grant

– AGRI Protecting Livestock from Avian Influenza (Protect) Grant 

For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Kiminski at akiminski@landstewardshipproject.org.

Wednesday October 29

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Wednesday October 29
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement, 2800 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

View Full Calendar

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